Grace, Eye MD

Peew went to Greece for a business trip and sent us a lengthy email with pictures. I was laughing and laughing because I could imagine her making kwento with her little voice,big eyes and funny facial expressions! I couldn’t helpi it, I just had to post this to share it with everyone else. I’m still trying to insert her pics but I’m having a hard time because of thei #%@! mac. But anyway, here goes…

Hi, Babe, Ate and Kuya

> Been having fun here in Greece , the vacation has
> been great and I
> couldnt be in better company!
> Wish you guys were here >
> ACROPLIS, ETC
> Athens is actually quite a dead city, so boring.
> aside from the
> parthenon and acropolis, there’s not much to see.
> The acropolis and
> parthenon are maginificent though!
>
> GREEK FOOD
> the food here is great. Have been eating greek
> salads (juicy tomatoes,
> cucumber in olives and feta cheese), moussaka
> (eggplant with mincemeats)
> and gyros (like shawarma) plus their baklava (sweet
> nougat and pecans
> with honey in pastry dough) everyday for the past 3
> days. they also
> have great iced coffee called freduccino (espresso
> with ice), The greek
> women here are so big! I don’t get it when their
> food is so healthy!!!
> Ate, I swear, sexy ka dito ang lalaki ng hips ng
> greeks! tapos they all
> dress like hookers, its funny.
>
> ISLANDS
> the islands are so scenic as well. everyone is just
> sitting outside,
> drinking coffee and eating seafoods. most of them
> have boats and
> yachts, and park it by the bay as they grab a bite
> to eat. the weather
> has never been hotter, 42 degress and the heat is
> blistering. you need
> to drink atleast 2 liters of water to survive and
> apply suncreen about 5
> times a day (and you’ll still burn). my favorite
> island is called
> hydra, we swam in the ocean and it was so blue and
> beautiful - the water
> is also surprisingly called, considering the heat!
> last sunday was one
> of the best days of the trip - we all went to a
> cafe, and just jumped in
> the water! here there are no beaches, just rocks
> and you jump off a
> cliff. Kuya, ang daming bike dito and all the cars
> are small and old
>
> SHOPPING
> we also went around to the market. for europe, its
> not so expensive, but
> still more expensive than asia. i just bought one
> or two things (greek
> sandals for me, and some gifts for mama (I got a
> perpetual help wood
> picture, ate (got you sandals), pio’s mom (greek
> tile coasters).

>
> the weirdest things have happened to us here, and we
> all have a story to
> tell. so far, the funnier one is a greek shop
> keeper who thought i was
> a young girl, and started patting my head and
> pinching my cheeks.
> before i could run away, he grabbed my hand and
> placed greek copper coin
> in my hand, saying “this is a good luck charm, an
> old coin, so you can
> grow up and then marry a rich greek!” - they don’t
> see a lot of asians,
> so they all assume we’re japanese, and its tiring to
> explain where we’re
> from, because they dont even know what or where the
> philippines is
>
> Here are some pictures! >
> missing you from Greece,
> peews
>

I had my first ever driving lesson last Tuesday! I am admittedly a donya, I don’t drive, I always get a ride from my folks and Sam. I am scared of crashing our car and getting injured and worse, injuring someone else. I’ve seen one too many patients pulled out from vehicular accidents, and they are never a pretty sight.

Since we got back from Singapore, I don’t think there was ever a day that Sam didn’t bug me to take driving lessons. Half the time I pretended I didn’t hear him (eg.”Honey, sorry I can’t hear you,tsshhh…tssshhh….may static yung phone….” Or “Sorry, honey, tssshhh…tshhhhh, lakas ng static! Ay, magkaharap pala tayo!” heehee!) or I just say yes, I’ll take them after he leaves for HK, para lang he’d stop badgering me (of course with very little intention to really drive).

Anyway, we were at my house, and after eating meryenda, he asked me to go out sa front ng house where his car was, so of course I assumed he wanted a smoke, so I went out with him. He sprang a fast one on me—he asked me to get into the driver’s seat of his car and began our lesson! He explained how the clutch worked, the gears (”Imagine a letter H”), and he made me practice revving the car. Then he made me start it up, and in a little while, I was driving on first gear! I was able to round the corner, but chickened out when we were going to hit our village’s main road! He made me drive a bit more after that, coaching me on how to step on the gas pedal and how to brake properly. I managed NOT to crash into our fence nor run over anything moving. I think I might have damaged his clutch and starter, though. I think even if his heart and balls went up his throat and HE was sweating buckets in his uber pogi long sleeves, slacks and leather shoes, he was proud of me ☺

I loved the way he taught me—he showed me how and why everything worked even before asking me to start the car. It was pretty much like learning Anatomy and Physiology before learning Pathology (dorky, but true. Ask any doctor!). I never told him , but this was exactly how I wanted to be taught! Anyway, I think he planned to just surprise me, para I won’t have time to fret and worry, and I did really enjoy it! I’ve been asking him for the second lesson, but I think he’s worried I might destroy his starter and clutch. Hahaha! He’s gloating, because he knows he won by making me overcome my fear masked by my stubborn refusal to learn how to drive. Can’t wait to learn how to drive like an F1 driver! Let’s see what smug Dr. Grozman says about that….