Happy Christmas to all

Here comes the major celebration again in countries around the world, "christmas day".

To my family in the Philippines: I missed you all. I believe that the best christmas gift for us is to be enjoy being together but so sorry cant make it this time. I hope on next christmas we will be all together. Even all of you are so far from me, but in my thoughts and in my heart you are so near. -Happy Christmas to you all-

To my friends:
Trusting, supportive, ever ready to lend a helping hand, and understanding a friend is all of these and much more. They are our confidant with whom we can share even our innermost feelings. A friend understands what troubles you even when you haven't uttered a single word. Its about time you thank your friend for being what he/she is - a wonderful companion you could not do without.. -Happy Christmas-

And to my dear readers and guest:
May the Christmas season
fill your home with joy
your heart with love
and your life with laughter.
-Happy Christmas-



-Happy Christmas to all-

Irene

Learn to speak dutch

As I am living now in the Netherlands, I am learning new dutch words everyday, as i try to speak it everyday in the dutch society.
In the very beginning it was very difficult for me, but tja it is handicap if you dont speak the language in the country where you are living or working.
I am happy i speak dutch now reasonable.
Below, some easy ways to ask for help with the dutch language.

1.I am sorry, I don’t speak dutch -

Het spijt me, Ik spreek geen Nederlands

2.I'm learning Dutch -

Ik leer Nederlands

3. I understand reasonable dutch -

Ik begrijp redelijk Nederlands

4. But I cannot speak it well -

Maar ik kan het niet goed spreken

5. I can speak Dutch but not good enough -

Ik spreek Nederlands maar niet goed genoeg

6. Do you speak also English and Spanish? -

Spreek je ook Engels en Spaans?

7. Can you repeat it for me please? -

Kun je dat voor mij herhalen alsjeblieft?

8. Can you speak slowly please? -

Kun je spreek iets langzaam alsjeblieft?

9. What does it mean? -

Wat betekent is dat?

10.I need help with the Dutch language -

Ik heb hulp nodig met de Nederlandse taal

11.How do you say that/this in Dutch? -

Hoe zeg je dat/dit in het Nederlands?

12.Could you pronounce it for me? -

Kun je het voor mij uitspreken?

13.How do you spell that word? -

Hoe spel je dat woord?

14. Can you teach me some Dutch? -

Kun je me wat Nederlands leren?

15.I find the pronunciation difficult -

Ik vind de uitspraak moeilijk

Irene

A long day

What a long and busy day yesterday at work, I start 9 a.m till 9 p.m with 1 hour
rest so I work 11 hours yesterday.

There was a big celebration yesterday with around 80 guest in the meeting room, the party ends at 4 p.m and luckily got a chance to have a one hour rest from 4 p.m till 5.
In 5 p.m I have to start again, and it was really a very busy again.. so much people ordering foods in the cafeteria and same in the bar and in the meeting room has another dancing party, can you imagine how busy it is? at 8 p.m i begin already to feel tired and i need really a rest.
So luckily at 9 p.m is not so busy anymore in the cafeteria so i will be able to go home.

Winter lips care tips and winter giveaways

Cracked lips are a common problem in the winter season. Lips need much care to be taken in the winter and hot seasons so I want to share all these useful tips here with you to provide you with best and easy methods to take proper care of your lips specially now in winter season.Lips are a sensitive body organ and the fact that we use them for speaking, eating and smiling, it is advisable to know the ways to take care of lips.
It is seen that seasons affect the lips as they are exposed to the elements directly and like hair need a lot of care.

During winters, it's largely the lips that bear the brunt. As lips have extremely sensitive skin, they appear cracked, bleed and seem to be unnaturally red, as the mercury drops.
Try out some of the methods given below to make lips look beautiful in winter.

1). Try to maintain the moisture level of the lips by using some lip balms.
2). Use natural lip balms other than lips products having chemicals available in the market.
3). If your lips are cracked and you are in pain, apply some ghee, butter or milk cream on your lips before going to the bed and wash it off in the morning. Doing this, you will cure your cracked lips very soon.
4). Don’t let the lips dry during the whole day and apply some lip balm on lips two or three times a day.
5). Remove lip stick before going to bed and apply lip balm on regular basis.
And for the completeness of my winter lips care tips you can get one labello lipcare from me for free to everybody who is interested wherever you are in the world.
Qualifications:
1. You must have a blog or a website.
2. You must be a follower of my blog( of course I’m going to follow you also.)
3. Put your comment that you are interested to have one free labello lipscare, please include also your email where I can be able to contact you.
4. Share my winter lipscare giveaways to your blog or website.

