What Travelling Taught Me

Bitten by the travel bug.

I recently read an article written by an expat who unexpectedly gained more than he thought he would by living in a different country. Initially his desire to move was to have a lower cost of living. What he unexpectedly gained was personal growth by assimilating into a different culture. 

I Am Filipino – Again!

Philippine Oath Taking – “I Am Filipino”

Yesterday, we got one step closer to our dream of escape. I officially became a citizen of the Philippines. Now not only can I stay indefinitely in my country of birth but I can also vote, buy land, engage in business and even run for public office! This also clears the way for my husband, “the Chef” to get a non-quota immigrant visa. It’s going to be awhile before we make the final leap half way around the world but this makes it feel real. 

Harsh Realities of a Third World Country

Sometimes we tend to romanticize our dreams. How many people have wanted to play in a rock band, open up their own restaurant or bar or live on an island paradise? Sounds good doesn’t it? We can imagine ourselves living the dream lifestyle but seem to gloss over the hard work and realities of these dreams. 

Filipinos Love to Party

Even though I am ‘technically’ a Filipino I’ve always looked at Filipino gatherings with outside curiosity. I grew up in Canada surrounded by ‘wasp’ friends and western ideals and never thought of myself as anything different. With our ‘neighborhood gang’ my siblings and I played road hockey (even though I was a girl I was a ‘killer’ goalie), built forts out of junk wood, got into fights for no good reasons and egged houses on Halloween. As far as I was concerned I was simply Canadian. 

Why I’m giving up the City Life

Goodbye city life. It was fun while it lasted.

Why would anyone want to give up a nice, civilized life in a big city for a third world country existence? 

Citizenship ID Photo – Oh NO!

I’ve been dreading the day when I would have to get my citizenship photo taken. Well, the time has come. It’s sunny outside. There’s no humidity to make my hair frizz into uncontrollable curls. I have no pressing engagements. I have no excuses.

Pardon me for being a little vain but my last passport photo is so dreary it makes me laugh. “Who is this chick who looks so miserable?” I ask myself. It’s a wonder I’m allowed into another country. My husband didn’t do any better with his passport photo. He looks like he escaped from the Kingston Penitentiary. Together we would probably make a decent “Wanted” poster.

I hate getting my picture taken because of one simple fact

Reverse Culture Shock

The first days back from a vacation can be a little surreal especially when you’ve been away for a good length of time and you’ve returned from somewhere so culturally different from your home. You may find it strange being in your own environment. Call it ‘reverse culture shock.’

Rum & Coke on the beach. Not a worry in the world.

Before flying back to Canada we decided to stay in Manila to acclimatize back into city living. It was a bit distressing to