Ask Zulehan stuff

[starlark]

What part of the Philippines have you been to? I'm always told theres a mall with a giant roller coaster. I dunno why but that always sticks with me every time someone says "Philippines" so I prolly need to go to get a better mental description...

There are many, many malls but I don't remember a mall with a roller coaster o.o maybe a mall attached to a theme park?? xD

 

[ellabella12345]

What are you doing this weekend?

 

[Lock]

There are many, many malls but I don't remember a mall with a roller coaster o.o maybe a mall attached to a theme park?? xD

maybe it's this? I've always been told about it so I actually haven't a clue XD My mom's family is always pulling my leg about everything.

 

[BreadAndButterfly]

What is your favourite villager?

 

[Zulehan]

There are many, many malls but I don't remember a mall with a roller coaster o.o maybe a mall attached to a theme park?? xD

Not to say there is no such mall, but this would be my first time hearing about one with a roller coaster. I have visited a few malls in the Philippines, the most ornate of which was an enormous two story mall simply called 'SM' (for 'Super Mall'). Actually, I visited two SMs, one in Bacolod, the other in Manila (merely five minutes from the airport, even in heavy traffic, thanks to an insane and fearless taxi driver who sees impossible traffic and thinks 'so damn what'). Maybe one had a roller coaster and I simply do not remember, but that seems a big thing to forget (unless it is a baby roller coaster).

What are you doing this weekend?

The only plan I have for the weekend is to visit a local restaurant for a fundraising event. Besides that, just study. I hope your weekend is more eventful in a good way.

What is your favourite villager?

Nice to meet you, BreadAndButterfly. Thank you for joining the topic.

Well, besides that photo-bombing rabbit all over my profile, there is Hamphrey, the cranky hamster. I love this guy: the deep voice, the pudginess, black, buckteeth, acting-tough-but-big-softy. I even ordered a small clay sculpture of him, and left it standing on one of my frames (which will soon be populated by more villagers):

haha my husband lived with me at my parents while we were saving up money to buy our house. I'll always remember him commenting that he had never seen so much fish/rice/idontenoughknowwhatthatis. He didnt believe me when I explained what balut was. So I showed it to him and he told me to go give the poor thing a proper burial. So he went to find a shoebox and while he was gone, my mom ate it XD

Oh, my goodness, I believe my mom has eaten that, too, though fortunately not me.

I am going to make a wild guess and assume he would be repulsed by dinuguan ('chocolate meat') as well (Wikipedia says the 'chocolate meat' designation is meant as a joke, but my family has always used it seriously, so not sure what that editor is on about).

And congrats on getting a house, by the way, even if this is a much belated congrats, heh.

(oh lawd, I have so many stories about fish and rice: )
When my mom's family came to visit us briefly a couple months back, I found out that they were only excited that we had an avocado tree in our front yard. (So it was the only reason they came to see my new house.) The entire time they kept telling me how expensive they were and how I shouldn't leave them on the ground. At some point our neighbors went outside to get the mail and saw four SUVs worth of filipinos desperately trying to pick avocados and yelling at each other. Then they all piled into their cars (taking my kid with them) to go to theme parks and fishing. But before they left they gave me a plate of fish and rice and my neighbor was like, "did you just sell yer kid for that?"

By the way, them coming over just to see the avocado tree, going to work on that tree, and leaving a neighbor utterly confused about what he just witnessed, is the second time you have made me laugh already. Your family sounds awesome. And yes, my mom is the exact same way: she absolutely adores avocado, and cannot get enough of it in her food. Even when she discovered a love for sushi, she refused to eat any that does not have avocado.

Maybe next time they visit you should have some lemon grass and pomegranate, too, so they have more to compliment you on. They might even assume you are heading in the 'right' direction cooking-wise to have lemon grass on your yard.

I was never taught my mom's language nor have I ever been to the Philippines. My brother and I always had to deal with conflicting opinions from family members about being Americanized. I also went to a Roman Catholic school where my brother and I were like two of the four Asians in the entire school, so we were constantly dealing with kids being confused (and therefore confusing us.)

Ah. Sounds like we Filipinos grew up in much different environments. For most of my life, it was my mom and I. So just had to worry about her opinion, and her opinion was that I be a proper American to fit in. Ironically, by just being herself and not 'forcing' Filipino culture on me, she made me very interested in maintaining my cultural link, most notably my native tongue. Also, I grew up in a part of California where Asians make up a large minority, so it was not too uncommon to see Filipinos. In fact, to this day, I remember several from grade school, one of which even spoke another Filipino dialect.

