tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52308034019005973642024-03-06T12:06:08.171+08:00krishafromtheislandA growing up with Cebu blogKrishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.comBlogger249125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-35859241364623779352020-03-14T11:04:00.000+08:002020-03-14T11:04:16.129+08:0029 Things I Learned At 29<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-8ZGUFktzBhREylQZfo7l1dyxg16o-4gQ6h-EWcuG3CkqE5SGMHNOFCw18xSc7Ulu1tb3-j1iOqc5M2iJh9ATqSGqP_jnERNQrKFWK5ETl5qfhu8gOYgQzAyo3hGgqLo2m9CiGy-klw/s1600/IMG_9578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-8ZGUFktzBhREylQZfo7l1dyxg16o-4gQ6h-EWcuG3CkqE5SGMHNOFCw18xSc7Ulu1tb3-j1iOqc5M2iJh9ATqSGqP_jnERNQrKFWK5ETl5qfhu8gOYgQzAyo3hGgqLo2m9CiGy-klw/s1600/IMG_9578.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Writing my 28th birthday post seemed like yesterday, but look: here we are, another trip around the sun completed and another set of lessons learned along the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are 29 things I learned at 29.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This seems like a given, but for someone who was seemingly hardwired to be pragmatic all her life, constant gratefulness can actually be challenging. I've this bad habit of looking over my shoulder in times of happiness and abundance, certain that life will take everything away at any moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yeah, that's not... that’s not cool. Take it from me, kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So this year, I've had to consciously remind myself to be grateful for all the things that I've been blessed with, for all the events and circumstances that have shaped me along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This year, I learned that gratefulness is a constant, conscious exercise. It’s a ladder that I must climb every day.</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. Find like-minded individuals and collaborators</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was one of my favorite realizations this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Coming from nursing school, and then the BPO industry immediately after, I never had many opportunities to share my creative thoughts and ideas with like-minded individuals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sure, there was the rare book club meeting or an encouraging Instagram comment or emoji about a photo I posted, but everyone around me then was mostly busy trying to meet a deadline or a quota or was just trying to survive the next hurdle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was difficult for me to ask for constructive feedback or bounce ideas because, well, I didn't have people to bounce it off of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn't belong to a "tribe" (God I despise that word) and for the longest time, I always felt like an outsider to the local creative industry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(LOL, sorry I had to.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then this year came along and I found myself collaborating and working with so many talented and passionate people...and it's a big game-changer for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After such a long time, I found groups and individuals who are equally passionate about the things that I love. Most of them are way smarter or more hardworking or more experienced than I am, so I'm learning so much while making good friends and connections along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>What did I do differently?</i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I begrudgingly got over my fear of answering DMs and emails and rejection and just worked with people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I said yes to things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I joined groups and events.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And let me just say--- doing all of these things were challenging for an introvert like me. This was no cakewalk, that’s for sure. However, once I got over the gut-wrenching apprehension, the collabs just started to trickle in. Slowly at first, but they were collabs from people that I really wanted to work with. And I still am grateful for those.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. Growth is slow but keep going</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few months ago I had a mild anxiety/panic attack because I felt like I wasn't growing fast enough. I felt that everyone in my life was leaving me behind, that people believed that I had so much potential but I didn't have anything to show for it. I felt that I had so many bigas na kakainin, as the saying goes, and I didn't have a damned rice cooker.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, it felt like that, at least.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I've mentioned over and over in my previous posts, patience is not my strong suit. I want to be good at things, and I want to be good at them RIGHT NOW.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Realizing that that’s not the way things work was frustrating, but it’s the truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Growth is slow and gradual and oftentimes, painstaking. Progress is not glamorous, especially if you have to make your way from the bottom. The only way out is through, you know? You just have to accept the fact that growth is a process. Trust it. Learn from it. Revel in it. Grow as you go.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. Create for yourself</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems like hard lessons are the main theme for this post. A lot of my personal creative endeavors went to the back burner because I wanted to hit a certain amount of income each month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think I got what I wanted, alright, but it was at the expense of KFTI, my book blog, YT channel, and personal writing projects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I invested so much time writing and creating for other people that I feel nauseous just thinking of writing and creating for myself. Blank pages felt daunting--- they still do, actually--- and that's something that I want to remedy this coming 2020. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ha, wish me luck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking back, I now realize that I worked with almost ten different clients this past year. And that's on top of my regular nine-to-five.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kinsa akong gibuhi?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Akong anxiety? LOL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I honestly don't know how I managed to get through that, but I'm thankful that I did. And I learned a lot of lessons while doing all those gigs, too, but I'll save them for another time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love not being the smartest person in the room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love listening to other people's stories and views and ways on how to overcome challenges.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This year, I realized that learning from others is so fun. There's so much knowledge you can glean from people and their experiences. They're like self-help books, but better, because you can ask these people questions and get really insightful answers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I mean Google can try, but nothing quite beats first-hand experiences, you know? Learn from others. Listen to their stories. Let them fill your cup with the good stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As mentioned earlier, I was obsessed with being productive last year. On the one hand, it's helpful because I get so much done in my spare time. For example, while being stuck in traffic on the super long bus ride home, I'd learn Korean or listen to podcasts or write book reviews.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the other hand, I got stress-induced gastritis and premature under-eye wrinkles that even a 10-step Korean skincare regimen can not undo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So when I say spend your time wisely, what I really mean is that you don't have to be working all the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Resting is productive, too. It means taking a pause and allowing your mind and body to recover. Slowing down doesn't necessarily equate to slacking off. Being mindful of how you spend your time and health is important. Remember: recuperating and recharging is worthwhile, too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iXsFvp0VvU5kTLJObvZZ7MDz0bhc1w6r4tDdTAxZyKv2EwWcaKHddqAJngYgBfTUGV3MVKzl625RzTbMEEwY_wZ6DDJjbjW4ssKpI3grg1fa7yU7E04b349bqdenWtdZf6ZbDVJC1U0/s1600/IMG_9441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iXsFvp0VvU5kTLJObvZZ7MDz0bhc1w6r4tDdTAxZyKv2EwWcaKHddqAJngYgBfTUGV3MVKzl625RzTbMEEwY_wZ6DDJjbjW4ssKpI3grg1fa7yU7E04b349bqdenWtdZf6ZbDVJC1U0/s1600/IMG_9441.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That being said, this year I learned how to unplug and enjoy the quiet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lol, who am I kidding, I'm still learning this lesson.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a challenge, especially if you're on the internet all the time. Especially if you <i>work</i> on the internet all the time. But this 2020, I'll do my best to take breaks from the noise of the internet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You know, try to read a book in silence. Plant a herb garden. Take longer walks. Learn how to draw properly. Try to sew something together. Learn an offline skill in case an electromagnetic pulse attack wipes out the power grid and we'll all be left scrambling for purchase. I bet it would be awesome.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">8. Stay healthy</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Early this year, I was plagued by intense migraines. Stress-related acid reflux. Bad colds that lasted two whole freaking weeks. They were bummers with a big fat capital B. Staying in bed and feeling like crap can kill your momentum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lesson learned: don't get sick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eat good food. Stay hydrated. Take long walks. Do skip ropes. Health truly is wealth, and don't you ever forget it.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">9. You're never too old to wonder</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My man CS Lewis once said: "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dudes, you're never too old to wonder, never too jaded to see beauty in even the simplest things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's one of the most important things I've learned thus far: adulting is hard AF, but you don't have to be a miserable adult. If anything, adulthood should be a journey of constant wonder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sure, you have to juggle so many things: your work and finances, relationships and mental health, fitness, and spirituality, but don't let life turn you into a hard person. It's always easier said than done for sure, but don't forget to take joy in the little things.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">10. Keep learning and skill up</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is super important in the context of work, especially in a field as fast-paced as digital marketing and the creative industry. There are more opportunities for writers and other creatives today than ever before, but competition has also become fiercer than ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you stand out?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you get high-paying projects or jobs?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of all, how do you make sure that you work with organizations that mirror your own goals? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Personally, I think that you can do most, if not all of the above, by learning valuable and marketable skills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The trick is to invest in yourself. Sounds preachy? I know, but it makes sense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">See, the thought of being a replaceable asset didn't sit well with me, so I wanted to be someone who was, well, the exact opposite. I wanted to be someone who brought value to a team or business. Someone who people trusted, you know? Someone who didn't have to chase after penny projects or shitty clients.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So here's what I did: I learned the shit out of this year. I may have lost a couple of brain cells along the way, but the stuff that I learned helped me become better at what I do and have also opened a lot of doors for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I started writing full-time two (wow, just two? It seriously feels longer) years ago, I barely knew what I was doing. I was just flinging spaghetti on a wall and hoping that something sticks, you know?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But this year I learned to be a tad bit more strategic.</i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I learned SEO (still learning. My gulay, this skillset just never ends) and email marketing. I sharpened by copywriting and branding skills. I had to learn how to produce online videos that would rank well (super helpful if you also run a small channel).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then there was the small matter of editing and coaching other writers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whoa. Looking back now, I really don't know how I managed to do all of this without falling apart into a sorry pile of exhaustion. Oh wait, I did. LOL. I'm just really thankful that I can do all these and still get paid for my trouble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Takeaway: regardless of what your background is, you should always try to improve yourself. Resting on one's laurels doesn't do anyone good unless you're like Master Yoda and have learned all you can in this dimension.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">11. Respond to emails promptly</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is not my strong suit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Emails and calls induce anxiety to introverts but there's no way around it. You just gotta wear your big girl panties and answer those emails. If you're working on freelance projects, be ready with your rate sheet and portfolio, too. You don't want to scramble stuff at the very last minute.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>12. Be picky with projects</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Selling one's soul to capitalism seems to be an apt theme for this year. My pen (or laptop) was for hire to anyone who can afford it, which isn't really a good idea for two reasons:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">some projects just aren't worth your effort</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">not everyone you work with would be a perfect fit</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes there are perfect clients and employers. They’re the ones who know your worth and allow you to grow. However, there are also people out there who will try to low-ball you, and there will be projects that are so hectic that you have to turn them down for the sake of your well-being and mental state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, there are other clients who pay well but otherwise have really sketchy business practices that you should definitely be wary of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't say yes to everything that comes your way. Sometimes it’s okay to be picky. Know your worth and only work with people who understand what you can truly bring to the table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For an introvert, networking is like the 7th darned circle of hell. It’s awkward, it’s excruciating, and what are you even supposed to say after you’ve run out of small talk topics? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Still, I learned that having a healthy network of friends and connections can help you in so many ways. Some events drained my introvert energies for days, sure, but they were worth it. You just have to know where to spend said energies.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>14. Active anticipation</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, waiting is not an easy task for me. I’m impatient AF. To fight my restlessness I got used to doing active anticipation, aka not sitting idly while waiting for things to take their course. Cue: the Korean lessons, the books, the digital drawings. Looking back, I find that they’re not too bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">…because discomfort is a symptom of growth. At least that’s what I’d like to believe. Make friends with it. Get used to it. Welcome it—-begrudgingly in the beginning—-but welcome it all the same.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>16. Seek your own way</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve a niggling feeling that I frustrate my parents and other older relatives because I think society’s views of success are but constructs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why don’t I have kids yet, like everyone else?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When will I get myself a car, like everyone else?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t I want to go abroad and be the nurse that I was meant to be, like everyone else?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why don’t I take out a housing loan and settle in the burbs, like everyone else?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At the risk of sounding really dumb and foolish— I just...don't think that we should do what everyone else is doing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s what I learned: we all walk different paths, at different paces. No two journeys are the same. And so, even if it’s hard not to compare oneself with the success of others, I try my hardest to seek my own way and walk in it with confidence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That being said:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Life isn’t a checklist. There’s no one standard path. Everyone’s just figuring stuff out as they go. Each of us has a different timeline, too. We all have different journeys and arcs, so why should we follow just one path like it’s the only one?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mourning and grief take so very long and so much. They don’t stay with you forever, but often, they’ll overstay their welcome. I realized the importance of mourning properly, and taking your time to honor what you’ve lost and what you’re left with. You’ll be okay, in time, but until then, recognize your sadness and make peace with it. Sad ain’t bad at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Little things, like cool weather and a nice walk. Pens that write smoothly on the page. A little message from a faraway friend. They’re precious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The past is gone, the future isn’t here yet, so just...live a little. Have fun, you idiot, it’s not a crime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a huge chore for a mood reader like me. I need the familiarity of my tropes and characters and formats. But where’s the growth in that, right? Reading books away from my comfort zone has made me discover a lot of cool material. It’s a work in progress, for sure, because I’m wont to miss my guilty pleasures, but it’s been really eye-opening so far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My favorite, not-so-usual reads include Haruki Murakami’s Kafka On The Shore, and Seth Godin’s Linchpin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, baby. The muse doesn’t exist and you can’t wait for her to come ‘round. As someone eloquently said: inspiration is for amateurs. Just show up every day, and do the work. It will be a chore on some days, but you can do it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>23. Be happy for others' success and yours</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ah, there’s nothing like being happy for your success and the success of the people around you, especially when you’ve seen firsthand how hard they worked to achieve those goals. I love celebrating little wins. I love taking a step back and tell myself, once in a while: you’re doing okay. It makes my heart feel good. Even if we’ve so many bigas na lulung-agin and kakainin, celebrating tiny victories help you stay on track. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>24. Invest in the following: mutual funds, good pillows, and ergonomic chairs</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Life’s too long to be spent on low interest rates, lack of sleep, and bad backs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>25. God is so good</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, so good. Always with us through hardship, blesses us with things beyond our wildest dreams. Thank You, God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>26. Home is where the heart is but boy, independence is sweet</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I moved out of my childhood home late this year. It was scary, overwhelming, and expensive but it also felt...right. Who knew that having your own space would be this refreshing? I loved picking out duvets and hated having to deal with my lack of actual kitchen, but so far it’s been good. I got to discover a lot of things about myself (spoiler alert: I actually like sleeping in and eating healthy) and it’s made me appreciate everything my parents provided for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I still miss the island, sometimes, but I like where I am right now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>27. Learning a new language is so fun</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year, I tried to teach myself Korean. And it’s been so freaking fun. Not only do I understand a bit of my favorite K-dramas better, I also got to discover the nuances of another culture. There are just some things that an English translation can’t do justice on, you know?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have time, I highly suggest learning a new language. It’s so much fun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>28. Be kind.</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s not easy, but we’re all given choices to do good and be kind.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWn7BQATRj8yOySKicCtmmgGHwjQQuGu8JVKouJonS5rssHCFtrhVrqtpYkV-XhHlaty6huit0UKTkCOEF3fK2uU4ZCDjTSMI-yOa9RM9JRdOobC8Z0e7ECltuAmHn76uXCgIdU6RMyw/s1600/IMG_9639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWn7BQATRj8yOySKicCtmmgGHwjQQuGu8JVKouJonS5rssHCFtrhVrqtpYkV-XhHlaty6huit0UKTkCOEF3fK2uU4ZCDjTSMI-yOa9RM9JRdOobC8Z0e7ECltuAmHn76uXCgIdU6RMyw/s320/IMG_9639.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That being said, dear reader, I want to let you know that this will be the last post I will be making for KFTI. This blog has been my safe place for the past 5 years. It has been filled with wonderful memories, photographs, and more than a dozen dumb musings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And now, it’s time to take on new journeys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ll see each other again, for sure. The internet is wide, and hey, you can’t get rid of me that easily. My Instagram account will still be posting prose and photographs every now and then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you made it all the way here, I want to thank you for your patience, love, and support for KFTI all these years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you, and see you around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">K x</span></div>
Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-84903588339022482692019-04-21T12:57:00.003+08:002019-04-21T12:57:51.698+08:00Why Don't People Keep Blogs Anymore?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu16HLdwpC_wq9tcpK3O0IZE5MLCRVKSPQr5y34XVXk7iuQbaD7G2aSQUFrq5TryUfQV3Z8frwaETygHA-4tqHlaM110eDY2BVgl2USlB3HELKvQBZsNur9lK_zOqBxU6PXCYggMTu89Q/s1600/plush-design-studio-1157546-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu16HLdwpC_wq9tcpK3O0IZE5MLCRVKSPQr5y34XVXk7iuQbaD7G2aSQUFrq5TryUfQV3Z8frwaETygHA-4tqHlaM110eDY2BVgl2USlB3HELKvQBZsNur9lK_zOqBxU6PXCYggMTu89Q/s1600/plush-design-studio-1157546-unsplash.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's an early Tuesday morning--- not quite 8am yet--- and my eyebrows are already scrunched as I read an applicant's writing sample.<br />
<br />
Slowly, I let out a measured, frustrated sigh.<br />
<br />
There's no huge spelling mistake or grammar fail in the sample. It reads <i>okay</i>. And yet, I keep wondering:<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>How can one write such grammatically precise sentences but have so little personality on a page?</i></span></h2>
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Scratching my ear, I ask the country manager, "Does this person have a blog, perhaps?"<br />
<br />
The answer comes back swiftly. It's a no.<br />
<br />
And that's when I begin to wonder: don't people--- aspiring writers, especially--- keep blogs anymore?<br />
<br />
Is blogging so dead, <i>so last season</i> that people simply don't bother to create through that platform?<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>There are tons of valid reasons why people don't bother to keep blogs anymore.</i></span> </h2>
<br />
Some find it tedious.<br />
<br />
Some find it unnecessary in the face of social media and microblogging platforms like Twitter or Tumblr.<br />
<br />
Others find the upkeep expensive.<br />
<br />
All of them are valid reasons, to a point.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, I think that not keeping a blog is also a huge, wasted opportunity, especially if you want to work in the creative industry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Especially</i> if you want to write for the big, wide internets.</span><br />
<br />
Why? How does keeping a blog allow you to land the writing job of your dreams? Let's count the ways:<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Your Blog Can Hone Those Writing Chops... Among Other Things</i></span></h2>
I speak from personal experience, just like many other bloggers and writers out there. We kept blogs for fun and wrote articles about things that interested us. It wasn't really about doing a 'blogger pose', or going to the most Instagrammable places for internet clout.<br />
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We blogged because it was fun.<br />
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We blogged because we liked it.<br />
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We blogged because we loved to write about things that interested us and wanted a slice of the internet all to ourselves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTE3eYl2CkCjOaRIbnnlf5NDqGh67qDCPFkXao7k5FrD9HHurOcB3jL1rJTFdsC-9MLNw5mN30wRKh1ZbFGssSp-icv2OEH97FIylEpM-hCoogs2Kk2PuDO6eFT5f-kaBX2hx4FwEeks/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="479" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTE3eYl2CkCjOaRIbnnlf5NDqGh67qDCPFkXao7k5FrD9HHurOcB3jL1rJTFdsC-9MLNw5mN30wRKh1ZbFGssSp-icv2OEH97FIylEpM-hCoogs2Kk2PuDO6eFT5f-kaBX2hx4FwEeks/s320/Capture.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
Back then, blogging was just an easy way to spend time outside of work, but along the way, it also became this avenue to improve and eventually showcase our writing chops.<br />
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Keeping a blog taught me how to stick to a schedule, to come up with interesting topics and to find my voice as a writer and content creator. It also taught me to network, to step out of my comfort zone and learn things that nobody taught me in school.<br />
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I guess now would be the perfect time to confess that I've never had any formal education in writing. I spent my college years poring over nursing books and going on duty at hospitals, so no one really taught me how to write--- until I fumbled my way through my blogs.<br />
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If you're an aspiring writer who wants to work in the digital creative industry, but don't know where to start, try creating a blog. It's one of the best ways to hone your writing chops and eventually showcase them to future clients or employers.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Your Blog Is Your Virtual Portfolio</i></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PQwVPN3jKTJtdpfdaKK9-NQQgRNneF8qbXZxa-la8YqGZrEjb1AFaUTgYAXhyKjNHbs3BARiwiW3KTpe-4f8oct08jes62qlN2i1IWkMSSVz-L5h3cuERIlFnCzxAyFImi8O4lZ-7UQ/s1600/15037185_1198297943583102_2082247992457853480_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PQwVPN3jKTJtdpfdaKK9-NQQgRNneF8qbXZxa-la8YqGZrEjb1AFaUTgYAXhyKjNHbs3BARiwiW3KTpe-4f8oct08jes62qlN2i1IWkMSSVz-L5h3cuERIlFnCzxAyFImi8O4lZ-7UQ/s640/15037185_1198297943583102_2082247992457853480_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's one thing that I noticed among writing applicants, especially the entry-level ones: they tend to put together a portfolio by scrounging up old writing samples or coming up with one at the very last minute.<br />
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That's okay, there's nothing wrong with drumming up a writing sample for a prospective client on the fly.<br />
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But imagine how easy it would be for both you and your prospect if you already had writing samples already on hand. A collection of stuff that you've written over the years. A virtual portfolio. A blog.<br />
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You don't have to create a writing sample from thin air at the very last minute. You don't have to panic about putting together a body of work, because it's already there, just waiting for you to show it off.<br />
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When I was looking for writing jobs, I simply sent prospects links to my blogs or directed them to my <a href="http://www.krishafromtheisland.com/p/about.html" target="_blank">About</a> page (where all the lowkey flexing happens, tbh).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEN7AMzskOg5C8HqigeSX9IuUK8gj23VKkkGS3Rsn9wifBZTntWY4HYs9CBJ3gVMn8ECaHKxUMrAix9noC-46GHMvGAwT3qRU7A6unWipuLyXB7apF3pV432uGRzZ56AkTgQ7IPJCb1I/s1600/11.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="504" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEN7AMzskOg5C8HqigeSX9IuUK8gj23VKkkGS3Rsn9wifBZTntWY4HYs9CBJ3gVMn8ECaHKxUMrAix9noC-46GHMvGAwT3qRU7A6unWipuLyXB7apF3pV432uGRzZ56AkTgQ7IPJCb1I/s640/11.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
My repertoire wasn't much back then, but at least I had a place where I could direct these clients to. Even if I wasn't as experienced as other writers out there, I had something to show for. My blog meant that I was serious about writing professionally, that I knew what I was doing and that I can provide value to brands and businesses who needed it.<br />
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Over the years I've tried hard to keep it updated with my professional milestones and the like.<br />
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Keeping a blog is like letting prospective clients into your own little slice of the internet. It's a portfolio. A showroom. And it's arguably more tangible than a post on Instagram or a status update on Twitter.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Your Blog Is One Of The Best Ways To Let Your Personality *Really* Shine</i></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1AYagzl3ycztD5V-rjZL-rh7eOEKuDvyN0ymOpPTF1BnQhOpVIqLoto0T-rxwswYnOL23Lsm0mxmQe1MNV3KkY5IG1M4aF1_mop5DXnbeSLZkAz8xDfbgrcEvgHRRm8Dp6I-sQNr-sc/s1600/IMG_0550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1AYagzl3ycztD5V-rjZL-rh7eOEKuDvyN0ymOpPTF1BnQhOpVIqLoto0T-rxwswYnOL23Lsm0mxmQe1MNV3KkY5IG1M4aF1_mop5DXnbeSLZkAz8xDfbgrcEvgHRRm8Dp6I-sQNr-sc/s640/IMG_0550.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now let's say that you have a degree in writing or media. You've written for print publications or other blogs. That's great!<br />
<br />
Would keeping a blog help you increase your chances of landing your dream writing job?<br />
<br />
Of course!<br />
<br />
See, here's the thing: often, when you write for a living, you kind of lose your voice trying to sound like your client or your client's brand. This is super true, especially when you work in digital marketing, where you have to consider technical factors like SEO and your niche's audience. Over time, you'll sound like a robot, and that's not good.<br />
<br />
This is what I noticed when I was reviewing those sample articles from applicants. They wrote grammatically perfect sentences. They had no spelling errors. Grammarly had nothing bad to say about their work.<br />
<br />
And yet, most of them grossly lacked personality.<br />
<br />
I can't hear their voices through their work.<br />
<br />
I can't feel a unique cadence, can't see the person writing the piece.<br />
<br />
These sample works were technically okay, but they didn't spark anything in the reader's heart. They didn't excite me about the topic they were writing about. Few of them gripped my shoulders and shook me awake and told me "Look here buddy, what I'm talking about is relevant or funny or informative, so better read on!".<br />
<br />
When this happens, I always ask if these people have personal blogs.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Because a blog is the one safe place on the internet where you can flex those creative muscles and still sound like yourself. It's where you can write whatever you want and get away with it.<br />
<br />
Why is personality so important if you're just going to write about web articles anyway?<br />
<br />
Well, having a sharp set of technical skills is definitely an edge, but more than that, we also want to know the person behind the words. We want to know if you're a great culture fit for the company or project, and that's really important if you want to have a good working relationship with anyone.<br />
<br />
We want to know what makes your heart beat, what excites and interests you. We want to know how you write when you write about the things you like. We want to get to know you, and your personal blog is the perfect way to get the party started. It's as simple as that.<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Keeping A Blog Highlights Other Marketable Skills</i></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gOxGGUsNnAzRc0oUv18vDrwJv2Txb5p3QIOLEDEwgCatKhQGXeIFW6EQsAP937_XU1c_ZqeX-SvSSGskhLx2Y0jElmJsg11ypEH8JbEjz0lvEzimsnhtfj8Iy-4Lh3pwODZrCGK6680/s1600/P_20180612_145017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gOxGGUsNnAzRc0oUv18vDrwJv2Txb5p3QIOLEDEwgCatKhQGXeIFW6EQsAP937_XU1c_ZqeX-SvSSGskhLx2Y0jElmJsg11ypEH8JbEjz0lvEzimsnhtfj8Iy-4Lh3pwODZrCGK6680/s640/P_20180612_145017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Last but not least, your blog is a great way to highlight other marketable skills aside from writing. I'm talking about stuff like:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>on-page SEO</li>
<li>WordPress know-how</li>
<li>photography</li>
<li>basic graphics</li>
<li>social media marketing</li>
<li>and a bunch of other things!</li>
</ul>
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Again, blogging is way more than looking good on a page, or going places or having free stuff. It teaches you the basics of digital marketing and content creation!</div>
<div>
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If you want to make it as a writer or an all-around creative, try to start and keep a blog. It's really well worth the effort.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>So How Do I Start?</i></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi16r8kZTJRv09fW2zejRP-wOxAxw_mPDTmotu99Madw5uPgYbiYUHroBlMWrlbS_2k2NanZhV4sCHLKR5X9VffjkeB5XiTEmVCpfTJwFir2z3v74ZfKOqlikgvnPxVjw7LcQL1BHCBKw/s1600/P_20180210_152319-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi16r8kZTJRv09fW2zejRP-wOxAxw_mPDTmotu99Madw5uPgYbiYUHroBlMWrlbS_2k2NanZhV4sCHLKR5X9VffjkeB5XiTEmVCpfTJwFir2z3v74ZfKOqlikgvnPxVjw7LcQL1BHCBKw/s640/P_20180210_152319-01.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div>
Blogging doesn't really cost an arm and leg. If you're just starting out, you can try free blogging platforms like <a href="http://wordpress.com/">Wordpress.com</a> (that's dot-com, not dot-org!), <a href="http://tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> or even good old <a href="http://blogger.com/" target="_blank">Blogspot</a>. These platforms aren't nearly as flexible as a self-hosted site, but they're a good enough place to start. You can also check out this <span id="goog_2121626568"></span><a href="http://www.krishafromtheisland.com/2017/08/how-to-blog-besh-part-one-blogging.html" target="_blank">mini-guide</a><span id="goog_2121626569"></span> that I wrote on blogging basics.</div>
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Then, if you want to upgrade, you can always chat up with our friends at <a href="https://clients.coffeemags.com/" target="_blank">Coffeemags</a> so they can help you with your snazzy own site.</div>
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Before long, you'll be filling that space up with great content that you can also use to land that writing or digital marketing job of your dreams.</div>
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I guess that's it for today, guys. I hope that this post helped you out somehow. If it did, don't forget to drop a comment below and let's be friends!</div>
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Thanks for coming to my TedTalk and good luck! </div>
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<br />Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-6636006952744269862019-01-05T20:23:00.003+08:002019-01-05T20:23:52.431+08:0028 Things I Learned At 28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I turned 28 last December 28.<br />
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When I was younger, I always thought that this age was such a huge number; that I'd be so mature when I finally celebrated my 28th on the 28th.<br />
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Well, younger self, here's something you should know:<br />
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I celebrated my birthday watching BTS music videos and drinking ombre cocktails on mason jars, so I really am not sure about the mature part. Not in a conventional way, at least.<br />
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But I'll be glad to inform you that I learned some things along the way, so your dreams of maturity are not for naught.<br />
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Here are 28 of them:<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>1. Things Take Time</i></span></h3>
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This was a hard thing to learn. Maybe it's because we now live in a world where we can get virtually anything in a snap. If we want food, we can order through our phones or add hot water to some instant ramen.<br />
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Wanna talk to someone from halfway around the world? There's an app for that.<br />
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Need to buy something? Do it on your computer.<br />
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Everything's faster and better. As a generation, we're used to having everything <i>now now now</i>.<br />
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But I've learned that a lot of important things take time.<br />
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There's no app to build your career overnight. You can't create long-lasting relationships with one click of a button. Building something that will last takes blood, sweat, tears and a lot of time.<br />
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You don't harvest on the same day you plant, ate girl. You gotta be patient and learn that things take time.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>2. An ikigai is hard to come by and you need to pray for it.</i></span></h3>
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I spent a good chunk of my time as a young adult in career limbo.<br />
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After quitting my BPO job back in 2017, I kind of fumbled in choosing my next move. I didn't have an anchor, not really. It was stressful. I often found myself in emotional despair and anxiety over where to go.<br />
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I wanted a career where I could be happy, contribute to the community and still be able to put food on the table.<br />
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In short, I wanted an ikigai. Desperately.<br />
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So I asked God for one. And thankfully, He did. And I'll forever be grateful for that answered prayer.<br />
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Now I work in a job that I like, and a lot of opportunities have opened for me in this career path I've chosen.<br />
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It sounds simple but getting to where I am was in no way easy. That being said, if you're going through the same thing, ask God for an ikigai. Pray for it, and then work towards it.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>3. Learning is a continuous process</i></span></h3>
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I just finished another digital marketing course. I also just got a new Udemy class. I learned how to read Hangul (the Korean writing system) on my long bus rides home. Just because you're older doesn't mean you should stop learning.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>4. Social media can mentally damage you if you let it</i></span></h3>
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Social media is great for business. Personal relationships and mental health? Not so much. To be honest, <a href="http://www.krishafromtheisland.com/2017/11/wmyw-stop-falling-over-yourself-for.html" target="_blank">social media is pretty toxic</a>. It's like an unhealthy pair of rose-colored glasses...on steroids. Unfollow people who don't give value to your life. Take a break from social media regularly.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>5. Creativity can die and be reborn from the ashes</i></span></h3>
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This year was a year of recovering from slumps. I was, creatively, burnt to a frazzle. The good thing is, creativity can be reborn from the ashes like a motherloving phoenix. I wrote more about that <a href="http://www.krishafromtheisland.com/2017/10/is-blogging-dead.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>6. Money is real and you gotta get your financial shit together</i></span></h3>
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See, the generations before us worked themselves to the bone without knowing that they can make their money work for them. It's my dream to break the cycle and work towards financial freedom.<br />
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Talking and learning about money shouldn't be tabboo. Take care of your finances, ate girl. Wa imong mommy diri.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>7. Stay in touch with your friends</i></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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The older you are, the harder it is to stay in touch with your friends. But exert extra effort. Connect with your good old buddies. The time you spend together is always worth it.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>8. Networking is difficult for introverts but you gotta put in the work anyway</i></span></h3>
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Ah, networking face-to-face is every introvert's nightmare. But there's really no way around it. It might be unpleasant but you gotta do it anyway if you want to scale and grow.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>9. Sticking to your chosen path is a difficult quest</i></span></h3>
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Focus is not my strong suit, so this was a particularly hard lesson to learn. But I'm making headway.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>10. You gotta constantly seek God out</i></span></h3>
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Lots of things will take your time away from God. You're not in Catholic school anymore, girl. There's no required reading of Biblical texts now. You gotta constantly seek out God yourself.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>11. Find a mentor</i></span></h3>
