Back in December, my mom, cousin, and I took a trip to the market to buy some food. This market was a tad bit different than the kind of market I'm used to, as I'll explain in the next paragraph.
Selling some salt
We got to the meat/fish sections. Now, maybe the meat and fish were extremely fresh. And maybe they are able to sell all their products fairly quick. However, I have no idea if this is really the case. The weather was pretty hot (probably mid 80's - 90's), and the meat and fish were just out in the open--no ice to keep them cool--this probably wouldn't happen back home. There were also plenty of flies hanging out with the meat and fish. My mom and cousin were about to buy some meat from there to which I responded with a confused look and a "really??"--we didn't buy any meat or fish from there. We went to SM (the big supermarket) for that--where there aren't any flies & everything is on ice. I'm pretty sure that since I've been here, a lot of the meat/fish that I've eaten came from a market like this...but I'll go with the phrase: Ignorance is bliss.
One of those things hanging there is indeed a pig's head, but I didn't think that was too different.
Chicken...not on ice
Cow's leg...this was still pulsating while it was sitting there--key clue to how fresh it was
Fish...also not on ice
In addition to the meat/fish section, there were numerous vendors selling various things--fruits and vegetables, flowers, peanuts, clothes, toys, etc.
"Look, I find some of what you teach suspect / Because I'm used to relying on intellect / But I try to open up to what I don't know..." -RENT
If you spend an extended amount of time in a different environment, you are basically bound to change. And for the most part, you have to learn to embrace that change because you will never be the same again. (I sincerely hope that you change for the better.) It's really hard to explain, but being abroad changes a person. It changes the way one thinks, the way one interacts with people, the way one lives.
If you spend the majority of your life surrounded by the same things, people, and places, it's kind of like you're trapped in a bubble and you don't know what exists outside of that.
I attended a seminar in high school, and someone said, "A mind, once expanded, can never go back to its original proportions." These words stuck with me. Exploring the world can cause your eyes to be open and your mind to expand. The new things, people, and places that surround you once you step out of that bubble will have an effect on who you are--even if you don't realize it.
I am SO glad that I have grown up in a decently culturally diverse environment. I'm the only American-born in my immediate family, but had a Filipino upbringing. I grew up listening to the Filipino language/dialects, so I can understand most of it and know how to say a few words/phrases (I've been working to improve my language knowledge since I've been here...let's just say it's a work in progress haha). I went to grade school in a school whose student population was predominately black. I went to middle school in a school whose student population was predominately white. I went to an all-girl high school where diversity was embraced (not to say it wasn't at my other schools). These 13 years of education were in Catholic institutions, but there were students there who were Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim. I have neighbors that are Chinese, Chaldean, Caucasian, or African-American. I went to a University that is in a city in which about 26% of its population is below the poverty line. I am a woman in engineering, and my University was about 80% male.
So it kind of surprises me when I meet people who live on an extreme of the spectrum--like if they spent practically all of their life in a predominately white city and barely ever left. They definitely see the world through a much different lens that I do because of the lack of diversity that they have experienced in their lives.
One of the things that I've noticed is that people over here aren't typically used to seeing people other than Filipinos. Two of my friends over here are from France and are white. When we go to different places, I notice the locals' faces when they see my friends. A lot of people do a double-take, or literally just stop what they're doing and stare. Sometimes I'm a little self conscious when I speak over here because I'm pretty sure I sound very different with my Michigan accent haha.
At this current moment in time, I'm slightly overwhelmed (mostly in good ways) and taking a ride on that emotional roller coaster. I can't fully articulate what I want to say, but I'll give it a shot.
Today (and the past month and a half) has made me so grateful for everything that my BFF, Jesus, has given me--especially for my family and friends all over the world.
Today I received my acceptance letter to graduate school. I posted a Facebook status about the acceptance, and the numerous likes and comments on it make me thankful for the support of my family & friends.
Today I attended a meeting with my cousin (little did I know that I would have to stand in front of everyone there, be introduced, and then welcomed by each individual person...[awkward baby turtle haha]) and listened to her give a speech about the path that God laid out for her thus far in life. Afterward, her 5 year old daughter sang a song called "Blessings." (I've added the song towards the end of this post. This song makes me tear up and/or cry pretty much every time I hear it.)
