Past the Halfway Mark Along with 10 Significant Learnings

1. I can cook. Before I moved to China, I could only bake cookies and brownies. I didn't even know how to steam rice nor make eggs. But to date, I've already learned how to make adobo, steamed salmon, pancakes, giniling, and pasta, among others, and I have a bunch more line up for kitchperimenting. This leads me to my second point...

2. Cooking is fun! I'm extremely happy when my food is beyond edible, and the same goes for my taste buds.

3. It pays to be OC... Or at least to get into the habit of planning and organizing things in advance. Like writing a menu for each week before heading off to the supermarket just to make sure you don't buy too many ingredients or food items, especially vegetables that can rot in a matter of days. Or Or bringing out your subway card before leaving the house to make sure you have it and to save time. Or taking note of deadlines for bills and sticking them on the refrigerator door.

4. Drinking more than enough water makes a whole lot of difference. There was a time when I lost my voice completely, and it was because the weather was dry and I wasn't drinking enough water. Not only that, keeping myself hydrated helps improve the condition of my skin as well.

5. Sleeping early and waking up early make a big difference, too. Waking up early means I get to do more chores and then have plenty of time for myself right after. Waking up early also means I get to sleepy early in the evening, which is good for the body! There was a time when I would sleep late and sleep in until around 9 to 10am and I'd feel very lazy. Waking up early, on the other hand, makes me feel really energized!

6. Get rid of the habit of converting another currency to Philippine peso whenever buying groceries and other essential items. Things are just more expensive here. So for a while, I tried to be as thrifty as I could by not buying too much. But then, I would always have a very noisy tummy simply because I didn't eat enough food. So I just decided to set a reasonable budget for each month, and it's helping me so far.

7. You are responsible for disciplining yourself, and if you do it right, you'll pat yourself on the back for it. Back at home, I had the gym and dance classes to keep myself fit. I would go to work, then go on whatever fitness activity I could do right after, then just go home, maybe eat dinner, take a shower and go to bed. Here, however, I have to do chores on top of my day job... And the tendency is to get really lazy to do anything else. So I later on realized that I have to develop the habit of exercising again, and discipline myself into doing so even if it's just by myself. So I downloaded some fitness apps and now, I really make sure that I get, at the very least, 30 minutes of exercise a day.

8. There is more to life than the internet. I'm trying to read more books, watch more movies, engage in different activities, and even explore more places around Beijing.

9. Take every opportunity to learn something new. For one, I've taken interest in learning Chinese. As advised by a fellow teacher, I carry around a small notebook to jot down Chinese words and translations. There are a bunch of other things that I would like to venture in-- some just for fun while others are work-related.

And lastly...

10. Sunny skies are beautiful. I can't deny that air pollution is horrible here, and it covers up the whole sky most of the time. Sometimes, you can't even see buildings from a distance anymore because of the smog. It's very different compared to Manila. I rejoice every time the sun is up and the sky is a clear blue.

Kocoon Spa: A Relaxing Experience

Living in a city that has dry winter season and bad air pollution gave my oily skin quite a challenge. So I decided to head out and hunt down a spa for a facial. I particularly looked for one that could speak English and uses high-quality products-- I wouldn't want just anything on my skin.

So a friend recommended Kocoon Spa, which has two branches, the nearest one closest to me being the one along South Sanlitun Road (past the Worker's Stadium), and is owned by a French-Japanese mother-daughter tandem.

Your filthy shoes won't be allowed inside.


And the moment you step in, the staff serves you a cup of tea. In my case, I was offered one of the most delicious teas that I have ever tasted. Apparently, it came straight from Japan (and, sadly, was not for sale).


The interior is very simple and cozy. I lingered around the lounge area for a while because I felt so comfortable, especially with an awesome cup of tea in hand.


The woman who attended to me was very pleasant. I felt so relaxed during my facial, which included a quick neck, shoulder and leg massage. She used different kinds of scented oil that added up to the calming experience. When the treatment was finished, I didn't even look the least bit swollen or red, which is unusual since my skin is sensitive. Days after, I noticed my skin looked brighter, and impurities lessened slightly.

To top the experience off, they, again, offer refreshments (I opted to still drink their tea even if they offered juice and others) as well as a simple snack from Japan before you step out.


Aside from facials, Kocoon Spa also offers massages and waxing services. The price list isn't cheap, but at least it's foreigner friendly, and you have an idea of what it is you are paying for as well as the products that will be used. If you want to learn more about Kocoon Spa, you can visit their website here.