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This is super important. You're not the smartest person in the room. You're not the biggest fish on the pond. Look for someone with wisdom and expertise. Every Luke needs a Yoda. Find a mentor.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>12. Learn and develop and hone new skills</i></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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Constant improvement, girl. Keep swimming.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>13. You may think you were good before but there's always room for improvement</i></span></h3>
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This is what I always feel when I look back at my old works. At the time, I'd think they're cool, but when I look back, I realize that they actually kind of suck. Haha. Don't rest on your laurels. Excelsior the crap out of your life and career, girl.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>14. Respond to emails and messages promptly</i></span></h3>
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You could lose opportunities if you don't. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>15. Don't give up on relationships just because you're not where you want to be yet</i></span></h3>
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This was a huge realization for this year, too. See, everyone's a work in progress. Don't go throwing relationships down the drain just because you're not where you want to be yet. As long as you're working towards a solid goal, believe in each other. It will get worse before it will get better sometimes, but you're a grownup now. Stick it out. You can do it.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>16. Be patient</i></span></h3>
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Patience seems to be a huge theme for this year. I really don't need to go further.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>17. Sometimes, you just gotta do the difficult things and get them over with</i></span></h3>
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I read something about adults and cooking fried food. When you were little, you always thought that adults weren't scared of the spitting oil from frying pans, right? Wrong. Adults are also scared, but they do it anyway because they have to. Sometimes, you just gotta do the difficult things. That's the mark of a true adult.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>18. It pays to reach out to others</i></span></h3>
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Being a hermit may be your introvert dream, but don't lose touch with people. Reach out to others, whether it be for personal or professional growth. It's okay.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>19. It's okay to take things slow</i></span></h3>
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You don't have to be in a hurry all the time. Take the scenic route. It's okay to take things slow.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>20. Rainy days ain't so scary</i></span></h3>
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Rainy days used to scare the shit out of me. I hated puddles and soaked umbrellas. But overtime I've learned to like it.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>21. Be prepared</i></span></h3>
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Speaking of rainy days, you gotta save up and prepare for those. Have money in the bank. Always carry spare coins. Charge your emergency flashlights. Be prepared.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>22. Be organized</i></span></h3>
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Unless you want your life to fall into chaos. I won't tell you how to organize though. Do whatever works for you. Get your ducks in a row the way you know how.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>23. Always choose each other</i></span></h3>
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You can always choose to walk away. But if you're in a healthy relationship with someone you love who loves you back, choose each other. Always. :)<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>24. Discipline and motivation come in different forms</i></span></h3>
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Lol this is what intermitent fasting taught me. Adulting is all about delayed gratification and disciple after all.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>25. Surround yourself with people who inspire you</i></span></h3>
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You ain't got time for toxic relationships and negativity. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to become better.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>26. Travel ain't everything</i></span></h3>
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Travel is great. It is. But it's not everything. Some may be able to travel the world and work at the same time, but truly, it's not for everyone. Being a nomad has a lot of benefits, but it's also great to dig deep and grow roots.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>27. It's okay to read slow</i></span></h3>
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I only read <a href="https://thirdworldbooknerd.com/2019/01/05/best-books-2018/" target="_blank">37 books this year</a>. Not a lot for a bookworm, I know. But I've learned to love reading slow. I like to take my time. It's not a race.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>28. Treat your parents out to dinner often</i></span></h3>
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Give back to mum and dad every now and then. Take them out to dinner. Pay for their groceries. It's always worth it.Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-20748801087833670552018-12-31T00:16:00.001+08:002019-01-05T12:36:19.382+08:00Postcards From Home: 11 Stories of Filipinos Abroad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like most Filipinos, I grew up surrounded by friends and family.</div>
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And I'm not just talking about an errant relative visiting every now and then. I mean I literally grew up with dozens of cousins running rampant all over our bungalow. </div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>In the summer, we would be out all day in the sun, playing intense games of siatong or batterfeet or bahaw-bahaw. </i></span></h3>
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There were trees to climb, knees that inevitably got skinned and bikes that didn't get returned to their owners until late in the afternoon.</div>
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Christmases and birthdays were spent in sleepovers where nobody actually slept until the wee hours of morning. Instead, we kept vigil watching Harry Potter marathons and eating suspicious amounts of seafood.</div>
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Most of my friends are people I've known since childhood, too. We went to fiestas together, pranked people together and had coffee dates whenever appropriate.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>It was always like this...until it wasn't.</i></span></h3>
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I found myself one holiday season without any friends to spend it with. </div>
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Suddenly, there were no rowdy cousins. </div>
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No guests in the guest room.</div>
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No errant relatives, even.</div>
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What happened?</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Like most Filipinos, many of my friends and family opted to work abroad or even move there for good.</i></span></h3>
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It's a fact of life for us Pinoys. People simply...go. And to be perfectly honest, it's something that I really struggled to come to terms with growing up.</div>
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Leaving is tough, and getting left behind is tough, too. There's no easy way to go about it.</div>
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So from sleepovers and childhood games and cafe dates, I've learned to love Skype calls and emails and social media posts to make up for the time and distance. </div>
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Now, all of this is well and good, but still, I felt there was something missing.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I wanted to know more.</i></span></h3>
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I wanted to know how these people were doing beyond the Instagram post and the happy-faced emoji. I wanted to know what New York felt like in the summer, or if living in London was as glamorous as it is painted to be. I wanted to know their struggles, their joys and if they plan to live there for good.</div>
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I wanted to know the real story of these friends and family who are near and dear to my heart.</div>
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And so, I did what I could:</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I sent out a request to these people who've found a home away from home. I asked them to tell me their stories.</i></span></h3>
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I also asked a "postcard" for good measure--- a photograph or two from wherever they are now---because let's face it, I'm a sucker for photographs.</div>
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The response has been overwhelming, to say the least.</div>
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Here we've got 10 postcards from people from all over the world: from New York to London to Dubai to The Netherlands to Las Vegas to Ireland--- and many other places.</div>
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In these postcards, you'll find stories of how these island boys and girls found a home away from home. Some of them are happy stories, other bittersweet tales, but all of them are triumphs in their own little ways.</div>
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Just click on any of the postcards below. Enjoy!</div>
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<br />Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-79903633704374946262018-12-30T23:31:00.000+08:002018-12-30T23:31:00.667+08:00Postcards From Home: New York City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkita2mp1VbvsqPkWja-s73IfCNV8z5qx6NedYv-eY0NfzuHa7vevGjuTV2e-v2K5YNxk_ua35incrVduj4ofxI_rXOP-mv-eBTom8AWySmV2JBd7ABuZazNOHwbKpoGaKrMN-FqD3uM/s1600/New+York+City.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkita2mp1VbvsqPkWja-s73IfCNV8z5qx6NedYv-eY0NfzuHa7vevGjuTV2e-v2K5YNxk_ua35incrVduj4ofxI_rXOP-mv-eBTom8AWySmV2JBd7ABuZazNOHwbKpoGaKrMN-FqD3uM/s1600/New+York+City.png" /></a></i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7P1j2s7Wh4WAhj96zzTnKpqSKoYYOWZ6WUClN4wo54aMdY9IYwrYVH7PE56CKUpKsxsRaYnKG3egL0F3Ji4h0sB3kbPdWba-IhKcU-Gd39PGhJrTz5UWQkY1Oij72jzDZKjP67Ee7qo/s1600/mik_polaroid002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7P1j2s7Wh4WAhj96zzTnKpqSKoYYOWZ6WUClN4wo54aMdY9IYwrYVH7PE56CKUpKsxsRaYnKG3egL0F3Ji4h0sB3kbPdWba-IhKcU-Gd39PGhJrTz5UWQkY1Oij72jzDZKjP67Ee7qo/s640/mik_polaroid002.jpg" width="530" /></a></div>
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I’m Mikaela Keen. I currently live in New York City and I’m a photographer/art director/all-around creative human!</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I moved a lot growing up, so the word “home” is a little strange for me, honestly.</i></span></h3>
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I have to define where home is first before anything else.</div>
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I went to a family reunion a few months ago. I met so many people for the first time and I would introduce myself as someone from Cebu. I honestly didn’t feel like I’m being completely honest when I said that, but I guess it is the closest truth since Cebu is by far the city I lived in the longest (9 years and some months).</div>
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So it’s safe to say that Cebu is home.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My best memory of home would probably be the insane sunsets in Mactan Island specifically in Marigondon. </span></span></i></h3>
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I remember, my whole family would pass by it day after day on our way home from school; my siblings scattered on both side of the seats, my Papa driving, and my Mama on the passenger seat of our bright canary yellow multicab. </div>
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Now I imagine it being very cinematic but it was probably a little hectic with the traffic and sweaty, exhausted kids/teenagers but I always remember it as something so magical. </div>
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Marigondon Sunsets - honestly would be a good album title.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I miss the people, food, the weather! </i></span></h3>
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I used to hate rainy days in New York but I honestly appreciate it so much now and maybe even secretly love it. Especially in the summertime--- because it feels like tropical rain. It feels familiar. It feels like home. Puddled streets, lapok shoes, and all.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Aside from leaving family behind, starting over again would be top 1 scariest thing about living abroad. It's something that I should already be familiar with, but it was still scary.</i></span></h3>
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I left Cebu for Manila when I was 17, then left Manila for New York a year after, so you can imagine how dramatic it was for my egocentric, teenager self.</div>
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I had a conversation with my brother about moving, being challenged or even “forced” to make big life decisions and I wouldn’t forget what he said:<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"There's growth when you don't have a choice but to accept things and move forward."</i></span></h2>
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I agree. </div>
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Growth is kind of a big deal. </div>
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It probably isn’t the prettiest story, but it’s rewarding. </div>
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Didn’t really have a choice but to actually find myself again, dream again, build relationships again and it was definitely hard work. </div>
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I had to choose to get out of bed every day (seriously this is still hard), open up to people, do my best in school/work, be an adult and to be thankful for where I’m at. </div>
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No magic formula I’d say. Lots of tears, laughter, doubts, prayers, meditating, self-talk and lots of learning. </div>
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Almost 9 years in and still trying to take it all in every day.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Living abroad definitely has its wins and glamour which I’m grateful for but in no way is it easy.</i></span></h3>
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The most difficult thing <span style="background-color: white;">is</span> probably learning and living in a new culture and many subcultures.</div>
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New York City, which people say is “the capital of the world”, is arguably one of the most diverse cities in the world. There’s so much required of you when you try to live a harmonious and flourishing life with people that are brought up with different values and culture as you.</div>
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Learning about new culture is pretty cool. It opens up your world a little bit and sometimes you’d even think you’re “wiser”. </div>
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But to actually live it out and truly accept and include people and their values, perspective, beliefs, history, preferences to your very comfortable and familiar thinking– it requires hard work, lots of patience, a soft and, at the same time, strong heart. </div>
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Soft heart to be accepting of others and a strong heart to stand firm in your values and what you believe in.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>It’s also the most difficult when you just want to cook sinigang and the kangkong in the Asian grocery is $6 per tangkay. Mapapa tanong ka nalang, Why The F Do I Live Here Again?</i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtPA9ICepH26PdNjYbLcwAe-mu15a-oI4K2zqRvPSUIZmc2j6hxjTTTeHGQPXoDvxnAv9gSSnfBtjJ1-2HalOSs_Qv35B8iJ_x5v0ANPgZl9znr3qD4cxa8IDy0gOaIjwXN4MVEKyT_g/s1600/mik_polaroid001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtPA9ICepH26PdNjYbLcwAe-mu15a-oI4K2zqRvPSUIZmc2j6hxjTTTeHGQPXoDvxnAv9gSSnfBtjJ1-2HalOSs_Qv35B8iJ_x5v0ANPgZl9znr3qD4cxa8IDy0gOaIjwXN4MVEKyT_g/s640/mik_polaroid001.jpg" width="556" /></a></div>
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My favorite thing about NY is the people. People here are very open-minded and eager to learn new things. I like that.</div>
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I love that you can see the arts and creativity all throughout the city (museums, galleries, architecture, design, fashion, even in food)</div>
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Van Leeuwen Banana Caramel Nut Ice Cream would make me happy in a heartbeat and it’s made in Brooklyn so shoutout (but Bohol Bee Farm Ube Ice cream is still on top of the ice cream throne of my heart in THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IMHO PLS SEND SPONSORSHIP TY).</div>
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“Favorite” is such a heavy word ha - I guess it would be meeting people from all over the world. It makes it smaller that way and bigger at the same time. </div>
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Wanna know my least favorite thing? When these people leave and go back home :/ Ha but thank you the interwebs!</div>
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Whew, “for good” is a long time! God never respected my plans so far haha but it’s good to have one right? I’m currently working on a project that would possibly relocate me to a different city/country/continent.</div>
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How ironic right, deciding to move when I can decide for myself now as an adult to stay? We shall see. I’m stoked!</div>
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New York is home now (9 years in March 2019) so I know I’ll always be back but for now I really want to get out of here and see the world as much as I can while I can.</div>
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What do you want? Do just that! You’ll figure it out. Give it time. Get out of your bed. Eat your favorite ice cream. Stop and smell the roses. Watch a movie. This is your life. Be responsible. Be free!</div>
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Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-72213475087314990322018-12-30T22:48:00.003+08:002018-12-30T22:48:47.118+08:00Postcards From Home: Dublin, Ireland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My name is Fayette. Actually, it's Ma. Stephanie Katrina Nacua but yeah, Fayette. :) I'm currently a psychiatric nurse in Highfield Healthcare Ireland. I love Dublin but nothing will ever compare to Cebu. :)<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>My home is my FAMILY. </i></span></h3>
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There is no other greater driving force in my life than them. The best asset that I have so far is also them. No money or prestige could ever amount to familial love.<br />
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I am very lucky to have such supportive family members. I take no pride in money or success but in family’s love and closeness. All experiences with them are my best home memories so far. :)<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I miss hugging and talking to my family.</i></span></h3>
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I love the fact that we can talk for hours without even knowing and mostly I am in awe of how amazing my nephews and nieces are growing up with our guidance. I thank the Lord for that.<br />
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Another thing to miss are my beautiful friends. I don't have a lot but I know I have true ones. We don't get to see each other a lot but when we do, there's no gap felt. I miss learning about life and embracing adulting together. Life in Cebu is heartwarming.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcibmYNbU-ah49xJ4fkTy-E401IHJz-yRSAK9N0bV_7Vr79nBlIBLWwroBvy7bIMwexrbH7FGpigmDSZIq2CXbQhPWauSqUuOnwSa8tSYckksvh01yaME0MJuJ0LKLjDmaQLEjqrJC-s/s1600/IMG_0589.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcibmYNbU-ah49xJ4fkTy-E401IHJz-yRSAK9N0bV_7Vr79nBlIBLWwroBvy7bIMwexrbH7FGpigmDSZIq2CXbQhPWauSqUuOnwSa8tSYckksvh01yaME0MJuJ0LKLjDmaQLEjqrJC-s/s400/IMG_0589.jpeg" width="326" /></a><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Honestly, cooking and traveling is challenging for me.</i></span></h3>
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Face it, I don't get both. I've lived all my life being told that food is already ready when I wake up thus I found no need to learn cooking and going to work and school were only one car ride away with my dad.<br />
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I'm not spoiled but I was well loved so don't get me wrong. I don't get what I want always but I was well taken care of so it may seem petty but those are my struggles.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I overcame my struggles through prayers and God-given strength alongside the help of friends here.</i></span></h3>
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I needed to go solo so I set my mind in surviving but I know I was never left alone. I wanna thank Mr and Mrs. Claudius and Trishna Rama for adopting me as their own teenage daughter. Hahaha. Meant a lot. Really.<br />
