Spring Warmth

"Where are you going to celebrate Spring vaccation?" Freya asked while we are eating some snacks. School ended earlier than the usual, so we have a lot of vacant time. We decided to go to a fast food chain before we head home. Masyadong mababa ang temperatura sa labas, at kung mahigit 30 minutes kaming nasa labas, ay maninigas na kami. Kaya kailangan namin na mag stop over from time to time sa mga convenient store or iba pang stores para magpainit. This is what the locals do, here in Yakutsk, Russia. Kumagat ako sa kinakain kong burger, "We usually go to Japan, since that's my mother's hometown," I shrugged. "Really?!" Dina exclaimed, "how I wish I could be able to see those cherry blossoms. You know, sakura," she uttered with her slang Japanese. "True. I want to experience their weather," Freya added, "is it warm there?" Tumango naman ako, "It is. We don't wear too much layers when we go there. One layer is enough to survive," nginitian ko sila. Sabay silang napanguso habang tinitignan ako. Nakikitaan ko ng selos ang mga mata nila dahil sa sinabi ko. Hindi kasi sila nakakarating sa iba pang parte ng mundo. I know that their family is so busy, hence they only stay here in Yakutsk. They don't travel a lot. In fact, mag isa lang sa bahay nila sina Freya at Dina. They are like surviving on their own. After finishing our snacks, we already walked outside. Magkakalapit lang ang bahay namin tatlo, at mula sa burger house na kinainan namin ay hindi na kami aabutin ng 30 minutes sa labas. We arrived first at Freya's house, then Dina's. I was the last one who arrived home. "I'm home!" Inalis ko na ang suot kong coat na dalawa dahil nakadama na ako agad ng init mula sa heater namin. Finally, it's warm. Nasa -60 degrees kasi ang temperature sa labas, kaya talagang magiging yelo ka kapag naiwan kang matagal doon. We actually buy our frozen goods on the street. The weather itself can be a freezer already. "Welcome home, honey," si mommy ang una kong nakita nang dumating ako sa kusina. She is already preparing for our dinner. Naupo ako sa isang upuan sa dining, "Daddy?" "Work," she simply answered. Tumungo naman ako sa aking kwarto para makapag palit na ng damit. Finally, spring season has come. No more classes...for the meantime. Last day namin kanina and we are actually surprised that we were dismissed earlier. Siguro dahil nga rin pumalo sa -60 below ang temperatura sa labas kaya pinauwi na rin kami. Nag suot lang ako ng simpleng jogging pants na yellow at white sweatshirt. Kahit kasi may heater ay nilalamig pa rin ako. Pagkatapos kong mag bihis ay dumeretso na ako sa sala at binuksan ang tv. I watched some news while waiting for mom. I have nothing else to do. I don't have a sibling to take care of. Naka-empake na rin ang mga gamit ko na dadalhin sa Japan. Our flight is scheduled tomorrow morning, around 5am. We usually spend our Spring break in Kyoto, where my mother actually grew up. She is a Filipino-Japanese reciding in Kyoto, Japan. Doon nagtatrabaho si lola noon bilang kahera sa isang convenient store, at sa convenient store din na iyon niya nakilala si ojisan. When they got married, they both decided to stay in Kyoto.