First step towards driving here in Canada

A lot of people ask me why I don't drive here in Canada (since I am driving naman in Pinas) and here are the reasons I would normally give:

• I don't need to drive since I am "just" a stay-at-home mom (Where will I go? Nathan rides the school bus to and from school)
  
• Our car is manual transmission and I only know how to drive automatic
• The moment I get a driver's license, our car insurance will automatically go up with the assumption that I will use it (even if I won't since it's manual)
•  For me to be able to drive here, we need to buy a new car (gastos!) and the cost of insurance will cost an arm and leg.
  
• The husband is really masipag in driving so I have no problem with mobility
• I am naturally a tamad driver (I won't drive if there's someone who will drive for me) 
  

Seven years! I've lived here in Canada for more than seven years and it is only recently that I had the urge to drive. Medyo naiinggit na rin kasi ako sa new-found friends/amigas ko (haha!). Plus Nathan's asking me na rin kung kelan ako kukuha ng license so I can bring him to school sometimes (naiinggit din siguro sa classmates). Ford's also decided na to buy a new car kaya may magagamit na ako. We'll be selling our old car Subaru since hindi na rin naman gaanong nagagamit (Ford's been given a company car). Nanghihinayang talaga ako kasi kung automatic lang yun, matagal na rin siguro akong nagda-drive dito.

Anyway, the plan of driving here was just a plan until I accidentally watched a youtube video about a fellow housewife who suddenly lost her husband last December. As she was totally dependent on him, ang hirap talaga. Ni hindi siya marunong mag-drive!

Shaiks, the story of my life! The seven past years, naging totally dependent din ako sa asawa ko! To the point na pati driving nga na ginagawa ko since I was 18 eh "kinalimutan" ko na. Narealize ko na paano na nga kung may mangyari? Kawawa talaga ako pag nagkataon.

That very night of February 25, 2021, ayan nag-book na kami ng knowledge test sa ICBC! Sa May 15, 2021 pa ang test schedule but at least meron na.

After I pass the test, pwede na raw akong magdrive basta may under supervision of a qualified driver (i.e. my husband). Bigla akong na-excite! After practicing, Ford will enroll me daw in a driving school para mas maging prepared ako sa road test.

I just wish that ICBC accepts my driving experience in the Philippines kahit na more than 7 years na nga ako dito. I will argue na lang na umuuwi naman ako sa Pinas every year (except last year because of Covid) and I still drive there. In fact, I still have a valid driver's license (which will expire nga lang this August 2021). Naku goodluck talaga sa akin!

It might take several road tests bago ako makapasa. Normal naman yun dito kaya I am not expecting na makakakuha ako kaagad ng driver's license sa first try. Natataranta pa naman ako kapag may nagge-grade sa akin (sino bang hindi?). Pero I will keep on trying. First step ko rin kasi yan towards independence. Kapag nagda-drive na ako, there's a better chance na makahanap ako ng part-time job. May option na rin ako na makapag-aral uli sa actual school dito. Kaloka ang daming plans! I am keeping the faith. 

I'll update you sa susunod the driving adventures ko. Ciao! =)

Property Tax 2020

Hay, another big gastos! We received na our property tax notice two days ago, kailangan ng magbayad on or before July 2, 2020.

This is one of the drawbacks of owning a house, may property tax na kailangang bayaran. Naalala ko tuloy when we were just renting in Surrey, ang dami naming extra money lol. Rent at electricity lang kasi ang binabayaran namin. Naisip ko na nga rin noon, what if hindi na kami bumili ng bahay forever? We can save a lot! Pero syempre at the end of the day, doon pa rin kami sa magkaroon ng sariling bahay. Iba ang sense of ownership eh, parang feeling mo may lugar ka talaga sa mundo. Pero syempre, you have to 'pay' to experience that feeling.

At eto na nga, it's the time of the year again. My husband opted to pay our property tax once a year na lang para isang gastusan na lang. Pwede rin kasing gawing monthly yan para hindi mabigat (katulad ng ginawa namin sa previouse house namin sa Edmonton).

Are you curious kung magkano ang 2020 tax nitong humble abode namin? Sige disclose ko na tutal wala naman gaanong nagbabasa nitong blog lol.

It's $1,841.86 or approximately Php73,000+.  If you divide it in 12, $153.49 (Php6,140) per month.