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The sights, the scenery, the cold and the new culture is overwhelming but when you're such a private person, you couldn't even share the glam of it all through social media.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You keep to yourself everything--- even the not so good sides.</i></span></h3>
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You tell some your closests and they know how you struggled. Budgeting is difficult and trying not to spend is harder when you need also to go out when you're on your rest day to unwind (thrifty person here) and homesickness is inevitable. I'm glad I'm in the city now. Seeing a few more people walking alongside you makes you less alone psychologically.<br />
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<i style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b>I'm lucky to have good people around me. </b></i></h3>
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Supportive people who see potential in me yet knows my limitations in cooking and directions without condemnation. :) hahaha.<br />
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I have my long-term goal of moving to my dream country later on and settling will always be for my Philippines. Work hard outside and relax harder in Cebu! Haha.<br />
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<i style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are my parting words to people who want to embark on the same journey:</span></i></h3>
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Trust in God’s plans. It's hard and I don't sugar coat but it will be better when you find the right people to journey with you. Feet on the ground always. Don't post too much, make success your subtle noise. :)<br />
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Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-17745243201269791182018-12-30T22:20:00.000+08:002018-12-30T22:49:41.417+08:00Postcards From Home: London <br />
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I am Dhan, a Registered Nurse in the United Kingdom.<br />
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I am passionate about my work. Because I love what I do, I have a steady source of motivation that drives me to do my best. My mantra, “Meraki” a word that modern Greeks often use to describe doing something with soul, creativity, and love - when you put something of yourself on into what you’re doing whatever it may be.<br />
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In my recent post (Trauma and Orthopaedic theatres), my passion has led me to challenge myself daily and learn new skills that helped me to do better at work through self-study and guided mentoring.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I am ambitious and driven. I thrive on challenges and constantly set goals for myself, so I have something to strive toward. </i></span></h3>
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I’m not comfortable with settling, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness. I love to be challenged and makes my plans a vision. Currently, I am about to venture a completely different career path in Nursing - Oncology.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The best memory of home(Philippines) for me is our long Christmas preparations. </i></span></h3>
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As early as September, Filipinos put up Christmas decorations at home, Shopping malls play songs of carols with Christmas trees, balls and lights occupying every department’s store racks, the hearable street carolings and the gatherings/reunions that are of a great number.<br />
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Worst though, traffic is everywhere mainly because of mall-wide Christmas Sales; people rush to buy presents for the holidays. This is something that has been practiced by most Filipino households even before there were Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey memes announcing the first of September on social media. HAHA.<br />
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We have always been festive, I believe, and we like grabbing the opportunities to come together as a family to enjoy a generous spread of food on the table. And this is something I am gonna miss first time as an OFW.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To be honest, I was not really scared of anything. </i></span></h3>
It was more of a zeal feeling and random anticipation. I believe I came prepared for this journey. Right from the very beginning, I have envisioned all my plans coming to life. Thus, scared is an understatement for someone who has dreamed this big.<br />
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Once you’ve set yourself a personal, specific and realistic goal like working overseas you should at least be half motivated to see it through. Although halfway through the journey towards conquering it, you may wilt a bit because of the challenges.<br />
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The best thing to do I believe is to remind yourself why you started in the first place. So when that moment comes to its pure joy, not rue you have to be facing.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We hear so much about the benefits of working overseas. </i></span></h3>
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Personal growth, new languages, new cultures, the traveling and shopping, the people you meet along the way. And although all of these are true and may sound glamorous, living overseas is definitely not all sunshine and rainbows.<br />
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There are some really tough obstacles that require time and effort to overcome.<br />
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I work in a demanding environment. We work long day shifts and it is true that sometimes you don't even get time to sit down, eat nor empty your bladder just to cater your patient's needs. My rest days are valuable to me because it is the only time for me to regain my strength back mentally and physically.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgYufU0_qnGCOdw4JU3g8-w9aKGmXu6_LLMzACBSs3P3kYLQdSKhwAdVVQAls4KxmRLEvJEhSXTMP-mrV3lXpR1M_iaWe7jesoISffB2tYZC0vIRlpwj_Ux5edWCmveosswI_9jwU_dw/s1600/image1+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 18.72px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgYufU0_qnGCOdw4JU3g8-w9aKGmXu6_LLMzACBSs3P3kYLQdSKhwAdVVQAls4KxmRLEvJEhSXTMP-mrV3lXpR1M_iaWe7jesoISffB2tYZC0vIRlpwj_Ux5edWCmveosswI_9jwU_dw/s640/image1+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="360" /></a><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Alongside this, I miss my friends and my family. </i></b></span></h3>
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The weather shifts. The Socio-cultural alienation. This adulting thing.<br />
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Never did I find all the comforts of working overseas gratifying. It’s hard. There are moments where you feel an overwhelming amount of emotion that completely takes over any and all reason.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Nostalgia is not an overstatement for an OFW.</i></span></h3>
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I truly miss the comfort of living in the Philippines.<br />
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Nevertheless, traveling has been my refuge during these times. It is true that the stress of work and daily demands can distract us from what we find to be actually meaningful and interesting.<br />
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Thus, taking a break from the daily hustle and bustle in theatres is essential for my mind to relax, recharge and rejuvenate.<br />
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Stepping away from my nursing job is good both mentally and physically.<br />
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When I return to the job, I usually have the space to look at work-related matters with fresh eyes.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My favorite things about living in a first world country are its’ accessibility to transport (overground and underground trains, trams, buses, bikes etc) and the English peoples’ “famed-politeness”. </i></span></h3>
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First, Public transportation is far and wide, here and there, omnipresent. At some point, makes traffic, not of an issue. Having said this, made it easier for me to commute to work efficiently just by cycling without the hassle of pollution and gridlock.<br />
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Also, manners are said to be extremely important to British people and failing to observe them is seen as incredibly rude.<br />
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As a result, even the rudest of British people have some semblance of manners; they are fond of saying please, thank you and sorry.<br />
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The level of politeness among British people may surprise you at first as it’s certainly more prevalent than in some other countries.<br />
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Some of there famous lines are “Are you alright?” , “Bless your heart”, “Are you happy to do it/if I...”, “You’re a star!” etc. Eventually, you get to apply it to yourself and becomes second nature.<br />
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I have not actually thought about that (living for good) for now, perhaps when I am here longer.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Parting words for people who want to embark on the same journey?</i></span></h3>
Moving abroad for work takes careful preparation.<br />
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If you’re really contemplating international work, be sure to do plenty of research on the country and company and talk to others who’ve made the same move.<br />
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This is what I believe to be true, considering the culture shock, and rapid changes in everything like weather, people, work, food, and other unexpected occurrences, you’ll have no choice but to stay still.<br />
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Your pillows and blankets will become your temporary cronies, food, travel or shopping will become your stress-relievers, and most of all God will be your ultimate source of strength. Live and let live that’s all it is.Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-75534970106156093712018-12-30T22:00:00.003+08:002018-12-30T22:49:41.913+08:00Postcards From Home: Los Angeles, California<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApV7OGO5Tpf7KsP9E87Lp-YFl3yWMWzhaXI51mpQjHC8waBwfBCqZBswsEih4NAwRpdl8tWru99YsRiqZrXkoZm4jtc6jlUi_gOKYTbmaXXWtxWspymxgALeStUJW9XRYHkaFJx7wqFk/s1600/8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: "times new roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApV7OGO5Tpf7KsP9E87Lp-YFl3yWMWzhaXI51mpQjHC8waBwfBCqZBswsEih4NAwRpdl8tWru99YsRiqZrXkoZm4jtc6jlUi_gOKYTbmaXXWtxWspymxgALeStUJW9XRYHkaFJx7wqFk/s1600/8.png" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">My name is Iara. I am currently in LA. I work in retail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">One of the </span>memories<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> that comes to my mind was that one Christmas when I used my Christmas money to put gas into our </span>multicab<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> so we (my whole family) can drive around the island. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Home is where I also met my husband, Scott, so I have soooo many memories of us there. </i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">I wasn't able to go home for a while after moving to the US. So there were A LOT (people, things, food, places) that I miss, but the moment I came back was when I realized that the feeling of being home is what I actually missed. I hope that makes sense.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The scariest thing about leaving home is accepting the fact that everything and everyone goes on and I am not part of it anymore (physically). </i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">To know that when I come back, people and things/places </span>won't be the same and I can't hold it against them, because everything changes. Even I changed.<br />
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Trying to navigate around those changes are definitely hard and I wouldn't say I have overcome<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> it. All I can do is accept it </span>and try to <span style="font-family: "times new roman";">make the best of it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Leaving your home is the literal act of stepping out of your comfort zone. </i></span></h3>
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It is exciting and there are definitely great things that come with it, but since you're asking for the hard and tough times, let's start with the obvious: homesickness. </div>
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Being homesick for a person or place and knowing that you can't do anything about it is heartbreaking. *tears roll down on one eye* HA! </div>
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Finding your place in this new world and how to make it your new home is also tough. <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>On the flipside, one of my fave things about my new home is having hot and cold water for shower or bath. Haha!</i></span></h3>
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Right now, my husband and I plan to live here for good. <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Parting words?</i></span></h3>
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Find things that make you happy. Also, making friends and making yourself part of a community makes adjusting to a place easier.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-40809505641287468002018-12-30T21:48:00.000+08:002018-12-30T22:49:41.812+08:00Postcards From Home: Norway<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3Q-ixR2Hx-EhOlbFe96-y-2Tdl0dbYS8C40-hpov1i8ljcfeN83DAjST9RKLn0rbWDra7ed0vUUf4jXk_5G6jXNHGInRysfFUeP-gDKFGYfwBj_RQpyvP64BL2ffJ0MNiKFbayS5E_I/s1600/9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3Q-ixR2Hx-EhOlbFe96-y-2Tdl0dbYS8C40-hpov1i8ljcfeN83DAjST9RKLn0rbWDra7ed0vUUf4jXk_5G6jXNHGInRysfFUeP-gDKFGYfwBj_RQpyvP64BL2ffJ0MNiKFbayS5E_I/s1600/9.png" /></a><br />
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Hi. I'm Jezzy. I'm currently living in Norway with my husband. At the moment, I'm a stay at home wife but I'm busy learning the language.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I miss my family, my friends, and my beautiful hometown.</i></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Being away from your family is the scariest part of living abroad. Thinking that you will have no one to run to when you are lonely and in despair. And nobody will understand you because you are in a different dimension. But I began to meet new people and gain new good friends. It makes me feel like I'm home.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Living abroad isn't a fairytale come true. </i></span></h3>
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Being in a different world with a different culture and speaking a different language is hard. It takes patience, hardwork, and bravery to get to wake up everyday and still think positively about it.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Here in Norway, I love how I'm close to nature. </i></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also learn new things everyday. I get to meet new people and most especially I am with the person I love.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Parting words?</i></span></h3>
<br />
I am not suggesting for you to marry a foreigner. Haha! Kidding aside. All you need is courage and be ambitious. Just believe in yourself that you can do more. And always have faith in God.Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-26748844715919851412018-12-30T21:44:00.001+08:002018-12-30T22:49:41.512+08:00Postcards From Home: Orange County, California<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuawJ6m1vGdAlB3EknWOObsUUm9Ek2drhBOSew39ktvdX83BgxKbfoHzEU-LkAQsixAJyfNISdh7635ReBYtYMTSJ4my2BjaKuctN03fh99xHqaaTMsfOpyJF7DykqmuymbIWGvynrMs/s1600/7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuawJ6m1vGdAlB3EknWOObsUUm9Ek2drhBOSew39ktvdX83BgxKbfoHzEU-LkAQsixAJyfNISdh7635ReBYtYMTSJ4my2BjaKuctN03fh99xHqaaTMsfOpyJF7DykqmuymbIWGvynrMs/s1600/7.png" /></a><br />
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I am mostly known back home in the Philippines as Mejai, Jaime or Meleth. I immigrated to the US on July 2012 to be together with my longtime boyfriend who is now my husband for over 6 years❤️❤️❤️ (Ayeeee🤣)</div>
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He was in the US Army and was stationed in Georgia for 3 years; we then came over to California when his contract finished. I am now working as a Behavior Interventionist in one of the school districts here in Orange County, California. 😊<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My best memory of home is our fiestas. </i></span></h3>
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We celebrate fiestas on a provincial scale down to Sitios within barangays.<br />
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I love how everything is just so vibrant, loud, and fun. It’s a whole month of celebration too!<br />
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I remember how the sight of the banderitas hanging across electric posts throughout my tiny proud sitio of Pusok Cemento makes me all happy. It’s the perfect visual for me to let my brain know that we are in a celebration mode.<br />
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I also remember waking up very early in the morning over our neighbor’s loud music of Brother Louie and Touch by Touch, and then falling asleep to the sound of the mixes played for the disco-ral 🤣🤣🤣.<br />
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I miss just hanging out with my family and cousins to see the nightly entertainment during fiesta times. Eat Balot, tempura, green mangoes, peanuts, etc.<br />
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I miss the feeling of being surrounded by the people who love me and those I love the most.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMbxf9ymD-stzoCm3y5ch8gmO2Ah-lAy16da6CY0g0zSgXe8u2E5u6GF5kyJrb3afwBTJZtofa4_ieHG9BztQj9r6J6YJP0DOA8QxvhYXYJbznUk8e42sNA281f0s6kdW0dcFBsD4PK8/s1600/IMG_2492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMbxf9ymD-stzoCm3y5ch8gmO2Ah-lAy16da6CY0g0zSgXe8u2E5u6GF5kyJrb3afwBTJZtofa4_ieHG9BztQj9r6J6YJP0DOA8QxvhYXYJbznUk8e42sNA281f0s6kdW0dcFBsD4PK8/s640/IMG_2492.JPG" width="426" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My parents did not approve of me leaving the country. </i></span></h3>
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I had to ask my elder siblings to help me convince them to give me their blessing.<br />
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I am the baby in my family so I can understand why it was so hard for them to let me go. It wasn’t easy on my end too, I am very attached to my parents and I am very sheltered, leaving home would be stepping out of my comfort zone-extreme level.<br />
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The idea of being so far away from my protectors and acknowledging that I will be breaking their hearts if I leave was beyond scary.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I think to this day leaving the country was the boldest move I made in my entire life.</i></span></h3>
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I found my peace in the thought that I will do great over here and make my family proud because of how much I have grown.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> I immigrated to the states with nothing but the clothes in my bags.</i></span> </h3>
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My husband on the other hand also had nothing because everything was provided by the Army for him(his housing and the food he eats).<br />
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In our first apartment, we had nothing. We are away from our family and friends. We didn’t get any hand me down furniture or anything to help us get started.<br />
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We slept on the floor, we had no chairs and we used the box of the cooking pots we bought as our dining table.<br />
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We used garbage bags as curtains to cover the windows.<br />
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Our resourcefulness was heavily tested during those times when we just started.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And after 10 weeks of playing house together, husband left for Afghanistan and stayed there for 9 months. </i></span></h3>
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I was literally all by myself, spending the whole day thinking about my family back home and my husband in a hostile area. It was quite a change from being in a comfortable home surrounded by people who love you to an empty space by yourself.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I love how everything that my husband and I have now is all from our hard work. </i></span></h3>
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We literally started with nothing and now we are homeowners in Orange County, California. Looking back at how far we’ve come I say we have grown so much. Being away from family and having nobody else but each other made our bond stronger and our motivation to be successful greater. <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Parting words for people who want to embark on the same journey?</i></span></h3>
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If you just started in a new place away from home it’s expected that you’re having a difficult time right now so don’t be too hard on yourself.<br />
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It’s okay that you feel sad and angry, acknowledge those feelings and channel them to feed your motivation and your determination.<br />
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Acknowledge and celebrate your every success no matter how small-learning how to cook, do laundry, etc. Keep your positive attitude intact and you’ll be just fine. 😊<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>😆😆😆❤️<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-84039365048166869942018-12-30T21:34:00.000+08:002018-12-30T22:49:42.207+08:00Postcards From Home: Qatar<br />
