Disappointing news

Just got a reply from Uniqlo that the jersey jacket is out of stock in my size. I guess it's not meant to be. I was actually half hoping they wouldn't have it in my size because i wanted to spend the money on another pair of shoes instead of the jacket. I realized there's really no need for another jacket since i find it a nuisance having to carry my jacket around when it's too warm indoors.

Side story... last Saturday i walked from the parking to the mall without a jacket. P already told me i was going to regret not bringing my jacket. It wasn't so bad at first but after 5 mins and we were still outdoors i began to feel the chill in my bones. I thought i was going to have pneumonia! I didn't realize the walk was going to be that long. Another lesson learned.

Underwater Adventures

Every weekend we make it a point to go out and explore Minnesota. Contrary to what others may think, Minnesota has so much more to offer other than farmland and livestock. It may not be as fashion forward as NYC or as paparazzi-infested as LA but it's an interesting place nonetheless.

Last Saturday we really wanted to visit the Minnesota zoo but decided to postpone it to another weekend when the weather is warmer. Instead, we spent the afternoon at the Underwater Adventures Aquarium in Mall of America. I was really curious about it's marine life display. According to its website, Discovery Channel calls it the World's Best Shark Encounter.

Was it? Well, I've always been a big fan of giant aquariums and the underwater tunnels never fail to fascinate me and leave me mesmerized. I wouldn't say it's the world's best but what impressed me was the fact that we were 14ft underwater inside a mall! This was also the first time we brought Bud to an aquarium so it made the experience even more memorable. He seemed to be as enthralled as i was looking at the different marine life. Funny story, we encouraged him to reach out to the fish and touch the glass. One time, P caught Bud touching and stroking the sweater of the girl beside him! Hehehehe...

Going back to the Underwater Adventures...what sets this apart from the other aquariums is it's one long aquarium where you can view all the different river, reef and deep sea creatures all from a tunnel 14ft beneath the surface. The tunnel starts with the wild Amazon where you can revel at the Catfish, Gar, Piranha and giant Arapaima. Then it transitions to the deep sea with all the Sharks and Stingrays. It ends with the Rainbow Reef where you can find all the colorful and playful little fish. I enjoyed the Wild Amazon the most bec it's the first time I've seen Amazon display from an underwater tunnel.

The fee is P19 for adults and the pass is good for the whole day. So if you want to stay the whole day or come back to unwind and relax after shopping, you can! Not bad, right?

We only spent an hour inside because i had another agenda in MOA. I got my Sophie shoes from Vans! Yes, it was what i expected it to be. It was sleek and very comfortable. P says they look like golf shoes. Can't wait for the weekend to wear my new shoes.

Spring jacket

Another item i want to add to my closet for spring - a tailored jersey jacket. Thanks to a post i read from MFO (http://www.manilafashionobserver.com/2010/03/currently-obsessing-on.html)! I already emailed Uniqlo if they still have the gray tailored jersey jacket in my size. Now i just have to wait 72 hours for a response. Haven't decided yet if i want it in gray or black. I guess it will depend on what's available. According to MFOs post, the gray jackets were already out of stock in the Soho store.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/explorer.html#/code:061566-000-03/

Spring shoes

Since we came here in November with only 100lbs worth of personal effects each, i only managed to bring shoes and clothes for winter. I'm not complaining though as it turned out to work to my advantage. It gave me a good excuse to go shopping!

Thanks to Gap and Old Navy, I've been able to build up my spring wardrobe without breaking the bank. What's more, i still have some leftover money from my shopping budget for another pair or 2 of shoes!

I already got a pair of white sneakers from Gap and a pair of purple flats from Kenneth Cole. Somehow these 2 pairs still don't satisfy my shoe fetish. I feel there's still something missing in my shoe arsenal. Wedges? Oxfords? Booties? After weeks of online surfing and deliberation, i finally decided that a pair of Vans oxfords would complete my ensemble. It's just what i need - chic and comfortable. It would go well with my boyfriend chinos, skinnies and jeggings. Plus it's something i can walk around in for hours especially on weekends when we're always outdoors. Kenneth Cole Slip On By

I can't wait to go to Mall of America tom to get my own pair of Sophie.... crossing my fingers that it would be all that I'm expecting it to be.

Vans Sophie

2 years later...

Guess where we are now....in Minnesota, USA! I can't believe it's been 2 years since my last post. How time flies! What happened in between now and my last post you may ask. Well, motherhood happened! Yes, i am now a mother to a 1 year old boy. I am officially outnumbered in our household. I share a bed with two guys who both sweat when they sleep (even during the freezing winter months).

Will be posting more soon...

