Love Thy Neighbors

You must already know by now that my family has already moved to a new house. That means, we have new neighbors. Well, they're not really strangers to us. They're long-time friends. For the longest time, I've never been neighbors with my friends. And now that I am, the feeling is just so warm and comforting. What's a better way to welcome new neighbors than offering them helping hands and good food? I guess, nothing.

These people know well how to love their (new) neighbors. During our first week here, we were showered with foods (which I have not reciprocated yet).

Although it was not really intended for us as her new neighbor, she got us to taste her spaghetti. I have to say it was really delish!

Karen and her spaghetti

The spaghetti. Yum!

Then, there was one time when Joy cooked molo soup. I don't think I have ever tasted a molo soup before. So I cannot make any comparison. For a first time, Joy's molo soup was really great and perfect for the cold weather that day.

Joy in action while still being camera-shy

The molo soup

And dzen, there was another time when Joy again cooked mechado afritada. (I put mechado in Flickr as its name. Afritada pala! Haha!)

Joy's Afritada

And dzen, today, she again cooked misua with patola and meatballs. I loved it. Elmer loved it. The kids loved it. The yaya loved it. We all loved it. Super sarap! I honestly think it's even better than Elmer's misua.

Nakarami na si Elmer when, Me: "Ooops,'wag ka kikilos ng masama. Pipicturan ko pa."
Elmer:  "'Wag na!"

And dzen, there's this story. Let's get away from foods this time. 

When Calli and I headed to the neighborhood talipapa, we didn't bring an umbrella, because I thought, we would come back home right away after I bought what I had to buy anyway. Pero inatake ako ng kaartehan, nagpa-pedicure muna ako. As expected, umulan nang malakas...na malakas...na malakas. Mona found out from our yaya that Calli and I were not yet home and that we didn't have an umbrella with us. While we were waiting inside the salon for the rain to let up, we saw a white guy passed by...then went back. It was Carl, under the heavy rain, looking for us. He said he searched all the shops in Loakan proper for us, and as he went farther he got more wet. Luckily, he found us.

He didn't really have to do that. Calli and I could have just waited for the rain to stop and walked right home after. I was really touched by the gesture. Really! I couldn't thank him enough. 

Me: Are you here for us?

Carl: Yes darlin'. It's raining...not fair for Calli...carry her? Yada, yada.

Minsan nagla-lag talaga ang utak ko sa English niya. He does not really have a very thick British accent, pero may accent pa din. Feeling ko nga pinapagalitan niya ako nung time na 'yun. Deadma na lang.

Gusto ko sabihin, "We're not leaving until the rain stops. Heller, bagong pedicure ako."

Syempre jooowk 'yun! Super appreciated ko siya talaga. Parang naiiyak pa nga ako nun sa sobrang pagka-touched ko. Hindi eklat 'yun ha.

With the one year that my family stayed in our old house, I didn't get the chance to chat with my neighbors. I was neither a good nor bad neighbor to them. I was indifferent. Sabi nila, magkaka-mag-anak ang mga nakatira dun. I don't know, even now, who is who. This time it's different. Very different.  When you have good neighbors, you also want and try your best to be a good one. 

Thursday is almost over. I hope you, guys, are all ending it wonderfully.

Good night! I'll be back to work tomorrow.

Ciao! ♥