Actually dapat $2,686.86 talaga ang tax pero mayroong Home Owner Grant dito na tinatawag wherein makakadiscount ka ng malaking amount if you use the property as your primary residence. Kaya ayun, nakatipid kami ng $845.

Nagkausap kami ng friend ko from Edmonton and I was shocked that they are paying $3500+ yearly tax for their single detached home na may value ng at least $100,000 less than our townhouse. Ang alam ko kasi, based sa assessed value ng property ang tax. So ibig sabihin mas mahal property tax sa Alberta kesa British Columbia?

Ooops, by the way, every year we receive din a Property Assessment Notice. Nakalagay dyan kung magkano na ang current "value" ng property mo at dyan din bine-base ang tax amount syempre.

The value of our townhouse decreased by 5% this year. In general, bumaba talaga ang value ng lahat ng properties ngayon due to many factors -- law of supply and demand, government policies in home-buying, etc. Tapos siguro next year mas bababa pa dahil sa Covid?  Pero ayos lang yan, wag na lang pansinin tutal hindi naman ibebenta pa. Tataas uli yan later on.

To return or not to return?

My friend Juris called me this noon, asking if I will allow Nathan to go back to school this June 1. She got a call daw kasi from her daughter's school, nagtatanong na daw kung papapasukin si Zoey.

Hay, I don't know! I was actually surprised when they announced last May 15 that BC schools will already "open" this June, but attendance is voluntary.

March 13 pa huling pumasok sa school sina Nathan. Last day talaga yun ng school before their two-week spring break. Pero yun nga, hindi na sila nakabalik ng March 30. Nagtuloy-tuloy na na walang pasok because of this pandemic.

I was so heart-broken. Nathan's in kindergarten at first time nyang school (no preschool). He really enjoyed it so much. Tapos yun nga, na-cut short bigla. Six months pa lang siyang pumapasok tapos wala na uli.

After some time, natanggap ko na rin na hindi na nga sila makakabalik this school year. Malungkot but we have to move on. Lahat naman apektado ng Covid-19 at kailangang mag-adjust.

Kung kelan naman nga ok na, saka naman sasabihing pwede na silang bumalik uli sa school, albeit twice a week lang.  Waaah, binigyan pa kaming mga magulang ng problema! Paano na nga ba?

Kung tutuusin, hanggang June 25 na lang naman talaga ang school year so ilang araw na lang din silang papasok. Many parents tuloy are mocking the BC Government, bakit papapasukin pa kung matatapos na lang din?  Ako naman, there's part of me that wanted closure for my son's kindergarten class. I still want him to spend time with his teacher and (some) classmates. He's bored na rin dito sa bahay and he really wants to go back to school. I also feel na hindi naman siya talaga nakakapag-aral nang maayos dito sa bahay via remote learning (I'll write our experiences about this in a separate post) kaya mas ok kung pumasok na lang siya uli.

Pero hindi nga ganun kadali, di ba? We are still in the middle of a pandemic, hindi pa rin nawawala ang virus. We're lucky kasi hindi ganun kalala ang Covid cases dito sa BC (only 2,467 cases and 149 deaths as of today) and na-flatten na nga raw ang curve, pero syempre hindi mawawala ang fear. Pababayaan ko bang mag-isa na lang sa eskuwelahan ang limang taong gulang kong anak samantalang nandito lang naman ako sa bahay? Health and safety is our utmost priority syempre.

Hay, Juris and I still have ten days to think about it. Kayo, ano sa tingin nyo? :(

Jollibee in Vancouver?

In the midst of the Corona pandemic, one "good" news put a smile on my face -- magbubukas na raw ang Jollibee dito sa Vancouver!

This was posted by pinoy-canada.com last March 23, 2020:

Apparently, the first location will be in Grandville Downtown Vancouver daw and they will open around winter time.

I was a bit skeptic so I continued googling and found out that they indeed were starting to recruit people na for certain positions at the store.

I posted this on my IG Stories last March 24, 2020

Grabe, I was so happy! I am a Jollibee girl at talagang I planned on eating at Jollibee every weekend. Never mind that it's in Downtown (about one hour from home), keri na yun. At least hindi na kami magko-crossborder para makakain lang ng chickenjoy. Every weekend kasi kapag lalabas kami, we don't know where to eat anymore. Hindi nga kasi kami foodie, we don't like experimenting with food. We'd be happy na to eat palabok, spaghetti, yum burger, and chickenjoy alternately on weekends. Hindi healthy, I know, pero ano bang pwedeng kainin sa labas na healthy talaga waaah. Please don't suggest salad lol.

