How is my phone changing me?

Or, how does your phone change you, too? 

Yeah, it is not just us that’s capable of controlling our phones. In many ways, it seems to be the other way around. When I tried asking Google of ways my phone is changing me, I found myself looking at countless results, mostly of religious connection. It was not bad at all, but I wanted to see something that specifically answers my questions.

And since, I cannot find the exact thing I was looking for, I decided to put together all the things I have realized so far as to the query, “How is my phone changing me”?

Have you ever forgotten your phone at home and felt perfectly uncomfortable the whole day at work? I did it again the other day, and I was quite restless. I was shocked to  find out this feeling is now referred to as NMP or No Mobile Phobia.

What??? My hydrophobia has proven enough to bear, so please no. Danke. (Thanks).

Most of the time, I put my phone to good use. In fact, it is where I can comfortably learn and practice German, talk with my husband,  check my emails, use maps when traveling, and communicate with friends and colleagues. I believe that is only to name a few.

So how is my phone changing me? 

It is one the first things I check in the morning. I bet you, too. How can I not think of it first thing in the morning when it wakes me up for work? I do not sleep with my phone close to me (for some obvious reasons), but it will be the first thing I will find the moment I gain my consciousness back from slumber. Most likely, I don’t want to push the snooze button, so I put it somewhere in the room where I cannot reach by hand unless I get up. The thing is, at times I wake up with a couple of messages and would start ticking the keypad right away. Of course, one message can lead to another and it sometimes end up eating much of the time I rather enjoy in the shower, breakfast or make-up. So yeah, it grabs time before you even realize it. 

It messes up with my posture. Is there anyone who uses the phone and raise it to the eye-level? As much as I try to do it, this doesn’t seem to work automatically, right? So, given that I am using my phone for longer hours in a day, doesn’t matter what the purpose is, it just causes me to slouch. More often than not, I feel it on my shoulders and neck. When I feel so, yet I am so engrossed in whatever I am doing (phone can be so addicting), then I will slouch on the couch, or the side of the bed, or worst, continue with what I am up to while I lay down. This leads to the next problem.

It strains my eye. Yeah, I think I have seldom seen people check their phone and watch it at the eye level. That is weird to imagine as it was like granny going techie. Of course, who wants to check their messages or play their games for everyone to see? I think the slouch helps protect privacy, at least from the less nosy. 😀 Or, perhaps, because I don’t want to increase my phone’s font size that enables me to see the texts from a good distance, I have to bring it really closer. Research says excessive use of phones or computer causes myopia, so I guess I know why eyes are problematic.

It has become my constant boredom killer. And so at this age, it is really funny to think of myself a techie junkie. I never had this attachment with TV, and was hoping the same for the laptop or my phone! Mostly, I fail.  What used to be periods of reading my favorite novels have become extended periods of clinking links and reading or watching countless things I didn’t intentionally want to watch. I still get to read of course, but it is now almost often done on the screen than on the page. 

It grabs my ZZZZZs. I always keep a limit as to what time I will go to bed, but every weekend, my mind seems to be conditioned to stay up. So, of course, I would cure the nocturnal sickness with my phone again. Often, I would say to myself that I only need 15 more minutes then I would go off. That fails again as you may have know too. Minute after minute, my brain can’t shut off and I ended up rolling from one side of the bed to another, trying to force myself to sleep. If it comes to worse, I will get up, reach for my phone, and try to play relaxation music on Youtube. So, the very thing that keeps me awake will now at least help me sleep. That’s ironic.

So, yeah, I guess I need to take more smartphone vacations often.  

 

Has your phone changed you too? If it does, how?

 

 

 

 

Craving for German food in Hong Kong?

As mein Mann and I were in Hong Kong, we were constantly walking around and see what TST has to offer for our stomach. There are lots of places to eat around Kowloon, actually. But, after the experience with the local Chinese diner, we vowed to try something more familiar from then on.  There is one German restaurant in particular which we went to almost everyday the entire time we were there.

I may say we stumbled upon Weinstube German Restaurant and Bar one afternoon while looking for a place to eat doner and kebab. We went astray on the small streets just beside Kowloon Park until we finally get to eat something Mediterranean at Kebab House on Ashley Street.  It actually looked like a dead-end street but there are many bars and small places to eat here. We went on a stroll down Ashley and we saw the place with a European name. It was too early to get some beer and we were too full to eat some more. We decided to just check it out and come back for a beer later in the day.

If you are from Nathan Road, here is how you can find the place.

Image from Google Earth

From Nathan Road, walk on Haiphong Street (directly beside Kowloon Park) for two blocks. Turn right unto Hankow Street and walk until you reached Ichang Street on your right. Walk another block and turn right again. Weinstube German Restaurant and Bar is close to the corner on your right. Go up the stairs and tadaaaa~!! 