I use to get in trouble a lot actually for imitating things my mom would do and apparently that wasn't normal behaviors for my classmates. XD It wasn't til I got older that I started to embrace what my mom's all about cause I realized she misses her country and it takes a lot to be far from "home." We ended up moving when I was in high school though, but it ended up the town my dad got transferred to has this enormous Filipino community. So my mom has been a lot easier to manage since lolz.

Hearing about your mom's sadness reminds me a lot about my mom's sadness. She misses her family in the Philippines very much, and sometimes will be overcome with emotion in solitary moments. I have always felt awkward about it since I never got close to my family in the Philippines, so all these people who mean so much to her are strangers to me.

What part of the Philippines have you been to? I'm always told theres a mall with a giant roller coaster. I dunno why but that always sticks with me every time someone says "Philippines" so I prolly need to go to get a better mental description...

Bacolod, a 'middle' size city (i.e., about a million people, if memory serves), but in reality feels like a large city, what with all its skyscrapers and several major docks. This is where I primarily stayed, as most of my family is here. Manila, which is always where I start before taking a domestic flight to other parts of the Philippines. The luxurious retreats are enjoyed here before going to more humble surroundings and taking the kind of 'tour' that only family who lives there can give you. Iloilo, a small, seaside, mountainous town where a few relatives live. I really wanted to visit Cebu, the second largest city in the Philippines, but that was avoided last trip due to weather conditions. I certainly visited a few other small towns, but cannot recall their names.

I have so many photographs of the month long trips, but have yet to upload most. Now that I remember, though, here are a few photographs related to what we talked about earlier. First, the entrance to Mang Inasal and the ube dessert I mentioned:

And some Filipino written on a chalkboard:

And two goats near the beach of Iloilo (the beach is actually to the left of the mound, and the goats are standing near rice fields):

There are more photographs here, if you are interested, and can see them: http://theinfinityprogram.com/index.php?useralbums/my-trip-to-the-philippines.6/view

The funny thing about them having boatloads of rice cookers is that they will always find a way to be able to use ALL of them.

Ha ha, yep: if all our family was over here those rice cookers would all be in use.

If theres not a holiday coming up they'll just make up some reason to cook food all day and sing karaoke.

Oh, God, the karaoke. So many memories of poor singing and drunk relatives thinking they are filled with sage advice for a younger me.

Ah man! I was actually thinking of paying someone to let me weed. Like that was a real thing I was considering two days ago. Since I had to reset my town I've been trying to get all the badges back. Luckily the weeding badge is easier to get then some of them. I'm dreading getting all the bug/fish/sea creatures all over again... Also the fact that you are letting people weed for free seems more like community service than a business. Not that helping people with their resumes is a bad thing. (looking at the bright side)

Ooh, your feedback encourages me. I would be more generous than the others who put a time limit: I was thinking something more along the lines of one person weeds the whole town for a set price and all the time she needs.

And yeah, I am not looking forward to those medal and dream badges, which I have been working toward slowly for some time.

I looked up the list of prices for collectibles and I'm gunna attempt to sell like three... I did price them on the higher end, but at least that way if no one buys them I'll be able to keep them. I added in the option to buy in game bells, even though I dread dropping millions. I always seem to get my tbt that way.. I dunno why but I realized how much I suck in the tbt marketplace.

I wish you a lot of good fortune in making TBT Bells!

My friend tried to sell tier ones a while back, but I think it was during the tbt depression so thats prolly why no one was buying them. As of this point I've just been giving tier ones away just because of what happened with her not being able to sell hers.

I hope to start giving them away again soon, too. Just want to get that fair pinwheel first.

Anyways, thank you so much for the questions, everyone! And Lockyfancy, especially, I thank you very much for your stories, opinions, and overall great read.

 

[Lock]

First time I encountered balut was when I was a kid and I thought it was like my mom was giving me a pet bird. I had no concept that the life was already taken from it. lol I had this whole elaborate plan to take a shoe box and some news paper ads and make it a home. I'd cut out the pictures of furniture and lay it all out like it had a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and the wonderful office that had a really awesome computer chair. My mom caught onto this pretty quickly though and 'corrected me.' Alas the conclusion to that story is I have never eaten balut and I obviously didn't understand how to have a pet bird.

