Our First Thanksgiving

We just got home from our first Thanksgiving outside of the US. It was GREAT (relatively speaking)! We ate with American missionary couples who have lived in the Philippines for 18 and 33 years and a Scottish couple that we invited. It was their first ever Thanksgiving meal!! The meal was just like (almost) we used to have in Orlando. We had a delicious turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberrys, brocoli casserole, white sweet potatoes (they don't have orange sweet potatoes here) and mango cobbler (don't have too many peaches). The biggest difference for us is that because it is not a holiday here in the Philippines (I guess no pilgrims made it this far)we worked all day, met for dinner at 5:00, had to come home by 8:30 so that we could put the kids to bed because it is a school day. Bummer!

I missed my couch, football and friends. It was not quite like our holiday traditions at home but it was nice to have a familar meal and spend times talking with some of our new friends. Hope you have (had) a great Thanksgiving. God bless!

BREAKING NEWS . . .

Manila, Philippines. Hairs have been spotted!! At approximately 3:15 pm, November 17, hairs were spotted on Wade Mantlo. Previously known as hairless, this miracle has caused Wade much amazement. A great celebration in the Mantlo household spontaneously broke out. Some were quoted as saying, "We never thought this would happen", "First water into wine, and now this!" The hairs can now be seen by gazing down. That's right, the hairs are located on his little pinkie toe, the one found at the far right!

In other news, after a steady diet of rice and an abudance of fresh fish, this blog was more adequately named "From the Land of Fish and Rice: Mantlo Adventures in Southeast Asia."

Don't Look at Me!

So what happens when you are driving down the road and you can tell someone wants to cross the street? Do you look at them? If so, what happens when you make eye-contact? Does it mean, "it's ok to start crossing, I am slowing down?" I think that is how I used to use it in the states. BUT, of course here in Bizzaro world, everything is opposite! If you don't look at someone, that means they can try to cross the street!! What???? I still don't get it and now I am completely confused as to what the rules are and when I should look, when I shouldn't look, etc. To make matters worse, most people around here seem to step out into the street FIRST and then LOOK! Hello?? Are people wanting to step into eternity prematurely or what? Maybe they just want a good look at the car that is going to hit them or something.

How about beeping your horn? What does that communicate to you? Someone's angry? In a hurry? Get out of my way? Well over here it just means "I am coming" or "I am here beside you, don't hit me."

So here is the moral of the story, just drive down the road flashing your lights (which means you better watch out) and beeping your horn. That way you will be able to make through the traffic ok without killing anybody (or yourself). But whatever you do just be careful what you look at!!

You Know it's Christmas when . . .

Hey there! Just got back from a 9-trip to Thailand so sorry once again for the long delay in posts!

These Filipinos love Christmas! They are quite religious you might say about it. Christmas it seems is not just for December mind you. As soon as the month of September rolls around the carols start playing! That's right, we have been listening to christmas songs since September!! Even with the Christmas lights have been up since October 1st! We can hardly wait to see what the month of December will be like.