The Animal Shelter

Mourning Brucie has sometimes been difficult. But we are moving on by adopting another kitten. C. and I went to the local animal shelter yesterday to look for a female kitty. It will be easiest to introduce a non-dominant female kitten to a household with three adult male cats. Choosing was so hard. I wanted to take them all home, but I couldn't of course. We liked a very active white Siamese kitten, but he was a he and had a very dominant personality. Alpha cat in the making. Not a very good mix for our cats. We settled on Orion (reminiscent of the cat in Men in Black), a black kitten who had been at the shelter for almost two months.

While C. was doing the adoption paperwork, I wandered into the dog section. It looked a lot like the interiors of dog pounds usually portrayed in movies. It was a longing room with two rows of cages facing each other. On my left were cages in the "Not Walked" section and on my right were the "Walked" cages. It was very noisy. There was a family picking a dog and all the dogs were understandably yapping and barking. But in that cacophony of barks was a sorrowful, gut-numbing howl. A dog was crying somewhere. My guess was that this dog had a family once and is had either gotten lost or abandoned. I couldn;t take the sound even if I wondered what I could do for the dog. I just got out of there as fast as I could.

Morning Mumblings

WUNDERGROUND says today is forecast to be 3 degrees (Celsius) cooler than yesterday. I had an interesting dream..but now I've forgotten it. I think it had something to do with the anthology of Native American short stories I've been reading recently (by Sherman Alexie). Yesterday I saw little patches and lumps of snow that wouldn't melt. Parang tae ng kalabaw sa probinsiya! I think it's swell that we haven't had a massive snowfall yet. One can still go jogging in this weather, properly insulated. But when there is ice on the sidewalks, malabo na. There's that iffy period where you can't go running, but you can't go skiing either. All you can do is look for an indoor track to run or walk in or play tennis in that strange-looking tented bubble at the mall area. Or do yoga, if you do.

***
At the Thanksgiving dinner for international students yesterday, we got treated to a meal and a message (as C. says). I'm not overly familiar with the Thansgiving story. Last night, the church leader told us a mini-version. In summary, native americans took pity on the pilgrims from Europe because they were starving to death. And so they gave them food and taught them how to survive on the land. Thus the three-day thanksgiving feast that followed. C. told me that what is often not mentioned or thought of is that after the feast, or perhaps in the time that followed the feast, the pilgrims slaughtered the Native Americans.

I find it appalling, frankly. Only the pleasant, fuzzy-wuzzy aspect of the story is highlighted and celebrated year after year after year. The irony and the treachery is set aside, just as the Native Americans were set aside.

I am reminded of Aguinaldo having Bonifacio killed. Weren't the Kano in the picture then too? How chilling...

Taste of UMD 2005

YESTERDAY was a blur. A tasty blur nonetheless. I spent the morning preparing garnish for my dish. I made Bringhe (see Sun Star Manila Recipe), a Kapampangan fiesta dish. I had to cook it the night before and leave it in chilly ante-room because there wasn't enough space in the fridge. I have many good memories of having bringe during town fiestas and baptism parties in Pampanga. My first bringe wasn't the best, but it was good enough for a first try. Maybe next time, I should steam the sticky rice rather than boil it. Anyhoo, I hitched a ride with other International Club members to the Hope Methodist Curch on St. Marie Street. Cecilia helped set up the our table, which we shared with Malaysia. She brought some Indonesian decorations and I laid out some books about the Philippines.

Pinoy Corner
The other Filipinos, JR, Marc and two Christians arrived with Adobo, chicken macaroni soup and sweet bananas (which everyone thought was some kind of minced meat). Someone brought a Philippine flag, I forget who. We taped that up the wall with packaging tape. Marc asked me if the tape was from the Philippines (Pino-"po" ba naman ako! Kainis! Kahit I am probably 15 years older than he is, hindi pa rin ako sanay.). I was puzzled at the question. I later realized that I had brought the tape commonly used on the ubiquitous Pinoy Balikbayan box. I did not get to chat much with the other Filipinos I shared a table with. Only had a conversation with the Marc (ang magalang na bata from Arayat, Pampanga) and then a few words with JR as we brought an extra table to our area. The boys seemed a close-knit, tight-lipped bunch, only interacting with each other and their girlfriends and speaking with us if they needed to. It's pretty easy to slip into this kind of comfort zone when one is an international student. One can stick with one's friends for the duration of one's schooling in a strange place. But then what? One misses out on new friendships and new points of view. I have had to be conscious of this, this year. During my previous two terms, I only socialized with my EE cohorts which was nice. But this year I wanted to be among international students too. It doesn't really take much to say hello to someone before she or he does and to make sure everyone is introduced to each other.