So we went back to check out the beer after dinner. It happened that we were there on Easter Sunday and the place is almost empty. The area can accommodate about 30 people at once yet we got the place almost to ourselves, so we had the chance to enjoy a long conversation with Lala (we love you, Lala!!), the manager of Weinstube, and we found out that it is a long-established bar and restaurant that serves German beer and traditional German food. 

It has a nice and quiet atmosphere in the middle of a very busy area of Hong Kong and very much accessible if you stay around Tsim Sha Tsui.

Of course, the beer is excellent, taking it from mein Mann.

Ah… thirst quencher! Every German’s favorite. 🙂

 

We can highly recommend this to our fellow German-Pinay couples who are in Hong Kong for a vacation, or for getting married. This is where we had our lunch after the wedding ceremony and the paperwork at the consulate. (If you want some more information about getting married in Hong Kong, see here). If you are a German/Swiss/Austrian, this is a good place to forget about homesickness. Our food was good and prepared fresh.

 

With the ambience, I believe it can be a great, quiet place for a solo diner as well. The Deco is, of course, distinctively European and the menu reflects the same. It is also a good place to meet Europeans especially on a Friday or Saturday night. We had fun talking to other patrons on our last night in Hong Kong. Weinstube German Restaurant and Bar is a small place, which indeed makes it special. You’ll literally get the feeling that you are eating at a friend’s house. Other than the food and the staff, we love the atmosphere so much. The people just start to have conversations across tables despite being complete strangers. Like, how cool is that?

You cannot fail to notice that this friendly, cozy place is German/Austrian with the  international hint. It’s all pulled off close to perfection. ❤

 

What is the coolest restaurant you’ve been to? How was it like?

 

Why not forever?

via Photo Challenge: Transient

There are things in this life that exist within a limited period. Some are not durable enough to stand the tests of time. Or, some others were deemed to be unnecessary for long.

Though, in one way or another, there are phases we wish would be through quickly or have not happened at all, it seems like most of the beautiful things we can treasure comes with an expiry date. Even life itself.

The pain or disappointment brought about by the end of temporary things made me dislike the word. I mean, there are really things that we wish could stay forever, right? So, why do these beautiful things have to end? Or, why do the good times have to halt?

Nevertheless, we were born and eventually cease to exist one day. The normal cycle of life involves getting attached to people, and having to deal with growing apart from them. It’s just like taking care of the plant in your garden until you see it blossom, and sadly seeing its beautiful flower wither.

There are reasons everything is temporary. Or, there are factors that make people jump out of our life. But, everything will be rearranged and replaced. In the hearts of some people, we can even be replaced. We have to deal with it. Life can be likened to the tide that brings a beautiful starfish at dawn and wash it away at the end of the day. Do not be scared feeling like you are not in the right place and time.

As we live, there are things that are sent our way to strengthen or awaken us. You just have to be ready to take the ride. Have you ever thought that your determination and hard work aren’t taking you where you wanted to be?  It seems disappointing to feel you are not, after all, the right fit for whatever. But who knows, if you enjoy the ride and do not take it against yourself, you will be somewhere else the next day. Enjoy drifting with the tide like the log that survived the rough seas . Learn something new.

If we can choose, I bet we would all fight for the status quo of happiness, security, love and laughter. But, should we choose for life to be this way, do we even know how to be happy after all? To be appreciative of things we know won’t last? How will we feel about not having to experience adventures? Or have no growth at all?

Life is a ride, and it has many train stops. Your life might be a little messy now, but it’s not forever. Why not forever? Coz nothing can last this long. Even us are transients in this world. ❤

 

50 Questions Tag (All About Me)

I was too preoccupied with many things lately and finally had the chance to write something on my blog. However, the moment I clicked “publish”, I received a notification telling me I just reached 50 blog posts.

Yay! That was not really easy to get at this point.

I was not keeping an eye on the figures lately, except for the number of followers which seems to be adding up day after day.

Thanks to all of you guys!!!

So, since I just reached another milestone, I would like to do the 50 questions tag. 

Here we go~~~

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Nope, although there was an actress with the same name, I believe mine was the result of cutting short the target name. Thank goodness.. It would have sounded like I am a delinquent. 😉

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Yesterday when I saw the photos of army officers bidding their loved ones goodbye as they go on a mission.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Not really. I want it to look more calligraphic.

4. WHAT’S THE REASON BEHIND THE BLOG NAME?
It’s for documenting the love story with my husband and all the crazy, funny, strange things that happen in between.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
NOPE! Kinda working on it! 😀

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Of course…. I’d probably date myself too! (sorry hahaha)

7. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR HUSBAND?
While I was doing my online research on language analysis.

8. LOVE OR CAREER?
I would love to choose both…. but for now, I choose love.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Would love to try it but my husband says I just have a big mouth but will actually not do it. 😀

10. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOST?
Yes!! Another reason for my husband to tease me.

11. ANNOYING HABIT?
Overthinking

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
ALWAYS! More often than not, nothing can stop me! I do anything I set my mind into!

