UAE

That's right! I'm now in the UAE, specifically in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. There are a lot of stories I want to share on this blog for memorabilia’s sake, but I just couldn't find the right timing.

As for the reason for my absence, it's either because I'm busy babysitting my nephews, studying the knowledge I'm aspiring to acquire, or I simply don't have the convenience of sitting for a long period to start writing. I actually have a lot of thoughts to share, and while I did my best to write them down in my note-taking app, they have become so numerous that I feel overwhelmed about which one to prioritize. Of course, I don’t want to share them and then later edit because something’s missing—that would be a waste of time.

Since 2023, when I returned to Davao City from my longest stay in Surigao del Sur to babysit my nephews while their parents were away, I arrived here in the UAE in December 2024 for the same purpose. The only thing that changed is that I'm now tasked with taking care of my niece, who has a speech delay. It requires endless patience, a broader understanding, and sometimes sleepless nights because, aside from my niece throwing tantrums in the middle of the night, I also have a 9-month-old nephew who demands attention at the same time.

All in all, there are seven of us in the room my sister rented: three nephews and one niece, they're mommy, our mom, and myself. Although my mom is here, she can't be tasked with tutoring my nephews or doing home-based therapy for my niece—that's my responsibility. Mama mostly takes care of the house chores.

As for how long I'll be staying here, I don't know. Maybe until my niece's condition improves because that's the only thing keeping me here for now.