How to keep warm in Siberia

While Novosibirsk is not exactly the most ideal place for expats, living here is not as bad as I had expected. Before coming here i'd imagined that we would be riding dog-pulled sleds and eating whale blubber. For one, Siberia has always been depicted as a vast barren plane of ice in American movies. Secondly, there was very limited reference material about Siberia on the internet so i was left with only my imagination (which is very much influenced by American media).

Yes, locals have confirmed that it could get as cold as -50c here during winter but only for a maximum period of 1 week. The same way that in Manila we expect typhoons to come and go during the wet season. It's not constantly -50c as i first thought it would be. The average winter temp is around -15c to -20c, which is manageable if you have proper winter clothing.

Speaking of clothing, we really made a good call on the down jackets from Northface. It was a bit pricey but it does keep us warm and healthy. P and I both have a tri-climate jacket and a down jacket from Northface that we mix and match depending on the temperature. On cold days with snow or strong winds, i attach my down jacket to the waterproof shell. On very cold days, i wear the fleece lining from the tri-climate jacket with my down jacket and just a regular sweater as inner wear. I also wear leggings underneath my pants for extra warmth.

Morskoy Prospekt

Shoes with good insulation and proper traction are a must-have. I brought one very dependable all-terrain hiking shoes that is water repellant which i use most of the time because it's warm and keeps me from slipping on the icy sidewalks. On days when it's snowing and the sidewalks are covered with a layer of fresh snow, i can wear my leather boots with heels because it's not as slippery. Note to reader, boots must have lining to keep your feet warm.

Aside from a warm jacket and proper shoes, it is also important to have a thick warm bonnet and gloves for good insulation. I think the best place to buy warm bonnets and gloves would be here. I just purchased a new bonnet last weekend and it did feel a lot warmer than the one i used to wear. Siberians never go outside without a hat. You can leave home without your gloves but never leave home without your bonnet.

The best advice i got from locals is to stay indoors when it gets really cold. The heating in Novosibirsk is centralized and so all the buildings are well-heated.

Contrary to what i initially imagined, Novosibirsk is nothing at all like that scene from Tomb Raider. It is a proper city with well-developed infrastructure and highly-educated citizens.

Life in Russia

It's been 3 months since my last post. I would like to think that i've been busy but the truth of the matter is i was just too lazy to compose anything.

It's been more than a month since P and I moved to Novosibirsk, Russia. I'm sure you're wondering where the heck is Novo-what's-it's-name. Well, Novosibirsk is the 3rd largest city in Russia, next to St. Petersburg and Moscow. It is considered the business and cultural center of Siberia and is home to Akademgorodok - a unique university town founded during the cold war to become Russia's science mecca in the Sibierian region. Akademgorodok was designed to provide ideal living and working conditions for scientisits and so it was built in a forest area bordered by a botanical garden and the Ob Sea. While Akademgorodok is still the center of academic life in Novosibirsk, it is has also evolved to become the "Silicon Taiga" of Siberia what with the popularity of IT business in this area. With its ideal setup and beautiful surroundings, it has no doubt become the address of choice for the affluent Siberian. Fortunately for us, we live in this elite neighborhood.

Living here is not as difficult as i expected. Aside from the extremely cold weather, everything else is manageable. I spent the first week exploring the area and going through the isles in the grocery to see what was available. On our second week i had already familiarized myself with the place and the goods and was able to cook dinner every night since. I attend Russian language lessons 3 times a week and i also teach English in the same language school 4 times a week. Just this week i finally found the courage to ride the public bus and the marshrutka (shuttle) on my own...easy as pie :) I would still prefer to walk but since it's getting really cold riding public transport is the most practical choice.

Russian is one of the most difficult languages to learn (and understand). Adjectives change depending on the gender of the noun and the verbs change depending on the person/subject. The most useful phrases for me would be " Ya nye garvoryoo Pa-Ruski" (I can't speak Russian) and "Ya nye panyal" (I don't understand). I don't know if i will ever progress from simple tenses but knowing a little Russian is better than nothing.

Some notable observations about people and life in Russia:
a. They really drink a lot of alcohol.
b. When eating out, drinks would probably cost more that your food. One because beverages are expensive. Second because you will most likely be pressured to drink a lot of alcohol.
c. They dont salt the sidewalks here so it is more practical for moms to put their toddlers on sleds than on strollers.
d. Russian ladies snack on a lot of sweets and chocolates but they don't get fat.
e. Never go outside without your bonnet.
f. They still eat a lot of ice cream even in below zero temperature. You will find an ice cream kiosk in most major streets.
g. Tea is more popular than coffee.
h. It is common to see teens or adult men drinking beer while walking in the sidewalk.
i. I have never seen a policeman or any law enforcer since we came here.
j. Heating is centralized.
k. They don't bother to clean their cars anymore.
l. When it gets extremely cold, car engines are left running during the night so the gas won't freeze.

Will try to write more about life in Russia in my next entry. Pakka!