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My name is Krista and I am working as a Senior Customer Service in one of the most prestigious airlines in Qatar.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Here's what I miss most about home: celebrating birthdays, Christmas, new year and festivals with family and friends. </i></span></h3>
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We tend to celebrate all of it regardless of what we have. We laugh, catch up and plan for the next occasion. Ahh, can’t wait to be there soon to celebrate with them again.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span>The scariest thing about leaving home is m</span></span>y kids not recognizing me as their mom. </i></span></h3>
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But I manage it by constantly calling them, video chats and going home once or twice a year.<br />
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Living abroad is not easy at all. I work, eat, sleep and repeat. People are sometimes not so good with you, but you need to stay for you to earn. I do all the things on my own while I need to pay a lot of bills from home.<br />
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We socialize less socialize coz you need to think what the family needs before spending each penny. I cry sometimes coz I just want to be with family and cherish every single time with them but it’s not possible coz I am also doing what something for their future.<br />
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<h3>
<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't have plans of living here for good. </span></i></h3>
But the good thing is since I work in the airline industry, I get to travel the world so easily.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Parting Words?</i></span></h3>
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Be strong and have plans. We never know when or what will happen to us as we go to this path. Pray, love and have faith. God is guiding us all the way.Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-33784177239109623912018-12-30T21:27:00.000+08:002018-12-30T22:49:41.613+08:00Postcards From Home: Las Vegas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz1l_YFl1snoV3nN3bE1ynMw1_adsVd7dOxKx7bt47yV15RhZqhDYkTXePWe5-s7ML2Mqz-j1dWNNCZqxht5X-C9BQ-qpykCxG__i26rt7lbSiipnhc9pmwUGxDZDK92gcUd6heFV8IQ/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz1l_YFl1snoV3nN3bE1ynMw1_adsVd7dOxKx7bt47yV15RhZqhDYkTXePWe5-s7ML2Mqz-j1dWNNCZqxht5X-C9BQ-qpykCxG__i26rt7lbSiipnhc9pmwUGxDZDK92gcUd6heFV8IQ/s1600/4.png" /></a><br />
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Viva Las Vegas!<br />
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I am Rosemarie Ybanez, 28, a Special Education teacher here at Clark County School District in Las Vegas.<br />
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I'm currently teaching kids who are severely emotionally challenged.<br />
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If you look it up, it's a condition where kids or generally people in any given age are unable to control their emotions and behavior, which prevents them to fully function in the classroom and society.<br />
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You would not have heard so much of this in the Philippines because I think, culturally we Filipinos are very resilient.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>When life throws us durian, we make candies or ice cream out of it! </i></span></h3>
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That's what I am very proud of being a Filipino! Yes, we are overly emotional, but in the end, we laugh it off and go on with our lives.<br />
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I had dreams of traveling the world someday and I didn't realize that it will be teaching that will jump start this dream.<br />
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You see, I was happy being a public school teacher in our homeland, I loved seeing kids learn and be able to find their passion in life. But I always had that nagging feeling of wanting to try the ways of the bigger world or else I will regret not being brave enough to act on my dreams.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Everything about home is just...home to me. </i></span></h3>
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I missed the noise.<br />
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Yeah, I know that's unbelievable but living here for almost 6 months now, the silence gets to you.<br />
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You won't hear a sound from your neighbors and I came from a village of Karaoke lovers; where mahjong players stay up till dawn waiting for the last piso to be spent. Where I don't need my alarm clock coz my dad's roosters are there to wake me up.<br />
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When it gets too silent, that's when you have so much time to think of what and who you miss the most, then you start looking up promo tickets and dream of the day you get to go home (to eat kasag, inun-unan, siomai and ginabot!)<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I was scared I wouldn't be good enough where I would be going.</i></span></h3>
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I guess I just felt scared that when the pressure gets to me I will start cracking up and I am alone facing the wolves. Char lang.<br />
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But I realized, I earned my degree and worked so hard to get to where I am right now so I deserve to be here.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Sometimes, that's the greatest fear that people have which holds them back from pursuing their dreams: the fear of not being good enough and you end up failing. </i></span></h3>
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But hey, you'll never really know if you can do it unless you've tried it. So take deep breaths and go make that leap of faith!<br />
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I also had that feeling where I did not want to become a traitor to my motherland and go work somewhere else. I also felt like I did not want to be labeled as one of those people 'finding greener pastures.' But what the heck, I just got to let it go and follow my heart!<br />
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So when I got here, I waved our flag and I want to make my country proud! Wherever I go, I always carry our name proudly and amaze them with my Filipina charm and wits. (chareets!)<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Oh yes, people really think that it is easy and glamorous to be here working overseas. </i></span></h3>
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They fail to see that being away from all the comforts of family, friends and all that's familiar to you is like stripping you mentally of all the things that reassure you that you have a fallback place.<br />
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Here away from home, you fend for yourself.<br />
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You cook, you eat, you do your laundry, you sleep, you cry on your own. And you feel apprehensive about telling your family way back home about your struggles coz you don't want them to worry. So you remind yourself that ginusto ko to bes, so be strong. Laban lang.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Since I am in Vegas, everything that happens here pretty much stays here but who am I kidding?! Hahaha! (wink! wink!)</i></span></h3>
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I love the shows that are in Vegas---from classical artists to contemporary ones. They end up coming to visit here and they are pretty much affordable! There's a big Filipino community here as well who pretty much becomes your family away from home.<br />
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I have plans to work here for a long time but I would still choose to live in my beautiful country the Philippines. Having seen what my new workplace has to offer, I still believe that home is where my heart will always be and where I will be really happy!<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Parting words for people who want to embark on the same journey?</i></span></h3>
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Do it now! If you keep on saying I'll do it later, later is never going to happen! Just like how you told your Mom you will water the plants later but you fell asleep! So the best time is always now!</div>
Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-13369668347442713892018-12-29T22:15:00.001+08:002018-12-30T22:49:41.263+08:00Postcards From Home: Netherlands<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNaW1t8w9o3ndU2pj3lY_kjykAsKNOZ7Y_hb-5NxVLYEU-HqG8NNlRa9E_fkuBzgEhP2xWe9lQ6UmK-IemCArrBRloLkYECku6cp3e5E76wA_zBQsPgux1ih-Epb0o4xK4m0Xt-15Z6o/s1600/5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNaW1t8w9o3ndU2pj3lY_kjykAsKNOZ7Y_hb-5NxVLYEU-HqG8NNlRa9E_fkuBzgEhP2xWe9lQ6UmK-IemCArrBRloLkYECku6cp3e5E76wA_zBQsPgux1ih-Epb0o4xK4m0Xt-15Z6o/s1600/5.png" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i></span></h2>
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Ako si Joan Gungob dakong taga Pusok Cemento LLC, Cebu City. Naa ko karon sa Netherlands, The Hague usa ko ka au pair diri sa pamilyang Buma.<br />
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Ang akong dakong pamilya nga perming saba og ang manok nga alingogog--- mao na akong best memory. Ang akong pinakamingaw sa tanan ang Pasko jud kay wala jud makapildi sa Pasko sa Pilipinas 😢😢😍😍😍<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Ang pinakahadlok nga ning biya ko kay abi kog dili ko makatindog sa akong kaugalingon nga wala akong ginikanan sa akong duol nga masangpit dayon kung naay kinahanglan.</i></span></h3>
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Apan dugay nako diri dawas sa nasud og naning kamot hihapon mong barog nga naa kompyansa sa kaugalingon ako kining gibuntog sa pamaagi og tawag sa pamilya kundi mag luto og pagkaong pinoy bisag kulang ang mga sangkap. Lipay na ko og akong tiyan.<br />
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Daghang tao gahuna huna nga kung maka abroad datu na dayon, daghang kwarta, wala sila kahibaw nga wala jud mi na ipon para sa among kaugalingon kay among gihina hunaang among pamiya sa Pinas.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Kanang picture nga madanihon og nindot? </i></span></h3>
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Tsk kana kay ganahan sad tawn mi maka bati sa among gihagoan nga usahay usahay amo sad hatagan og pagtagad among kaugalingon. Kay ang among huna huna og kasing kasing naa sa among Pamilya sa pinas. Lisod manginabuhi diri sa gawas kay (DEPRESSION IS REAL) naagian ko na nga kalitnlang ka og hilak,dili ka ganahan mong kaon og labaw sa tanan dili ka ganahan mong gawas kay lagi gimingaw ka sa imong pamilya. Silence is so loud that it creeps me out.😢😢😔😔😔<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">On the flip side, what's your favorite thing about your new home?</i></span></h3>
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Sa akong bagong napuyan karon sa pamilya Buma diri Sa Netherland kay gi hagan ko nila og pagtagan nga usa kapamilya. Girespeto ko nila og labi na sa tanan gihatagan ko nila og higugma❤️❤️❤️<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">Do you plan to live there for good?</i></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></span></div>
Wala pa sad koy planong mong puyo diri sa pagkakaron.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">Parting words for people who want to embark on the same journey as you.</i></span></h3>
Make God as the center of your journey. Think twice and never forget where you came from. Stay strong and most of all, enjoy it because you never live once. (None believer of YOLO) <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-7702538109874999752018-12-29T22:11:00.001+08:002018-12-30T22:49:42.009+08:00Postcards From Home: Dubai<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Be4yFs3hd44BNYcHJfP__xj0MMoBoqs-oDiW-Dufp939uLV9hckBYRCEWVAo6Jz4HIl6fDmJnxn3YOIRKynpLkIIxwAhh5bhMr2EPJSghkVHWRSVrNY6LcmUWXId6uYQFAYGq4CNfKw/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Be4yFs3hd44BNYcHJfP__xj0MMoBoqs-oDiW-Dufp939uLV9hckBYRCEWVAo6Jz4HIl6fDmJnxn3YOIRKynpLkIIxwAhh5bhMr2EPJSghkVHWRSVrNY6LcmUWXId6uYQFAYGq4CNfKw/s1600/3.png" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></i><br />
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Hi, you can call me Anon, based in the Desert City Dubai. A sales coordinator/go-to girl in the office; aka tita ng lahat at doraemon ng opisina.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The thing I miss most about home is Mang Inasal.</i></span></h3>
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Like literally stuffing yourself with all the unli rice you can finish, while laughing with your friends or family, racing on who got the most cups. There's something about food at home, may it be in a pungko-pungko or a crowded Starbucks; there is always someone to share with.<br />
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Here outside the country, as most people are so busy with their own jobs and lives; sometimes it's hard to find a coordinated time with anyone. And oh, those quiet days when you can just sit at home, open the windows and let the breeze come in while you take a nap.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The scariest part about leaving home is being out of your comfort zone. You gotta have a high level of tolerance.</i></span></h3>
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For us Filipinos, tolerance seems to be a negative word, but in this place its actually even celebrated. You will meet people from different races, or even from the same country; but later on, you'll realize how diverse each are in terms of character and norms.<br />
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Social culture shocked. Or maybe shookt.<br />
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In the Philippines, delicadeza sounds very decadent...outside the country, I have learned to toughen up, accept criticism, be patient and open myself to widening my acceptance and understanding even if its out of my comfort zone.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="color: #9fc5e8;">The most difficult thing about living abroad?</i></span></h3>
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Work. Lots of work. I only get one day off and sometimes I'm even amazed how a 24 hour can go so fast, especially if you just wanna stay at home and rest and sleep. That makes me appreciate hard-earning OFWs who do everything just for their families.<br />
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I hope people back home realize that its not all rainbows and roses here...and that a Skype call wouldn't be limited to just asking about how much will be the next tuition transfer, or the new shoes, or when will be the next out of town trip when your loved one comes home.<br />
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Although technology has helped people to get in touch with love ones from miles away, I think we've lost touch of how a simple how are you, kamusta ka na, kumain ka na ba really matters...<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP79riKDtN4CaMKVmHUQCgBIXxNZ5xSfInpNNs24cIXc8f7pIe2btVF_nQrngVeLtlrjYEOCwF3KbSNN49WTMsjWb6wM6edXpnBbCuUV3I3SbdX6R5Plr2FG0zU01tnInDQyjCB_Lpg8w/s1600/46934404_573732606430500_7537528816906797056_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP79riKDtN4CaMKVmHUQCgBIXxNZ5xSfInpNNs24cIXc8f7pIe2btVF_nQrngVeLtlrjYEOCwF3KbSNN49WTMsjWb6wM6edXpnBbCuUV3I3SbdX6R5Plr2FG0zU01tnInDQyjCB_Lpg8w/s640/46934404_573732606430500_7537528816906797056_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Accessibility is my fave thing about Dubai.</i></span></h3>
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Although the rent is crazy (like imagine paying 10000 pesos for a bunk bed in a 6 person room); being in an area where you can literally just walk up to the nearest supermarket/mall and having a good metro system is heaven-sent (no shade to the 3 hour Mandaue-Compostela route I used to take.no shade).<br />
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Another is being able to help when people really need help.<br />
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Sometimes, because youre pressured to save because you dont wanna go home with nothing, whenever something comes up back at home you can easily help out financially. Especially when youre a 20 something who's not really required to bust their ass just to put bread to the table, you'll be amused on how much growth a person can get, just because of a fresh perspective on how responsibility works when you're far away from home.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Living here for good? Nope. </i></span></h3>
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I'm turning 28 next year, and miraculously sometime after I turned 25; I finally made up my mind where to build a home; it's not on a snowy cabin somewhere north, nor a high rise building, or well known subdivision.<br />
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In my mind I find myself in a lovely wooden shack in Camotes Island, free from the pressures of the world, as I write love notes to my future self.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Parting words for people who want to embark on the same journey</i></span></h3>
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RUN.<br />
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Just kidding!<br />
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It's the exact opposite--- it's to slow down enjoy life as it is.<br />
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I think most millennials can agree, because of the pressure of having to prove myself and make a name out of something, I was so desperate to try out new things, change my mind the moment I see something greener, give up when I felt like nothings working.<br />
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I was moving too fast. Wanting to go out of the country too fast.<br />
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I realized wait up--- I've actually missed out on life as I passed by through it.<br />
<br />
I came from an OFW family with my dad being in the PH for a few days maybe only after a year or two, and now being an OFW myself, there are moments when I wish I could just be me as I was back home..scrambling to get a jeepney to be on a cousins birthday, having tanduay ice with my friends after their break ups, being an un-absentee ninang or just go to the neighbors house and have a laugh.<br />
<br />
But life is how you make of it, and home is where you wanted it to be. No matter where you find yourself in the world, stay grounded..just live life how you wanted it to be.Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-34543619354523684582018-12-29T22:06:00.000+08:002018-12-30T22:49:41.711+08:00Postcards From Home: Love From The UK<br />
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<br />
<br />
My name is Jacky, and about 2 years ago I left my beautiful home of Cebu to work in the United Kingdom as a nurse.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have loads of good memories from Cebu including: </div>
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<br /></div>
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<ul>
<li>day trips to the south with friends</li>
<li>eating ginabot and puso after an exhausting graveyard shift</li>
<li>and the numerous jeepney stories that made me laugh, cringe, or both. </li>
</ul>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But the best memories I have from home would have to be the ones that I spent with my family. </i></span></h3>
<br />
I get to appreciate more those moments now especially because I live half-way across the world.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Aside from missing my family, the thing I miss most about Cebu would have to be speaking Bisaya!</span><br />
<br />
Never in a million years have I thought that I would miss speaking my mother tongue. Using a second language to communicate 24/7, regardless of how proficient you are at it, becomes tiring at a certain point. Imagine expressing extreme happiness, sadness, or irritation verbally, but you'll have to translate in your head your default Bisaya expressions before you speak. It kinda ruins the moment.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The scariest thing about moving to another country is starting your life from scratch.</i></span></h3>
<br />
In my case, I haven't been out of the country before moving to the UK and I practically didn't know anyone when I arrived. So, I literally have to figure out how everything works here; from how to use the public transport, to the basics of how banks work, and even how the faucets (which they call taps) function.<br />
<br />
Even now I'm still figuring a lot of things out. Luckily, I've had plenty of support from the Filipino community here and from my employer as well. With their help, mixed with heaps of prayers and a dash of courage, I've been able to build a life here.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Living abroad is definitely not as easy as most people think. </i></span></h3>
<br />
The most difficult thing for me would be being away from my family, which is very emotionally challenging. Also, when I'm not feeling well, there's no mama to make my favourite comfort food. I'll have to look after myself whether in sickness or in health.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Another common misconception about people working abroad is that we're all rich.<br />
<br />
But alas, it doesn't always work that way. Even though we earn more than the average employee in the Philippines in peso, we don't actually use peso in the country where we live. Like what my friends and I frequently say, "you earn pounds, you spend pounds".<br />
<br />
So in reality, most of us are still faced with the same budgeting problems as most people do.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My favourite part about living in the United Kingdom is getting to know their culture.</i></span></h3>
<br />
