Pay It Forward

When I go on vacation outside the PHL I ask friends or relatives if I can stay in their place. This is huge savings in accommodation cost. So now that I am in a position where I can do the same, I never hesitate to say yes or even offer my place esp. to folks who welcomed me wholeheartedly in their homes.  Last year, here are friends and relatives who visited me in the Kingdom of Wonder  ....

Pregnancy Update

The last weeks of 2012 was full of mixed emotions. It was that time of the year when people are celebrating, having reunions with family, get togethers left and right. In my case, I decided to hibernate. Yes, I spent my vacation with families in Manila and Davao and did not do my usual meet-up with friends. I just didn't feel comfortable given my situation. 

My preganancy didn't progress. As soon as I arrived in Manila last Dec 22, I had an ultrasound. The result wasn't promising. My OB gave it the benefit of the doubt for a week. So from that time on, I already knew that it would end in misacarriage. So come Dec 29 when we headed to the hospital, I was ready to be admitted. True enough, the u/s didn't show any. I had an anembryonic pregnancy. My husband and I were talking about it ever since Dec 22 so we were physically, mentally and emotionally prepared this time. however the moment I entered the delivery room and changed my clothes, tears still rolled down my cheeks. A part of me is saying that finally my sufferings  will end (I was in bed rest for 2 months, I travelled in wheelchair...in short, physically I felt so useless, so helpless the past 2 months). At the same time it hurts to know that after all these sacrifices it would end up like this.  But in general, we are Ok. It helped a lot that I was surrounded by family -- the kind of emotional and moral support that I needed. If this happened in Cambodia, I don't know how I would be feeling.

The positive thing that came out of this is I am on maternity leave. Perfect timing to spend the remaining days of my vacation shopping, going to the derma, having my hair colored and most importantly playing with my nieces and nephew.  

I'm  back in Cambodia since last week and is busy fixing the house (literally and figuratively).

2 more nights

....and we're off to Manila!!!! Yipeee!!!!

Despite early bookings we made last Sept., there was an 80% chance of not going home.  Mid last week the plan was to rebook our tickets and it was only last Tuesday of this week that we finally made a decision to go with the original plan.

My pregnancy is the sole reason why our schedules almost got mixed up. I am experiencing a high risk pregnancy. I was diagnosed for the past 4 weeks experiencing threatened miscarriage as I've been continuously spotting. Plus my ultrasound results doesn't coincide with my LMP. The last 11 days showed a big big improvement as it suddenly stopped. It was one hell of a crazy month and I know I'm not yet in the safe zone.

One thing I learned from this experience is to live one day at a time. Worrying, speculating, thinking of what it could be are all useless mind activities. It's just stressful!!!!!!

So, as of this time I am just excited that we are going home soon. We are actually flying out Friday night but our connecting flight to Manila is still the following day. That gives me time to rest which is good given my condition. I hope nothing goes wrong and that it will be a an extra merry christmas for us :-)

New Finds

IBC Bookstore has a new branch along Sihanouk Blvd. Yehey! I don't need to go to Monivong anymore to shop for office supplies. Sometimes I just go there to window shop -- checking out what they have so that in case I need one, I already know where to buy it. 

Look what I found....

 

I wasn't planning to buy anything but I just luuuuuv the designs plus it's not something bulky so in case we move places I can bring it with me :-) 

Sweet Tooth

Even if there is a lot (like 5-6 of them in one street) of coffee shops here in Phnom Penh, I haven't found one that serves the kind of cake I like -- rich chocholate, moist cake. Until Secret Recipe opened I think some time in Sept-Oct. 

My friend from SG who went to visit me early this year observed that it's because local coffee shops use cake flour. Well, I am not into baking so I'll stop here... haha....

So even if Secret Recipe is quite far from my place, I really frequent the resto just because of their cakes. I already ate almost each kind except for the usual flavors -- black forest, tiramisu. Talk of calories and fat gained! 

Here's one of my favorites -- chocolate moist cake!

TOUS les JOURS

I don't know how to pronounce the name of this newly opened bakery here in Phnom Penh. I just call it "toos-les-dyoo-rs" hahahaha...

 

(they officially had their grand opening today)

They have good bread selections -- a lot of variety and one can buy in bulk.

 

So we ordered the following: fruit bread, ham croissant, 2 capuccino coffee and chocolate cupcake. Bread is really good. You know that it's freshly baked. 

 

 

Benefits of WFH

I am very grateful that the company I am working for allowed me to work remotely 100%. When I accepted this role, it was virtual in the 1st place. Since we have an office in the PHL I physically report to work 2-3x a week dependng on my schedule. If I have several calls, especially if I need to use a virtual room to share presentations, then I would usually take it in the office. Network connections are not 100% reliable at home. 

When the opportunity came that my husband got an offer to work here, me being able to work from Cambodia is a major consideration. So now after 14 months, let me share with you the advantages of this set-up:

1. no need to wake up very early in the morning just to prepare breakfast,  cook lunch (which you take to work) & prepare for work (yes, choosing clothes and putting on make-up takes up so much time)

2. you work in your PJs ...or whatever clothing you want, as comfortable as can be

3. multi task with household chores

4. if you feel you need to take some break, you can just lay down in the sofa and check on what's brewing on TV

5.  if you don't feel like responding to an irritating client, I can just click "away" status in chat...yeah, they won't be able to ask anyone to validate if I am around

6. you save on gas, parking fees :-)

Next time I will blog about the challenges I face. Of course it can't be a perfect world out there...so whatch out for it before you make your decision :-)