HELE PROJECT for Second Quarter

One of the subjects that makes homeschooling exciting for me is HELE.  It is all about home economics and livelihood education.  Here, I learn many practical information that will surely benefit me in the future.

Last second quarter, my Mom asked me to prepare 2 recipes.  I had to research their ingredients and nutritional value. During the question and answer,  I had to defend my recipes as nutritious otherwise, it would affect my final grades in this subject.  Then I had to submit a copy of my project.  I decided to use Power point to apply what my Dad taught me about computers.

SPAGHETTINI LE ITALLANI

Ingredients: Spaghetti, olive oil, basil, bell pepper, garlic, salt and pepper

Boil water, add salt.

Add olive oil

Add pasta and continue stirring until it becomes Al-dente.  Drain water.

Heat olive oil

Saute garlic and bell pepper

Add cooked spaghetteni, Mix.  Season with salt, pepper and basil.

Finished product

Learning Achievement

I find this recipe simple and healthy because it uses: 

•

•1. Olive oil which is rich in antioxidant that repairs cell membrane, monounsaturated fats, Vitamin E. 

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•2. Red bell pepper which contains high Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, folic acid, carotene and large amount of phyto-chemicals which proven to fight cancers.   (GROW group).
4. Salt contains mineral sodium chloride which regulates water which is called fluid balance.
5. Wheat contains niacin which uses protein; zinc for good skin and growth; riboflavin for good eye vision. (GO  group)

•

HEALTHY CHICKEN BARBEQUE

Ingredients:  chicken breast, banana catsup,  soy sauce, olive oil, pepper, sugar.

nDo hand washing  and prepare ingredients.

nPre heat before putting the chicken in  the oven.

nMix soy sauce with ketchup.

nAdd sugar  and pepper to taste

nMarinate the chicken  for  at least 2 hours.

Put olive oil

nPut the chicken in the oven at 200 Celsius.

Finished product

nI consider this recipe healthy because it uses the breast part of the chicken without the skin.  Instead of using charcoal for grilling, I used the oven . I used olive oil to add flavor and it is healthier than the typical barbeque sauce. 

Chicken is rich in protein and phosphorus. 

n

nThis belongs to Go group food.

A birthday celebration

Last October, I celebrated my 11th birthday.  Just like my past birthdays, no big celebration was done.  Though it is the usual routine in our family, I consider this as one of my great birthday celebrations because my family is finally complete.

We spent my special day in Riyadh zoo.  Funny to say, I was able to visit first the zoo here in Riyadh than our own zoo in Manila. 

Visiting Riyadh zoo is a worth one.  I discovered how Saudi people give importance to bonding time with their families. 

The space is very big.  You can actually bring food, look for a shaded place and have a picnic. There are lots of food stalls within the zoo so there's no problem in buying water in case you feel dehydrated. It is advisable to go early morning when the sun is not yet too hot.  You better bring caps, shades or umbrella for sun protection.

Bringing cameras is not prohibited inside. Just avoid taking pictures including Saudi women.  It is strictly prohibited to take pictures in any public areas here in Saudi.

There are some animals which I am already familiar with like:

TIGER

LION

GIRAFFE

                 

ZEBRA

There are more animals which I saw here for the first time like:

CAMEL

PORCUPINE

BAHOON

SWAN

AGOUTI

          

OSTRICH

WOLF

There are many animals from different groups that everyone can appreciate in this place.

The SR 10 entrance fee is reasonable enough  for you to see and discover the different animals in Riyadh zoo.

Aside from the animals, I enjoyed my day because I  was  with my loving parents who never forget to spend quality time with me.

Learning Adjectives thru Food Trip

My mother  was trying her best to familiarize me with adjectives.  Instead of doing some exercises from the book, she asked me to make picture blogging for better appreciation of adjectives.

She gave me topics to choose.  I chose "Food Trips".

Tamis Bread

This is the Tamis Bread.  This is a round, big, thin, white bread which is very popular here in Saudi Arabia.  It is prepared in a very hot oven made of bricks.  Packing thamis bread after a minute of cooking will be done by yourself.  It is good to eat this bread while it's hot.

Ful Mudammas

For many people here in Saudi, Tamis bread tastes yummier with  a dip made of fava beans which is called the Ful Mudammas.

Honestly, I don't like its taste.  It's too creamy for my taste buds.  My parents love eating it with tamis bread and they eat them for their dinner.

Cooked Sambusa

Our Muslim housemates are very generous in giving us this food with or without special occasions.  

Sambusa is always present on their tables whenever there's an event. 

uncooked sambusa

It's similar to the Filipino-Chinese recipe "lumpia"/ Spring roll.  It comes in variety of fillings like

beef, chicken, vegetable and cheese.