Food Blur
All in all, it was a pretty good turn-out. We were serving food from 2:00 to 3:30 which was when the long line ended. We were advised to serve each person a table-spoon of food. It was, after all, a tasting event not a feeding event. Xiaowei passed by our table twice! Having seconds, eh! I kept snatching pastry balls from Hannah's (Malaysia) table. They were really good! C. arrived early so he subbed serving food while I ate with Cecilia. I loved the fried rice from the Chinese table. There were other kinds of food on my plate from other countries but since C. got some food for me, I had no idea which countries these were from. Brazil's dish was in a crockpot shaped like a football. I heard rave reviews of the food from Ukraine. The United States was serving Mac & Cheese and some kind of crunchy brownie. Not very exciting. I would have encouraged my fellow Filipinos to play some of our music, but loud music was already blaring from Africa and India.

Thinking of UP Diliman
This all reminds me of the International Residence Hall in University of the Philippines, Diliman. I wonder if the residents there ever had or have anything like this. Maybe they have getting-to-know-you parties for residents only. But I don't remember any kind of event that is open to the whole UP community. I had never been to any of their Open House parties because I knew no one who lived there. I do know that some residents of the International Center in UP never left the Philippines. Mommy Thai never left. I am not even sure if she is related to anyone who lived in that residence hall. But I know her little but very popular Thai canteen started there before it moved to that hole-in-the-wall spot along Katipunan Avenue. I wonder of that one is still there. And then there is that Middle Eastern canteen near the UP Swimming Pool where I first fell in love with Chicken Biryani and had the mysteriously-named dish "It's not what you think it is".

If I were to do it again
Next Winter, I may or may not be in UMD. That all depends on how my thesis progresses. But if I were to participate in Taste of UMD again, I would make sure I had a Filipino dress to wear. I'm sure purchasing something like that here in the United States would be super-duper expensive. I am hoping to go home for a visit before I graduate and then maybe get myself a nice baro't saya. I would also prepare a dessert instead of a main dish, then I wouldn't have to worry about keeping it warm. It would also already be in bite-size pieces so I wouldn't have to think about portions anymore. I don't know how to make these yet, but sylvanias, yema, pichi-pichi, and leche flan would be a good idea. They might be expensive to make though. Sapin-sapin would be nice to have, but I don't think Northerners are comfortable eating blue food. Oh and if one could find a cheap source of Philippine mango puree, mango juice would be nice to serve...if I were still in Duluth.


Ang Pinoy talaga, kahit saan nakadikit ang tenga sa celphone

Minnesota Surplus & Outfitters

Address: 1910 W Superior St.,Duluth, MN
Phone:(218) 727-1333
What: Gloves, mittens, boots, long johns, coats, wool socks, winter hats, camping supplies

Part of the experience of being an international student in Duluth is learning where to get what you need without a car. Those DTA schedules are going to be precious.

The ideal place to shop for winter clothes is Gander Mountain on Haines Road (for new stuff) and Goodwill Industries on Miller Trunk Hi-way (for second-hand bargain stuff). But those two places are out of the way and it will take at least two bus transfers one-way.

Minnesota Surplus & Outfitters is right beside the main DTA Transit Center on Superior Street downtown. The staff is friendly and helpful. And, although the store isn't as humoungus as Gander Mountain, you'll find most basic stuff that you need here.

Pumpkin: November 17, 2005

Jack O'Squirrel Food
Originally uploaded by Diliman Moon.

One rotting and squirrel-gnawed pumpkin: para sa aking maarteng kapit-bahay na parang nahihimatay raw kapag natatanaw niya mula sa kanyang bahay ang mga garbage bins sa kalye on non-garbage days. Muwahahaha!

And now, a motion-analysis of Meowsie.

Snow Fall

It is officially winter. Snow has been falling in gusts since last night. When I got in the house yesterday, it was 4 degrees Celsius. Now it is minus 5. The cats have not been themselves. Meowsie was whiny and vocal all day yesterday. Food did not quiet him. Cat nip did not. Even a few minutes of play did not. This morning he was vocal once more. Rascals, Brucie's buddy, has been quieter. Sparks, who likes to have lots of space when sleeping, wedged himself between Chris and I and Rascals last night. I wonder if they have realized that Bruce is gone and is not just on a short stay at the vet. I wonder if it's the weather. It is strange not having Bruce around. I keep expecting to see him curled up on his favorite spots (Rascals has taken over them).

Three inches of snow outside. I'll need to wear my snowpants to go to school today. And boots instead of my sneakers. Wunderground says:

"A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 4 PM CST this afternoon.

"Light to moderate snow will continue across northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin through the early afternoon hours today. Additional accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are expected... with a storm total accumulation of 3 to 6 inches.

"In addition to the snow... northwest winds will increase this morning to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph. The gusty winds will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow with reduced visibilities. The winds will begin to diminish this evening.

