I was tagged by Shai to list eight random facts about myself. Sounds like fun. Let’s see:
1. I have worn glasses since Grade Six. I knew that something funny was going on with my vision as early as Grade Four, because I couldn’t read anymore what was written on the blackboard, even when I moved myself to the front rows. By the time my parents brought me to the optometrist, my eyes were so highly myopic that my starting “grade” was 400! Yup, for both eyes. When I started wearing glasses, my naughty classmates began teasing me labo (this means “blurry” in Filipino, but it can also mean something incomprehensible). Oh, kids can be so cruel. 🙁
2. I was named after Catherine Marshall, the author of the inspirational book, To Live Again. My dad was reading that particular book just before I was born.
3. I can’t drink pure milk. Well, I could if I tried, but more often than not, I would throw it up. 😛 I just can’t stand the smell and taste of milk without any add-ons.
4. As of today, I have been living in Japan for 11 years, 4 months, and 17 days. And counting. Wow, I’m still here after all these years. And I thought I wouldn’t last for more than a month?!! Incidentally, Japan was the very first country I ever visited outside the Philippines.
5. The first European country I set foot in was Denmark. It was there that I learned for the first time that Tivoli was not just a name for ice cream. 🙂 I loved Copenhagen, and would really love to go back there someday.
6. The first scientific paper I submitted was published in 1995. It’s just a “short note” paper, only two pages long, and for the last twelve years of its existence, it has never been cited. Hahaha. But I’m so proud of that paper. It came out of my undegraduate thesis. Having it published really inspired me to pursue graduate studies and strive harder to publish even more papers.
7. I gave birth to my daughter using the Lamaze method. It was our choice. Aya came into this world without being induced or influenced by any medications during the birthing process. Exactly the way I wanted it.
8. The song of my choice for my wedding “walk down the aisle” was How Beautiful by Twila Paris. My sister Lai did the vocals. When my other sister was wed, I also sang the same song during the ceremony. (Ok, some of you probably have doubts that I can sing…but for now just take my word for it, ok?)
Listen to the song here:
Lastly, what good is a meme if it doesn’t get passed on? *evil grin*
I’m tagging Gina, Dimaks, Karmi, Zherwin, Rhodora, BW, Belle, and Teacher Julie. Of course, no pressures. 🙂
for a while there, I thought you were lactose intolerant 🙂
I’m sure you’ll love London 😉
Pining, just so you know, I always take milk with my coffee. Hehehe. 😉
A “grade” of 400 at an early age. Wow! Haven’t you considered undergoing laser vision correction?
Aya and you are like pinagbiyak na pakwan hehe 🙂 #6 great. Hanga ako sa iyo 🙂 #7 WOW, brave girl. You have guts man 🙂
Oo nga eh, as blind as a bat ako kung walang salamin hahaha.
Actually I’ve never considered having laser vision correction – no particular reason…maybe I’ve gotten comfortable with the idea of temporary instead of permanent solutions to my vision problems?
That’s a nice performance by the pianist. He has an interesting selection of songs on his youtube profile. 😀
Anyway, I can’t drink milk either b/c I’m lactose intolerant. I drink either soy or rice milk.
What publication was your paper published in?
You know I was expecting that someone would comment on that, because her picture is right beside mine, and you can instantly see the resemblance. But more and more people nowadays are beginning to remark that she is becoming more like her father.
As for Lamaze – hehe…lakas ng loob yun. The question is whether I’d be courageous enough to do it again, if ever. 🙂
I agree! I was so happy that I found it on YouTube.
Rice milk – you know I had no idea that there was such a thing. How does it taste differently from soy milk?
The paper was published in the Japanese Journal of Applied Physics. We chose that journal because back in the 90s several researchers were hot on the trail of high-temperature superconductivity, and Japan was one of the leading countries in that area.
any connection of the blog site’s name and your wearing of glasses? 🙂 yay, tagged pala ako, hehehe. sige, ill do it in lump sum, tagged din ako sa kabila e, similar random things.
cute ni aya, with matching giggles and heart-shaped shades 🙂
Rice milk tastes a bit more diluted… parang tubig. hehe. But i suppose it’s an alternative for people concerned about bioflavinoid and the phytoestrogen genistein, which are in soy products and supposedly have some negative effects.
Thanks for the info regarding the article. I’ll check if the university library has online or hard copies of that journal, even though i probably wouldn’t understand anything in the article. 😀
Omg, was that you? But where are the dimples?
My daughter, my bunso, also had about that grade of vision when she was in grade 6 or 7. Aren’t you indicated for laser surgery. She is. And she told me not to worry about it … she will spend for the surgery when the time comes.
Glad to know more about my fave scientist in Japan.
oh, thanks for the tag, tagged also by toe, i’ll do it when i come back.
i am still drinking my milk before i sleep, non-fat na nga lang ngayon hehehe.
is this you or Aya? if it´s you, you and your daughter are “como gota de agua”, like droplets of water, look-alike. love the shades by the way. i´m trying something similar this summer.
Hik!hik!hik! Ang cute ni Aya at ng heart sunglasses niya.
Nice getting to know more about you….
will do this meme.
Interesting info there about the rice milk. Thanks Wil.
If you really want to read that “old” paper of mine, just let me know. I think I have a PDF copy of it here somewhere. 🙂
About this site’s name and my glasses: you definitely got that right, Dimaks. 😉
Will check out your random list later!
Re Aya – thanks. That’s her favorite shades, btw.
Anna, Aya = my adorable self without the dimples, heheh.
I’m not really keen about having my eyes corrected surgically. But I don’t know…maybe when I’m really convinced that I have nothing to lose and everything to gain! 🙂 I wonder if it would be cheaper to do that in the Phils than in Japan?
Wow, that’s one habit I would never be forced to do ever again, hehe. Yep, stock up on that calcium!
Will check out your post on this meme! Thanks!
If it were me, the photo would be in black and white, not colored, hahaha. Batang 70s kasi ako.
Como gota de agua – I’ll remember that! 🙂
Aya – bungisngis girl din tulad ng nanay niya. 🙂
Looking forward to your post, Gina! Thanks!
Those are cute glasses on Aya. You should probably have started wearing glasses earlier on. My sister started wearing hers when she started school. Yeah, that young.
I also could not tolerate the taste of milk, that is, until I reached my 40th birthday and my friend who is the same age as me, made me think about it. I was getting to that age when my bones really need the calcium. I now drink at least two glasses of pure milk everyday. I know, that’s still below the recommended amount, but that’s a start. 🙂