As we grow older, our bodies and minds change in ways that can be both funny and annoying. Here are 10 signs that you are getting older. If you recognize some of them, welcome to the club! First, you may feel like a detective when you cannot find your glasses or phone. You look everywhere and later realize you were holding them the whole time. It feels like you have the power to make things disappear. Another sign is when your joints start making cracking sounds like an old wooden floor. You may make strange noises every time you sit down or stand up. It sounds like your body is making music that nobody enjoys. You may also notice that your memory is not as good as before. You might forget where your things were, what you ate for breakfast, or even someone’s name. It can feel like your memory only remembers embarrassing moments. Another sign of getting older is making references that younger people do not understand. You may talk about cassette tapes, rotary pho...
Bullying became a hot topic in Norway today after a young teenager died of emaciation due to eating disorder that was primarily linked to anxiety from bullying at school. This was quite taboo in this Scandinavian country, given the nation is very keen on respecting socio-cultural differences and on protection against any form of discrimination. Discussions have been made on how to handle and prevent bullying and who takes the responsibility in these cases, whether the family, school or the State. Personally, I was not reacting in anyway as my mind says the concept is remote and almost impossible to happen in the Philippines. Perhaps, I was referring it to death, but not to bullying. However, after several days I was quite uneasy on the topic and further asked myself if I was ever bullied before and what it has caused me in the long-term basis. To my surprise, bullying was a crucial point in my childhood. My coping skills allowed me to hide in my consciousness what had happened...
In these challenging times when finding the right person to trust and to be with is hard, having a long-term relationship is significantly more difficult. Divorce rates are high throughout countries, which legally allows couples to do so. For those who are not even married, relationship does not simply last that long. Are there things needed for relationships to work? We have heard many stories about success and failure of long-term relationships, but there is a need to tackle this topic thoroughly. Firstly, let us define what long-term relationship is. The exact duration on when to consider a relationship long-term varies from one case to another. In this blog, we will be referring long-term relationship as a bond not dependent on time, rather depending on meeting essential conditions for it to exist. Since long-term relationships are not perfect, all these conditions may not be met but most of these must be achieved and fulfilled optimally. What are these, these are the fi...
In the bustling streets of Japan, amidst the sea of polite bows and exquisite sushi, lies a cultural gem known as "Kinishinai." This seemingly simple word holds profound significance in Japanese society, encapsulating a mindset that is both endearing and peculiar. This is the focus of this blogpost. Kinishinai, loosely translated as "I don't mind" or "It's okay," embodies the spirit of acceptance and harmony deeply ingrained in Japanese culture. It's not merely a phrase but a way of life, reflecting a collective mindset of tolerance, flexibility, and humility. In Japanese social interactions, Kinishinai serves as a lubricant, smoothing over potential conflicts and fostering a sense of communal tranquility. Whether it's accommodating unexpected changes or graciously accepting imperfections, the philosophy of Kinishinai promotes a harmonious coexistence. Surprisingly, the essence of Kinishinai resonates beyond the shores of Japan,...
Soon, I would mark my sixth year of living in Norway. It is difficult to sum up the past six years in few words. A lot of things I have experienced, and many people I have encountered. At least, I could say I have learned a lot during this period. However, what makes it more challenging for me as an immigrant in Norway is the contrast in cultures and social norms between my home country, the Philippines and Norway. Both countries were ranked high in different survey of happiness, depending on how happiness is defined on these surveys. And this concept of happiness is reflected in the norms in both countries. In this blogpost, I would enumerate ten of these cultural differences. 1. Love for nature I could say that both Philippines and Norway have been blessed with beautiful landscapes. Philippines is known for its beaches, while Norway has fjords giving way to beautiful unique sceneries not found in other countries. However...
Accounting almost one-third of the entire GDP of the Swedish nation, Stockholm has became an important headquarters of major companies in the Scandinavian peninsula. This is the reason why immigrants have streamed in the Swedish metropolis in seek of better opportunities. Due to this multicultural characteristic, Stockholm is unique in its own from other Nordic countries. This has led me to embark into a visit on the Swedish capital for two days. Click for the first day of the Stockholm visit. 1. Adolf Fredriks Kyrka This church is named after Adolf Frederick, who was controversial for failing to reacquire the Baltic provinces in favor of Sweden. The cemetery surrounding the church is where Rene Descartes, the mathematician who introduced the Cartesian coordinate system was buried. 2. St. Johannes kykogård This church is one of the two experiment parishes of the Swedish diocese of Stockholm. Interestingly, the aim of the church is lessen the number of peopl...
Every year I look forward after Easter. This is because I usually plan to have my annual vacation during this time. This year is quite different in many ways and in meaning. There are many good reasons why I wanted to see my family again in the Philippines, and at the same time feel excited about traveling back to Norway thereafter, which for the first time I would be calling my primary home. Longest vacation so far. I had over three weeks this year. Significantly longer than last year. I used the time judiciously to be with my family and friends, at the same time travel outside and within the Philippines. Each day was unique. Generally, the vacation started busy, but ended very relaxed. Fortunately, the plan I drafted was implemented well and almost everything went smooth. It gave me the experience and learning I needed for my next travels. Most number of airplane rides . It was a total of twelve plane rides I took. (1) Oslo-Istanbul, (2) Istanbul-Manila, (3) Laoag-Mani...
Health is that elusive state of being that we all strive for, yet never quite seem to reach. We all have our own definition of what it means to be healthy, whether it's the absence of illness or the ability to run a marathon without breaking a sweat. But the truth is, defining health is no easy feat. It's like trying to catch a greased pig - you can chase after it, but it always seems to slip away. So, let's take a lighthearted look at the complex nature of health and how we can try to define it. I have come to understand that determining who is healthy is not as simple as it may seem. The connection between norms and health is intricate, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. In my experience, health is not just about the absence of disease but also about meeting societal norms. For instance, a patient who presents with symptoms of depression and anxiety may be considered unhealthy, even though there is no physical ailment. This ...
Being new to this Scandinavian land, it has been one of my objectives to allow myself to integrate into the society, not just to have more opportunities and establish social networks, but also for me to learn new things, enriching the values I had before coming here. On the other hand, there are also from the West who are wiling to embrace a new culture from the East, bringing forth the necessary cultural exchange that may augment understanding of similarities and differences. This is enabled by those living on each side of the globe. This is the focus of this blogpost. When East meets West The East is composed of diversed groups and ethnicities, but there is one common among all those groups, collective representation and gain. What one achieves or does, whatever it is, is a representation of the group he or she belongs. By saying whatever means anything from taking pictures during travels, taking education or doing good at work. This is because most from the East loves to give prid...
The first time I saw this phrase was in Facebook. It caught my eyes because it is associated with being negative but quite common and seemingly normalized. It intrigued me because it somehow compares to the Filipino saying, " Bahala na. " Literally, this Japanese phrase means "nothing can be done about it." This expression has contrasting themes, and this will be the focus of this blogpost. Have dignity in difficult times. Force majeure, a situation beyond our control. This is perhaps a tragedy, calamity or perhaps an accident, economic hardships, or just as simple as an end of a relationship. All of these situations are difficult to handle. However, even these are stress-provoking, we have to maintain dignity in ourselves. Even though one has little or no alternatives left, he or she is expected to accept and endure the pain or consequences in a dignified manner. For example, if one has budgeting deficits, one has to accept to work for long hours. So be...
Comments
Post a Comment