You are probably familiar with the “interview meme” that has been doing the rounds of many blogs lately. Anyway, I had the opportune time to visit SexyMom’s blog where she posted her own interview, and I promptly left an “Interview me!” request.

My heartfelt thanks to SexyMom for obligingly granting my request for an interview! I think there were about half a dozen people there who requested for interviews, so I really appreciate her taking the time to formulate these personalized questions for me. I had fun answering them, thank you very much! Without further ado, here are her five questions and my answers:(1) 40 is still far off, but seriously, does it bother you?

Seriously? Not really. I would consider it to be a real blessing. I’d probably get my hackles up over the extra wrinkles that would inevitably line my face, but hey, looks aren’t exactly my best asset, hehe. When I turn 40, my daughter would be about 11 or so, so she’d be big enough to be my “barkada.” That should be interesting. 🙂

(2) scientists have been stereotyped as SERIOUS. what does a scientist like you consider as fun? what is the wildest thing you have ever done?

I used to think that way, too, until I’ve met several scientists who are nowhere near that kind of description. Some of them are fun, cool, hippy guys and gals – sometimes it’s hard to guess that they’re serious people working on extremely difficult scientific disciplines. Some of them are serious athletes, even health-conscious persons.

I have always been classified as the “nerd” in the family, lol. Most people would actually think of me as the serious, quiet type – that’s the usual first impression. And I just happen to be in the scientific field – so it’s not like I was turned into like this because of what I chose for my profession. As for fun, you should hear me belt it out at the karaoke. That’s one of the things that help me unwind.

As for the wildest thing I’ve ever done – hmm, I guess one “safe” answer would be the time when I was at a youth camp for high school students. I forgot what the event was, but we were required to cross-dress. So I exchanged clothes with one of my male friends – he used my dress, I used his. 🙂 Okay, maybe that wasn’t too wild enough, hehe. No, we didn’t exchange underwears. I wasn’t too adventurous enough. lol.

(3) how much of you have been japan-ized? would you rather stay in japan the next 20 years, or have you considered coming home for good?

Whew, tough question. After having stayed here for more than a decade, I think I’ve assimilated several habits (like bowing even when I’m just talking to the other person on the phone, making sure that I stay “out of the way” of other people, etc., etc.). But I would like to believe that most of it is just on the surface – a way of getting along with the culture and adapting the behavioral traits of the people in order to not feel so “alien.” Deep inside, I still feel and think like 100% Filipino!

As for staying here for the next 20 years or so: that, as they say, is the 100 million yen question. To go or not to go? There are many things to consider before we can make a final decision on this. What else can I say? We’ll cross the bridge when we get there. 🙂

(4) fusion–can a scientist be an artist at the same time? and what kind of artist will you be? will it be traditional? bizarre? what?

Once an artist, always an artist. I may not always have the opportunity to express myself through “works of art” such as in the recent competition. But I believe that there are really several avenues to express one’s artistic side. I do get to tinker around with my technical presentations and posters to make them more aesthetically pleasing, not just informative. Furthermore, I also get to express myself through several websites which I personally manage with my husband. Just check out first four links in the FAVORITE SITES on the sidebar. That’s just some of them. We’re forever thinking of what to create next. So there’s still a way for the creative side to be expressed. 🙂

(5) if your life were a song, what would it be?

This has got to be the toughest question of all five! It had me thinking for the past few days, seriously! Ehhhh???? Wala ata akong life-song? 🙁

I guess the best song that I could think of is Nat King Cole’s “Smile.” It doesn’t exactly represent my life, but my attitude towards life. You see, that’s what people easily notice about me when they see me. Always smiling, all dimples out in full force. 🙂 I follow this simple rule in my life: I can’t always control what happens to me, but I can control how I react to situations. So, even in the worst, lowest point of my life, I smile.

Here’s a nice video I found on YouTube. The cats do seem to need a little cheering up, don’t they?

So, now it’s your turn. Want to be interviewed next?

Here are the rules:

1. Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone
else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them
five questions.