Oh and I love dinuguan. Actually I've made mention of it to him several times, but he has yet to try it. However, we had a conversation with the neighbors about how much they loved it. They were talking about how somone was cooking, basically, lechon and explained how even the blood got prepared in a separate dish. So they're planning an attempt to make it sometime in the future I believe. Its great just the smell when its cooking is a little difficult to stomach sometimes. The neighbors still didnt catch on to the fact that I actually knew everything they were talking about. I figured I'd just let that information surface later. lolz

I've never heard it referenced as 'chocolate meat' but that definitely seems fitting. Wikipedia is just grounds for trolls I think. Actually everything on the internet is lolz

I just looked at your link for the pictures and what stuck out to me was the one with the stairs. Is that built into the rock? From the rock? Added to the rock? Whichever way though, I love that! Every time I think about doing things with my backyard, I always think about having something of that nature. I've always fancied hybrids of nature/man-made construction. Ugh only if I had money. Also I wanna comment on the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.. I really like that Filipinos are so appreciative of Mary and they really create some incredible shrines for her.

(I wanted to add more to this but I gotta go grab my kid from my mom. So to be continued!)

 

[Zulehan]

First time I encountered balut was when I was a kid and I thought it was like my mom was giving me a pet bird. I had no concept that the life was already taken from it. lol I had this whole elaborate plan to take a shoe box and some news paper ads and make it a home. I'd cut out the pictures of furniture and lay it all out like it had a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and the wonderful office that had a really awesome computer chair. My mom caught onto this pretty quickly though and 'corrected me.' Alas the conclusion to that story is I have never eaten balut and I obviously didn't understand how to have a pet bird.

If you keep telling stories like this I am going to die of laughter. I can imagine you making a comic book about your life, similar to how Matthew Inman and Adam Ellis have illustrated humorous (but also dramatic) moments in their life as comic strips for The Oatmeal and Books of Adam, respectively.

I just looked at your link for the pictures and what stuck out to me was the one with the stairs. Is that built into the rock? From the rock? Added to the rock? Whichever way though, I love that! Every time I think about doing things with my backyard, I always think about having something of that nature. I've always fancied hybrids of nature/man-made construction. Ugh only if I had money. Also I wanna comment on the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.. I really like that Filipinos are so appreciative of Mary and they really create some incredible shrines for her.

Yeah, what is most impressive to me about the stairs is they were carved out of the mountain. These stairs are located in a part of Iloilo that is as rural as an area gets, but here is an architectural wonder for the best urban planners to marvel at.

There was another shrine to Our Lady of Fatima in a cave with a vertical entrance that can only be reached by scaling a hill covered thick in thorny vines, shrubs, and trees, but it was unfortunately desecrated by the time I had a chance to see it. What I remember most about that point of the trip, however, was that all the mosquito bites made my legs look like that of a mutant. Even my Filipino relatives were shocked that I paid the bumps on my leg no mind.

(I wanted to add more to this but I gotta go grab my kid from my mom. So to be continued!)

k. Take care.

 

[Delphine]

Do you wanna build a snowman?

 

[Zulehan]

Do you wanna build a snowman?

Hey, Delphine.

If you mean, Do you like Frozen? Yes. I found it refreshing for a Disney story to ultimately be about the love between two sisters. In other words, not only the familial bond, but camaraderie between two women. Also, reminds me when I chose that movie for my communications class essay, and took several students aback. Really, Frozen? I guess pleasing them would have required choosing one of my 'manly' favorites, such as Commando with Arnold Schwarzenegger. But yeah, really good message there about the nature of happiness, which reminded me of a previous essay where I analyzed two definitions of happiness portrayed in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

If you literally mean would I like to build a snowman, heck yes. Not sure there is any snow in the nearby mountains at the moment, unfortunately. Not that I would have time to go there, anyway. Oh, if it would but snow again like it did once during my childhood. This scorching desert getting snow is quite a sight.

Thank you for the question!

 

[starlark]

Have you tried jackfruit?

 

[Delphine]

If you mean, Do you like Frozen? Yes. I found it refreshing for a Disney story to ultimately be about the love between two sisters. In other words, not only the familial bond, but camaraderie between two women. Also, reminds me when I chose that movie for my communications class essay, and took several students aback. Really, Frozen? I guess pleasing them would have required choosing one of my 'manly' favorites, such as Commando with Arnold Schwarzenegger. But yeah, really good message there about the nature of happiness, which reminded me of a previous essay where I analyzed two definitions of happiness portrayed in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

Actually wanted you to write the rest of the lyrics from the song haha but happy to read your thoughts on the movie! Though I didn't personally like it because of its lack of depth, unsolved questions and undeveloped characters...

