MarcoAndMaria

I know how you feel,
for me it was moving to the PH and missing the US...
and all I can say, what got me through, was opening my eyes to another world.
We are lucky. You know why? We get to see beyond the four walls of what God initially given us. And we are lucky enough to experience it.
What I learned from living in the PH for about 5 years is this:
1. The culture I grew in (in my case the city of NEW YORK) isn't the only culture that exist to man. There are beauties and wonders of the Philippine culture that i came to love. and there are aspects of it that i came to be annoyed with. I was able to understand, God gave me a chance to understand, that even if there are differences that we may never accept, there are moments when you feel alive with the enviornment around you, simply because you allowed yourself feel it.
2. I can adapt. I know that I'm stronger, stronger than most people. why? because I was able to adapt and live with a whole different culture. I was able to speak tagalog, eat from banana leaves, and prepared a bbq by sticking the fire to the uling.... hehe... But nonetheless, I become a stronger woman. If you felt like you can't control anything, know that you can control that. The strength that God gave you. Because each and everyday you have to build an once of that strength in order to be more than what you thought you could be.
3. I am more than what I appear to be. There were many aspects of myself that I lost when I moved to the PH. And i felt lost, insecure, unsure, weak, and vulnerable. And I was NEVER that person back in New York. I know how it feels to lose a part of yourself, and it scares up until now. But you know what? I learned so much about who I am. I fought that feeling to being scared. I stopped giving other people and fear the permission to make me feel inferior. I learned that I'm more that what NY has brought me up to be. And I'm sure where ever you are, it'll show you you're more than just the person reading this on VJ. You have the opportunity to redefine yourself. Make the wrong choices, right. Not that many people get that chance.
4. I learned how to breathe! Finally! I learned that no matter how bad or worse or sucky or shitty I'm feeling.... I learned how to STOP! and smell the roses. I learned how to look outside the box, have the most open mind, and accept the moments as they come. I learned that I can't control everything, and that it is always in God's hands.
5. Lastly, I learned that I GET TO CHOOSE HOW I FEEL. If I wanna be happy, okay. If I wanna be pissed off, okay. But I GET TO CHOOSE. and with that I saw that every moment that I pass by by being pissed and mad at the world, I lose another moment that can I can be happy. And I CHOOSE to make more memories of happiness than those of being pissed off...
So there you have it. I hope this helped you. I feel for you. And I'm sorry you have to feel that way. As for friends, what I learned is that the most genuine are the ones who are always there when you come back. You may not talk everyday, or hang out like you used to, but they are there. Same with family...
"Always together, and never apart. Maybe in distance but never in heart."
Goodluck.

I know how you feel,
for me it was moving to the PH and missing the US...
and all I can say, what got me through, was opening my eyes to another world.
We are lucky. You know why? We get to see beyond the four walls of what God initially given us. And we are lucky enough to experience it.
What I learned from living in the PH for about 5 years is this:
1. The culture I grew in (in my case the city of NEW YORK) isn't the only culture that exist to man. There are beauties and wonders of the Philippine culture that i came to love. and there are aspects of it that i came to be annoyed with. I was able to understand, God gave me a chance to understand, that even if there are differences that we may never accept, there are moments when you feel alive with the enviornment around you, simply because you allowed yourself feel it.
2. I can adapt. I know that I'm stronger, stronger than most people. why? because I was able to adapt and live with a whole different culture. I was able to speak tagalog, eat from banana leaves, and prepared a bbq by sticking the fire to the uling.... hehe... But nonetheless, I become a stronger woman. If you felt like you can't control anything, know that you can control that. The strength that God gave you. Because each and everyday you have to build an once of that strength in order to be more than what you thought you could be.
3. I am more than what I appear to be. There were many aspects of myself that I lost when I moved to the PH. And i felt lost, insecure, unsure, weak, and vulnerable. And I was NEVER that person back in New York. I know how it feels to lose a part of yourself, and it scares up until now. But you know what? I learned so much about who I am. I fought that feeling to being scared. I stopped giving other people and fear the permission to make me feel inferior. I learned that I'm more that what NY has brought me up to be. And I'm sure where ever you are, it'll show you you're more than just the person reading this on VJ. You have the opportunity to redefine yourself. Make the wrong choices, right. Not that many people get that chance.
4. I learned how to breathe! Finally! I learned that no matter how bad or worse or sucky or shitty I'm feeling.... I learned how to STOP! and smell the roses. I learned how to look outside the box, have the most open mind, and accept the moments as they come. I learned that I can't control everything, and that it is always in God's hands.
5. Lastly, I learned that I GET TO CHOOSE HOW I FEEL. If I wanna be happy, okay. If I wanna be pissed off, okay. But I GET TO CHOOSE. and with that I saw that every moment that I pass by by being pissed and mad at the world, I lose another moment that can I can be happy. And I CHOOSE to make more memories of happiness than those of being pissed off...
So there you have it. I hope this helped you. I feel for you. And I'm sorry you have to feel that way. As for friends, what I learned is that the most genuine are the ones who are always there when you come back. You may not talk everyday, or hang out like you used to, but they are there. Same with family...
"Always together, and never apart. Maybe in distance but never in heart."
Goodluck.