That’s how so simple as that.
This is first come, first serve basis only until for the first five who participate.
Get it now!



Irene
-------------------------------------------------------------
I am not advertising or paid any of labello products lipscare. All of this giveways are in my own cost.

Sint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) party

Sinterklaas is one of the important yearly celebration every 5 of December here in the Netherlands. It is not only an important celebration but a tradition too.

My very first time attending this celebration with my dutch family. It was exciting and joyful, everybody got a gift from Sinterklaas with a poem also.

For adult:It is actually everybody (the whole family) is preparing a gift for the whole family but the gifts you recieve you have not to know from who of the family is the gift coming from, assuming it is from sint Nicholas(sinterklaas).Sometimes you noticed it and have idea from who the gift coming from but sometimes you have no idea.

For kids: They got gifts with poems and they believe that it is from sint Nicholas (sinterklaas).

I got many gifts posted above and with two poems attached, I have to read first the poem, the poem is something to do with the gift, after reading the poem then, you may open the gift, show it to everybody, everybody is giving applause. I find it so great and interesting! Thank you so much sint Nicholas! (Dankje wel Sinterklaas!)

Christmas celebration

This is my fifth christmas not in the Philippines.
I'm usually visiting my family in the Philippines once a year but not in christmas season.
My sister is now start planning about organizing a small family christmas party, and hoping that we (with my husband) could join.
But its not that near fly to Philippines to celebrate christmas in there, hope the next christmas.
So, my sister is busy about, like what and who.
What will be the give-aways, or gifts?
What will be the games?
Who will contribute for this, etc.
I promised to contibute the letchon baboy. I have still small sister, the youngest and small nieces too so I am thinking to prepare some questions about geography and who can give the correct answer will got a prize! I think it will be interesting! of course I will contribute what will be the prize, at least even we're not there but do something to make the celebration more meaningful..
Can anyone has other idea?

free day

I have no work today so I have enough time cooking and baking filipino foods, blogging and housekeeping.

I baked today bitter melon (ampalaya) with eggs and salted tiny shripms(bagoong alamang).

I cooked also sinigang na salmon both are real filipino taste.

Since there is not much filipino shops in this country, I have to prepare it myself, luckily i can be able to buy some ingredients in the asian store 30 minutes drive from my place.

My day is complete after eating much of this! ( with rice).

My first winter

It is now the beginning of the real winter.

Everywhere is almost snow and white. The first day was exciting, sure when the snow begins and has to be outside, feel the snow... it's not so cold yet.

My dogs are exciting too, playing with snow and curious, even trying to taste the snow!

In the next day the snow is getting too thick and so cold, and not so exciting anymore :-(.

Dont like to go outside, and my dogs too.

I put now the heater always in high temperature, will be cost more energy but no other choice.

The same story in tropical country, using airconditioning for cooling.

Lumpia's I made today.

So i'm now nearly one month in my work.

We( my employer and collagues) are talking about food, If do I like the dutch foods, I answer, only some. Most of them likes asian foods. They decide to let me taste some dutch foods, likes crokketen, frikandel and more.

I should say that, its not my taste but not bad, I still prepare to eat with rice at least once a day is fine.

In the Philippines, we eat 3 x a day with rice until in the first time i'm in the other country, I have to adopt eating bread with butter in the morning, will be so happy if i got 3 x in a week rice.

It was in Kuwait, the very first world i enter, sure is so different country ( see my previous post about this country).

Now ok,back to the food tasting, they wants to taste the lumpia and have the recipe of it, so today I made those lumpia's above :-).

drinking coffee with dutch

Yesterday after my work, with my all dutch collagues drinking coffie together. They ask me if i want a cookie with my coffie, and said yes, if there is.
There are still cookies and I have to pick it myself in the place where it is, I bring the whole box of cookies to the table, and you know what they are saying? Oh! for a cup of coffie with one box of cookies... and i was not surprised, I mean I did bring the whole box maybe somebody wants some more cookies? It is really a dutch type, 1 cup of coffie and 1 piece of cookie. You think its strange? It's just normal for them.

