On Distance and Being an Expat: What Leaving Your Home Makes You Realize

Manila, Manila… I keep coming back to Manila ❤

The holidays are over and it’s soon back to reality. Bali v 2.0 is in full swing. And after having spent these last 3 weeks with family and close friends, I’ve definitely had a chance to really think about a few things, a few VERY IMPORTANT things.

Valuing people/relationships (family, parents, siblings, friends)

Moving to a new country is never easy. Moving to a tourist hotspot like the island of Bali? Well, let’s just say it makes things a little more challenging; especially when it comes to making friends. In a place where people come and go so often, it’s not always easy to make friends and form long-lasting friendships/bonds that you’ll see through the years. It wasn’t upon arriving back in Manila last month did I realize just how much I missed my true friends and family. Seeing familiar faces, talking about anything and everything under the sun for hours on end, chit chatting as if time had never passed; as if it was just yesterday that you last saw each other – THAT, is what I miss.

And as for FAMILY… well, nothing can ever replace that special bond.

How much you’ve taken for granted comfort, luxury, security and stability

For me, it was all about 1) being mobile (having the luxury of having my own car again, zooming off to anywhere I wanted while feeling confident about it because let me tell ya, those scooters can be pretty scary crazy at times, and just the overall feeling of being independent — not having to rely on others to take you around) and 2) having someone cater to my needs. I guess it’s true, you never really realize how good you have it until you… well, don’t have it anymore. Simple things (for me) like this, definitely makes life so much easier.

The ease that familiarity of your environment brings

Manila will always be my turf. No matter how crazy traffic gets, how congested and overpopulated it becomes, this boisterous city will always have a special place in my heart. Sure I whine about the never-ending sea of red lights on the road due to poor urban planning but at the end of the day, amidst the chaos, there’s a certain calm to knowing deep down inside that Manila is home.

HOME

…the TRUE essence of it… definitely where the heart and comfy bed are. 😉

How about you? What have you realized while living abroad?

About morenabeachbum

i love the beach--sand--sun--waves--tan lines--the sound of the waves--the feeling of sand slipping through my toes--i love the OCEAN!--i am an island girl through and through--i LOVE the PHILIPPINES--i am a FILIPINA--i love the smell of fresh cut grass--i love being outdoors--sitting or lying down on the grass is fun--soaking up the sun is even better--i love FOOTBALL--best sport in the world!--i like to think about the good times and smile about them--i wonder a lot about the could have beens in my life but i DONT REGRET--im secure with myself--i say what i wanna say--i'm liberated--i hate people who are "fake"--i'm very straight forward--i am vain--i love taking pictures of myself #selfie--im MORENA (Spanish for tanned/dark (dark hair, eyes, skin)) & i love my skin color! #notowhhiteningproducts #blech--i love love LOVE to shop--i'm actually an impulsive buyer *cringe*--i love learning about other people's cultures--i love traveling--wanderlust--i love learning new languages--im thirsty for adventure--i also love gummy bears, almond snickers and gushers--cheerios is the best breakfast cereal ever--i love green apples dipped in peanut butter or cookie butter from Trader Joe's--i also love peanut butter sandwiches with slices of banana in them--random... very random I am--i love looking for the best bargain places--i never hold back when it comes to love--i love with both my heart & my soul (take it, just take it all! LOL)--im a hopeless romantic--i can be pretty moody at times so i suggest you steer clear of me when i'm at that point (just sayin... you have been warned)--i miss playing football (aka soccer) regularly--i miss my college football team and my teammates (hey guys!)--i am enjoying my life--i'm crazy--hyper--im short--im talkative--i'm real--i'm a bit of a neat freak--bossy, too at times (oh well, just keepin' it real)--i am ME-- xoxo, morenabeachbum

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