Speaking of food

My debate this month is what to do about Wm's school lunch. Going to a local school, the school year starts tomorrow. At his school at the CASA age (2.5 - 6 years), the start dates are staggered. New students start June 4. Returning students join June 13. Then from July 2, the "extended day" kids (ages 5 and 6, i.e., kindergarten age) attend until 3PM, which means bringing a lunch.

Remembering how stressful lunch time can be for kids, I made sure to ask his teacher during orientation what a Filipino kid takes for lunch. Sadly, a sandwich, piece of fruit, pretzels and a small sweet is not the norm. Instead, it's - of course! - Asian style: warm rice, a small portion of meat/chicken/fish, veggies, and some fruit for dessert. While I have no problem with the nutrition, the logistics pose a problem to our usual morning routine.

When the kids live near by, their driver drops off a warm lunch just before it's time to eat. But for those a bit further away (i.e., us), the families pack in thermos-type containers in the morning. So now I'm wondering we will cook. And even wondering, too, if by "we" do I mean me? or asking Lea to come 30 minutes earlier? I'm not sure. I do know that Greg would tell me to just give him a sandwich.

Oh, to be two

Patch doesn't really have the "terrible twos," but he certainly has his quirks. Well, really only one quirk right now: food. I think he would be reverting to a milk-only diet if we would allow it. While in TX in January 2012, I remember my mom and mother in law both remarking what a great eater he was. No matter what was put in front of him - fruit, veggie, meat, diary, grain - he'd eat with gusto. Really the only things I remember him disliking were scrambled eggs and rice (the later very strange for being born in India).

Slowly, without my really realizing what was going on, he started cutting foods out of his diet, until the only things he would eat were chicken nuggets and hot dogs. Not so keen on the processed food only intake, I stopped buying those (the easiest way to keep our nanny from feeding him that). And since then, I think he's pretty much subsisted on peanut butter, bread, and milk. Every now and then he'll eat some plain yogurt. Very occasionally he'll deign to pick up a raisin or two that I diligently leave on the coffee table, hoping to entice him. Eating a french fry (yes, I did say "a" french fry) has become something of an accomplishment. And I was thrilled when he ate all three options of breakfast buns purchased from our local bakery (a cheese bun, a coconut bun and a more familiar sugar bun).

He will chow down on cake and cookies; I know this because eating rules at birthday parties are suspended in favor of minimizing tantrums in public. He is stubborn, though. Though I don't, in general practice, subscribe to bribing as a parenting method, I admit I've tried it with Patch and food. I've placed numerous things in front of him and lined up small bits of chocolate behind his plate, explaining he could have a bite of chocolate after each bite of real food. He just sits in his chair, says, "NO!", and keeps sitting there, not even crying about the chocolate. He obviously understands the deal, and wants no part in it.

And he enjoys teasing us. We'll be talking about food, and he'll sneakily say, "Apples are good."  My ears perk up, a light shines in my eyes, and I immediately reply, "Patch, shall I cut an apple for you or get some apple sauce." He just smirks and says, "No. More milk please." (to which the usual response is, only water for you now.)

A rational part of me knows I can't do much and I shouldn't stress about it. Wm, after all, asked for only green beans and peas for dinner tonight - so eventually all kids come around - but all the same, I'd be much happier if he would revert to being a good eater, or, at a minimum ,pick one acceptable fruit and one acceptable green vegetable!

Starbucks in Manila

Starbucks is super popular here, somewhat surprisingly so, given an average per capita income of about $4000/ year. But, I suppose that is country-wide average, and with a higher average in the city it might make more sense. At $3 for a grande ice americano, however, the price isn't that different than the US. Somehow, Starbucks has convinced Filipinos that a frapuccino is a worthwhile item to spend disposable income on.

I'm not complaining, though, since I seem to be craving ice coffee a lot with this baby - and the ubiquitous Starbucks reliably carries decaf coffee (which was impossible to find in HYD).  With three locations within two blocks of the embassy and at least five within a 5 minute drive from Seafront, I have no shortage of options. What frustrates me is a lack of quick-stop Starbucks. Having to pay 40 pesos to park, when I'm not even going to stay 3 minutes, ups the cost of that ice coffee by 25%!