13. THING YOU DO BUT YOUR HUSBAND IS ANNOYED ABOUT?
Taking so many pictures hahhaha.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
I notice the gestures and the manner of speech.

15. WHAT WILL YOU DO IF YOU WIN MILLIONS IN THE LOTTERY?
Travel the world with my husband and build a free kindergarten

16. WHAT PART OF YOUR BODY MAKES YOU SELF-CONSCIOUS?
My leg with the scar

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My husband!!

18. DO YOU BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES?
Everyone deserves it..

19. FLATS OR HIGH HEELS?
I love both of them…. mostly flats

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Banana and mango!

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Edwin McCain’s I Could Not Ask For More

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
I would probably be blue green. I love the serenity of blue and the calmness of green.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Coffee and body spray!!

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My Bestie Wayne!!

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
I love mountain getaways as I live in a coastal city.

 

26. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WORRY NOW?
Moving to Europe will make me less independent in the first few months

27. FARTHEST DESTINATION IN MIND?
Antarctica… seriously.

28. ADVICE TO SELF?
Take it easy.

29. WEIRD COMMENTS YOU GET FROM PEOPLE?
Why I like going to school and study when everyone else are avoiding it.

30. LAST THING THAT MADE YOU LAUGH?
A colleague telling me she is wonder woman coz of her overloaded work sched

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy Endings! Though I sometimes like scary ones… only when I don’t need to sleep alone

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Wow…. I think that was Beauty and the Beast

33. FIVE PHRASES YOU ALWAYS USE?
Cool. That’s nice. Why not? Perhaps. Yeah.

34. FAVORITE SUBJECT AS A STUDENT?
I love history!!

35. THREE THINGS YOU HATE A LOT?
Lies. Manipulation. Insecurity

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Cheesecakes forever!

37. MOST TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE?
Two hours of riding a small boat in an open sea without a life jacket.

38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
Computer. I am not a TV fan.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Children’s Literature book

40. OLD STUFF YOU OWN THAT REMINDS YOU OF CHILDHOOD?
An old typewriter where I learned the QWERTY on

41. ANY TATTOOS?
Nope… love to see small ones on others but not on myself

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Chirping birds!!

43. INVISIBILITY OR THE ABILITY TO FLY?
Ability to fly please.

44. WHAT WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAM?
I wanted to be a lawyer

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can use both hands in writing.. not so good for the left hand, though.

46. FOLLOW YOUR HEAD OR YOUR HEART?
I mostly follow my head.. and heart goes second

47. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
5 feet, 5 inches

48. ZODIAC SIGN?
Virgo

49. FAVORITE AUTHOR?
John Grisham

50. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET READY IN THE MORNING?
An hour minimum

 

You guys inspire me to write here no matter how busy I can get! As you can see, from the photo above, I have 30 drafts waiting. 😀

I hope you had fun discovering something. 🙂 

Playlist of the week

As you know, I decided to make the most of my time while still in my hometown. One of which involves going back to teach at a university. This is something I miss a lot, and I only realized this lately. So, when one of my bestfriends asked me if I could take some lectures, I didn’t think twice.

One of the subjects I have to handle is  Children’s Literature. I was excited with the opportunity to not only impart the best practices for preschool teaching, but also with the fact it is really cool to be doing this all over again. I mean, who doesn’t like the joy children’s lit can bring?

But it also had some side effects on me. Out of the excitement and the preparations I have to do, there are songs that kept playing on my mind, non-stop, literally. Trying to put together the ideas, the links and the photos for my presentations would make me listen and rediscover the colorful songs I think many would relate to as kids. Over-all, they became part of this  week’s playlist.  Yes, they haunt me in such a funny way. 😀 

Here are some that have been playing on my mind at any random time of the day: 

First, with nurturing  joy and fun with math and rhythm

Now I am smiling at how many times a colleague had to practice the melody. 😀

The one that tells about consequence of being clumsy.

The one that teaches the joy of sharing…

The one that seems to be taking my head by storm and keeps playing especially when I am commuting to and from work… 😀

Of course, how could this very basic folk song gets forgotten?

 

My husband kept teasing me that I am teaching students how to sing and dance, which he said is the most common image he and his German friends have known about the educational system. When he has comments about my job, I would gladly retort with curriculum explanations that can go for hours. I would often mention about the costs of education and the consequences of this, and lots of blah blah. Of course, that would make him crack up before I could even finish the 10th line of my rebuttal.

Teaching literature to kids help in presenting books as sources of pleasant and valuable experiences while helping them make sense of what they hear, see or read.

It opens kids’ perspective of the world by using their imagination to explore people, places, times, and events beyond their own experiences.

Now, I am getting more and more excited to received the new book, #BabyLove: My Toddler Life, by Corine Dehghanpishe through Kelsey. Thanks to Meg of nocturnalmomtalks for the referral. ❤  Will be using it for the class’ literary work review. 🙂

Till next time, happy singing! 🙂

What songs kept on playing on your mind lately?