So yun nga, looking forward na talag aka sa winter. Kaso at the rate things are going with regard to the virus, kinakabahan ako. Most businesses today are in crisis. Tapos nabasa ko pa ito:

Ayan, derailed by virus daw hay. Mukhang mauunsyami ang Jollibee ko. Ang taas ng cost mag-business sa Vancouver sa totoo lang at parang hindi wise ngang magbukas ng restaurant sa ganitong panahon. At hanggang walang vaccine, ipa-practice ang physical distancing for sure. Kaya hindi makakapag-operate ang restaurants in their full capacity. Tsk.

Bakit nga ba ganun, kung kelan abot-kamay na saka naman mawawala uli. Paasa. Sana si Covid na lang ang mawala forever.

My heart is still hoping though, na magkakaroon na talaga ng Jollibee dito sa British Columbia. My friends in Edmonton have long been enjoying chickenjoy and yum burgers na eh, saka kami rin dito.

Booster Shots

We moved here in British Columbia when Nathan was almost two so all his infant vaccines were done in Edmonton. We were told then that the next vaccination is when Nathan turns four.

We had to google kung paano nga ba ang immunization system dito sa BC. That's the thing about living here in Canada, iba-iba ang health system ng bawat province. Medyo mangangapa ka talaga kapag lumipat ka.

There is a central number per area here in BC that you can call to book an appointment. Sobrang tagal nga lang mag-antay ng sasagot so better choose their "call back" option. After a few hours, tatawag din sila.

I first called in January and asked for an appointment kaso they don't have a record yet of Nathan's immunization history in their system so I have to email it first and wait for two weeks. I emailed it and after a few weeks (I sort of delayed the call because it was super cold in February, ang hirap mag-bus going to the clinic), I called the hotline again and got an appointment for March 8, 2019. I chose their Langley clinic kasi one-ride away lang from our house.

Days before the appointment day, I was explaining to Nathan what will happen. Sabi ko sasaksakan siya and it will hurt a bit. He loves to play doctor-doctoran so he know what "shots" are. Very calm lang siya, parang wala lang. Mas kinakabahan pa nga ako, parang ako ang iva-vaccinate. I was actually very anxious because when he was still a baby, palaging kasama si Ford kapag binabakunahan siya. Si Ford ang tagahawak dahil nga nagpa-panic ako. Naisip ko, hala paano kapag nagwala si Nathan sa clinic?

We arrived 45 minutes before the appointment time. May mga narinig kaming batang nagsisigawan at nag-iiyakan kaya na-praning na naman ako. Pero eto siya, haping-happy pa. Relaxed na relaxed at panay pa-picture pa.

Na-accommodate din kami agad kahit maaga pa. The nurse was very nice as usual, pero si Nathan talagang very brave. Though shy, he was listening to her. Sinabi rin niya na" "I am not scared."

True enough, ang galing niya. I held him bago siya tusukan and instructed him to look away and close his eyes. Pero ang bagets talagang tiningnan pa ang pagtusok sa kanya. Wala akong nakitang fear sa kanya. Ako pa nga ang medyo kinabahan. Two shots and it was done. The nurse was so impressed, siya daw ang "best kid" niya that day.

The nurse made him choose a sticker. Eto ang pinili niya.

As a reward, binilhan ko siya ng paborito niyang mocha frappucino. And he asked me to tell his dad how good he was in the clinic.

By the way, the nurse asked me for Nathan's immunization record book para masulatan niya. Since Nathan was born in Alberta, iba ito sa "Child Health Passport" ng BC na mas maganda haha.

I am happy because we're done with Nathan's booster shots. These shots nga pala are for kids 4 to 6 years of age. Katulad sa Pinas, may measles outbreak din kasi dito sa BC, may confirmed 18 cases na raw as of today. Yep, outbreak na yan dito (unlike sa Pinas na libo-libo) at nagpa-panic na ang mga tao. May case/s yata na galing Vietnam yung nagkasakit kaya natatakot ako sa airport sa totoo lang. Magfa-fly pa naman kami twice soon. At least ngayon medyo kampante na ang loob ko.

