We're Almost There

Oh Hai Lovelies!

I'm supposed to be napping by now, but then I just have a few thoughts running in my head. I'm almost done with my medical exam (which I will post about this week) and I will be having my interview in about two weeks.

It seems like time is so slow, but at the same time so fast! We've just celebrated our first year but in a few days we're already a year and a month old. Things just keep getting better.

We're going through a lot of things - awesome moments, struggles, frustrating distance and many more. The best thing about it is that we're both working on it to make things right. I have so much more to write about, but right now they're just stuck in mind. I guess I'll keep them there in the mean time.

Almost getting there...

Just a bit more wait and I'll be with my Polar Bear - baking cakes, cooking good food, making art and keeping him happy. At the same time I will be missing my family so much but I know things will turn out perfect. I'm sure there will be more rocks and bumps along the way, but I'm hopeful.

Mmm... okay, I guess I'll have to sleep now. More updates to come! I still owe two more topics ^.^

xoxo

~ Honey Bear ~

Contact : kimistarr@photographer.net | Travel Blog : Kimi Goes Places | Official : KimiStarr.Net | Starr&Sparkle Shoppe

Steps After Your K1 Petition Approval

Hey lovelies!

A few months ago I was really happy to announce that the Polar Honey Bear petition for a K1 visa has finally been approved. Since I was really busy, I wasn't really able to update anyone and give any advice.

Here's a quick recap of the steps we have taken since we received the notice!

NOTE : The following photos are the actual mail that we got. We have removed any personal and confidential information on these records for security purposes.

NVC Letter

Once your petition gets approved, your fiance will receive a mail stating this. Note, that this is a snail mail and not through email. They will advice you that your case has been approved and forwarded to Manila. The Filipina/Filipino fiance will then receive a (snail) mail stating what steps to be taken next.

We have received our NVC Letter on May 13th. To be honest, we're taking things quite slow and easy since I'm not in a hurry to leave.

Musing as The Petition Gets... Approved!

Yesterday afternoon, I went out to pay for my beauty purchases. I dropped by BPI and waited for a bit, with everyone discreetly staring at my purple-pink hair. I was supposed to blog this yesterday too, but I was pretty busy. After I deposited about $60, I went to HBC to look for some nail polish.

"I saw her at the bank a while ago..." I heard one of the sales ladies tell the others.

"Oh, look at her hair, so cool..." they continued talking about me. It should feel awkward but I'm used to it so I shrugged it off and continued checking out the colors. One sales lady followed me like a shadow so I decided to just get a white lacquer and leave. It's really annoying to be followed like that.

I walked towards Mercury Drugstore, just a few blocks away. Cavite City is a small place and I can literally walk around it in maybe two hours or three. Everyone, as usual, stared at me while I passed by; and I tried my best to listen to their whispers. It's honestly amusing to hear people's reactions. I feel like a unicorn because I'm different.

You won't be so different when you get to the USA, dearie...

I once told Alex that people won't be staring at me anymore once I'm there. However, living not in California or New York, chances are I'd still be stared at. So... no it won't really be so different.

I kept walking and many thoughts flashed in my head... I'll miss the kwek-kwek or tokneneng (hard-boiled quail eggs dipped in batter and fried crispy), and of course my favorite buko juice (coconut juice). I just went past the vendors located a few meters from Mercury Drugstore. I loved buying there, I'm sure Kuya (big brother -> referring to the vendor) recognized me.

I paused for a bit and looked across the main road... Jollibee, new restaurants being built and somewhere near there are new malls being constructed, roads being widened... I'll miss this city. It's not the best place in the world, I know, but it's home. Then I know there's also another home waiting for me.

It's with my bear...

Mini Honey Bear Bear trying out Big Polar Bear's glasses!

The US Visa RFE - Letter of Intent

Note : Download a copy of a Letter of Intent Draft later on this entry!

Evidence. Proof. Something to make them believe that I am not a mail-order bride, and that I will not be a burden to the US of A.

I love Spam! I love Vienna Sausages!

O_o

I don't think I'll ever be a burden... consider that I am already working for a US company, right? Oh well, that's not how the consulate determines one's qualification. No matter how much you love Spam.

Okay, so a month ago Alex Polar Bear received a notice that we should provide further evidence (RFE) of our relationship and they have requested a Letter of Intent to support this fact. I was quite busy during that time so it took me a while to send the document.

So what is this so-called Letter of Intent?

Just Wanna Be Beside You

Okay this will just be a quick blog. Currently really busy hitting my weekly goals and writing blogs for my company, I just had some thoughts (and feelings) that I have to express.

How many months has it been since we last kissed, last cuddled, last touched?

October.... November, December, January, February, March

Five months. Five very long months. I miss my Alex Polar Bear so much. No words can really describe how I feel. I see him everyday, talk to him almost all day long and Skype before we go to bed. We may not be physically together but the connection and communication never stops.

But then... he's not here and I'm not there. It feels so lonely.

I know that I'm actually very lucky to have a man who devotes almost his whole day for me, would keep in touch and not make me worry, would check on me almost every two hours and would respond to all my messages. But I just want hugs. I want real hugs.

Being this far is really challenging. I'm not looking for just any hugs... I want my bear's hugs. I just want to be beside him and snuggle on his chest and get wrapped inside his strong arms.

I'm still happy that this is the closest we can get at the moment!

Someone To Lean On + Happy 8th Baby!

OMG it's been eight months!!

