Jan
24

Farewell 2012!

I can’t even begin to explain what this past year has been for me. I could try to convince you through pictures. Pictures of amazing sunsets, beaches, waterfalls, and mountains. Pictures of adorable kids making silly faces. Pictures of me, simply smiling. But even then it would not suffice. This past year has been incredible.… Continue reading »

Dec
11

8th Wonder of the World

…or How I Hiked the Toughest Climb of My Life.   A few weeks ago, somewhere close to 28 of us PCVs met in Sagada for a glorious thanksgiving feast. Delicious, wonderful, tasty. This post is not about that. But it is about the trip I took the day after, into Ifugao, the next mountain… Continue reading »

Aug
23

Bentures

When I was little, my older sister and I were the best of buddies. We used to go on what we called, “bentures.” It was a chance to have exciting adventures, all within the comfort of our house or neighborhood playground. Our “bentures” were of course always highly exciting. When we decided that it was… Continue reading »

Jul
03

One Year Thus Far…

Yesterday was my one year anniversary of when I first arrived in the Philippines. I can’t believe a year has gone by already! Life here as a volunteer is ambivalent and complex but it is also such an amazing journey as well.

Jun
28

Pure Joy

Jumping pictures just bring pure joy to anyone’s life…

May
30

A Subtle Change

I think I’ve reached an important mark in my service as a volunteer here.   The first few months in country were stressful, not only because of the rigorous training schedule but everything was new and overwhelming. New language, new food, new customs, new friends, new host family, new experiences. Then as I began to… Continue reading »

Apr
10

Marinduque Adventures

Beside the Moriones Festival, we explored the area a bit for some relaxation and fun. Beautiful beaches, purple starfish, gently swaying palm trees, and bat-filled caves gave our weekend the right amount of island adventures. One of the nights we bought food at the market and grilled our own dinner. Unfortunately, the power went out… Continue reading »

Feb
29

Twenty-what?!

So here I am. Twenty seven. Really?   When I was younger, I never even dreamed of the kind of experiences I have been able to have thus far. Twenty seven always seemed so far away. I thought I’d be married at this age. Instead, I am halfway around the world living a very different… Continue reading »

Feb
16

Moment of Joy

As tired as I am at the end of the day, I can’t say no when my neighborhood kids come knocking at my door asking if I can teach them guitar. There are three kids who are especially persistent and come almost every single day. They are the most dedicated students I have ever had… Continue reading »

Jan
16

When Waking Up in the Morning is All Worth It

So I just moved into my new place yesterday. I have a beautiful view just outside my veranda. I woke up early this morning so I could watch the sunrise and enjoy a nice cup of coffee (well…Nescafe 3-in-1 instant coffee at least). It was also lucky that I chose to get up early because… Continue reading »

Older posts «