10 Random Facts Meme

I got a meme from wanderlust Sha, a Filipina based in Greece (at least for now), who has indeed a penchant for traveling, cooks delectable meals and takes great photos. So here it goes, 10 random facts about me:

1. I am a bit of a hyphochondriac. I don't know if being surrounded by medical practitioners during my growing up years contributed to this state.

2. I almost pursued becoming a lawyer but my father discouraged me because in his opinion, there are more than enough lawyers within our family. However a lot of my friends (and my husband too) say that I tend to argue like a lawyer. I guess it must be in the genes. 3. My bestfriend in kindergarten is still one of my bestfriends to this day. 4. I am considered tall for my generation and for a Filipina. Growing up, it was difficult for me to get attracted to Pinoy men because of their height, and who knows perhaps the feeling was mutual! I also had difficulty looking for shoes, I was a size 8 1/2 by the time I was thirteen. I only appreciated high heels when I lived abroad. I am happy to note that the younger Filipino generation is growing to be taller, that I would now be considered fairly above average. Living in the Netherlands relegated me into just average. 5. I went to Bschool to fast track my climb to the corporate ladder and with the hope to make more money (I was younger and more idealistic then). I became a corporate slave but after several years got fed up with agonizing over other people's money. At one point I decided it was not worth losing sleep managing other people's wealth...if it were my own perhaps it would have been more fun and fulfilling! I would have equally made money if I just married my rich Venezuelan or Argentinian classmates in Bschool :-) 6. I am a certified Mama's girl and a Lola's girl. I treat my mom like my bestfriend, and my Lola as my mother. My mom and lola are my role models, and my desire is to establish the same relationship with my child when I too become a mother. Although my lola died a year and a half ago, I still see her in my dreams. 7. I used to play the piano and regret to this day not pursuing this hobby because of my rebellious teenage streak. Whenever I go home for my yearly visit, I always make it a point to play the piano, which is the same piano where my mother and lola learned how to play. 8. I used to be a kitchenphobic. There is no doubt that I have so much interest in food, love food and I like to try different cuisines--only If someone else would cook or if I eat out. I used to cook for survival. It took a British to teach me to fry a perfect sunny side up, a Colombian to show me how to prepare a pasta dish, a Japanese to boost my confidence to learn how to cook Adobo, and a Dutch husband to show me how to cook rice without using a rice cooker. There is indeed a time for everything, and now I can say that my recipe collection is gradually getting wider. Not suprisingly, I have so much high regard for people (like my husband) who can cook. 9. I have to eat sinigang at least once a week. Fortunately, my husband loves sinigang that he doesn't mind having this every week. 10. I have been nicotine free for a year...and surviving. I sometimes even find myself getting upset when there are no designated areas for non-smoking.