 The wrapper is rectangular in shape made of flour and eggs.  The finished product is triangular in shape.

I love eating sambusa as much as I love eating lumpiang toge at shanghai!!

Kabsa Rice with Grilled chicken

  Eating this food is commonly done by laying a clean plastic on the table.  No plates nor spoon and fork to be used.  I enjoy doing it however, the kabsa rice is  filled with different herbs and spices and really tastes different from the common white rice that makes it less attractive for me to eat it.

Galaxy chocolates

Sorry to my pulmonologist, but I can't help eating chocolates here!  I really like the delicious, creamy and sweet variety of Galaxy chocolates here.

Ramadan Time

It is Ramadan time this month. Although I am not a Muslim, I can’t help but do my own observations since this is my first time in Saudi Arabia.
I notice the different ways Muslims observe Ramadan compared to ordinary days here.

To support my observation with facts, I asked my father who works in Saudi Arabia for more than 15 year; my Auntie Anne and Auntie Juvy, they are our Muslim housemates here.

What is RAMADAN?

It means “fasting”. All Muslims are required to observe 1 month of fasting for this is the time to signify the equality among Muslims. Regardless of one’s status in life, everyone is called to observe fasting. This is the time also to remind Muslims to offer themselves to Allah through prayers. Generally, this is a time of prayer, fasting, and abstinence from doing evil.

Is there anyone exempted to do fasting?

Yes, too old and young people, those who are sick, pregnant, women with menstruation.

What are your preparations prior to first day of Ramadan?

We take a bath. We condition ourselves for the one month fasting.

What are the common DO’S and DON’TS you observe during RAMADAN?

1. We don’t sleep with our husbands on bed.

2. We don’t eat nor drink any fluids between 4:30 a.m till 6:30 p.m

3. No one is allowed to smoke.

4. We share blessings commonly food to one another.

How do you end the celebration of Ramadan?

After Ramadan, we celebrate EId ul Ftr . It signifies the break of fasting and we celebrate it by gathering together and sharing foods. Here in Saudi Arabia, it’s usually a 3-non-working days and we go to other cities like Dammam to enjoy beach.

My other observations here are most of the restaurants close during the time of fasting. No one is allowed to eat or drink. Non-Muslim people are not required to observe Muslim practices during Ramadan, however, as a sign of respect to Muslim faith, they are not allowed to be seen eating nor drinking especially in public area otherwise they will be reprimanded.

Muslims still pray 5 times a day which they call it “SALA”. Just like in any ordinary days, once it’s prayer time, Muslim workers are required to stop whatever they are doing and pray. If you’re in a public place like grocery, pharmacy, or any establishments, you will not be allowed to enter. If you are already inside, they will allow you to stay but they will close the doors and not allow anyone to leave. No employee will entertain your needs till the prayer time is over.

If you will ask me, how do I celebrate Ramadan? Well, needless to say I don’t observe fasting. I’m a Christian. But I can’t help but enjoy this season simply because my DAD has a shorter working hours and that means more bonding time for us!!! And what commonly bonds us together…..FOOD!

Virtual Library

My mother encourages me to read books. She loves buying me books that I want.

I notice when it comes to books, she never considers too much of the price compare to buying toys. She tells me reading various books enhances my mental abilites.

When we left to Riyadh, I had to leave most of the books my mother bought for me.

We visited the well-known bookstore here..Jareer Bookstore and tried to look for some interesting english books.

Yesterday, my mother checked in the internet stories online that I can use for book report. She felt happy when she found a virtual library where there many books available. In fact, some award winning ADARNA book publisher in the Philippines are included there.

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DIGITAL LIBRARY


For homeschoolers like me especially in countries like Saudi Arabia, surely this will be a big help.

Riyadh: My Own Discovery PART 1

As we traveled to Riyadh last June 28, 2010, I couldn’t remember how many times I said to my parents how happy and excited I was since I would have a complete family now. Although my parents never failed on giving me orientations on what to expect when we arrived, I couldn’t help to feel the excitement to see everything with my two eyes.

This is the second country I visited next to Singapore. Questions like… “Are there any similarities between the Philippines and Saudi; Will I like the food there?; Will I have many friends there…how about bullies?...these are just some questions kept bothering me during our travel.

The moment I stepped my feet in the airport, I noticed already the difference. There’s some kind of distinct smell I couldn’t describe. My parents told me, it’s common when many Arabs, Indyans or Pakistanis gather together.

Then, my mother looked for the ladies toilet to wear her Abaya and Tarja. This is a requirement among women in Middle East. Wearing Abaya and Tarja is one way of protecting women against abusive men. When I first saw my mother wearing one, I remembered her advice to hold her hands every time we go outside since I couldn’t easily recognize her anymore because all women wear Abaya and Tarja.

