We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day. We're not scared.

So goes the classic children's story but because this is the British midlands (and not the Romanian woodlands where friends of ours did have a close encounter with furry bears), we headed off to  to say hello to Viktor and Pixel of Project Polar Reserve at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, voted Yorkshire's Most Magnificent Attraction in 2012. And rightly so, for no child is either too young or too old to appreciate what it has to offer.

The meerkats greeted us by the entrance of the park and Isaac who's nearly two excited shouted "pusa" (Tagalog word for cat) while clapping his hands, well-pleased with himself. He would do this for every other animal he sees where for any four-legged creature he would call out either "pusa" or "ask" (dog) and a two legged creature is 'manok' (chicken).

We headed towards the woodlands and came across the Lemur Woods, one of the walk-through enclosures all over the park. Inside, we walked along the path while lemurs playfully jumped on top of the trees overhead or hopped alongside us. It felt like we were exploring the woods of Madagascar, if only by imagination.

Outside the enclosures we walked past the red river hogs, admiring their striking colour (and having a slangy shot), on our way to the Polar Bear Reserves which are sign-posted so you would not likely miss it. Though Doncaster is hardly a tourist destination we couldn't help but smile at the thought of people looking out from their plane window before landing at Robin Hood airport and seeing the polar bears on the ground. And it was more surreal on foot, watching the two wonderful creatures go about with their daily life within the reserve while educating visitors of the plight of their brothers who are increasingly being threatened in their native habitat because the Arctic sea ice is fastly disappearing due to climate change.


Leaving the polar bear reserve, we encountered the South America Viva, another enclosure which displayed several South American species, which includes a giant rodent (capybara) having his early morning nap. We also said hello to a group of maras, large relatives of rodents who sat like hares (and which reminded me of the British classic Watership Down).

Then off we headed towards the Land of the Tigers, but they were asleep so we didn't spend much of our time there. But we saw an Amur Leopard up close just before the little lad started getting restless but I did manage to take a moving (he was moving very quick!) photo.

Then just as we were going to take a break with a cup of coffee, the giraffes came out of hiding and started walking towards us. That was a most magical sight (and plenty of photos ensued).


We had our break at one of the picnic benches beside the giraffe enclosure and walked along the African Plains which houses the zebras and cattle amongst others.

We didn't bother with the Baboon Reserve, saving it for next time but we sat down to watch an Animal Show before heading off to the Lion Country which houses a pride of 13 African lions lazying around in the midday sun and who can't blame them, it was a rare nice spring day when we visited. But sleeping lions mean no photos although we do know what they look like so that wasn't a disappointment.
On the way back, we got close to the ostriches (or "manok" as Isaac fondly called them, even making "cluck-cluck" sounds).
Then before heading back to Sheffield, we had lunch at the picnic site by the lake where ducks were racing each other, Isaac got that one right at least ("pato, quack-quack").

So yes, it was certainly an enjoyable day trip and a great place for educating young people (but most especially adults) about the importance of conservation efforts in ensuring that our planet's ecological balance is maintained.

Other Important Details: 
We arrived just as the park opened at 10:00am on the Wednesday before school holidays, hoping to avoid the large crowds. If you book online, two adult tickets would cost £15.50 each but to avoid further costs, you can bring your picnic basket as there are plenty of picnic sites to eat your packed lunch. 

Save the Elephants

Elephants are really cool guys. They can live for 70 years and are the biggest land mammals on earth. 

That was printed on one of the shirts that my little boy loves to wear, a delightful find from one of my charity shop excursions. Sadly though, elephants, especially the tuskers rarely survive that long, no thanks to the insatiable demand for ivory. Last year while reading the Saturday Times, I have come across the report on the tragic death of Satao, one of the world's largest elephants at the time of his death and one of Kenya's most iconic and well-known tuskers who was killed by a poisoned arrow in the Tsavo East National Park at just 45 years old. A magnificent creature had to die so that someone can show off an ornament on their mantelpiece.

The closest encounter I have had with an elephant was on a day trip to Chester Zoo in 2013 on a rather cold February morning when a mother and a baby elephant came out of their shelter to give us visitors a reason to cheer. British winters can be quite harsh for anyone whose genetic make up is more suitable for warmer weather, I can tell because I was brought up in a tropical climate and it has taken me a while to get used to the cold. But these mighty animals are here for conservation and the zoo is doing a good job of it although from the look on their faces (I can see it in my husband's face especially when he pines for his spiritual home in Spain), sometimes animals (or people) crave for what makes them happy rather than what makes them feel safe.