"A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibilities... and use caution while driving."

Goodbye Brucie

Bruce Of Louisiana
?-2005

Beloved Bruce
Gentle and sweet
He of the magnificent whiskers
Lap magnet, pillow-warmer
King of the head cuddles
You are loved and you are missed
Rest in peace, dear Brucie
"Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand."

Cultural Night in Superior, Wisconsin

I HAD always thought of Superior, Wisconsin as a drab, boring and dying town. Its main street is a row of bars and convenience stores that look like they don't get a lot of customer traffic. There does not seem much to do around town. Duluth has the DECC, the aquarium and the Canal Park. But Superior isn't at all Superior. It is more sad than superior.

Which is why I was surprised that there were so many international students at the University of Wisconsin-Superior Cultural Night. True, there were no Filipinos (that says something right there because Filipinos are just everywhere).

But the dinner and cultural show organized by the UWS international club was quite impressive. Around 200-300 people showed up at the dinner (only $8 with admission to the show). It was also obvious that a lot of work was put into the cultural show.

Many foreign students wore their national costumes, participated in the parade of national flags, performed song numbers, skits and dance numbers. I especially liked the Japanese mini-play about the Mysterious Rice Ball and the Singing Mice (I still can't seem to get the mice's song out of my head!). And I was very impressed with the First Nations Dance of the Fancy Shawl. I kept wondering, what do all these foreign students do for fun in such a boring town...Maybe they rehearse all year long for the cultural show!



I was with several other students from the UMD International Club. The UMD International Student Adviser, Karin Robbins, was there that evening too. She was wearing an Indian inspired dress. All evening I regretted not bringing a baro't saya to Duluth. Sayang talaga. Cecilia from Indonesia was there too. I met Christiana from Ghana. Nishit from Tanzania, Nitya from India, two guys and a girl from Nepal (their names escape me now), Taryn Karin's assistant, Chad an American and someone else who was originally from Sudan but had gotten his US citizenship a few days ago. One of the Nepalese guys chatted with me after dinner and told me he did his undergrad in Baguio City from 1998 to 2002. Imagine that! What a small world indeed. He even knew my home town and had played the casino there. The weird thing is, somewhere in the back of my brain, I may remember seeing his face on Session Road. And that may have been my last trip to Baguio, for a Firefly Brigade planning session.

I like events like this where one can meet people from parts of the world I have not been to and may never visit. It's probably the next best thing to actually being there. One also gets an excuse to present one's story and one's world just by smiling, saying hello and being. Sometimes, one's stories are familiar, sometimes they are new. And sometimes they are just stories one never dreamed of having, but have been there all along. On the tip of one's rice ball.

Innocent-looking Bed Lump

Innocent-looking Bed Lump

Meowsie Under Cover

Meowsie has developed his own ways of adapting to the Northland climate. He is quite adept at nosing his way under a blanket. We always have to be careful sitting down on beds, chairs and sofas. Meowsie might be underneath. He may look like a mini-polar bear (especially from behind), but Meowsie is a tropical weather cat. It's a good thing he has adjusted well. It seems he has thicker fur now.

Second Snow

IT is a blustery gray day, and we've just learned that Bruce (C.'s gray kitty) has a bad kind of cancer that has spread. It doesn't look good. He's been to the vet three or four times in two weeks and has rapidly grown weaker. It doesn't look like he'll make it to Christmas :(

I was not able to take care of my father when he was dying from liver cancer, but I have been able to care for Bruce. There were days when he was well and wanted to eat and it seemed that riding out the illness (which was un-named then) was a possibility. But there were days when he just couldn't eat even if he wanted to. He would come down for dinner, approach his dish, take a tentative sniff and then walk away. We knew it was getting worse when he started hiding under the couch, or under the bed. Cats are such heat hogs and Bruce has always been quick to snuggle on the warm patch of sofa after C. has gotten up. To see him crouch under the bed where cold air settles during the winter was to know that someting was terribly wrong.

Today, we had our second snow fall and it seems winter is here to stay.

Post-Halloween Post

Halloween was strange. I carved a pumpkin and put it some tealights in it and set it outside on the porch. C. bought some Reese's Buttercups for trick or treaters. The first kid that came knocking was a little girl with her mom, the next one was a little boy with Frankenstein make-up and he was there with his grandfather. I both gave them too much candy. Naaliw ako. I had never done this before. The next knocks were loud. I hesitated before opening the door. They were three young boys with no guardian around. And they grabbed at my candy even before I could give it to them. So rude! Nabigla ako. Another instance of my Duluth-complancency back-firing on me.

After that, C. brought in the pumpkin. We were keeping the last two or three buttercups for ourselves. No more treats from Apartment number 1925.