The Wily Filipino

Blogging and Mangoes (or, Scenes from Los Banos, Part 3.)

1. Grrrr.

2. "The problem with the two of you is that you're too tense." I answered, "I wonder why." (Pot. Kettle. Black.)

3. No, the real problem is that any slight deviation from what she wants is considered by her as an explicit criticism of what she is and does. The merest suggestion that we buy or feed Izzy something else is enough to drive her into a mini-fit.

She: I bought her banana yogurt. Why haven't you tried it yet?
Me: I'm feeding her usual cereal.
She: Well, she's not eating it. What about the banana yogurt?
Me: She's eaten this cereal for over a year.
She: She's probably tired of it. You would get tired of eating the same thing too.
Me: Yes, but I'm not a baby. Babies like consistency.
She: Fine, have it your way.

She [after Izzy tries to remove her plastic bib with a trough at the bottom to catch falling food]: She probably wants a soft bib.
Me: No, she just doesn't want the bib.
She: The plastic bib's too hot, and doesn't let any air through.
Me: But it keeps the food from falling onto your floor.
She [to Izzy, in a goo-goo voice]: They think they know what's best for you, don't you?

The side comments! The mumbles as she walks away! The constant suggestions about what we're doing wrong!

4. Madeline and I are cooking tonight -- not because we don't like her cooking (I think it's yummy), but mainly because Izzy's been eating nothing but rice and garbanzo beans and macaroni, and probably misses her carrots and potatoes. (I bet someone's just wishing for the meal to fail.)

5. I miss our dog Shelby. But there's no way she'll be allowed to walk on my mom's endangered hardwood floors. There's no way she'd be able to survive the heat and humidity either. And if she happens to accidentally wander outside the gate, she wouldn't be able to survive my neighbors' dinner cutlery either.

6. Six more weeks to go.

7. Lots of desserty things in the Philippines are too sweet. I have a sweet tooth, but even I thought the yogurt (which my mom bought) that we were feeding Izzy was way too sweet. But in this case I'm just as tense and defensive as well:

Me: The yogurt's too sweet.
She: Why, have you tasted it? [Translation: How dare you criticize me?]
Me: Yes. Why would I say it was sweet if I hadn't tasted it yet?
She: I just thought you already knew.
Me: Now why would I already know?
She: Fine, have it your way.

8. It's extremely hot and humid. And the air is completely still.

9. Issa, who's seven years old, is just about one of the most precocious and smartest children I know.

Izzy [pointing to something]: Batsi?
Issa: What is she saying?
Me: I don't know.
Issa: Is it English?
Me: Maybe.
Issa: Is it Tagalog?
Me: I don't think so.
Issa: Hmm. Maybe it's French.

We later figured out Izzy was asking "What's this?"

10. It's really all about control. After writing a letter to one of my advisers I walked out to the kitchen and discovered that Izzy's clothes had been changed (from tank top and shorts to a different tank top and a skirt) for no apparent reason. ("They looked too hot," my mom said.)

11. In a way, blogging is a nice temporary substitute for therapy.

12. Mangoes, too.

Posted by the wily filipino at June 2, 2003 07:32 PM