99 tips in dealing with dutch

Here are the following rules when you are dealing with the dutch society. I find this interesting and helpful topic so i copied this from a blog of a friend.
This article can help myself more integrating in this country and some awareness when dealing with dutch people, sharing to somebody who are planning or wanted to stay or visit in the netherlands.

1. A firm handshake
Many Dutch people may think your handshake is weak. They hate a limp handshake. Dutch handshake seems intimidating and domineering.

2. Formal and informal forms of address
Most Dutch people will be offended if you use the informal 'jij' too soon. It is always the more important the two (the older one, the boss) who takes the initiative and says that the other can say 'jij'.

3. Keeping their distance
When talking to you, Dutch maintain a greater distance than you are accustomed to. They do not touch each other while having a conversation.

4. Being on time
Dutch people often keep track of the exact time. And they are generally punctual.

5. Letting the other finish speaking
In the Netherlands, it is considered good manners to let the other person finish what he is saying. Dutch consider it polite.

6. "Yes" means 'yes' it's a commitment
If you ask a Dutchman something and he says 'yes', then he's made an agreement.

7. Verbal and nonverbal communication
The Dutch pay most of their attention to your actual words. They don't hear the intonation that you use when saying something.

8. Dropping by unannounced
The Dutch almost never visit each other without making an appointment first, even with close friends.

9. Taking flowers with you
In Holland, visitors frequently take a bouquet of flowers when they visit. It is particularly important to take flowers if you don't know the people very well: this is to make a good impression.

10. You won't automatically be asked to stay for dinner
If you visit a Dutch family at around 5:30 p.m., the chances are you will not be asked to join them for dinner. Lack of hospitability? It's just the way they are.

11. Not everything revolves around food
The Dutch say "what we eat doesn't really matter as long as there's plenty of it"

12. Enjoying yourself seems to be a sin
Many Dutch seem to find it difficult to enjoy themselves - it is as they consider having fun to be a sin.

13. Act normal!
To many Dutch men and women, it is a virtue to just to be normal and blend in with the crowd.

14. Who pays in a cafe or restaurant?
When the Dutch go out to eat together, it is quite usual to 'go Dutch': everyone pays for their own food and drink.

15. Annoyance if you speak your native tongue
Dutch people will find it extremely annoying and inappropriate if you converse with others in your native tongue in their presence.

16. Family ties are less important in the Netherlands
Grandparents, aunts and uncles no longer play an important role in their lives. It's the direct family that has priority, not the extended family.

17. Everything in life is carefully planned
The Dutch lead very planned lives. This makes the Dutch feel comfortable: nothing unexpected can happen.

18. The weather
If you want to strike up a conversation with a stranger, talk about the weather: you can't go wrong. Complain about the weather, not say how lovely the weather is.

19. Adorable little rogues
The Dutch find it amusing when children make cheeky remarks. They think that's a healthy precocity.

20. To bed on time and no playing outside after six
To the Dutch, 'bedtime' is an important aspect of raising children. Dutch children go to bed on time, not five minutes late!

21. Sex
Sex is discussed more openly in the Netherlands than in many other countries.

22. Whistling at women on the street
Dutch males consider it unseemly to whistle and call after women.

23. Showing that you want sex
The Dutch usually show that they want sex in fairly indirect way. "a cup of coffee" This is a kind of code language.

24. Do Dutch women seem unfeminine to you?
Many Dutch women find it silly and overdone to wear nail polish on daily basis, to wear perfume, skirts or makeup and to pay too much attention to clothes and so forth in general.

25. Breasts or buttocks?
Dutch male is more of a 'breast man' than a 'buttock man'.

26. Relationship: understanding, respect and love
Dutch people want partners who really listen; they consider mutual understanding and respect for one another's feelings to be important.

27. How do the Dutch move their bodies?
Compared to many people, the Dutch have stiff and angular body movements.

28. "Come in"
Your Dutch host will not welcome you formally. You might find this manner of receiving guests uncivilized and rude, but to the Dutch this is simply a relaxed way of greeting visitors.

29. Coffee
Coffee is an essential part of Dutch life. When the Dutch invite you to their homes, they often promptly serve a cup of coffee or tea. Is this a hint that you should not stay too long!

30. 'Gezelligheid'
Along with coffee, another essential ingredients of Dutch society is gezelligheid.

