“I found parts of myself in cities I ‘ve been to and my soul in places I’ve never been.”
Hi, if you’re here, perhaps one of the reasons is to know how I became who I am right now and what motivated me to do it. Just so you know, there are more similarities between the two of us than you would imagine. So here I am getting as bare as I could for the sake of YOU, learning that there is more to life than the voices inside your head telling you “You can’t do it.” After all, our Philippine National hero, Dr. Jose Rizal once said: “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa aroroonan” (A person who does not rememeber where he came from will never reach his his) and trust me, these are words to live by.
“I was a typical introvert, until I wasnt,” and it all started in one fateful event that changed my life and my perspectives. Back in 2014, I was sent to another country as a Cultural and English Ambassador, can you guess where it is?
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, Universal Studios
Japan, “The Land of the Rising Sun”, the birth place of anime and a country so advanced in technology I freaked the hell out when I used their automatic taxi the first time.
I stayed there for 3 months, alternately teaching and traveling and when it was was time to leave, I felt a sensation I ‘ve never felt before.
You know that feeling you get when you found parts of yourself in a country entirely different from your own and has since then left its imprint on your soul? A fleeting sesnation, light and yet powerful and I found it there, I found some parts of myself in Japan’s cleanliness, their discipline and respect towards authorities. I felt at home in their Omotenashi culture, how my students called me “Sensei” with revery in their eyes, how I would arrive at school and find a beautiful flower left by my co-teacher just to brighten up my day and of course their palatable cuisine.
Authentic Sushi
Since then I didnt want to part from it, that feeling of belongingness, of learning that there are endless possibilities, more cities where you’d find people similar to you no matter what their skin color or language is. I was infected by this wanderlust I couldnt quite cure, another city has led me to a new one, local or international.
Some parts of me found their home and nothing felt more priceless and beautiful than to know that there will always be a place out there there where you and your soul coulod go to.
