Week in Manila

Being in Manila for a week of meetings brought us some interesting thoughts and feelings as we are back on familiar ground that used to be home but no longer is.  Grace remembered much and enjoyed the familiar. Jasmin remembered some but with a fair about of confusion as to where events took place: "where we in Bangkok or Manila when....?" she asked a number of times. They most enjoyed being with "Ate Bubbles" who was kind enough to set aside the week to be with them while Mommy and Daddy attended meetings.
Mommy kept running lists in her head entitled things like "What we miss about Manila" and "Why we like Bangkok better." Since they never got written down, no one knows which is longer - probably a good thing :o) Definitely topping the list of return impressions is the sheer number of people here and the noise levels. Second would be the smaller conveniences of Bangkok living: tissue in public bathrooms (and no lineups! Which is important when out with kids, who always seem to wait for the last minute), crosswalks that cars (and pedestrians) more or less obey, street food available just about everywhere...
The flip side of those things are the larger ones like shopping in Manila is so much better, easier, and usually cheaper and it is a delight to hear Christian music wafting out of many of the stores in the malls as well as be able to find Christian materials easily.  And, of course, we sure miss working out of a bustling office of friends!
But when all is said and done, home is the best place to be, whether it is in Manila, Bangkok or anywhere else.  We are glad to be going home.
And Daddy?  This week was a fairly tough week for him, so he didn't have much thought to spare for city comparisons - dash, but he did comment on the noise level and number of people.