I know, I didn’t write anything for a long time, but be honest, who wants to read about somebody fighting with german bureaucracy? Because anything else didn’t happen here the last few months..

But what is the status? here are a few facts:

- I will arrive in Germany on 10.10.
- I don’t know yet if I will arrive with my family
- because the visa is not granted yet
- but I have to leave because my visa expires
- the dog will stay here because the EU has a list of countries which are trusted from where animals can be imported, and the Philippines - of course - are not on there. That means that the blood of the dog has to be sent to a laboratory in either Japan, Australia or Korea.. go figure
- I will have my B-Day party in Germany, details follow
- I miss the Philippines already
- I miss my family and friends as well, no question
- I will visit people with no advance note
- If I didn’t visit you until October 17th, please msg me

If one would ask me if I regret my decision, then the answer would be one of those rare occasions in my life when I could tell with 100% confidence this answer:

No.

I am happy for every minute which has been given to me here, may have it been sad or happy as the extremes showed they can be here.

Do I miss my family and friends? Yes.

Simply put, of course I miss my family and friends, and I will be happy to see them again.

But.. Would I change the last 2 years? No..

as simply put as before, I chose this life. I chose a life between the continents.. Not being here, not being there. And I am aware that my way of life will be passed on to my children… The only thing I ask for is that I hope that my children will forgive me for that heritage… that they wont be here and wont be there.. world citizens i guess…

Oh well, next week we will go to Manila (again) to visit the Embassy to do our last leg in this year long race. We will file for the Visa for Mai and Books. The goal is to move to Germany this summer, to continue our story there. 5 years is the goal, and after that heaven knows where we will go. The world is big, and it is open to us.

The only thing.. the only thing I missed here.. were the countless visitors from europe. You guys have another chance in about 5 years… don’t disappoint me ;)

this comic is the best that Microsoft published in like… ever! catch all of it here

but seriously, either you get the joke, or you are too young

Keine Deutsche version? schau dir die links rechts oben an

First of all, I updated my website. Some things are gone for now, the Now-reading list for example. I will check and see if I will add that stuff again. What’s new is that you can now change the language on the upper right corner. I think thats more comfortable for those who were annoyed about my switching back and forth between english and german.

But what’s up these days? Here’s a list, roughly sorted:

1. Work - have enough of that these days, as my clients can attest. which is good
2. Visa business - last week we went to Cebu, Mai had to attend a seminar about the dangers of emigrating and being married to a foreigner, before she gets a certificate with which she can get now her new passport. The idea of that seminar is pretty good, as there are negative examples where a girl moves to an older man, who is, lets say, social, emotional and character-wise challenged. On the other side, the useful informations (how and where to get help) where given on a piece of paper and the church operated institution which gives the seminar rather tried to scare the girls into not to move or marry at all..
3. TV - we got cable.. I only don’t have time to watch or can’t find anything
4. Star Trek - I re-descovered Starship Enterprise. Watched the last season of DS9, the last 3 of Voyager and are now in the middle of Season 2 of Enterprise, all of those I never saw because at that time I was already hooked on Anime and Japan. As well I watch Battlestar Galagtica, which I never touched before because I didn’t want to spoil my childhood heros. The real Adama has been played by Lorne Green after all..
5. Photography - I think I am getting better with the camera I got last year in Singapore. Thanks to the Internet and Literature I have it under control pretty well and can pretty reliably produce images as I want them. I am getting equipment now to extend on this hobby. I think I will start a small section here on my blog to write about, as so many others do, about the garbage I produce 6. Boracay - been to Boracay again a few weeks ago, will post pictures.

So much from me, everybody is healthy and well. Right now its the hottest time of the year, Summer. School is closed for holidays as well. End of April there will be a big Fiesta in town, 4 days of party. I will write about it then.

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

You remember, 2 weeks ago Mai did her German exam at the Goetheinstitute, because thats law now if you want to go to Germany.. And today she got the results back…

SIE HATS GESCHAFFT!!!!!!

SHE DID IT!!!!!

Gratulation an Mai, sie hat mit 75 Punkten bestanden!

Congratulations to Mai, she passed with 75 Points!

Hab mich arg in den Arsch gebissen, den ich hab meine Kamera daheim gelassen, weil ich dachte es gäbe nix zu fotografieren.. bis wir bemerkt hatten das unser Hotel uns in den 28. Stock einquartiert hatte. Der Ausblick, vor allem bei Nacht, war fantastisch, und ich hab mich nur laufend geaergert das das ding daheim rumliegt. Naja, Lektion gelernt…

Ansonnsten ist Manila noch so wie man es kennt; laut, smog und verkehr. Aber ich hab meinen Burger-king bekommen, und Mai hat ihren Frust weg-geshopped, da war das alles halb so schlimm
Mir ist dann noch ein N95 8GB (original, nicht aus Divisoria) so aus versehen in die Tasche gerutscht, das allerdings wo wir schon wieder daheim waren. In der Provinz ist das ding naemlich runde 5000Peso billiger. Und ne Karte von Boracay und Manila ist gleich mit drauf
Nach Boracay wollen wir bald wieder, entweder um die Prüfung zu feiern oder um selbe zu betrauern
We will know the results in about 2 weeks. Mai is not really optimistic, but we will see..

I cursed myself for leaving the camera at home because I thought there wont be a lot to shoot.. Until we realized that we have been quartered by the hotel into a 28th floor room with a spectacular view, especially at night, over the city. So I was constantly angry for leaving that thing at home. Well, lesson learned.

Besides that, Manila is still the city as it is famous for; loud, dirty and traffic. But I got my Burger-king and Mai shopped away her worries, so all was good
Then a N95 8GB (original, not Divisoria) accidentally dropped into my pocket, but that happened when we were already on our way back home, because that gadget is about 5000 peso cheaper in the province than in Manila. And a map of Manila and Boracay is included.

To Boracay we will go soon again, either to celebrate or mourn the test results