I have always been fascinated by the UK's rich history and culture, and now I get to learn all about it first hand. Also, seeing historical sites up-close which I've only read in books or seen on TV before, such as the Stonehenge, feels very surreal and fulfilling.<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></span></div>
For now, I feel that it's too early to tell if I'll eventually settle down here in the UK for good. But I'll definitely be sticking around here for a while.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Parting words?</i></span></h3>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Go ahead! I support you. One major thing I realised from living in a foreign land is that it teaches you a great deal about the world and about yourself. It opens your mind to the unfamiliar and different. It also opens doors of opportunities. It won't be easy, though, so brace yourself.</div>
</div>
Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-44688627034830448322018-11-28T23:18:00.000+08:002018-11-28T23:18:40.374+08:00What Exactly Do Content Writers Do? Do Creatives Actually Make Money? Answers To Your Tita's Burning FAQs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDR9UZg4xJDo0DiWssqeqbBnqxZzYyhKv2etbVWh-FdPEHd3FvgpXu0CZPdzaL4DF9np8Q-anLUP02HOXJ2XZdkjL19i-y-PDzeAqZv4B4XuCfGjGGaCgEyG_gi-I4gN7VQVvyBUB5aPY/s1600/10391914_200936333872_3277623_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDR9UZg4xJDo0DiWssqeqbBnqxZzYyhKv2etbVWh-FdPEHd3FvgpXu0CZPdzaL4DF9np8Q-anLUP02HOXJ2XZdkjL19i-y-PDzeAqZv4B4XuCfGjGGaCgEyG_gi-I4gN7VQVvyBUB5aPY/s1600/10391914_200936333872_3277623_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
Here's the funny thing about working in the creative or digital marketing field: most people don't have a clear idea about what you actually do.<br />
<br />
Take this common scenario for example:<br />
<br />
<b>Tita:</b> So what do you do again?<br />
<br />
<b>Me:</b> I'm a content writer, <i>tita</i>. I'm in charge of writing blog posts, website content, email copy, and other digital marketing assets for various brands<br />
<br />
<b>Tita:</b>...<br />
<br />
<b>Me:</b>...<br />
<br />
*tita.exe has stopped working*<br />
<br />
<b>Me:</b> Um <i>kuan tita online-online akong work</i><br />
<br />
<b>Tita: </b>Ah, that's great<i> diay. When man ka mag-nurse balik?</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVLqCYiZZ1c22zCn92m0geU31J569qEfx9eN7H-Ep1GVWmSvG24cBUWACrbHZpZQQd8HmsU_n4LlsdgSfwqgBH0oJU7Ys_BZBDtp_uptg1n6BOWOGnA3TsbTwtoZxgeLBw01mez0_kLg/s1600/IMG_0586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVLqCYiZZ1c22zCn92m0geU31J569qEfx9eN7H-Ep1GVWmSvG24cBUWACrbHZpZQQd8HmsU_n4LlsdgSfwqgBH0oJU7Ys_BZBDtp_uptg1n6BOWOGnA3TsbTwtoZxgeLBw01mez0_kLg/s1600/IMG_0586.jpg" /></a></div>
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And that's just one scenario. Other times, people don't see working in a digital or creative field as a stable career or lifestyle choice--- even more so if you're working remotely.<br />
<br />
Most folks are stumped to see us at home, wearing faded house shirts and claiming to be working. They don't think that social media management, graphic design, virtual assistance or content writing are real jobs. I'm not sure if it's funny or frustrating...or both.<br />
<br />
So, since a lot of people outside the creative field have tons of burning questions, I've decided to create this FAQ to help them understand the industry better!<br />
<br />
Ladies and gentlemen, titos and titas, here are the answers to your Frequently Asked Questions:<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>What's a digital creative? Is that like an online job?</i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWw1ClRrSrNVnLRZfjAoscwlyTq4Un2mlPUOh7o8x8vxJt8WIog46XqYJ2N8Q_VfCav2araJD6Nd7VyLCO-tDWaf3egJs4KhZW2ZWutETopetLmIp9UqQ02fB7bzxzTm1VVGuwDrTWPU/s1600/c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWw1ClRrSrNVnLRZfjAoscwlyTq4Un2mlPUOh7o8x8vxJt8WIog46XqYJ2N8Q_VfCav2araJD6Nd7VyLCO-tDWaf3egJs4KhZW2ZWutETopetLmIp9UqQ02fB7bzxzTm1VVGuwDrTWPU/s1600/c6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's pretty hard to put a finger on what a digital creative is, but I'm gonna try anyway.<br />
<br />
Try searching something on Google or logging onto your favorite social media channel.<br />
<br />
Someone wrote the code to make that website come to life. Somebody took photographs and created the graphics you find on those online shops and catalogs. Somewhere out there, a writer is researching and using all their brain cells to put that tutorial together.<br />
<br />
To put it simply, a digital creative is someone who uses digital mediums to bring all these types of content to life. They could be content writers, programmers, web developers, search engine optimization specialists, photographers, graphic designers, support rockstars and more!<br />
<br />
All these people work hard with businesses, brands, and organizations to put content OUT THERE, to you.<br />
<br />
And since this entire industry relies heavily on the internet, I guess it's pretty safe to call it an online job.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So, what is a content writer and what do you actually do?</i></span></h3>
<br />
Okay, let's go back to searching something on Google.<br />
<br />
Did you find an article that answers your question? Did you read something entertaining, informative or intriguing?<br />
<br />
Great.<br />
<br />
A content writer put that information together just for you. What, did you think robots write these things? LOL, not really.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRLtct49ob_mKYzbr6GVk955OWA475wz5PI8Jy1q8DEEpqRT0RVMK6ahuO4HizdeuPeDdACVVits8Ey8lxuM50lXHWgTEeEw83N4i3YPc4Na97avbwwLMjTJ_6dm7if5gwdsWqVau9As/s1600/P_20170809_165201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRLtct49ob_mKYzbr6GVk955OWA475wz5PI8Jy1q8DEEpqRT0RVMK6ahuO4HizdeuPeDdACVVits8Ey8lxuM50lXHWgTEeEw83N4i3YPc4Na97avbwwLMjTJ_6dm7if5gwdsWqVau9As/s1600/P_20170809_165201.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
See, most of the things that you find on the internet--- from blog posts, articles, product descriptions, scripts of your favorite Youtube channel, to the text of your favorite meme--- was most likely written by a person called a content writer.<br />
<br />
This is what I do for a living. I currently work full-time for an e-commerce conglomerate based in San Diego and I write blog posts and articles for our outdoor, lifestyle, and health niche sites.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Aside from writing content like review posts and long-form articles, I'm also responsible for writing email copy (those email newsletters you get? yeah, someone wrote them, too!), scripts and other advertising copy.<br />
<br />
I also help produce videos and shoots if the situation calls for it.<br />
<br />
On the side, I do freelance work for some local and international clients.<br />
<br />
On weekends, I fancy myself as a video creator and film <a href="http://youtube.com/thirdworldbooknerd" target="_blank">videos about books</a>, reading and the trials and tribulations about being a <a href="http://thirdworldbooknerd.com/" target="_blank">book nerd</a>. You can watch that <a href="http://youtube.com/thirdworldbooknerd" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Do you have time for fun?</i></span></h3>
<br />
If watching BTS videos count, then yes, I have a lot of time for fun. Out of town vacations have been few and far between this year, but we're doing fine. I can bawi next year, I guess.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>How do you guys make money?</i></span></h3>
<br />
Pretty much just like how a lot of people do: we put in the work and get cold hard cash in return. :)<br />
<br />
Since I work full time, I get paid monthly. Then again, I put the 'flow' in cash flow by taking in extra client work on the weekends.<br />
<br />
Freelancers can get paid per project or per hour, depending on the type of service they offer. And if you're wondering, most freelancers and full-time digital creatives get paid through bank transfers or through services like Paypal.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<i style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">If that's the case, why don't you guys go to the office like a "normal person"?</i></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM8wDQMyqfUcN6jMfuo3a0_4hLyjvr07eA8b23MJPhWxviwW73nCbwXWuhRa-7z_Xa6dLhzA3ywD3NuK1fLYHZ9SNzUOXjXeDbmSue_VUUpU0Barpu3TfxJnKoKC0LCmFhGN-dh1zGPI/s1600/P_20170804_062242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM8wDQMyqfUcN6jMfuo3a0_4hLyjvr07eA8b23MJPhWxviwW73nCbwXWuhRa-7z_Xa6dLhzA3ywD3NuK1fLYHZ9SNzUOXjXeDbmSue_VUUpU0Barpu3TfxJnKoKC0LCmFhGN-dh1zGPI/s640/P_20170804_062242.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
The great thing about working in the digital creative field is that you're not bound by geography. You can work and get things done anywhere--- as long as you've got a stable internet connection. This is why digital nomads can afford to travel wherever they want and still work.<br />
<br />
Working remotely has a lot of benefits. One of them is that you don't have to suffer insane traffic and stressful traveling times. The downside is that it can get pretty lonely if you're not used to working by yourself.<br />
<br />
Thus, I think the best setup is having a spot in a coworking space, where you can have the best of both worlds.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<i style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></i></h3>
<h3>
<i style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">What the hell are coworking spaces?!</i></h3>
<br />
These are basically spaces that provide everything a digital creative needs: comfy chairs, fast internet, a working pantry, and indoor plumbing. That's basically it. Think of it as an office shared by lots of people who work from their laptops, albeit more laid back and comfortable. If you still need a clue, check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aspacecebu" target="_blank">A-Space</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheCompanyCebu" target="_blank">The Company Cebu</a>.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Is it a stable job?</i></span></h3>
<br />
Why yes, yes it is.<br />
<br />
Many people get this impression that digital creatives don't have a stable job because they don't punch in and out of a regular office.<br />
<br />
That is not the case...at least for folks who hustle.<br />
<br />
Like all traditional jobs out there, working in the digital field is also about taking care of one's employers and clients and putting in quality work.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Is it a relevant job? Will it make you successful?</i></span></h3>
<br />
LOL, relevance and success mean a lot of things to many different people.<br />
<br />
For most of our generation's parents, a relevant job meant going on a 9-5, flying abroad having a title or wearing a uniform. Success is measured by how big your house is, how many fancy cars you have...that kind of thing.<br />
<br />
I know a lot of parents are dead-ass scared of their kids not having a future ahead of them and that's okay. Based on their traditional standard of success and social relevance, working in the digital or creative space is something close to being a disgrace to the family. :)<br />
<br />
But times are a-changing. Traditional jobs are great, but you gotta hand it to the internet for bridging gaps and opening borders.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gId1ojSUVXnhDu7MhvMAfGBEX5zHGv4gWB-aD2zyD259Jbv-QqYkFuD8mANm8aj7FRprGvg8pMgNPeQ9ImQQqG62c7d8GDnwmBkGYZxhSndm4lfV_Fi5YWzL7rW9hFM3Wef7vTYOoMQ/s1600/2017-06-05+04.32.44+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gId1ojSUVXnhDu7MhvMAfGBEX5zHGv4gWB-aD2zyD259Jbv-QqYkFuD8mANm8aj7FRprGvg8pMgNPeQ9ImQQqG62c7d8GDnwmBkGYZxhSndm4lfV_Fi5YWzL7rW9hFM3Wef7vTYOoMQ/s320/2017-06-05+04.32.44+1.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Thanks to the internet and technology, it's now possible to build a career or business from the comfort of your home (or wherever you've got a connection). People don't have to put on business suits if they don't want to. We can close deals whilst wearing worn-out pajamas. And perhaps, best of all, we don't have to be apart from our family just to put food on the table.<br />
<br />
Now to answer your question: is this a relevant job? Yes, I think it is. We're helping brands and businesses thrive. We're helping folks get their message out there into the world and build their presence from the ground up. I think that's good. What's even better is that I'm learning useful skills in the process, too.<br />
<br />
Will this job make one successful?<br />
<br />
That entirely depends on the person. If they hustle, do the legwork and take care of their clients, chances are they will.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Final Chika</i></span></h3>
<br />
I hope this FAQ was helpful to you...and to your titas who keep asking about what you do.<br />
<br />
And to your neighbors who speculate about the state of your "cyber-cyber" "online-online" employment. :)<br />
<br />
If I missed anything, don't hesitate to drop a comment below!<br />
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<br />Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-80786356918847756082018-06-13T19:21:00.000+08:002018-06-15T22:49:41.590+08:0011 Ugly Things About Cebu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU14cjvUrqQa2P2BvYkc-Yr0RtnmEDV1G4sy0z_7w9L89rNikuLtEOftcbZtogFJ32YMEIjFOWnHiq7w7Mh8gZeNw8ZleiPjZyMyjhDqgPt_M-KP-4eFC89mLRoTmwzpzLm4otzI9OsBQ/s1600/IMG_9350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU14cjvUrqQa2P2BvYkc-Yr0RtnmEDV1G4sy0z_7w9L89rNikuLtEOftcbZtogFJ32YMEIjFOWnHiq7w7Mh8gZeNw8ZleiPjZyMyjhDqgPt_M-KP-4eFC89mLRoTmwzpzLm4otzI9OsBQ/s1600/IMG_9350.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Note: This article first appeared on <a href="http://zerothreetwo.com/">zerothreetwo.com</a>. After it was published, it made rounds among Cebuano folk online--- a reaction I didn't quite expect. I braced myself for negative reactions, but instead, I got overwhelming positivity. It gave me a lot of hope about Cebu's future and what we can do foster our city's growth. </i><br />
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<i>So without further ado, here's 11 Ugly Things About Cebu.</i><br />
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Before anything else, let me just tell you: things are about to get ugly.<br />
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Cebu is our beloved home; it’s got the most beautiful beaches, the tastiest lechon and the crunchiest ngohiong. Our cultural foundation is rock-solid. We get that. There’s no denying that we’re an island of natural beauty and beautiful people. But like any other city in a developing country, Cebu has its flaws. Many flaws that we have to address if we want to improve as a city.<br />
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We’re here to point out those flaws in the hope that one day, we’ll be able to do something about it.<br />
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Ready for the ugly? Let’s go.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Where The Hell Is Our Drainage System?</i></span></h3>
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Let’s dive right into the deep end. Ever been to downtown and it suddenly rains cats and dogs? I have, and it was ugly. Black, knee-deep flood ugly. With lots of swimming things in the flood. Ugh, it still gives me the shivers to this day. Flooding has been a big problem in this city for years and it really bugs me that it still hasn’t been resolved until now. How many times do they have to repair the roads in Banilad or Mabolo to install a legit drainage system? Should we equip ourselves with pump boats instead? Seriously though, wouldn’t it be nice if it didn’t flood everytime it rained?<br />
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Garbage. Garbage Everywhere.</span></i></h3>
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I am one of those people who'd really call you out if you threw garbage around. Especially plastic. People who throw their trash anywhere? Please don’t try my patience; I’ll really make you pick it up.<br />
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My own mother even warned me against this practice kay basin makulatahan daw ko. But I can’t help it. The trash you’re throwing around is what’s causing our drainage systems to clog up. It really gets on my nerves.<br />
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Have you seen all that trash in the city’s waterways? It breaks my heart to think that not long ago those waterways were once clear rivers. And now they’re choked up with garbage.<br />
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When I was still working at IT Park, it really broke my heart to see cigarette butts littering the ground. Or worse, Starbucks plastic cups just strewn around anywhere. Please. If you can afford a venti macchiato, I assume you can also buy yourself some manners and common sense. Stop throwing garbage anywhere.<br />
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We also use too much plastic and don't recycle enough. If there were more recycling plants or if there is anyway to make recycling more available and accessible, it would do wonders for our city. As it is, trash from some barangays hardly even get collected properly. It’s just sad.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Sidewalks? What Sidewalks?</i></span></h3>
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You know what they say, a walking city is a safe city. If the state of our sidewalks was to be believed, we are far from being safe.<br />
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There are still many places (*cough* Talamban *cough*) where sidewalks are virtually non-existent and we pedestrians have to fight for our life and safety against speeding vehicles.<br />
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I mean, is it so hard to ask for safe, well-lit walkable sidewalks? Sidewalks that are not used as parking spaces, or alternate habal-habal routes? If our sidewalks were safe, well-lit and not littered with trash, a lot of people would walk to places. We’d be a healthier city.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>We Don’t Have Enough Parks and Open Spaces</i></span></h3>
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One of the things that keep me up at night is what will happen to Cebu once all the lots in IT park and Ayala are gone and all we'll have are towering buildings and no open space. The idea just makes me so claustrophobic. I think every city needs a patch of open space; a place where cityfolk can take a breather, watch the sky and rest in some shade. I hate to say this, but I really don’t want Cebu to become like Manila--- all highways and buildings and no open space. We're lucky we have Plaza Independencia, but we're a growing city. We need more free open spaces where kids can run around and adults can just sit back, have a picnic and chill.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Our Motorists Are Just Plain Irresponsible</i></span></h3>
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As a perpetual pedestrian and commuter, I’ve encountered my fair share of evil motorists.<br />
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Just plain, maldito motorists who follow no rules and who don’t have any regard for other people who share the road. These are the motorists who make their own lanes and don’t bother to signal when they switch. They never pause before a pedestrian lane to let others pass and most of the time, they’ll honk at you just because they can. They cut through lanes and beat red lights. They ride motorcycles with young kids without any helmets on.<br />
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I don’t know about you but I personally think people like this shouldn’t be allowed behind the wheel.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Our Traffic Looks Like The 7th Circle of Hell</i></span></h3>
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On that note, let’s take a moment to appreciate the state of our traffic. 45 minutes from IT Park to SM? 2 hours from Mactan to Metro Cebu? I’m not even kidding. It makes me miss all those years of chill traffic flow. Before, it was pretty easy to travel from Mactan to Cebu is 20 minutes or less. These days, that kind of easy-breezy traffic situation requires a novena to Sto. Nino.<br />
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Also, we don’t have bike lanes! I personally think that biking should be a thing in this city. It doesn't contribute to pollution, it takes less space, lessens traffic and it keeps the rider healthy. But bikers risk their lives every day because we don't have proper bike lanes. What a shame.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Why Are Our Roads So Small?</i></span></h3>
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Sometimes I wonder why our forefathers didn’t prepare bigger roads for us. Did they not anticipate that we’ll grow from a small town to a metropolis of 2 million? Case in point: Pope John Paul Avenue, Valentine’s Day. You will be sitting on your ass for an hour in traffic, just to get from SM to IT Park. Another case: huge-ass trucks trying to fit into small, residential roads. Have you ever been to Davao? Now, that’s how roads are done. Our own highways look quaint compared to their wide multi-laners.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Public Transport *Sigh*</i></span></h3>
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If public transport was better, people wouldn’t be tempted to buy a Picanto and clog ug our tiny streets all the more. What do you say, people? Isn’t it high time that we had efficient buses or trains? I personally love to take the MyBus. It’s always on schedule, it stops at the appropriate terminals, it’s got a lot of space and legroom and it’s mercifully cool. But the best part, really, is that there is no kundoktor saying tulo pa ang masud bisag wa na’y space.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Our Public Restrooms Are Horrifying</i></span></h3>
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A couple of years ago, my friends and I went on this crazy 10 hr road trip from Manila to Ilocos. We had several bathroom stops and you know what I observed? All of the public restrooms that we went to were clean. Complete with bidets and rolls of tissue. I don't know if it’s a north thing, or maybe we just went to really good rest stops but that should be a thing here in the city. Our restrooms tend to be, well, unkempt and gross.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>We Have So Many Homeless Children</i></span></h3>
