I skyped with my Filipino family for the first time. In the Philippines, nicknames are huge. My Filipino mother is Eileen, my father is Heaven, and my younger brothers are Happy (age 10) and Jolly (age 7).

Yes, I going to live with Heaven. Life is good.

From my computer I could see all their smiling faces jammed together in the Skype box. Jolly, the youngest, sat in the middle and giggled the whole time. He and his brother like Lego’s and video games. And they have an iPad. I told the family that I was trying to learn the national language (Tagolog) but it was difficult for me.

Jolly: Sometimes it’s hard. Google translate works all the time.

I love my new family.

9 days and counting.