My first glimpse of the Philippines at sunrise in August 2019 (left), and the sunset above Charlotte, North Carolina, just before landing in March 2020 (right). Photo by author. Friends, lovers, archenemies, undecideds: What I want to emphasize above all else is how deeply grateful I am for people like you, my attentive readers, without … Continue reading 8. The End: When the Blanket is Short, Learn to Curl →

Friends, This will be my penultimate blog post. I will eventually write a closing post on my evacuation from the Philippines and my final thoughts from the experience (long story short: I’m safe at home in the U.S.). For now, though, to neglect recent events on this blog when much of my time as a … Continue reading 7. BLM →

These meat-grilling stations appear ubiquitously on Filipino street sides. Photo by author. To those of you feeling especially anxious about the coronavirus pandemic, I wish you safety and peace of mind. As the stress of global panic can be overwhelming, I’m using this outlet to distract myself with a more light-hearted entry, and perhaps some … Continue reading 6. Filipino Food, ft. Rice →

Outhouses for fisherfolk on Taal Lake, which surrounds Taal Volcano.Photo by author. My friends, this blog post comes a few weeks late, and for that I apologize—between the start of a new job, a new host family, a volcanic eruption, a conference in Thailand, and the outbreak of coronavirus, there's been a lot happening these … Continue reading 5. Catch-Up: Volcanoes, Epidemics, the Usual →

When I was in grade school, the comment that I remember receiving on my report card most often was “uses time wisely.” Shy and introverted, I was less likely to distract myself from work by talking to my classmates; thus, I was adept at fulfilling expectations of efficiency. But here in the Philippines, time and … Continue reading 4. Jail, Music, and Waiting →

The red-light district of Cebu City. Photo by author. Content Warning: Abortion, sex work. During our site orientation to the Philippines, the three YAVs visited Cebu City and met a Filipino man who is notorious for the many late nights he spends at the city’s red-light district. He calls out to pimps, asking the whereabouts … Continue reading 3. The Red-Light District: Assumptions and Surprises →

Hello from Cebu City, and thank you for your patronage of my humble attempt at a blog! I really appreciated your replies to my first post, including one that I will echo here to publicize another useful example of socially conscious language: we should avoid saying “the poor” and “the homeless,” and opt instead for … Continue reading 2. Site Orientation: A Hike, A Motorbike, and Well-Intended Laughter →

Hello from the Philippines! First of all: as I anticipate that many of my potential readers have offered financial and emotional support for my year in the Philippines, allow me to express my gratitude. Thanks to your generous donations and encouragement, I have reached the minimum fundraising requirement of $5,000! Additional donations to the YAV … Continue reading 1. Pre-Philippines (Sort of) →