Jeddah Photo Blog: Lantern in Jeddah

Jeddah Photo Blog: Lantern in Jeddah: 

Learn a new language (FREE)

There are many reasons why people study another language. It maybe because they need it for a future job, for business purposes, some for traveling, for fun, mainly for communication. One thing I know for sure is that almost every person wants to at least learn another language aside from his/her native tongue. 

If you're like me who doesn't want to pay for this extra class, then you'll be happy to know that there's a website that offers language courses for free. Livemocha is a language learning community that helps people learn and interact with people who are natives of the language you want to study.

I find this site very helpful because it focuses on different skills that are essential in learning a new language. Livemocha starts the lesson by enriching your vocabulary. Pictures are shown with the corresponding translations. You will also hear a native speaker read aloud the words or sentences. The best part (for me) is the writing part where you have to answer an exercise and native speakers of the language will freely review your submission and give feedback on how you can improve. The last one is an exercise where you have to read and record what you've read for others to listen and  review. Again, people who are fluent in the language will review your submission and post their own audio sample of how to read the text properly. Just so amazing!

Here's the list of the languages they offer. There are also different levels like beginner, intermediate, and advanced and you can enroll in all of them! Actually, that's another great thing about Livemocha. You can enroll in different language courses at the same time! How cool is that?!?!

It's good to review other's submissions. Especially if you are a native of the language they are studying. It's also a way of helping the site and its members.

You can also explore and learn other cultures through this site. You can chat with native speakers who are online. Most are really willing to help as long as you are chatting for learning purposes and not to just find a lover! If that's your motive, go to another site!! =)

If you don't want to follow the steps given in the course, you always have the option of just practicing the skill that you want to improve by going to the 'practice tab'.

Lesson sample

So, there it goes. Adios! Ma' asalama! Goodbye! Feel free to go to the site www.livemocha.com and start studying that language you've been eager to learn.
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*No. Livemocha did not pay me to advertise their website. I just really like sharing sites that are helpful. =)

Satisfying my cravings

I find it really hard to crave for food that I used to eat back home. First, I can't just buy the same food outside as it is not common in this place. Even if you find one, the taste is just so far from the original. Maybe because of the ingredients used, which are not the same as what they use in the Philippines. Sometimes, I even have to go to a Filipino-Chinese restaurant in order to satisfy my cravings. Even if I can somehow cook, I still encounter another problem which is looking for the ingredients. I can only find certain ingredients in Asian stores (Indonesian and Thai) because of course they almost sell the same products that Filipinos consume.

Two weeks ago, I was really craving for sago and kwek-kwek. I was really happy that there are tutorial videos in Youtube to help me satisfy these cravings for Filipino foods. I was like a child at the first taste of these homemade sago and kwek-kwek. =)

Sago

Recipe for Sago and Gulaman

Kwek-Kwek

Recipe for Kwek-Kwek 

Lately, I've been searching for grated coconut to be able to make palitaw. The Indonesian store beside our building sells only the whole brown coconut. They don't grate it. I don't even have the equipment that people use to grate it. Hmm...So yeah, I'm still searching for grated coconut. Hopefully, I can find one. At least before I go back to Philippines for vacation. =)

Though it's difficult to crave for Filipino foods, I know that to be able to taste them doesn't just satisfy my cravings. I guess my cravings show how much I miss my country and having that sip of sweet sago and a bite of that delicious kwek-kwek never fails to drive me closer to home.

I sold more than 300 chocolate crinkles!

Chocolate Crinkles

 For the past two weeks, I've sold more than 300 chocolate crinkles. It made me happy for I was like working  while staying home.  =)

This webpage is not available

Don't you just hate it when this page appears on your browser? Those cramming moments when you just have to take that info from the web or you badly need to print something? Oh so frustrating.

Well, for the past weeks I've been having this problem. In addition to this, images sometimes do not appear too. That's why I've stopped blogging for a while. Just imagine typing a post then after clicking "publish", the browser tells you that the webpage is not available. Yikes!

It has been 3 weeks I think and I've finally decided to use my laptop. Well, some pages are still not available but at least Blogger is. Not bad. Actually, I am yet to see. After hitting "publish", hopefully, this post gets really published. Here it goes....

Easy Honey Glazed Chicken

I tried baking chicken for a change. I got this recipe from Cooks.com

SAUCE:

1 c. honey
1/2 c. soy sauce
2 tbsp. ketchup
1 tbsp. chopped garlic
Salt and pepper

Place chicken pieces in glass baking dish. Salt and pepper both sides of chicken. Prepare sauce by mixing together honey, soy sauce, ketchup and garlic.Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours, until crispy brown. Serve with white rice. You can also use wingettes only. This makes a great hors d'oeuvres to bring to a party. Finger food. Preparation time about 15 minutes.

School break=Ttraffic break

School break= Traffic break (in the morning!)
School breaks affect the flow of traffic here in Jeddah. Sometimes, you'll even have a hint whether there are classes in the government schools by just looking at the number of cars in the morning.
Just look at that clear, almost car-free street this morning. Don't you just love that sight? Well, it happens once in a while here in Jeddah especially during school breaks and vacations. Like what we have this week. This week, most of the Saudi schools are on a semestral break so the roads are really clear in the morning!
Evening, on the other hand is a different story. Traffic is heavy during school breaks especially from 8pm-1am. That's the time when most families go out.
So if you're in Jeddah during a school break, better to go to the bookstore, shop in your favorite mall, dine out or do outside activities before 7 or 8 pm or you'll stay in the car longer than expected.