Walang Forever

We used to live in a place where there's snow six months (almost) in a year. Hence, I've taken it for granted. Wala akong masyadong pictures sa snow, feeling ko kasi 'nandyan lang yan,' makakasama ko forever.

The last time I wore these boots was three years ago.

Who would have thought na lilipat kami in this part of Canada that seldom gets snow. In fact, nitong February 3 lang kami unang nagka-snow this winter season. Natunaw agad. Tapos last Sunday (February 10) lang uli naulit. Kaya sabik na sabik talaga kami.

Tsk, wala talagang forever. Kaya dapat seize the day na talaga. Huwag ng ipagpabukas ang magagawa naman sa ngayon. Because you'll never really know where life will take you.

New Town's Siopao

We are going to Edmonton to visit our friends this tomorrow so we went to New Town Bakery last Tuesday to buy some siopao for pasalubong. I don't eat siopao but everyone pero sabi nga ng asawa ko, masarap daw talaga ito. Request din ito ng mga kaibigan namin kasi nga dati nakakapagdala na rin kami nito sa Edmonton kapag pumupunta kami dito sa BC for a visit.

New Town Bakery has two branches -- one in Vancouver (China Town area) and another one here in Surrey (near the Central Station). Maaga silang magsara, 7:30pm lang, kaya pumunta kami kaagad pagdating ni Ford from work.

I went directly to the freezer for the frozen siopao. And my first reaction --- Syet, ang mahal na!!!

$15 na ang 6-pc pork asado.

Tapos almost $20 ang chicken bola-bola!

I kept on uttering "ang mahal na grabe, ang mahal na grabe..." kaya pinagtitinginan na siguro ako ng mga Pinoy na nakapila sa cashier. Di ko kasi talaga mapigilan ang sarili ko, naiiyak talaga ako. We were planning to buy at least 16 packs kaya imagine kung magkano ang aabutin nun.

If I remember it correctly, parang $12 lang yung asado at less than $14 ang bola-bola eh nung huli kami bumili eh. Wala pang one year yun. Baka around November o December lang last year. Bakit sobrang laki naman ng itinaas?

Ang sabi ko nga kay Ford wag na kaming bumili. Pero ang sabi niya, ano raw ang ipapasalubong namin sa Edmonton? Sige na nga kako, pero babawasan ko na lang yung ibibigay namin. 

We bought a total of 13 packs (13 x 6 pieces = 78 siopaos) for $204.00. Dalawang packs lang ang bola-bola kasi nga $20 yun. Tapos may additional $12.25 pa for the sauce.

Whew, $216.25 (or Php8,650.00) para lang sa ganitong siopao! I apologize if I appear so kuripot ha. Siguro ganito lang talaga ang walang trabaho hehe. Ang mistake ko rin daw kasi sabi ng asawa ko eh convert ako ng convert. But I really can't help it eh, lalo na at kagagaling ko lang uli sa Pilipinas.

New Town sell other Chinese and Filipino pastries, too. Kaso yung mga puto at palitaw nila, hindi naman lasang Pinoy.

Same lang pala ang presyo ng steamed asado nila sa frozen, $2.50 per bun. Pero ang weird kasi yung sa chicken bola-bola, $19.80 ang frozen so pumapatak na $3.30 ang isa, samantalang $2.75 lang yung luto na. Nakakaloka.

Cash basis nga lang pala sila kaya we were worried na baka hindi kumasya ang cash namin kasi nga nagtaas na sila ng presyo. $200 lang kasi ang winithdraw ng asawa ko. Maraming Chinese restaurants dito ang di tumatanggap ng credit o debit cards kaya dapat palaging me dalang cash.

Lucky Supermarket Surrey is now open!

July 30, 2018 (Monday). I was so excited for Ford to come home. Bihis na kami ni Nathan by 5pm (kakaiba yun ha) at kahit masakit ang tiyan ko, walang makakapigil sa pagpunta ko opening day ng Lucky Supermarket. Parang ganito ang excitement ko nang magbukas ang SM Marilao noong 2003 as in!

Ahh, ang gaan sa pakiramdam nang makita ko ang familiar signage ng Lucky. Parang it felt 'home.' Totoo yun ha, walang exaggeration.

At dahil sa sobrang pagkaatat kong pumasok, di ko na napicturan nang maayos ang labas. Sa susunod na lang.