My Mami buying curtains in Batha

Not all women here need to cover the entire face. In fact, many Asians and Caucasians (non-Muslim) don’t wear tarja anymore when they go to malls or other public places. That’s one easy way to identify a Filipina here. My parents told me that those who cover their entire faces are usually the conservative Saudi ladies who comply very much with the Saudi rules. By the way, my Mom is not comfortable not wearing her tarja whenever we go outside. She’s been looking for a tarja with a “Hello Kitty “design on it to recognize her easily. Ha, ha, my Dad told her to go to Japan and have it customized.


HOUSES:

It’s very common here that 2-3 families occupy one big house. Just like in our house, we are two families here plus 2 single ladies in the third room. There are 2 toilets and 1 kitchen. Every house has different features. You will notice the simplicity of houses externally.

The payment of house rental is done yearly. Water bill is yearly as well. Electricity is every 3 months. Water and electricity are not as costly compared in the Philippines. Though there are occasional water shortage and transient brownouts in isolated areas.

If you are a Filipino then surely you can’t live without TFC connection. TFC or The Filipino Channel of ABS-CBN is one of the means of alleviating homesickness of OFWs here in Saudi.


ROADS and TRANSPORTATION:

If you love driving then you will surely enjoy driving in the roads in Riyadh.

The roads are smooth and wide. Drivers are following traffic rules. There are cameras also in most traffic lights.

Although there are traffics in some areas but it is not too congested just like in the Philippines.

There are public transportations here such as taxis and busses. But take note, only men can use busses for public transportation. Women only use taxis.

Renting a car is affordable. In fact that’s what my father does whenever we go to Filipino gathering every Friday. By the way, weekends here are every Thursday and Friday instead of Saturday and Sunday.

Gasoline is very cheap. A full tank cost only SR10 or P120. So if you have a private car then worry not if you want to travel most of the time.

ATMOSPHERE:

The temperature here as of this month is quite hot. In fact whenever we go out at night to do some grocery around 8pm, temperature is between 42-47 degrees Celsius. My Dad told me that it will eventually lower. And when it's cold…it’s really
cold. It usually happens sometime in September till April.

Despite the hot temperature, I still enjoy going out and witness everything I can appreciate in Riyadh.

I surely appreciate the minimal air pollution here. I don’t see vehicles emitting dark smoke here. Even the oldest and ugliest car I guess won’t emit dark smoke. My Dad told me it’s because of the cheap price of gasoline here that everyone can afford to consume premium gas.

                                                        .......(to be continued)......

Why Homeschool?

Hi I'm Reinel a homeschooler of Catholic Filipino Academy. This is my 3rd year and I'm in my 5th grade. You may be wondering why my parents decided to bring me into homeschooling. Simply because they want the BEST for me.

I did not find it very difficult to adjust to the new environment. I guess because there was a time when I told my Mami that I didn't want to go to school anymore. That was very alarming for my parents especially to my mother since my father is an OFW.

I am so blessed to have very understanding parents. They asked me what was wrong. I couldn't tell the details but all I know I hated most of my classmates who teased me and treated me like jerk. My mother would always tell not to get affected because they were just jealous of my handsome look...ahem. But honestly, I was terribly lonely during my school days. It was difficult to find real good friends. I would always remember my parents' advice that I have to learn to choose the right friends. Although I got 2 good friends during my school days, but I was surrounded more with bullies.

I remember there was a time I would prefer to stay in the guidance councilor's office just to avoid those bullies. I could not remember anymore how many times did my Mami went to the office to speak with my advicer and guidance councilor. I knew she was terribly hurt as well on how other children would treat me.

The situation worsen when my grades started to go down. My private tutor had the same observation with my Mami, that my academic performance at home did not match with my performance in school.

Unaware of my mother's plan, she was considering already homeschooling that time. But it took a year for my parents to have mutual decision of sending me to homeschooling.

My mother is a member of Kerygma family founded by Bo Sanchez. Joining this community opened the door for us to try homeschooling.

I am aware of the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling. We continously discuss as a family on how we will overcome the "not so good" about homeschooling and enjoy the priviledges of being one.

I don't say the homeschooling is better than traditional school. But I am so lucky that I am given this priviledge to be a homeschooler. On my 6th grade, I will go back to the traditional since I am staying now with my Dadi who is an OFW in Riyadh.

Since this will be my last year in homeschooling, I would like to enjoy its full benefits and share my learning experiences while here in Riyadh through blogging. Thanks to my Mami for introducing this to me.

As my Mami and Dadi would always say ..."Bringing our son to homeschool is indeed one of the best decision we ever made for the family."