First Shot

I like pictures. I am fond of taking pictures of my kids. When my first child was born, we had to pay hundreds of riyals to get his baby pictures printed. Then, I collect the free camera films that go with each batch of printing; just to have another set of pictures. Thanks to the inventor of digital point and shoot cameras, I saved some cash from printing my second child's baby pictures. But as they grow older and get more engaged in different activities, my desire to capture each moment intensifies.

So, I got myself a digital SLR, Canon EOS 550D. No, I don’t aim to be a professional photographer. Just to have something to use and take my kids’ pictures vividly. I would say I got a great deal from cam4sell shop in Al Arouba Street. $720 (SAR 2,700) with 18 megapixels, a free bag and an 8 GB memory card is not bad.

As a starter, I read the manual and googled some facts. RAW and JPEG got me confused. RAW eats a lot of space from the memory card and images can be edited; while it seems JPEG have nicer shots. Thanks to a friend, she explained things to me. I tried shooting RAW and JPEG shots. I transferred them to the PC. Tried to edit but RAW requires me to be a proficient Photoshop user which I am not – yet. JPEG has been friendly; somehow, it allowed me to take advantage of the automatic image editing.

And here is the first shot I took. It's my daughter's favorite juice.

Manual settings: ISO 6400, f4.5, 1/125

Philippine Schools in Riyadh

School is over. It’s summer time. My kids are staying at home. Either they’re watching TV, eating, sleeping or are busy with facebook, ipod and iphone. Yup, social networking sites and gaming gadgets are the new recreation activities for the new generation. Nice but not so nice.

Gone are the days when children rush to the streets and play habulan, patintero, langit-lupa, sipa, jack and stone, taguan and tumbang-preso. The street is now not a friendly place to bum around. Not in the kingdom.

Classes will resume after two months and to prepare (yes, as early as now) I have been thinking about sending them to a new school. There used to be only one Philippine school in the city; so, there was no choice. Kids in school used to know each other very well. Now, I think there are about 10 schools and children have become estranged.

I asked around and listed all the Philippine schools. I’ve been hearing a lot of stories which I have to consider as I deliberate the fees, quality of teaching, expertise of the faculty, the policies, as well as the academic and extra-curricular activities.

1. Al Danah International School
2. Al Taj International School in Riyadh
3. Elite International School
4. Fawaq International Science School of the Philippines
5. Future Generation Philippine International School
6. International Philippine School in Riyadh
7. Millenium International School
8. Palm Crest International School
9. Riyadh International School
10. Second Philippine International School

Come to think of it, with approximately or maybe more than 2 million OFWs in KSA and with 10 Philipine schools in Riyadh alone, are Filipinos subtly migrating, not just working but establishing their families in the kingdom? It must be nice to live in the kingdom. Is it?

Anyhow, I must go back to mulling.

Oh, should you wish to get the school's contact information, please visit the Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas website.

Ok, back to mulling again.

Who Moved My Cheese?

Out of despair, I bought this book last week. Though I have read it once, I promised myself to get a copy if chance permits. Good thing, it was on the rack. An office colleague actually lent me the book and at that time, I was hesitant to read it. I was going through a major life transformation back then and I thought I couldn’t have the luxury of reading. But the book has 95 pages only, so I gave in.

And again, it was worth it! The few minutes I consumed were literally and absolutely refreshing. The story about the mice and the little people is so life-like that anyone can get a feel for. Reading the story again and again most importantly when you’re going through something can uplift your spirit.

Among the writings on the wall mentioned in the book, these two are what I like most:

• Things change and they are never the same again.
• If you do not change, you can become extinct!

It is a must read! Even children would learn from Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw. I would really say grab one, read, keep, read, keep and read again. Change is constant so we may need something that constantly reminds us to move with the cheese!