After 15 months, for better or worse, I finally found a Starbucks at the MoA complex where I can "park" on the side of the road and for a quick run in without the security guards having a conniption fit. Since it's removed from the main mall by one block, it's also not crowded - and the salespeople don't feel rushed to figure out how to enter my VAT-exempt number. Score!

This exemplifies, though, why moving every two years is tiring. Something as simple as this took me more than half my time in Manila to figure out. I'll only enjoy it for less than a year, and then we'll be off ... And all the little things will be new again. At least for now, I can enjoy a Sunday ice coffee without too much hassle.

Another half-way point

I realized that we're at another half-way point: twenty weeks gestation of baby number 3 (well, it was 20 when I wrote this, but 22 by the time I'm posting it). Funny how quickly a pregnancy passes when one is not paying particular attention to actually being pregnant. I also realized at work today, that I only have just over three months left before I get shipped back to the US on "maternity medevac." The State Department would also have preferred for me to do for Patrick's birth, but I resisted. This time around though, between not wanting to miss my sister's wedding three weeks before the due date, I'll play it conservative and deliver in DC. As it turns out, a maternity medevac is a logistics nightmare, but I won't bore you with those details.

Two funny stories about this baby, sometimes known as Sponge Bob. 1. Background: Greg and I have been debating names. Unintentionally, we've ended up with an English and Irish named boys. Not particularly caring for the Welsh names, we're leaning toward Scottish for this one. A good Scottswoman (now American citizen) at work came up with a list that we've been batting around. Now to the story: Wm came to lunch at work yesterday. My friend asked him where his brother was. Wm says, "well, actually I have two brothers." My friend says, "oh? I thought just one." Wm replies, "Patch is napping at home. Ian is inside my mom's tummy right here!" (poking at my belly). Apparently, Wm approves of "Ian." Greg and I had kind of been leaning that way, too, so we'll see if it sticks over the second half of the pregnancy and after we meet this boy.

2. Patch was sitting in my lap tonight for bedtime stories. After a few pages he turns to me and asks, "Mama, is your tummy full?" I said, "No, Patch, I haven't had dinner yet - I'm hungry." He replies back, "Yes it is! It is full of the baby. I can feel." He wasn't feeling it move - just feeling that he couldn't really sit in my lap and lean his head back against my shoulder anymore since the belly is a bit in the way now. So, half way there, and so far Wm and Patch are still on board. Hoping they'll be as happy with the September outcome.

full weekend!

We had a really full weekend - thought I'd jot it down just for a sense of what daily life is like. Friday started off very exciting: Greg had a conference call with DC for work (turns out, trying to get Europe, DC and Manila on the phone at the same time is not easy! Manila time, the call was at 9pm); I headed over to the airport to welcome a new family. At embassies, we all take turns being sponsors - helping a new arrival get settled - which includes being a friendly face at the airport and showing them their house. Saturday morning we had a fundraiser for Patch's school; as treasurer, I stuck around the whole time from 8 to 11:30. Between the yard sale and bake sale, we raised about 14,000 pesos - double last year - so yea! Now we can hire two staff to help with the pre-k graduation, and still have some left over. This is especially nice because the parent board members (ie, me among others) aren't stuck with cleanup duty! Saturday afternoon was at MOA helping the new family get the stuff they needed. Recently married, they don't even have much in their shipment, so they ended up spending a bunch getting basic household goods in addition to groceries. And we learned the hard way that the store can only charge 8000 pesos on a foreign debit card per transaction ... So the check out took some time. I remembered how stressful those first few days are, trying to figure everything out. This family has a slight advantage, though, as the wife is originally from the Philippines. At least no shopping culture shock for her - even if US government transient life style is new to her. Exhausted after being on my feet the entire day, I tucked in around 8:30! Sunday morning was church, with Wm finally starting to behave, even if Patch is still so wiggly! Then Greg took Wm and his best friend to their weekend soccer tournament. The two boys still wanted to play soccer when they got home, despite the heat and having been outside all afternoon. Wm's friend's parents are on a separated tour right now - the dad is in Mexico and the mom here with the three kids in Manila. The mom had organized a pottery class for the general embassy community before the soccer was announced ... So luckily Greg could take the boys so she could attend the class she organized :) here's to keeping our fingers crossed we don't face any unaccompanied tours. It's rough. During soccer and pottery (which I didn't attend), Patch obliged me by taking a 3.5 hour nap, of which I slept for 3. What's the joy in being five months pregnant if I can't indulge every now and then? It's hard work growing a baby while keeping up with two boys! Then, around 4pm, we headed over to the pool to cool down after soccer and chat with three families finished with the pottery class. Kids jumped in, parents ordered pizza, and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening. Wm declared himself ready for home around 6, and Patch followed shortly after. Both were asleep within the hour. But that's not all - off to the grocery store for me, since I had no time to shop earlier. Just now all is unpacked and we can finally rest. Greg zoning out with a Manchester City game, and I'll read a bit of the Game of Thornes. No Downtown Abbey tonight given the importance of this soccer game is determining the winner of the Premier League. Of course, I can't complain about Greg's addiction because it caused him to wake up at 5:30 this morning with the boys so he could watch the Liverpool game on DVR (FA Cup final, not to be confused with the Premier League, which runs at the same time with the same teams, as best I can tell...)

