The past six months have been physically exhausting due to some inevitable transitions. I’m not sure if I’ll ever fully adjust to the current situation. It’s not that I’m complaining—there have definitely been some positive changes—but I’m uncertain if my body can handle it. I’m also not sure if the frequency of my “events” is related to this. They’ve told me it’s not, but I can’t help but wonder.

Growing up in Riyadh, there were a lot of things I didn’t learn. For one, I never really learned to drive (like drive, drive). I know the basics, but Riyadh’s roads are different. You have to be tough and aggressive to get around. Good reflexes and defensive driving are essential, and that’s just not me. So, the whole transportation situation here is another challenge. Since moving back in 2003, it feels like all the independence I had when I was in Manila for college has been erased. While the metro is functional, walking isn’t really a thing here. Most people take a cab to the station, and then another cab to their destination. I know I need to adapt to this whole new setup if I want to survive.

And Oh!

I was shocked to hear about Barbie Hsu’s passing. As Filipinos, we’re so into Asian dramas and telenovelas, which is why Meteor Garden became such a hit with many of us—it’s the Taiwanese version of South Korea’s Boys Over Flowers and Japan’s Hana Yori Dango. She played the main character, Shan Cai. I still rerun Meteor Garden every now and then, even though the version I first watched was the Tagalized one. She was truly loved. She was only 48. ONLY 48.