I know how you feel,
for me it was moving to the PH and missing the US...
and all I can say, what got me through, was opening my eyes to another world.
We are lucky. You know why? We get to see beyond the four walls of what God initially given us. And we are lucky enough to experience it.
What I learned from living in the PH for about 5 years is this:
1. The culture I grew in (in my case the city of NEW YORK) isn't the only culture that exist to man. There are beauties and wonders of the Philippine culture that i came to love. and there are aspects of it that i came to be annoyed with. I was able to understand, God gave me a chance to understand, that even if there are differences that we may never accept, there are moments when you feel alive with the enviornment around you, simply because you allowed yourself feel it.
2. I can adapt. I know that I'm stronger, stronger than most people. why? because I was able to adapt and live with a whole different culture. I was able to speak tagalog, eat from banana leaves, and prepared a bbq by sticking the fire to the uling.... hehe... But nonetheless, I become a stronger woman. If you felt like you can't control anything, know that you can control that. The strength that God gave you. Because each and everyday you have to build an once of that strength in order to be more than what you thought you could be.
3. I am more than what I appear to be. There were many aspects of myself that I lost when I moved to the PH. And i felt lost, insecure, unsure, weak, and vulnerable. And I was NEVER that person back in New York. I know how it feels to lose a part of yourself, and it scares up until now. But you know what? I learned so much about who I am. I fought that feeling to being scared. I stopped giving other people and fear the permission to make me feel inferior. I learned that I'm more that what NY has brought me up to be. And I'm sure where ever you are, it'll show you you're more than just the person reading this on VJ. You have the opportunity to redefine yourself. Make the wrong choices, right. Not that many people get that chance.
4. I learned how to breathe! Finally! I learned that no matter how bad or worse or sucky or shitty I'm feeling.... I learned how to STOP! and smell the roses. I learned how to look outside the box, have the most open mind, and accept the moments as they come. I learned that I can't control everything, and that it is always in God's hands.
5. Lastly, I learned that I GET TO CHOOSE HOW I FEEL. If I wanna be happy, okay. If I wanna be pissed off, okay. But I GET TO CHOOSE. and with that I saw that every moment that I pass by by being pissed and mad at the world, I lose another moment that can I can be happy. And I CHOOSE to make more memories of happiness than those of being pissed off...
So there you have it. I hope this helped you. I feel for you. And I'm sorry you have to feel that way. As for friends, what I learned is that the most genuine are the ones who are always there when you come back. You may not talk everyday, or hang out like you used to, but they are there. Same with family...
"Always together, and never apart. Maybe in distance but never in heart."
Goodluck.

I know how you feel,
for me it was moving to the PH and missing the US...
and all I can say, what got me through, was opening my eyes to another world.
We are lucky. You know why? We get to see beyond the four walls of what God initially given us. And we are lucky enough to experience it.
What I learned from living in the PH for about 5 years is this:
1. The culture I grew in (in my case the city of NEW YORK) isn't the only culture that exist to man. There are beauties and wonders of the Philippine culture that i came to love. and there are aspects of it that i came to be annoyed with. I was able to understand, God gave me a chance to understand, that even if there are differences that we may never accept, there are moments when you feel alive with the enviornment around you, simply because you allowed yourself feel it.
2. I can adapt. I know that I'm stronger, stronger than most people. why? because I was able to adapt and live with a whole different culture. I was able to speak tagalog, eat from banana leaves, and prepared a bbq by sticking the fire to the uling.... hehe... But nonetheless, I become a stronger woman. If you felt like you can't control anything, know that you can control that. The strength that God gave you. Because each and everyday you have to build an once of that strength in order to be more than what you thought you could be.
3. I am more than what I appear to be. There were many aspects of myself that I lost when I moved to the PH. And i felt lost, insecure, unsure, weak, and vulnerable. And I was NEVER that person back in New York. I know how it feels to lose a part of yourself, and it scares up until now. But you know what? I learned so much about who I am. I fought that feeling to being scared. I stopped giving other people and fear the permission to make me feel inferior. I learned that I'm more that what NY has brought me up to be. And I'm sure where ever you are, it'll show you you're more than just the person reading this on VJ. You have the opportunity to redefine yourself. Make the wrong choices, right. Not that many people get that chance.
4. I learned how to breathe! Finally! I learned that no matter how bad or worse or sucky or shitty I'm feeling.... I learned how to STOP! and smell the roses. I learned how to look outside the box, have the most open mind, and accept the moments as they come. I learned that I can't control everything, and that it is always in God's hands.
5. Lastly, I learned that I GET TO CHOOSE HOW I FEEL. If I wanna be happy, okay. If I wanna be pissed off, okay. But I GET TO CHOOSE. and with that I saw that every moment that I pass by by being pissed and mad at the world, I lose another moment that can I can be happy. And I CHOOSE to make more memories of happiness than those of being pissed off...
So there you have it. I hope this helped you. I feel for you. And I'm sorry you have to feel that way. As for friends, what I learned is that the most genuine are the ones who are always there when you come back. You may not talk everyday, or hang out like you used to, but they are there. Same with family...
"Always together, and never apart. Maybe in distance but never in heart."
Goodluck.