Easter concept, check

I think I posted about 10 months ago about how we were going to make an effort to regularly attend church services here, as we found an English speaking congregation (bonus points for being Episcopal) and enjoyed parts of the rambling bishop's sermon (usually about half, then I get lost). I'd been wondering just what William was learning at the Sunday School, but decided not to worry too much focusing instead on the habit of going to church and the elusive skill of sitting still for the eucharistic prayers. The later alone is an uphill battle! Since they always came back from Sunday School with a weekly "parents an me" sheet usually about that week's reading, I figured the two teachers must have some curriculum.

Today, I chanced to overhear a conversation between Wm and a four year old neighbor, who attends the other expat-oriented protestant church. He asked her some question, and she replied, "I don't know, I guess God made it that way." Then:
Friend: "You know about God, right?"
Wm: "Yes, we go to church, too."
Friend: "Well, did you know God - I mean Jesus - died?"
Wm: "Noo. Easter already happened. Jesus is alive again."
Friend: "Oh yeah. I forgot."

Anyway, obviously the Easter concept taught in Sunday School sunk in, and our endeavor to foster a general Christian awareness is taking some roots.  

Half way through

Hard to believe, but we're half way through our time in Manila -- even more than half way, once I consider the three months I'll be spending in the US for baby number three's birth. I still get anxious and a bit sad when thinking about HYD and the friends we left there -- maybe that's what's inhibited me from feeling like I've figured out how to "connect" with Manila and left me with a feeling that I'm just existing here (rather than really living here). In any case, here we are, in April 2012 with a scheduled transfer date of April 2013.

Since many family members have asked, I'll explain how we figure out where we go next. The first two assignments were "directed." This means we received a list of all possible jobs (over 100), which we evaluated based on logistical criteria (did the timing work so we didn't have a big gap between posts? would we go over the permitted 'time-in-training' limit?) and personal criteria (two jobs available? can the boys and Bagwelle come? what's the housing/school/child care situation? etc etc). We rank ordered about 25 assignments, and the career development office back in DC slotted us into our positions after considering the State Department's needs and our preferences (compared against all the other bidders' preferences).

From here on out, we "lobby" for our assignments. Meaning, after available jobs are posted, we start contacting various people to express our interest in the jobs we like (i.e., "lobby" for a position). This involves sending out resumes, working contacts, asking colleagues to submit "360 reviews" of our performance, and I'm sure some other aspects I have yet to figure out. We could stay overseas, we could go back to DC - just depends on what the options are, especially because we're looking for two jobs in the same city with relatively the same starting month.

The lobby process officially starts in August when the list is released ... but unofficially starts as early as May when bureaus start to post "projected" positions available. Around late September/early October, we submit our official bid list into the online system, rank ordered, so bureaus have a final list of who wants to go where. Then the bureaus offer "handshakes" - and if we accept a handshake, the assignment is submitted to (and hopefully approved by) "the panel," making us "paneled" into the job.  The exact timeline changes year to year, depending on when tenure and promotion announcements are made (since jobs and people are ranked by level, and bidding "at level" is evaluated differently than a "stretch" position).

If all goes well (i.e., we get a handshake we like), we should know by Thanksgiving where we're headed next. Otherwise, it's back to the drawing board to see what's left and where we might fit best. So, dear family, now you have the explanation of the lingo we'll be using this fall.