[Credits to Photographer/Owner]

Who wants some Grolar Bears!? They are a mix of Polar and Grizzly bears, but I'm not a Grizzly so Alex thought that we're gonna have future Poney Bears as babies!

Anyways it's so unbelievable, time flies so fast. I still remember our first conversations! I was hanging out with one of my friends while Polar Bear and I chatted through WeChat. We didn't really Skype before, we just really talked a lot. We both had a drinking sessions halfway around the world! Guess what? It was so cheesy!!

Those Awkward Sweet Moments

The first few months of being together was amazing. In fact, it's not really that different from what we are now except that we're more open and a lot stronger. When I decided to become Alex Polar Bear's significant other, I knew that it was a serious thing. It wasn't a game and it was something that I will fight for.

However, it felt weird. OMG! I'm one weird girl, how do I keep up being myself??

OMG how do I show him that the real Honey Bear is childish, funny and nonetheless, undignified??

I'm one unique girl with a twisted sense of humor. I'm also awfully blunt and I barely sugarcoat things. I know that he loves me but I was afraid - what if he doesn't like the rest of me? I've always been honest with who I was, my past, my present and my ideas for the future. But then what if I say or do something that he finds distasteful?

Making funny faces - ✔

Well, I guess we're just both crazy ^_^

Being Each Other's Strength : Life is No Longer Just About You

How do you make it work? OMG how do we make it work?

Being in a long distance relationship means doubling challenges. You need a strong sense of commitment and dedication to overcome all the obstacles that come your way. As much as it sounds like a cliche, it is true that there are two very important factors that we always need to keep in mind:

Love & Trust

There will be personal dilemmas, attitude differences, career options and many other reasons that may affect your feelings and mindsets. Anything can technically cause an argument, can make you feel uncomfortable and let you get hurt. Now, the real challenge is how to deal with all these things. Take note that it's not just about loving and trusting each other - it's also about coping up with each other.

Here are some things that Alex Polar Bear and I are doing to maintain a healthy and loving relationship. We are still learning a lot from each other and I know that what we're doing now will still evolve depending on how things turn out. Now our current state is being far away from each other. It won't be for long but it will still be a few more months of separation.

I am focused on couples dealing with LDRs, however these are simple yet generalized tips. It means everyone can do it! Yep, yes you ^_^ Even if you're simply sitting down beside your man, or he's a few blocks down the road in his own home, this is still important and effective advice that you can try out yourself ;) This doesn't mean that only you have to do it. Both you and your beau should have good and positive practices to make it work.

Now here are a few things ^.^

Loving Across the Pacific Ocean

I was never a fan of long distance relationships. It was never for me, I thought. It was hard! You're not together, you'll have to deal with things on your own, you're alone most of the time, you go places and attend functions with no partner, you're basically single but not allowed to date anyone. That was my perspective on this type of relationship and I was completely not up for it.

When I graduated high school, I broke up with my then ex-boyfriend because we were going to study in different cities. I was going to stay in my dorm while he remained in Cavite. There was no bad blood - just the fact that many things may happen. Instead of hanging onto me and some promise, I chose to let go. I was young, I wanted to have fun and my mind was all focused in career. I was 16 - life was just about to begin.

Many years later I landed as a Crew Operator where I managed seafarers and their vessel assignments. During the latter part I was already single and some of my crew (who have also become friends) would ask me "why not date a seaman? Many here like you." But then I always responded with the same thing, "I don't want to be alone."

Being alone was hard for me. It was a personal issue, I suppose. I don't like being far away, being on my own. I depended a part of me on my partner and being in a long distance relationship was just the same as being single.

When I became Alex Polar Bear's Princess Honey Bear, I knew what I was up for.

I'm in the Philippines...
He's in Wisconsin!

It's not really that bad. If you're serious and you really love each other it's not really so bad. The distance and actual physical estrangement may cause some bumps along the road but you'll make it!

Spring to Love

Note: OMG I'm so happy, I just set up our official home page and yesh, PolarHoneyBears.com is now live!! Much much happy :3 Uhm, well yeah just saying ♥

A few years ago, a friend of mine told me about this site called Formspring. He was following his favorite actress there and he said that we can ask anything and everything to anyone. Not really intending to be active or anything, I signed up for an account and literally forgot about it.

Several months ago, I was in the process of finding myself. To cut it short, it was during the time that I quit my job and was either doing household chores or somewhere out there traveling. Out of nowhere I decided to check out my Formspring account.

Oh, and it's now called Spring.Me.

So there I was, staring at the random questions from random people. Apparently it's not just for actors or singers, but it was more of a dynamic space to talk about anything.

The Bear Bear Site! Yay!

Hello lovelies!

It's me Kimi from Kimi Goes Places!

Welcome to my site solely dedicated to my adventures with my dear Alex Bear. 

Everything is still under construction at the moment but I will be updating soon. I think this is just perfect to document our journey, including our travel and visa application process in order to help others who are also wondering about the same thing.

Being in an inter-racial and long distance relationship can be hard. The both of us face struggles of many sorts from cultural differences, the miles between us, to the mere fact that sometimes my tongue gets hard and I can no longer speak proper English. Uhm, yeah I do get tired after six hours of nonstop talking O.o

I will be putting up more updates soon!

xoxo

~ Honey Bear ~

Contact : kimistarr@photographer.net | Travel Blog : Kimi Goes Places | Official : KimiStarr.Net