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No, it’s not the children who are ugly. It’s the fact that they, for some reason, are out there on the streets, day and night. Begging. Playing. Sleeping, eating on the curb. Doing their business on the curb. There’s so many of them hanging out around the city, sleeping in clusters with nothing but a cardboard between their backs and the concrete. I found some of them sleeping right on the traffic island itself, a few meters away from the Mabolo police station. I’m not sure why they’re on the streets, but they definitely shouldn’t be there.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>We Like To Destroy Pretty Things</i></span></h3>
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Another way of saying it: we’re not responsible tourists in our own soil. Take the trampled flowers of Sirao Peak. How about the trampled artificial flowers of 10,000 Roses Cafe in Cordova? Or, the trash situation in Osmena Peak and Bantayan Island? See, some of us just love to destroy the things and places that make us beautiful. We love to have fun but don’t want to take responsibility for our actions. And that’s an ugly truth right there.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Final Thoughts</i></span></h3>
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I’m a Cebuana, born and raised. I've got cholesterol in my blood from the pungko-pungko I eat at Fuente. My parents made me wear those plastic hats with feathers for Sinulog. I was there when Recle was still a marshland. I was one of the last kids who made a wish at the Ayala fountain before they took it down.<br />
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So yes, I love Cebu.<br />
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And loving it means being honest. Cebu is beautiful, but we’ve got a lot to work on to make it a livable, sustainable city. We can’t rely solely on our government to resolve these ugly issues. Making a city better should be a collective effort. I hope we could all work together to keep Cebu beautiful, vibrant and thriving.<br />
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Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-6928641654332694412018-06-04T07:00:00.001+08:002018-06-15T22:50:11.206+08:00Reader Questions: What Can You Say To People Who Like To Write?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<br />
Hi there! I wish I could start this post by NOT saying "it's been a while..." but it has been a while, so...hi, it's been a while. :)<br />
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Today we're answering another reader question that I often get:<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>What can you say to people who like to write?<a name='more'></a></i></span></h3>
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Well, what <i>can</i> I say?<br />
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I'm by no means an expert, but since you asked, here are my two cents:<br />
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My friend, you and I are in for an interesting ride. Seatbelts are optional. :)<br />
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See, writing is a funny little two-faced coin. It's both a blessing and a curse. Some days, it's a good friend like Cady Heron; other times it's just a mean b*tch like Regina George. (Plus points if you get the Mean Girls reference ;) )<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>On one hand, you get to breathe life into things. </i></span></h3>
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Neil Gaiman said something like: there are whole worlds hiding in the 26 letters of the alphabet. And it's true. I'd like to think that if you love to write and have the talent for it, you've been given something special.<br />
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Think about it: you can wield words and use them however you please:<br />
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You can use them to hurt, to love, to explain, to change a mind...or a thousand. Writing is exhilarating most of the time. Enjoy the ride.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Still, there will be times when writing will feel like a burden. </i></span></h3>
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People will rarely understand why you space out a lot, or why you need a pen and paper all of a sudden. They won't get your obsession with words. When you give them a short story to read, you'll only often get responses like "it's ok" or "it's nice"--- not something constructive to help you become a better writer.<br />
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Frustration will gnaw at you, some days. Other days, writer's block will be like a bully knocking you over in a school hallway, and you'll be forced to stand up to it or fall and get kicked in the stomach over and over again.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>There were even days when I wished I didn't like to write. </i></span></h3>
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Being a writer is not a walk in the park, especially when you're living in a developing country like ours. Getting a stable job is not easy. There were days when I wished I didn't like words. I wished I was good with numbers or business or science. Something that's not so fickle.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>But over time, I came to realize that writing is not some feral beast that I have to fight every time; it's a creature that I can tame, through practice and perseverance.</i></span></h3>
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Writing can be tough, but that doesn't mean that you have to give up on it. I know I didn't. Even when it was hard, I just couldn't let go of it. I loved it too much. It was as much a part of me as the color of my eyes.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So, in conclusion, if you like to write, keep at it.</i></span></h3>
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You don't have to quit your day job to do it--- it can be like a side-hustle or a hobby.<br />
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Then, get better at it. Practice your craft. Write in a journal, explore interesting books, make a blog.<br />
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However, you choose to do it, have an outlet for your creativity. A couple of hours of writing each day can go a long way. Even if you don't get to publish something huge, these little things can ultimately make you a better writer. Personal improvement is an achievement in itself.<br />
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Lastly, surround yourself with people who appreciate what you do. A good support system can do a lot of good. Negative people can tear your dreams apart with their bare hands, but people who encourage you can build it up.<br />
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Don't be afraid of constructive criticism--- you'll always need fresh eyes and an objective voice if you want to get better. If you can't find any, my nerdy page <a href="http://facebook.com/thirdworldbooknerd" target="_blank">Cliffhanger Cebu</a> is there to help out in whatever way it can. :)<br />
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So, that's it! I have a lot of things to say about writing but I hope this would suffice for now. I hope this was helpful! :)<br />
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Share this with a writer who needs encouragement today!<br />
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If you've got any questions, don't hesitate to shoot me a message over at my <a href="http://facebook.com/krishafromtheisland" target="_blank">FB page</a> or <a href="http://instagram.com/krishafromtheisland" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and I'll do my best to answer them here.<br />
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Til the next post,<br />
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K x<br />
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Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-74908769271200912892018-05-12T19:20:00.003+08:002018-06-15T22:50:41.769+08:00Bantayan Bliss (Or, How To Enjoy Bantayan Island If You Hate Summer Parties)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's not a secret that I don't like parties, much. In fact, this whole blog is kind of a love letter to how much I dislike parties and to all boys and girls who might feel the same.<br />
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I especially find beach parties unbearable. Beach parties in islands like Bantayan--- extra unbearable.<br />
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I certainly haven't been in one but a tugsh-tugsh party beat, the press of sweaty bodies, trash along the beach and the sharp reek of beer isn't something I'd be driving 4 hours to experience (actually, it's something I'd really want to avoid).<br />
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Nope, for a non-party animal, I think the best way enjoy Bantayan island would be to just soak in the island life. You come here to "get away from the city", don't you? So get away from it. :)<br />
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When I first came to Bantayan, I really thought it would be just another pretty postcard place. And living in a pretty postcard island myself, the idea didn't appeal to me, until I got to see the island for myself.<br />
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Here are some photos of Bantayan island, all peaceful and tranquil and away from the dread summer crowd:<br />
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<br />Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-21750321110553751282018-05-12T17:01:00.000+08:002018-06-15T22:52:14.934+08:00How To Shoot Street Photos In Cebu Even When You Are Arte and Talawan: A Quick and Easy Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello, all!<br />
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It is another lovely summer day and for some wonderful reason, I am back writing. Yay!<br />
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What I am <i>not </i>doing, however, is being out there on the streets, taking gorgeous photos of dear old Cebu and beyond.<br />
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Your girl has aged 70 years over the summer, it seems. I'm all for milk teas and cafes currently, but I'm sure I'll get over this slump and go out on an epic adventure one of these days.<br />
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In the meantime, let me share some tried and tested tips on how to enjoy shooting street photos even if the thought kind of makes you nervous. I know, I started out pretty scared at first (as you'll see <a href="http://zerothreetwo.com/the-city/island-girl-vs-downtown-photo-essay/" target="_blank">here</a>), but soon found out that shooting street is one of the best things you can do.<br />
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Here are a few tips on how to have a blast while shooting street, even when you're nervous/scared/clueless:<br />
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. Leave your kaartehan in Colonnade's courtesy booths.</span></i></h3>
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You're here to shoot street: be ready for the nitty, the gritty and everything in between. You're gonna get sweaty and dusty and you gotta take it all in stride. It's all part of the wonderful experience--- this way you can get to know your city's nook and crannies better.<br />
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That being said...<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>2. Dress comfortably</i></span></h3>
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Wear comfy clothes and shoes, something nice and <i class="">hayahay</i>. Nothing that would call a lot of attention to oneself, either, because we're not here to shoot OOTDs. We're here to shoot everything else.<br />
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I personally like white cotton shirts and denim shorts. You'll be walking around a lot when you go on a photo walk so it would make sense to wear footwear that can take a beating. I have trust issues with slippers (even Islander ones! haha) so I wear sturdy slip-ons or sandals instead. :)<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>3. Bring water</i></span></h3>
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It can still be pretty hot, even in the afternoons, so keeping hydrated is a must! This means you may pee a lot along the way as well. I keep tabs on all the good restrooms, just in case (because I'm arte like that ;))<br />
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<h3>
<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. Keep it discreet</span></i></h3>
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For me, shooting street is all about blending in with the environment and being a quiet observer. That being said, keep things discreet. Bring gear that won't call too much attention to you. For me, that means taking my 50mm for a spin, instead of the bulkier kit lens. I'd take a nice, black mirrorless camera if I can (but I can't because I'm broke haha). Just make sure you secure and strap your camera on your person properly so you don't drop it accidentally.<br />
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I don't really like to take my phone out on photowalks, especially in downtown. Like it or not, those things can get snatched easier than a camera, so for safety, I just keep it stowed away in my sling bag, which I keep in front of me.<br />
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If you're in for it, you might even want to ditch your digital camera or phone and try those disposable analog cameras instead. They're a different kind of challenge, but they can be really fun as well.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>5. Take someone with you</i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaNiOhi17JQQ9-p5oluzdGX4xT3OaWDrSIJfHGDG_3Aw-76sIPyWYt68y3nw0XJVhW6G6j7KlV3AZTQ3Vma-59AZYzpUYDw-Ql2DasQ7bA3ijJ8E0VamAMbEGrtfyawV_K6Qi2b7gV_I/s1600/IMG_3947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaNiOhi17JQQ9-p5oluzdGX4xT3OaWDrSIJfHGDG_3Aw-76sIPyWYt68y3nw0XJVhW6G6j7KlV3AZTQ3Vma-59AZYzpUYDw-Ql2DasQ7bA3ijJ8E0VamAMbEGrtfyawV_K6Qi2b7gV_I/s640/IMG_3947.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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If you don't feel so safe walking around on your own, bring a friend. Preferably a guy at least 5'8'' in height, athletic and can run any potential threats down with martial arts skills, like a bodyguard. :) Kidding aside, it's fun to shoot in good company so don't hesitate to go with friends who enjoy taking photos as well.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>6. Carpe the hell out of that diem :)</i></span></h3>
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Street photography is all about living in the moment. It's observing the little things--- the slant of afternoon light hitting the buildings, the expressions of people around you, the tiny nuances. Some people like to map their route, others just go where their feet take them. Whichever road you take, don't forget to soak in the experience. Explore places, look for other vantage points. Most importantly, have tons of fun and seize the heck out of that day!<br />
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Well, that's it for me. If you enjoy street photography as much as I do, please drop a comment or share this post to anyone who's a bit scared or apprehensive to go on a photowalk. Let's be friends!<br />
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Til the next post lovelies,<br />
<br />
K x<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-53430853864377226902018-05-01T15:24:00.000+08:002018-06-15T22:53:14.845+08:00Hello Ate Gurl, It's Been A While<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Summertime in a tropical island is tricky.<br />
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For one thing, there are only two seasons where we live, and so it kind of makes you want to think if "summer" is really a season, or if it's just a state of mind.<br />
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A tropical summertime is just like any other sunny day of the year. Perhaps the only difference is that from late March to May, <i>everything</i> is turned all the way up. The heat, the sunshine, the colors. It's so bright it literally hurts my eyes and it's so swelteringly hot that you can literally feel the heat rising up from the concrete to seep under your skin.<br />
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Well, seeing how unusually hot it is, maybe summer really <i>is</i> a season, after all.<br />
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Anyway, today I've taken refuge in this coffee shop to escape the heat and perhaps, evaluate my personal blogging habits while I'm at it.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So, what's up?</i></span></h3>
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I know I haven't been writing much here at KFTI. It's funny to think that only a year ago, this space used to be a refuge, a place where I can blog anything and everything to my heart's content. Now, one major career shift and a cathartic, near (blog) death experience later, I figured that a change was in order.<br />
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I kind of realized that not everything in my life has to go online. I've long stopped trying to be your regular internet "influencer". I've mostly done away with keeping up with trends, events, and places, too. I figured that I just wasn't cut out for that kind of life. The internet is noisy, and I'd like to shut it out once in a while, thank you very much.<br />
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These days, I'm mostly focusing all my internet juice into my <a href="http://thirdworldbooknerd.com/" target="_blank">book blog</a>, which is thriving beautifully, thanks to my dear wonderful readers. I'm developing some merch as I'm writing this, and that makes me really excited.<br />
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I also spend a nice amount of time hanging out at A Space, also known as the coolest co-working space in the city (this is not sponsored, I promise ;P ). This is where I work and I look forward to coming here every couple of days.<br />
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I read loads of books during the bus ride home, some of them advanced reader's copies for me to review. Sometimes I read while eating my carrot cake from Leona. It sounds old-timey, I know, but it's my kind of fun.<br />
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I go on walks, too. Some days, I just to go to this spot where I can watch the bridges and the sunset. I really like my spot. Yes, it sounds emo, but no, it's not so lonely. I found out that I actually like spending some quality time with myself. Being alone used to bug me before, and it made me question if I truly have friends (of course, I do), but now I've realized that it's actually a privilege to have this time to reflect and renew.<br />
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The first quarter of 2018 has been all kinds of things: it's equal parts hectic and slow. There were some days when I just couldn't get a breather and other days when I'd be bored shitless. But that's all part of life I guess. All in a day's work. Today, I just kind of wanted to say hi, world, I'm still alive, despite it being 33 degrees Celsius outside.<br />
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I guess that's it for now.<br />
<br />
Have a wonderful summer!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
K x<br />
<br />Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-4265090656030411022018-03-19T00:13:00.000+08:002018-03-19T00:13:19.892+08:00Dumanjug Daydreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When someone says "southern Cebu adventure", the little sleepy town of Dumanjug isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It's usually Moalboal, with its teeming sea life, or Badian and its secret caverns and canyons, or Oslob's famed whale sharks.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Unfortunately, it's hardly ever Dumanjug.<a name='more'></a></i></span></h3>
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I tried to recall what makes Dumanjug worth visiting as my taxi sped down Highway at around 4 in the morning. An idling van that would take me south was waiting under the great big shadow of the San Miguel factory. I still didn't know why Dumanjug was the place to be... until I went there to see it for myself.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The road to Dumanjug is a familiar one, and it's one of my favorites.</i></span></h3>
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You take a scenic drive south, preferably before the crack of dawn to skip the traffic. Once you reach Carcar's rotunda, you take the road that points to Barili. You climb up hills and cliffs and of course, once in Barili proper, stop by Milk Station for a quick pee break.<br />
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Once a tiny hole-in-the-wall (or hole-by-the-side-of-the-mountain?), Milk Station has now expanded into something like a city cafe.<br />
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We had some avocado ice cream, which was too early for 6:30 in the morning. Not very impressive for its price, but the place now has a more sophisticated vibe, so you can hang out here if you want. We leave after a quick stretch and trip to the toilet because we have bigger fish to fry.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Here's what I know about Dumanjug: </i></span></h3>
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its mayor once demanded to kill the whale sharks because they were apparently eating all the fish in Tanon Strait. It's kind of funny in a stupid way because whale sharks obviously don't eat fish.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Another thing I know about Dumanjug: they have a market.</i></span></h3>
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I remember this because we stopped by here on our way to Moalboal a few summers ago. I found out that said market was also great for street photos.</div>
