We’ve been in the Philippines for just over a week and continue to look out of place and feel out of place. When we get off the elevator there are often people waiting to get on. As the doors open and we prepare to exit the scenario is often the same. The locals eyes get…
Month: December 2025
Finding Joy in the Philippines
I feel like I’ve written a lot about the struggles we’ve had since our arrival in the Philippines. Every new place has an adjustment period, some taking longer than others. Guam felt like home almost immediately. I’m pretty sure I’ll never feel at home, but the longer we are here I’m finding more and more…
Crosswalks, Comfort Food, and Celebrity Status in Manila
Our experiences in the Philippines so far are reminding me of Japan where we encountered something new almost daily. Today the kids experienced crossing the streets of Manila for the first time and got a glimpse of what it probably feels like to be a celebrity. We also all enjoyed some familiar food that brought…
Food Fails In The Philippines
Cooking in an Airbnb is hard. Cooking in an Airbnb in a different country is even harder! Not only are you lacking a stocked pantry, but you’re also limited to whatever utensil they have. The staples you do purchase are often just a little different than what you’re used to. Cooking in Costa Rica was…
Patience, Perspective, and Pungent Smells
We’ve all been learning a lot about patience and perspective as we travel across the world. Seeing how people in other countries live has opened our eyes to privileges we didn’t even realize we had. We’ve been pushed beyond our comfort zone in numerous situations, and right now is the most uncomfortable yet. Contributing to…