What I'll miss the most...

She puts the smile on my face

Family

My God-kids

The Manila Sunset

It has been almost a month since I've left the U.S. to go on this vacation and I'm half happy to go back to the real life I live there to see my parents and my sister, my friends, and my car (hahaha!).  The other half... I'm sad to leave my homeland. It's the same story every single time I come here.

Every time I come back to the Philippines there are always so many new things I see and familiar people I love that I have a hard time leaving them behind. Sounds kinda opposite, but I get homesick leaving the Philippines even though I live in the States. That's probably why I come back almost every year. I have so much more family here than in the States. I never have enough time to visit them all. There's a sense of family I get here too that I don't feel anywhere else either. There's also a sense of wanting to help the people of this country but I just don't know how to. There are so many destitute people in the streets that it breaks my heart seeing them live the way they do as I drive by. I really wish I could just give a day of my life to them so that they can enjoy the richness of their country too even for just a moment. I really take for granted what I have sometimes... a blessed life, a good job, a wonderful family, and such amazing friends. I live a life of privilege for the most part and I can't even fathom how it would have been if my parents didn't move us to the States when I was a baby. I thank God all the time for the blessings He's given me and my family.

I really am glad that technology can bring us closer to each other, planes can take us halfway around the world in half a day, and phone rates are nearly free. Both my homes seem a bit closer that way. If you ever get to see and experience the beauty of the people and places here, experience what family ties are really about, enjoy the amazingly great (but greasy and sometimes strange) food, or visit any one of the numerous islands... I'm sure you'll also miss the wonders of the Philippine Islands. It isn't called the Pearl of the Orient Seas for nothing.