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Finally, after several more minutes of driving, we arrive. We turn to a nondescript corner and stop in front of a nondescript rest house that looks over the sea. At first glance, it's nothing special. But when you step out into the balcony, this:</div>
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There was shade and sea breeze and an unfettered view of Negros, Tanon Strait, and everything in between.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Oh my God, I whispered under my breath, so this is why.</i></span></h3>
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It turns out that Dumanjug is actually made of daydreams: clear sunny skies even in the middle of December, layers of blues of every kind and a summer breeze that makes you want to stop what you're doing and just....be. </div>
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Here the air is fresh and people speak in gentle, lilting tones that sound like music to the ears.</div>
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I have to say, I didn't do much during the short weekend that I was there.</div>
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There weren't any whale sharks to swim with, or canyons to jump from. </div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And I think that's the beauty of this place. You don't really need to do anything to enjoy it.</i></span></h3>
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I spent the weekend alternating between fresh food and city-bought pastries. Lounged around wooden chairs and nodded to sleep during the breezy afternoons. Explored the beach and its rocky shorelines. And of course, watched the sun set and waited for the many stars to appear. </div>
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Before morning the next day, the moon would set and the beach would be filled with tiny little lights--- flashlights used by fisherfolk who gather shellfish. I haven't seen anything quite like it, and the camera couldn't ever do it justice.<br />
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We only spent two days and a night in the rest house, but it feels so much longer. Time seems to flow slower there; and life, gentler. It was one of the best weekends I could ever remember, and one I'd love to repeat someday.<br />
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I may have visited more exciting places, jumped from cliffs or jumped into reefs. But really, if I'm being honest it's in Dumanjug that I would someday like to stay.<br />
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Oh, and here's us:<br />
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<i>I hope you liked this little travel diary entry, guys. The rest house is private and as far as I know, don't accept guests other than close family and friends, so, unfortunately, I can't give their contact details. :)</i><br />
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Til the next entry,<br />
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Love,<br />
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K x<br />
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Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-11296282340372335162018-03-15T19:48:00.001+08:002018-03-15T19:48:50.346+08:00#WMYW: Roosters Ruined My First-Ever Vlog But I Had Fun Anyway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi, all! It's been a while since I wrote a candid #WMYW entry, mostly because life likes to keep me busy and partly because I've been busy exploring other avenues...</div>
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...also known as making video content</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>...also known as vlogging.</i></span></h3>
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I know. Pretty crazy, right? </div>
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An introvert like me shouldn't have anything to do with actually talking (and not writing! gasp!) in front of a camera but I did it anyway, all for the <a href="http://thirworldbooknerd.com/" target="_blank">love of books and reading</a>. Roosters and the crazy summer heat made making this video super challenging. They're not even our roosters! You can hear various poultry all throughout the video. </div>
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Here, I'll let you be the judge of it:</div>
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-kA8C_WbnYs" width="854"></iframe><br />
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I gotta admit: making videos is pretty stressful. It's so different from writing!<br />
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Videos involve so many moving parts and take so long to edit! It's a steep learning curve...but since video is the future of content creation and your girl's gotta keep up...it's a learning curve I'm willing to climb. Chos!<br />
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Anyway, that's all I have for now. I'll be spending loads more time on my book vlogging career in the coming days, so you know <a href="http://facebook.com/thirdworldbooknerd" target="_blank">where to look</a>. Don't forget to follow me on social media and sub to my channel--- I swear more videos will come your way and hopefully they won't involve my neighbor's chickens!<br />
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All the love,<br />
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K x<br />
<br />Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-60390237062504414292018-03-03T17:32:00.000+08:002018-03-03T17:32:03.262+08:00How To Survive Metro Cebu Traffic And Still Be Shufa<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<i>shufa - /shoo-fah/ adjective; derivative of gwapa, which means "pretty" or "beautiful"</i><br />
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Being <i>shufa</i> in a world that demands you to be <i>hagardo versoza</i> is a challenge a lot of us face today. Case in point: the worsening Metro Cebu traffic. How does one keep her eyebrows on fleek and her temper in check in these trying times?<br />
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As a regular commuter who takes at least 3 rides to get to any destination at any given time, I think it's safe to say that I'm an expert when it comes to navigating Cebu traffic. I've even written about my experiences (and rants!) <a href="http://zerothreetwo.com/the-city/11-ugly-things-about-cebu" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.krishafromtheisland.com/2015/11/the-fading-beauty-of-cebu.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.krishafromtheisland.com/2015/06/traffic-lately.html" target="_blank">here</a>. That being said, let me share my tips on how to survive the <strike>7th circle of hell </strike> current traffic situation.</div>
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<b>*Disclaimer: </b><i>Being shufa is honestly so hard to achieve. Results may vary depending on the duration of the traffic jam, kind of vehicle you are riding, the condition of your co-commuters, and the strength of your eyebrow liner.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Have The Patience Of A Saint</i></span></h3>
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Or rather, have the patience of <i>all the saints</i>. Cebu traffic is not what it used to be. </div>
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Speaking from personal experience, you can travel from Mactan to North Reclamation Area in 15 minutes flat some years before. These days, it takes a miracle to achieve such a feat. Sometimes the traffic could get so bad that it would take you an hour just to cover a 5 km stretch. There are simply too many people and vehicles on these roads and we, as a metropolis, weren't able to cope up with the sudden boom. So, the first key to be shufa in this case is to be patient.</div>
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Be patient in waiting for that 3rd bridge to be built.</div>
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Be patient in dealing with bad drivers.</div>
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Be patient with your fellow commuters even if you wanna punch them in the neck.</div>
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Keep it zen, shufa girl. Breathe...except when a smoke belcher passes by.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Be Productive</i></span></h3>
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The second rule of being shufa whilst on the road is to be productive. If you're stuck in traffic, make good use of your time. You can do a whole makeup routine in the car or taxi ride if the traffic is really bad.<br />
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Sometimes, I listen to audiobooks and podcasts while standing elbow to elbow with other commuters aboard the MyBus. Other times, I create a blog post just like this to pass the time. If you're gonna be stuck in traffic for an hour, better make that hour count.<br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Don't Challenge The Rush Hour</i></span></h3>
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If you're from the island like me, rush hour is hell incarnate. I'm just saying: if I don't leave home before 6:30am, I'm going to be stuck in traffic with a migraine. Likewise, when I leave the co-working space in Banilad at 5pm during Payday Friday, I'll most likely get home at 8:30 and that's not even an exaggeration. </div>
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During these times, everyone in the whole city comes out of their hiding places and fills every mode of transportation known to mankind. The lines are insanely long. Everybody's elbowing their way to the 03L or 01K. It's like they want you to personally suffer. </div>
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So, here's what you do: beat them at their own game. Avoid the rush hour at all costs. Be extra early in the morning. If you don't have anything urgent on your way home later in the day and you've fallen into the rush hour trap, go grab a snack and pa-aircon in Ayala for a bit. The few bucks you spend here is better than spending your time waiting in line and being jostled by other commuters.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Have A Smashing Playlist</i></span></h3>
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And when I say smashing, I really mean SMASHING. </div>
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I'm talking early 2000s emo songs, glam rock, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Urbandub, Faspitch...the whole shebang. I've found out that singing to Chris Carrabba at the top of my lungs helps with the stress. A whole lot. Instead of punching that stupid driver in the face in a fit of rage, I'll just sing something from Taking Back Sunday and I'm alright again. Channeling all that aggression into positive energy is amazing. Of course, you can also do Disney Karaoke if you feel like it.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Learn How To Box Out</i></span></h3>
Boxing out isn't a skill only for the basketball court. Sometimes the shufa girl also has to do what she has to do. I'm not saying shove other people out of the way, but in commuting, especially in riding a jeep during rush hour, you have to have your wits with you, because like it or not, it's a free-for-all out there. Be abtik in spotting a jeep that's about to unload passengers. Watch out for the vacant front seat on the Vhire. Don't be a slowpoke commuter.</div>
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When riding a habal-habal, you'll just have to learn how to be brave. I don't ride a habal-habal unless absolutely necessary (like on Valentine's Day and I was in danger of missing the Black Panther showtime because of traffic), so all I can say is be brave, trust your driver and know how to fall safely...just in case.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfF5mqgh89AX_J1IH3KIyw5-H7L71HPRQ1zQIMCR8qxHOwAfzAd5IRK5pIxCuZga_Iyfbu5RsgUpAPLivqHv1Npjxhd3i5nxVF8eFs1R48CKF-O0pjx-lD0x_KZ-TP3lUH_Mi-FkH_9s/s1600/IMG_4085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfF5mqgh89AX_J1IH3KIyw5-H7L71HPRQ1zQIMCR8qxHOwAfzAd5IRK5pIxCuZga_Iyfbu5RsgUpAPLivqHv1Npjxhd3i5nxVF8eFs1R48CKF-O0pjx-lD0x_KZ-TP3lUH_Mi-FkH_9s/s1600/IMG_4085.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Be A Girl Scout</i></span></h3>
Surviving the crazy traffic depends on being prepared. You have to prepare your fare: make sure it's the exact amount so you don't have to keep demanding the kuya driver to give you your change. In case you have big bills, be ready with what I refer to as your Jeepney Spiel:<br />
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<i>"Baynte, usa, Parkmall gikan, SM naog"</i><br />
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Also be ready with a hanky or mask to keep the dust away, a hair tie for your hair (duh), and coin to knock against the handrails to tell the kuya driver your stopping...to name a few.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rush Hour Na...Shufa Ka Pa Ba?</span></span></i></h3>
Well, that is the question.<br />
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To survive the growing Cebu traffic and still be shufa at the end of the day, the main thing to do is to keep your cool. Traffic is a truly stressful thing for everyone, so you just gotta take some steps---like the ones I mentioned in this post--- to lessen that stress.<br />
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Traffic is a problem of any growing city. It is my dearest hope that our cities would come together to solve this problem. Like most Cebuanos, I want our city to grow beautifully. I don't want traffic to mar the Queen City of The South.<br />
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That's it for today lovelies.<br />
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See you on the next post!<br />
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Love,<br />
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K x<br />
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Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230803401900597364.post-67763396091918842212018-02-25T15:17:00.000+08:002018-02-25T15:17:33.051+08:00These Foods From Bantayan Island Will Definitely Destroy Your Diet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2A7bgMngzRFsJST1NM9bEfbitnm_ohgoQ7d8wtOgtTttmTltTOqrcjSuFXsYOiRY_QWGW951mIimApIPOtx8WHmdWmoYLNUrIfrbofnX1m9VBScAsqBjkytojTsFLGWoSAxPT2JdU3k/s1600/IMG_8187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2A7bgMngzRFsJST1NM9bEfbitnm_ohgoQ7d8wtOgtTttmTltTOqrcjSuFXsYOiRY_QWGW951mIimApIPOtx8WHmdWmoYLNUrIfrbofnX1m9VBScAsqBjkytojTsFLGWoSAxPT2JdU3k/s1600/IMG_8187.jpg" /></a></div>
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Bantayan Island is one of my favorite pieces of paradise...and that's saying something because I've seen quite a few postcard pretty places. </div>
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The nature in Bantayan Island is jaw-dropping, and the vibe is so chill and laid-back. And, most importantly, the island is home to some of the best food I've ever had in such a long time. Let's put it this way: I've been ditching rice since January. Sadly, Bantayan Island blew that diet into bits. </div>
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I absolutely have no regrets. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Okay, let this be a warning. You'll be in the direct path of food photos. I am not responsible for any destroyed diet plans. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Here are some of the food we tried whilst in Bantayan:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwFhvfjbrK1-s2Fc5WZTehBO3TAJR5UGqE3Ng7ni5ISo73qZOfpYMQueg5O3hup6O4SGGH_h0AVJI-lmz9W1COJY4p0VPVVBv6jISJaKee0hc2eOQ69dSd7j1wqVbGFg46W-cVMLHF1U/s1600/IMG_8185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwFhvfjbrK1-s2Fc5WZTehBO3TAJR5UGqE3Ng7ni5ISo73qZOfpYMQueg5O3hup6O4SGGH_h0AVJI-lmz9W1COJY4p0VPVVBv6jISJaKee0hc2eOQ69dSd7j1wqVbGFg46W-cVMLHF1U/s1600/IMG_8185.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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If you've been to Bantayan, you've probably seen Chef Panyang and her rapidly growing empire. My gulay, Panyang has them all under her culinary spell. She's got a P150 buffet, All-Day-Breakfast, seafoods and frappes. I'm not a big fan of the buffet, because it's basically just your normal carinderia food and nothing special, but I do love her buy 1 take 1 pizza offerings. </div>
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Normally when in the island, I would go for "island" food like seafood (more on that later) but who can resist 2 pizzas for the price of one (around P275 if my memory is right)? The pizza itself is good, and it's something you and your friends can enjoy on a nice afternoon chill by the beach.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Scallops, Scallops, Scallops</i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN7sSMwrtlgtCBTVcNXn74wch4HnDeLUK1PWEt77oONkqiH0FuZ_JV_XB7U9wydzjgFJahkho51iywQHlGt9Z4UtA4msuaB2LPkxO4Q5EtUJgAcCxNsc7F2_udFkew-fdALBuf0fhaAs/s1600/IMG_8280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN7sSMwrtlgtCBTVcNXn74wch4HnDeLUK1PWEt77oONkqiH0FuZ_JV_XB7U9wydzjgFJahkho51iywQHlGt9Z4UtA4msuaB2LPkxO4Q5EtUJgAcCxNsc7F2_udFkew-fdALBuf0fhaAs/s1600/IMG_8280.jpg" /></a></div>
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Remembering the fresh and sweet scallops of Bantayan makes me weep. They're the best. And they're so cheap, too. You can often buy them at P100 for three packs, already cooked. All you have to do is dip them in vinegar and pop them in your mouth. They're the perfect meal after a swim. I can eat them for days (and I totally did).</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Various Pancakes</i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDvadhNX0il6iYgPGajPI-0gNIUN51y8r35CCqnyRsX_CH4cc71PYCxhgbTjTCcBfvD2847yt3lpUQIJcxtviTJXEJITaUdiWEHOZSE5Mwpkhit_feXjPOXdcXl-ltuyuT25o4ZlRNVQ/s1600/IMG_8329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDvadhNX0il6iYgPGajPI-0gNIUN51y8r35CCqnyRsX_CH4cc71PYCxhgbTjTCcBfvD2847yt3lpUQIJcxtviTJXEJITaUdiWEHOZSE5Mwpkhit_feXjPOXdcXl-ltuyuT25o4ZlRNVQ/s1600/IMG_8329.jpg" /></a></div>
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Okay, this is kind of cheating, because we got this from Panyang again. What can we say, her eatery is one of the most affordable in Sta Fe! Anyway, pancakes and other breakfast favorites are common in Bantayan. They serve them all day and in very generous portions. I love the bacon, which is nice and thick. At P125, they come in 3 layers, plus a drink of your choice. If you can't finish them, then at least you can have some snacks on the boat ride home. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZpddGXrW_P6JG6ntoRvPT7Y2y0Ru201FqF91j9K8I2u3uo30c1mpphh1FVHuH-3cqR54B0_596OaLwk8BYuWhYSKXohz1PBCiTMuDaTrXVirBfiTusYssVdGlMqHYYMVkxBDRMj_JeQ/s1600/IMG_8338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZpddGXrW_P6JG6ntoRvPT7Y2y0Ru201FqF91j9K8I2u3uo30c1mpphh1FVHuH-3cqR54B0_596OaLwk8BYuWhYSKXohz1PBCiTMuDaTrXVirBfiTusYssVdGlMqHYYMVkxBDRMj_JeQ/s1600/IMG_8338.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Burritos!!!</i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPwHePhyphenhyphen2yNuCki0ovvVmcjCYZ5oCYFYLoMwQjkQ9eQWurDIzeK25eaqidyZHWUdlC-dhLONpKFplb9h1k33RWKgmqfKCLQW1taSvOINBEGR-xMW9c1hoEa8VnZb06XQcvguLwfgG-Do/s1600/IMG_8399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPwHePhyphenhyphen2yNuCki0ovvVmcjCYZ5oCYFYLoMwQjkQ9eQWurDIzeK25eaqidyZHWUdlC-dhLONpKFplb9h1k33RWKgmqfKCLQW1taSvOINBEGR-xMW9c1hoEa8VnZb06XQcvguLwfgG-Do/s1600/IMG_8399.jpg" /></a></div>
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Bantayan Burrito is the absolute bomb. It's just a little stall somewhere in MJ Square, the local food hub in Sta Fe, but it can easily blow lots of city-based Mexican places out of the water. Their burritos are huge enough to share with another hungry person and are very, very tasty. They even have a TripAdvisor badge to prove it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalw_mK1gbrC6WlaFKkmaVpKSl-SQbtXcQqiMVDDd1OPCMga_a0EkMtk4c7LdxeA-HU9O_-OJZT8MU5ZEvPoOrEYu0u3n-XWpAuAV-xSK0TImZkWFlZfMa2Vv2InXegzLid1q_YG6FbZ4/s1600/IMG_8393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalw_mK1gbrC6WlaFKkmaVpKSl-SQbtXcQqiMVDDd1OPCMga_a0EkMtk4c7LdxeA-HU9O_-OJZT8MU5ZEvPoOrEYu0u3n-XWpAuAV-xSK0TImZkWFlZfMa2Vv2InXegzLid1q_YG6FbZ4/s1600/IMG_8393.jpg" /></a></div>
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Bestsellers include the Notorious P.I.G, a huge chimichanga deep fried to perfection. It's definitely a must-go when in Bantayan island.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Runners Up: Shakes and Php 70 Pho</i></span></h3>
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Sadly, I don't have photos of these babies, partly because we consumed them without pausing to take a snap. Shakes are a must-have in the island. It can get terribly hot come noon--- you'll need something to cool down. You can get some fresh mango shakes for as cheap as P60 at Shake Me. If you want to enjoy them at a beachside cafe, you can also head out to Amihan, where they sell for P100.</div>
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There's also an eatery that sells pho for only P70. It was so good, but I can't remember the name. It has the word "mango" in it and is located right next to an ate who sells buko. Me and the friends were coming up from a day at the beach when we popped up on the store and had the best and cheapest bowl of pho we've ever had. Ah, I can still smell the lime and taste that broth. So worth it.</div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I Hope Your Diet Is Still Okay After This</i></span></h3>
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Okay, I did warn you. :) I hope your diet regimen is still on track. </div>
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One of the things that sets Bantayan Island apart from other tourist destinations in Cebu is that it has a lot of yummy and cheap food. The choices are diverse: you can eat local seafood one day and enjoy good Mexican fare on another. It is definitely one of my favorite places in the universe. I swear I can live there.</div>
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Here's to more good food and pretty places in the island.</div>
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Have you been to Bantayan Island? What's your favorite food place there? Let me know in the comments below!</div>
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Love, </div>
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Krishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461894846244730329noreply@blogger.com0