If you literally mean would I like to build a snowman, heck yes. Not sure there is any snow in the nearby mountains at the moment, unfortunately. Not that I would have time to go there, anyway. Oh, if it would but snow again like it did once during my childhood. This scorching desert getting snow is quite a sight.

You can make a sandman

Oh and new question: watched the Deadpool footage again and I can't understand what he's saying when the guy is holding his face in his hand at around 0:50... All I can understand is 'creepy' XD

Also... Do you like South Park? I don't mean to put you under pressure, but if you don't, this might be the end of our online friendship... ?_?

 

[Zulehan]

Oh, my God, ten Togepi eggs!

Actually wanted you to write the rest of the lyrics from the song haha but happy to read your thoughts on the movie! Though I didn't personally like it because of its lack of depth, unsolved questions and undeveloped characters...

This is what I was thinking when you mentioned the lyric:

You can make a sandman

Heh, I suppose so.

Oh and new question: watched the Deadpool footage again and I can't understand what he's saying when the guy is holding his face in his hand at around 0:50... All I can understand is 'creepy' XD

I believe it is 'That is rich Corinthian leather.' In other words, as the thug has Deadpool pinned to the seat, he is complimenting the quality of the seat leather, heh.

Also... Do you like South Park? I don't mean to put you under pressure, but if you don't, this might be the end of our online friendship... ?_?

Ah, then our friendship may yet be preserved, because I love South Park. I especially love the episode 'Make Love, Not Warcraft,' and whichever episode had Eric Cartman pretending he is in Game of Thrones. Speaking of Cartman, favorite line is still 'I only commit hate crimes.'

 

[ellabella12345]

How is your day?

 

[starlark]

Did you see my question?

 

[Zulehan]

How is your day?

Tired. Could not wait for this day to end. Glad everything today was in the morning and late afternoon because it is time to crash.

- - - Post Merge - - -

Did you see my question?

Oh, no! I missed it. Will address that now.

 

[ellabella12345]

What size bed do you hve? xD

 

[starlark]

What size bed do you hve? xD

oh man, we're getting into the deep stuff now xD

 

[Zulehan]

Have you tried jackfruit?

More than tried. My mom would just buy the whole jackfruit at one of the Vietnamese stores, and we would eat it as a snack. Still cannot believe how enormous that fruit is.

- - - Post Merge - - -

What size bed do you hve? xD

Mm... twin. My room is about the size of a walk-in closet, so I need all the space I can get. Even twin is quite a presence in a room my size. But I am not complaining: it is a cozy nook. I hope one day to have an enormous library space, though. For now, I have books on several five tier shelves, wall shelves, and on the floor (the solution by one of my friends was to put a shopping cart in his room to use for books, though I am looking for something more... elegant). Indeed, when I am laying on the bed, my feet reach one of the shelves.

 

[Delphine]

Oh, my God, ten Togepi eggs!

Feeling so happy right now.

This is what I was thinking when you mentioned the lyric:

Had not heard that one, it's hilarious! I also like the parody that goes like 'Finals are coming and we all must try our best'!

I believe it is 'That is rich Corinthian leather.' In other words, as the thug has Deadpool pinned to the seat, he is complimenting the quality of the seat leather, heh.

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuh. Now that I get it, I can laugh!
...
Thanks very much for your help!

Ah, then our friendship may yet be preserved, because I love South Park. I especially love the episode 'Make Love, Not Warcraft,' and whichever episode had Eric Cartman pretending he is in Game of Thrones. Speaking of Cartman, favorite line is still 'I only commit hate crimes.'

JOY! Those are good episodes, my favorite is 'Margaritaville', I find it so well written, original and smart.

I suppose your favorite South Park character is Cartman? Also, what are your favorite Disney movies, and Disney favorite characters, if you have any?

- - - Post Merge - - -

oh man, we're getting into the deep stuff now xD

Good choice of words there pal

Bed... deep...

I find myself disgusting. I ban myself from this thread.

 

[ellabella12345]

oh man, we're getting into the deep stuff now xD

Woah stepback. xD