So I wouldn't blame them if they do want to go 'home'. Someday I would love to see them in the wild and take our little boy too. When John was 14, his family visited relatives in Zimbabwe who lived close to the national park and he had witnessed a parade of elephants frolicking in Lake Kariba. It changes the way you look at life, he says, because you realise that the world does not revolve around you. It is that change that I would like Isaac to experience too although I'm afraid that by the time we could finally afford to go, it might be too late.

But we are taking little steps that we are hoping would help. Making greener lifestyle choices and supporting the World Wife Fund for Nature (WWF) are some of them. Regardless of what your beliefs are, we owe it to our children to protect the planet they will inherit, their future and the next generation's survival will depend on it. That is our greatest gift to them. 

Isaac's Little Garden

It's the May Bank holiday in Britain and it can only mean one thing in our household - time for the summer beddings to be put out on display! John, for all his disdain of the British stereotypes, is an Englishman at heart, at least for his obsession with the garden. And regardless of how big or small the space we have to grow a garden, he always manages to bring it all to life, each year more impressive than the last.

I have very little input in these endeavors. Alas all I can offer is to let him know what colours I would love to wake up to when I look out of the window every morning until the summer days have gone. But the little man? The garden is definitely a treat for his senses and who knows, he will hopefully inherit his daddy's green thumb!

But as the flowers won't be coming out for awhile, I am showcasing last year's garden exhibit at our tiny communal garden on a space where the outdoor toilets used to stand. It just shows how a little creativity can go a long way and inspire the neighbours to keep up too!

'Children, marriages and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get' ~ a wise man said. Who would argue with that? 

In a Maze of Dancing Daffodils

Hillsborough in springtime comes back to life after the cold winter months, which seem to stretch longer each year, slowly draws to an end. At the same spot each year, along a pathway of trees, a host of lovely flowers burst out as though to coax the vernal sun out of its long hibernation. First comes the nodding snowdrops, in their many shades of white; then out spout the crocuses, in their rainbow riot of cheerfulness; before the crowd of golden daffodils take the centre stage.

This year, we have missed out on most of the natural display. Moving houses meant that our time has been mostly spent indoors doing DIY. Luckily spring seems to be stretching for a bit and the daffodils were still out when I took the little lad on a photo walk.

I'm Raising a Bilingual Child

The first time Isaac demonstrated an understanding of my mother tongue, I was completely beside myself. I was not only fascinated by his ability to learn a language that no one else around him speaks but I was also a little proud of myself, for persevering with the daunting task of ensuring that my little boy will be able to embrace his multicultural identity by being able to connect with his heritage and history in the most natural way.

My husband John is half-English and half-Turkish but does not speak the language, something he had been disappointed about. So I have always hoped that we could bring up a child who would be able to speak and understand Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines where I came from. Before I was able to appreciate what this desire would require of me, I had been (like most people where I came from) disappointed to meet Filipino children brought up abroad who cannot speak their parents' first language. And when I eventually met a Spanish friend in Britain whose children are bilingual, I became more determined to give my child the same gift.

It was easier said than done. Before we had Isaac, we lived in a monolingual household and although my husband and I have been learning Spanish on-off, it wasn't the language by which we communicate. Unlike most Filipinos abroad, I have very little contact with other Filipinos in my community that unless I am on Skype with my family or friends, I didn't have any opportunity to use my language. This lack of practice was what made the task a little harder as I had to consciously make an effort to communicate with my little child, who at first is unable to show any signs of comprehension, in a language that I am getting rusty at.

But perseverance brings rewarding results. At nearly 1.5 years, our little man has been throwing words around in both languages which includes his favourite expressions 'Oh dear!' and 'la na' (no more) although at times he displays preference for one language over another for particular words or activities. Every new word spoken and eventually mastered always bring an unexpected pleasure and a stronger motivation to keep on with what we have started.

I am no expert in linguistics and there is a wealth of information online and from experts about raising a bilingual child but these are just some of the things that helped us in our journey:

Start early. Children's brains are like sponges and they learn languages by absorbing those sounds they hear on a consistent basis. So the more you talk to them and the earlier, the better.

