sure. wait. what?

Is there a rail line near your house? If so, is it noisy and bothersome?

Nope.

What’s your favourite flavour of potato chip?

I don’t have one.

How far do you live from the nearest international border?

Maybe 6 hours-ish?

Did you know that instead of using kilometers or miles, Canadians colloquially describe distance using the time it takes to get from Point A to Point B?

For example:
Canadian 1: Do you live far from here?
Canadian 2: About 15 minutes; 30 during rush hour.

Another example:
Non-Canadian: How far is Toronto from your city?
Canadian: It’s five hours away.

A similar quirk I can think of is how Filipinos do not typically use cardinal orientation (North, South, East, West) when providing directions. Instead we use body-relative commands (Kaliwa, Kanan, Diretso).

Example:
Filipino 1: Sa’n banda rito ‘yung palengke?
Filipino 2: Diretso ka, tapos kaliwa sa kanto, tapos pagdating mo sa may tulay, kanan ka, tapos dire-diretso ka lang hanggang makita mo ‘yung mga tindahan.

A Canadian would’ve said something like, it’s three blocks south of the bridge on 10th lol.

Do you know anyone born on the 29th of February?

I do!

What’s the tastiest thing inside your refrigerator right now?

Hmm, that’s tough. Beets, maybe? I’ve been loving roasted beets recently.

Do you have a name that can also be used for the opposite sex?

Sure, why not.

What model of car do you drive?

I’m not telling.

Have you ever dated someone you work with?

Nope.

This is totally anecdotal and I have no objective proof to back this up, but from what I’m seeing, dating within the workplace is more common in the Philippines than where I live.

My theory – and I am of course using the word “theory” in the vernacular sense here – has to do with how most Filipinos spend a huge chunk of their time commuting to and from work, leaving little time for so-called “extracurricular activities” outside of their jobs.

So, in the absence of vibrant out-of-office activities that carve space for socializing and meeting potential significant others, Filipinos naturally gravitate to their co-workers to fulfill their inherent need for connection.

I told a Filipino friend about this, and he agreed with me for the most part. He and his wife met at work, and they moved to Canada as a married couple. He added there were other factors at play in their story too, like how he and his wife were hired at around the same time as part of a similarly aged cohort, which eventually became their barkada both in and outside of the office. Age, timing, and the nature of the job mattered as well, at least in his case.

Meanwhile, around here, dating in the workplace is generally cringed upon no matter the circumstances.

Maybe it’s excusable if you’re young and surrounded by fellow young folk in a transitory job – like in retail, for example – because you likely are planning to work elsewhere after some time. Otherwise it’s just… odd.

Anywaaaay…

Who was the last person to call you?

A spambot, lol.

Do you have a lock number or pattern for your phone?

I’m not telling.

Is your pantry messy at the moment?

It’s an organized mess, I’ll say that.

List all of your siblings’ middle names.

I am not doing that no sir.

How are you feeling today? I hope you’re doing well.

I’m feeling good, thanks for asking!

What’s your favourite type of juice?

I don’t have one.

What was the last present someone gave you and what was the occasion?

There’s a team at work who launched a new tool, and they’ve been giving away weekly prizes to encourage more people to use the tool. I won a pair of socks a couple weeks ago.

Not a present, technically, but that’s what came to mind lol.

Do you ever let your phone go completely flat before charging it again?

Not on purpose, no.

When was the last time you left the house? Where’d you go?

Yesterday. I went to a boxing class with a friend.

Are you in any sort of physical pain right now, even if very mild?

Yes, actually.

What was one of your favourite movies as a small child?

Spy Kids!

Do you know the middle name of the last person you texted?

I do not!

What was the last thing you bought from a liquor store?

Ah, it’s been a while. Probably beer.

Have you had pins and needles today?

Not yet.

What was the hardest language you’ve ever tried to learn?

Teochew.

Do you have any food intolerances or allergies?

I’m not telling.

What did you dress up as last Halloween?

I don’t think I dressed up last year, no.

What’s the best dress-up you’ve ever done?

I don’t normally put a lot of effort in dressing up, so I’m not sure.

What was the last thing you put in your mouth?

Coffee.

Is there any cereal in your house? What kind?

Nah.

What’s the most number of people you’ve ever lived with?

I used to live in a boarding house in the Philippines with 10 people.

Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

Nah.

Are there any cool keychains on your keys?

I have one with the Kanagawa waves. Not sure if that’s cool in your book though.

Do your favourite shoes have laces? If so, what colour are they?

I have a few shoes, and most of them have laces that are the same color as the shoes.

What brand and type of milk do you usually buy?

I don’t have a go-to brand. I rarely buy milk.

Does it bother you when bands you like change/experiment with genres?

Not really.

What bothers me, though, is when bands I love take their entire discography out of Spotify. Is Spotify really that evil? Should I leave too? Hmm.

What is in the drawers beside your bed?

Chargers and pain balms.

When was the last time you tripped on your own feet?

I don’t remember.

Do you own a tablet device?

I do.

Do you like listening to albums from start to finish or just shuffle it?

Depends on the album.

Does small-talk bother you a lot?

It doesn’t bother me when it happens, but I don’t actively seek it.

What’s the time right at this minute?

10 am.

Do you have any pets? How long have you had them?

Nah.

When was the last time your stomach grumbled? Did you feed it?

It’s grumbling now. I haven’t fed it yet.

Does your building have an elevator?

Nah.

Have you brushed your teeth today?

Not yet lol.

What’s your favourite kind of cheese?

These days, feta.

Do you know anyone named Amity?

I do!

Who is the last person you kissed?

L!

What was the last favour you did for someone?

Check if they actually turned the oven off, I think? This was for my friend M when she reheated the pizza for our backyard movie night at MM’s place last August.

Do you prefer sleeping when it’s hot or cold?

Cold!

These questions had been sitting in my Drafts for so long that I no longer remember where I got them from. Likely Tumblr, hehe.