31. At the dinner table
Dutch table manners might be different from what you're used to.

32. Television
When you visit Dutch people at home, they normally turn off the TV, this is a sign of good manners.

33. Give my regards to your wife
This is just to show that he has not forgotten his friend's wife even though she is not there. It has no sexual connotations.

34. Helping a woman into her coat
The Dutchman performing this ritual considers it a very polite gesture.

35. Adapting to life in Holland
The Dutch sometimes say that foreigners should adapt to the way of life in Holland.

36. Dogs and cats
Pets are important to many Dutch people. They aren't as important as a child, but if a pet dies it is mourned by it's owner. and it is often buried or cremated.

37. Religion
To many Dutch, religion is not very important.

38. The left hand or the right?
In daily life, they use both hands for everything. they won't understand why you feel offended if they simply happen to have handed you something with their left hand.

39. Pork or beef?
Most Dutch eat any kind of meat.

40. Conversations
The Dutch feel that conversations should process calmly. Even when disagreeing with each other, they like to maintain their composure.

41. Getting straight to the point
When the Dutch want to discuss a difficult topic, the usual approach is to plunge right into it.

42. Direct language: contradicting one another
If the Dutch do not agree with something, they sometimes make this known in a very direct way.

43. Telling the truth versus lying
Honesty may very well be the characteristic the Dutch value most in themselves.

44. When do the Dutch not tell the truth?
Though Dutch think of themselves as always telling the truth, this is not the case. They still lie.

45. Arguments and opinions
When you ask the Dutch for their opinion, they start by giving you their opinion, and then follow it up with supporting arguments.

46. Why?
Dutch people very often ask "Why is that?" That is quite normal in the Netherlands.

47. Asking for promotion
Many Dutch people ask literally for what they want.

48. I don't know
The Dutch do not find it impolite or impertinent if you tell them that you don't know something.

49. Do they always want to stand out in the crowd?
Most Dutch would actually prefer not to draw attention to themselves. But they were taught at a young age that it's important to have opinion on all sorts of topics.

50. Arguing and making threats
During arguments, most Dutch people reduce the level of emotions in their gestures and words.

51. An arguments has to be cleared up
Many Dutch will want to talk the through arguments thoroughly first, and only when then will they let bygones be bygones.

52. Mother
Dutch people don’t understand why you suddenly get so angry if your mother is insulted. They love their mothers too, but they stay much calmer if something negative is said about their mother.

53. Not too enthusiastic
The Dutch are not very profuse in their reactions.

54. Taking the initiative
The Dutch consider it very important that people take initiative themselves instead of waiting until someone asked them to do whatever it was.

55. Making jokes about the royal family
The Dutch regularly make jokes about the royal family. But they are less inclined to accept the same thing from you as a foreigner.

56. Teasing
Usually when the Dutch tease each other they don’t mean any harm.

57. Emancipated women
In Holland, women are allowed to do just about everything that men do.

58. Wives and daughter
Dutch men don’t think their wives and daughters constantly need the protection of a man.

59. A woman boss
People in Holland who want to be progressive act as if it’s perfectly normal to have a woman boss.

60. The ‘me’ and the ‘we’ cultures
Dutch society is often called a ‘me culture’. A few examples:
-If you ask a Dutchman if he believes in God. He’ll stop to think about it. This means that everyone will give a different answer
- Dutch people do not strike up conversation with strangers at the bus stop. Most people don’t say a word in the train either.
- In the bus or train, most people look for a seat as far away from others as possible. You hardly see any people sitting together!
-In general, the Dutch don’t mind being alone for a while.

61. “Let the police tell them to stop”
In your former country, everyone could correct other people’s children in the street. That’s no longer accepted in the Netherlands.

62. Body contact
In Holland, strangers do their best to avoid touching each other.

63. Dutch friends do not always have time for you
Dutch friend might say “I don’t have time for you tonight.” That doesn’t mean he’s cross with you.

64. Reluctance to be a nuisance
This means refraining from talking too loudly in the waiting room or the train.

65. Indirect orders and instructions
“Nobody’s going to tell me what to do!”

66. “You must help me”
The Dutch are particularly allergic to the word ‘moeten’

67.”Don’t be silly”
This expression is always meant in a kindly way.

68. Now you’re really one of us
There are a number of words and expression that the Dutch don’t expect you to be familiar.

69. What do they talk about?
In Holland it is not acceptable to ask how much a person earns, even if it’s someone you know very well.

