Life with the Kids

Every weekday, I cooked food for my cousins in the morning then accompany them in going to school. At 11 am, I fetch them to eat lunch, do some homeworks, play or take a nap and accompany them again at 12:30 pm. Their class is until 4 pm. While waiting for their class dismissal, I usually take a nap or browse the internet.

After my cousins have been brought home, they changed their clothes, watch TV, play outside or surf the net. At 6:30 pm, they should have cleaned their bodies ready to eat dinner. After dinner, I help them do their assignments or projects.

Teaching at Home

I am neither a teacher nor a tutor. I just teach my cousins and help them do their assignments and projects. I also help them review their books and notes to be prepared before their examination day. I often teach them English, Math and Filipino subject. Sometimes, my head is aching due to reading and finding out what are the best answers to their questions or assignments. I also have to read thoroughly which makes me feel annoyed. It just makes me feel sleepy and tired. I don’t want to bring back those times I need to study my books.

Our Backyard

You can see plants (herbs, shrubs, trees) everywhere inside our compound. It is like a park. A variety of fruit trees are scattered encircling the big house. The following are the tall trees I can name: 

1. Rambutan
2. Santol (Wild Mangosteen)
3. Lanzones
4. Mangga (Mango)
5. Saging (Banana)
6. Avocado
7. Bayabas (Guava)
8. Langka (Jackfruit)
9. Suha (Pomelo)
10. Guyabano (Soursop)
11. Kamias (Averrhoa bilimbi)
12. Kamatsili (Monkeypod)

We also have bell peppers, siling labuyo (bird's eye chillies), basil and oregano which are essentials in cooking Filipino dishes. Some vegetables are also planted on garden beds which I and my uncle grow and tend. It is very peaceful here in our backyard, there are many birds, butterflies and dragonflies flying and playing on the trees and the fresh air could make me sleep easily.

A Little Disaster

It was very noisy here yesterday night because the friends of my uncle came here to visit and they had a get-together. They drank and had a mini-party at the rooftop. There are some musical instruments upstairs so they also played those. 

It was a kind of reunion because some of the friends of uncle are working in Manila and election time is one of those days they can only see each other. It was past midnight when they finished their session. After that, I cleaned the studio room where they stay and the rooftop. It was kind of messy but had to clean up.