I've started talking to Isaac in Tagalog as soon as he was born and I have discovered that it was the consistency that is helping him associate the words with the object or task. For example, when dinner is ready, I have always said 'kain' (eat) when pulling his high chair out. Nowadays, when I say kain, he would automatically do this himself and climb up on the chair.

One person, one language (APOL). There are many different ways to introduce a second language to your child and we have been advised to use the APOL method like my friend had successfully done. Once you've chosen one, stick to it.

I talk to Isaac purely in Tagalog and his dad talks to him in English and he has been coping well at both. When I'm the one who puts him to bed, he asks for 'gatas' (milk) and when his daddy plays with him he squeals "up, down". When John asks "Where's shoes?", he presents it to him saying "shoes" likewise when I tell him 'suot' (wear, a word he associates with putting shoes on), he gives me his shoes.

Talk, talk, talk. Studies show that parents who engage in one-in-one conversations with their children are much more likely to help their children's language development. I have discovered that when I teach Isaac a new word by meeting his eyes, he is more likely to copy it and after repetition, remembers it. He also picks up random words from conversations, most notably his now famous 'Oh dear!' expression. Talking to him while doing everyday chores also helps with his language acquisition.

Sing plenty of songs, read a lot of stories. Learning another language should be fun and there's no more fun for a child than singing and dancing. Since taking on this project, I have also rediscovered the joys of my childhood through the nursery songs that I have nearly forgotten and that I now sing to my little boy. It gives me pleasure that whenever I sing to him the Tagalog crab song ('Tong, tong, tong pakitong-kitong') he responds by singing the bit of the lyrics he can copy while dancing and pointing at his knees just like I have done when we started practicing the song.

Involve your nursery. I must admit this one wasn't my idea but it had been very helpful to us. We are so lucky that our nursery supports children who are learning to be bilingual and they have encouraged us to make a scrapbook that Isaac can use at nursery with the Tagalog words that he understands and says. At nursery they repeat these words to him and we have been told of how well he has been responding and using it too. But he apparently looks at his carers with fascination every time they attempt to say a word that he seems to know only his mummy uses.

Talk to relatives and friends in the minority language. When we are on Skype with my family, I encourage them to talk to Isaac in Tagalog and sing to him nursery rhymes in our language. It makes them smile whenever he responds but it also makes him more exposed to the language therefore helping him become more comfortable with it. Of course visiting the Philippines where he can actually practice the language would be essential but because we can't afford it yet, he'll just have to be content with his weekly sessions with his virtual family.

Be committed. Raising a bilingual child takes some effort, creativity and commitment amongst other things. But studies have shown that bilingualism has numerous cognitive and social benefits compared to speaking only one language. If you have the time and the patience, it is certainly a gift worth giving your child.

For some great advice on raising bilingual children, go to the experts:
How to Fail Miserably at Raising a Bilingual Child
My Best Tips for Raising a Bilingual Child 
Bringing Up a Bilingual Child
Raising a Bilingual Child
On Raising Bilingual Children

Are you also raising a bilingual child? We would love to find out what it is like for you! Are you also a Filipino expat trying to teach your child our native language? Let us know what your favourite nursery rhymes and activities are, we would love to try them too!

Halloween: Tis the Season to be Ghoulish!

It's Halloween and like any other photograph-obsessed mummy, I've dressed up Isaac in a ghoulish halloween outfit courtesy of a last-minute trip to the charity shops in Middlewood Road close to where we live. Why not? It's quite cheap and it's cheerful, who doesn't love looking at a child dressed up to scare when in fact they look the opposite?

When I was growing up in the Philippines, we didn't do Halloween. We knew about it of course, what with the countless American programs we have grown up with. But it was an expensive luxury that only the Western countries could afford, until along came China with its dirt cheap products and the growing amount of remittances from abroad that my Facebook feed is now filled with babies in 'cute' Halloween costumes.

In Britain, I know very few people who actually bother with Halloween. A friend of John once commented that the now popular tradition of treat-and-treating is just another American invention driven by commercialism which we all know is probably the biggest cause of the very recent financial crash we are all still suffering. But still, there's no harm in dressing-up and it's fun. So off we went to Hillsborough Park and took some photos, we made a few people passing by smile too!