My first impression of the store --- wow, ang laki!

Kumpleto ang kanilang fresh produce section. Happy ako!

Aba mura ang malunggay!

I just took several photos and that's it. Ayaw ko na. Gusto ko ng mag-enjoy sa pagtingin-tingin sa loob.

I was so happy kasi maraming-maraming choices kumpara sa T&T at Henlong.

My disappointments --- walang frozen calamansi (baka naman di na talaga uso yun ngayon kasi wala na rin akong makita recently kahit sa T&T and other small Filipino stores) at walang beef ribs (sana magkaroon next time). Konti lang din kasi ang naka-display sa meat section nila (I forgot to take photos) kasi baka dahil kabubukas pa lang nila ng 1pm that day. I'll check kung magba-bbque cut sila ng liempo next time.

I was glad though na na-reunite na ako with this galunggong! Grabe, ito talaga ang binibili ko noon! Nathan loves galunggong (he eats it almost everyday) kaya I am so happy na may mabibilhan na ako ngayon ng matinong isda. Masyado kasing maliit yung nasa Henlong eh.

Overall, I am satisfied with this new branch of Lucky! Mura ang presyo (kumapara naman sa T&T noh!) at saka ang dami talagang Filipino products. Parang nandito na lahat, di ko na kailangang magpatalon-talong ng tindahan.

O tingnan mo may wheat pandesal pa!

At Crunch Milk Chocolate (na medyo mahal nga lang).

I was actually surprised na maraming tao ang namimili na kahit kabubukas pa lang. At talagang punuan ang cart nila ha. Galing din kaya sila sa Alberta o Winnipeg kaya familiar sila sa Lucky?

May raffle sila, sana manalo kami. Kaso hindi naman ako swerte sa mga ganyan.

I actually had no plans of buying a lot kasi nga wala naman kaming kailangan at fully stocked pa ang pantry namin kaso nakaka-engganyo talagang bumili. May mga good deals din kasi. Like yang tub ng Skyflakes, $3.99 na lang (normal price is $7+).

Our haul. Sorry di ko na naipakita isa-isa.

This will be our official palengke here in BC. Too bad kasi lilipat na kami sa November. Sobrang lapit lang kasi nito sa current place namin. Kapag nakalipat na kami, twice a month siguro kami mamimili dito.

Eto ang damage -- $117.34 (or Php4,693.60). Ang bilis maglustay ng pera dito sa Canada lol!

I'll post more of Lucky Supermarket soon!

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Nga pala, I was excited din sana na kumain sa Lucky (may kainan din kasi dun) kaso konti na lang ang mga tinda eh. Siguro kasi kabubukas lang nila noon kaya hindi pa ganun karami ang food. Next time na lang.

Mainit sa Metro Vancouver

Ang init! Ilang araw ng ganito. Hay, bakit nga ba sinalo ko ang lahat ng summer ngayong taon?

Kung tutuusin, no match ang init dito sa init sa Pilipinas kaso hindi ko pa rin talaga ma-take. Dati na akong mainitin, mas grumabe pa nang matira ako dito sa Canada syempre. Mas nasasanay na kasi lalo ang katawan ko sa lamig.

Hindi ko masyadong nadama ang init the previous summers kasi nag-stay lang ako sa airconditioned room the whole day. Pero ngayon kasi ayaw na ni Nathan sa kwarto, gusto niya sa may sala kasi nandun most of his toys. Hindi naman namin pwedeng dalhin sa room kasi ang lalaki at wala ng space. Extra warm din dito sa apartment kasi kulang sa ventilation. Yung sliding door lang ang pinaka-window namin. Kaya sobrang parusa kapag nagluluto kasi kulob sa kusina.

I can't wait na matapos ang summer. I hate, hate, hate it. It is predicted na medyo lalamig-lamig this weekend, sana nga.

People here in Metro Vancouver were given extreme heat warnings. Concerned na concerned talaga sila sa mga tao, lalo na kapag 30+ (o feels like 30+ na ang weather). Ang government nagse-set up na ng cooling areas. Pet owners are being reminded din not to leave their pets in their vehicles. Basta alarmed na alarmed sila. Nevertheless, enjoy na enjoy ang mga puti sa sikat ng araw. Mega-sun bathing pa ang mga yan. Exact opposite ng mga Pinoy (tulad ko) na takot na takot maarawan haha.