70. How to ask for something nicely?
Dutch people always use a ‘descending’ intonations.

71. Movements and gestures
If a Dutchman wants to tell you you’re out of your mind, he’l l point to the middle of his forehead.

72. How do the Dutch tell each other off?
They don’t say that something isn’t allowed, they ask a question!

73. Looking into each other’s eyes
The Dutch find it quite normal to maintain extended eye contact during conversation.

74. Confessing to the crime
If a Dutchman is caught stealing, he will usually admit to the theft.

75. First a warning, then the punishment
In the Netherlands, it is quite common not to punish someone the first time he breaks a law, but to let him off with a warning.

76. Showing remorse: “I won’t do it again”
A person who feels remorse wishes afterwards that he hadn’t done what he did.

77. Aren’t there any social values in the Netherlands?
The Dutch cannot tell you what their values are, because they are usually unwritten rules.

78. Smacking your lips at the table
‘Table manners’ They find it really irritating if you smack your lips.
79. Outings
It will be much appreciated if you go along, even if you think it’s rather peculiar custom. It will really mean you belong.

80. Are the Dutch unpredictable?
This is probably because you are still unfamiliar with the Dutch customs, norms and values.

81. Dutch history
The Dutch do not know very much about their history. They are not very interested in it.

82. Insurance
The Dutch seem to be afraid of the future. Several insurance.

83. The telephone
The Dutch always begin by telling you their name. Saying just “Hello” is rude for them.

84. Meetings
The Dutch have very fixed approach to conducting meetings.

85. Anti-German
Germans attempted to flee back to Germany as WWII neared its end on bicycles stolen from the Dutch.

86. Belgians
Every country has jokes about a particular group of people who are reputed to be particularly stupid. The Dutch assign this role to the Belgians. The Belgians in turn tell jokes about Dutch stinginess.

87. Having or sharing
Many foreigners say that the emphasis n the Netherlands is on having, that the Dutch are not inclined to share.

88. Keeping business and private matters separate
In difference of opinion or disputes, the Dutch find it important to make a distinction between business and private matters.

89. Expressing emotions
The Dutch do not find it easy to express their emotions.

90. The birthday calendar
Many Dutch have a ‘birthday calendar’ at home, birthdays of family and friends are noted on this calendar.

91. Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas (the feast of St. Nicholas) is an important time for the Dutch.

92. Christmas and the New Year
If you want to make a very Dutch impression, send New Year card in December.

93. Here’s to your health!
In the Netherlands, a person’s health is very important.

94. The wish list
On the list, they write down what they want to receive.

95. Unwrapping presents
Not opening it gives the impression that you don’t care, but opening it looks like all you’re interested in is finding out exactly how much money the other person has spent you.

96. Living together
Common practice for Dutch couples to live together before marriage.

97. Family celebrations are contracted out
The Dutch will pay for the restaurant to prepare a meal or organize the celebration from the start to finish.

98. Saving stamps
More stamps, more goodies

99. Frugality
WASTE NOT

My first day of job

My first day of job and my very first job here in the Netherlands was mixed feelings of excitements and nervous, as how my collagues and boss would be. Everything was very good organized, the only thing is the pressures to know everything like products and machines operations,the language, sometimes i'ts hard to understand them if they speak so fast. I work in bar and restaurant with a combination of meeting room for any speacial occations like birthdays, wedding and etc.
I have many collagues, trying not to forget their names, luckily most of them have not so difficult names that I could easily can keep it because I always ask, ask and ask everything I should know.
Happily, my boss and collagues has a good first impression on my ability to work.
What about you? Maybe you can share your experience of your first day of job too? Thank you for sharing.

Portugal

Portugal
A country located in the southwestern Europe on the Iberian peninsula. bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. Capital city is Lisbon and the official language is Portuguese with a population of 10,707,924.
My husband and I visited Portugal last September 2009, sorry for my readers this post is too late as I’ve been so busy for many things, I will try my best to keep this blog updated.
We we’re in Porto the country’s second largest city, have seen the interesting places in the whole city.
Its nice also to have a walk in the city and you’ll see the nice old buildings and to the river you can choose to have a cruise along the Douro river.
Right next to Porto, We visited also in Vila Nova de Gaia, there where the Port wine is blended and aged and where you can taste the different varieties.
After Porto, we went to the mountains, to visit the son of my husband, and while on our way, I enjoy the wonderful views from out the mountains.