Today I attended a birthday party for my grandma--she's celebrating her 91st birthday this year. I was also happy to tell her that I got accepted to graduate school, and she said I'm smart--to which I replied: "of course--because you're my grandma!"
Today I spent time with relatives from both sides of the family.
Today I spoke with my parents and my brother.
Today (and every day) I am thankful.
The past couple weeks have been challenging in more ways than one, and I'm thankful for my family and friends (both near and far) that have helped me through them.
I am also entirely grateful for the generosity, hospitality, and love from my family on this side of the world. I can't even remember how many relatives I have met over here. I can't find all the right words now, but I'll start with this: thank you. I am so appreciative for everything...that I'm getting teary just typing this. For a lot of you, this is only your 2nd time seeing me...yet you have welcomed me with open arms, and I can't thank you enough for that. You have opened up your homes to me, given me delicious Filipino food, driven me around to places, accompanied me to the store down the street so that I wasn't alone, spoken in English to me, helped me in my attempts to speak Filipino, and so much more. I really appreciate you taking the time to look out for me and make sure that all is well during my stay here.--I'm sure my parents appreciate it, too! Sometimes it's really difficult for me to be away from home, but having you with me does make it easier.
I don't have that much time left over here on this trip, and things are already bittersweet. Part of me is ready to move on to the next leg of the journey since it will be somewhere new and one step closer to being back home, but another part wants this time to move slowly so that I can soak up more experiences and spend more time with people here at places that I've finally become (mostly) used to...still can't get used to cold showers haha.
I continue to pray to my BFF, Jesus, to watch over me on this journey of new experiences and personal growth. This trip has taught me a lot, and one of the top things on that list is the importance of family. My friends are my family, too--so to my friends out there: y'all are included in that!
This simple blog post only scratches the surface of how deep my thankfulness is to my BFF, Jesus, for putting all these wonderful people in my life. To my family all over the world: Thank you/Salamat po...I love you/Mahal kita.
As you may know, I was born and raised in the United States of America, and my parents are from the Philippines. Therefore, I am American and Filipino. My nationality is American and my ethnicity is Filipino...for whatever reason, some people don't really understand this.
Back in my homeland, people who don't really know me usually think I'm Chinese. Here in the Philippines, people think that I'm half Filipino and half Chinese or Korean. Some think that I'm half Filipino and half American. Others think that I'm not American because my parents are Filipino. I tend to "blend in" more in the Philippines than in the USA--that is until I start speaking the only language I'm fluent in: English.
When I'm abroad and people ask me where I'm from, I respond with something along the lines of I'm from America. Then I get a confused look from them, and understand that I need to clarify/add on that my parents are from the Philippines.
I went to the eye doctor (in America) a couple of days before Thanksgiving. I was sitting in a waiting room and was playing with my phone. A guy (probably around 60 years old) in the waiting room decided to flat-out spark a conversation with me:
Guy: So, do you have Chinese food for Thanksgiving?
[He seriously asked me this.]
Me: Uhmmm, no. I have the regular Thanksgiving food, and usually ham...I'm not Chinese? Sometimes we have Filipino food?
Guy: Oh, ok.
[I go back to playing with my phone.]
Guy: Where's your homeland?
[Seriously?...if I have an accent (and I do), it's most definitely an American one.]
Me: Uhhh, you mean me, personally?
Guy: Yeah.
Me: ...I was born in Detroit. Or do you mean where my family is from? They're from the Philippines.
Guy: Oh, ok. Have you ever visited your homeland?
[I cannot make this stuff up.]
Me: ...Yes, I've been to Detroit...I've been to my family's homeland, too.
Guy: Do you know where my homeland is?
Me: No, where?
Guy: Africa. I've never been there before though.
I've been asked "What are you?" many times in my life, which I'm totally fine answering...but I don't think I've ever had this blunt/ignorant of conversation.--It's a good thing that I'm a tolerant person haha.
