May 28th, 2019

Hello All!

  Now that I have time to write these, I’m going to write about my plan since the semester is pretty much over. For the rest of May and part of June I wanted to stay in Vigan City so I can walk around and actually write to y’all about where I usually go to study, or places that I like to go in general! Eventually, I want to buy land in this city. I like San Emilio, but in order to make in this country, I’d have to buy land here in Vigan. (Of course, this is an idea not an actual plan but I know that it’ll be on my mind in later years.)

  Overall, I enjoyed this semester. Each semester brought stress to my plate but they didn’t ruin my experience of the Philippines as a whole. There is so much to see in this country. In order to unlock certain areas, you have to be able to speak the language of the locals (not English or the national language but the language the people speak at home). The reason why I say this is because the people will treat you differently if you put in the effort to learn their language.

  Being able to communicate with the people here is good but being able to experience their different cultures is an even better experience. This month makes a full year of me being here on the 25^th. I went home in December (yes, I didn’t tell everyone). The reason I didn’t tell anyone is because I wasn’t there to bring attention to myself. Next time I come home, I’ll be sure to indicate that I’m there.

  I’m looking forward to being able to share history about both the Philippines and the United States (specifically Texas). I’m thinking about making a vlog once I go home because the internet is faster and I feel that I would keep up with it more over there. Here, it depends on the connection of where I’m at that determines how fast the internet is and even then, it’s more about how ‘slower’ a connection is during certain parts of the day or when I’m in certain areas.

  It frustrates me that I have not been able to learn the languages since I’ve been here but the simple fact is, I needed guidance and I didn’t have someone who had the ability to teach me constantly. I had tutors during my free time and their free time, but it wasn’t enough for me to practice it. The languages I mainly focused on were Ilocano and Tagalog.

  For Ilocano, I focused on talking to the locals (not so much reading the language but actually speaking it and comprehending it). My tutor was showing me the written version but the problem with writing in Ilocano is that there is no standard version of Ilocano (the closest is a published magazine) but that’s one official documentation of the language. What I mean by standard is that in Ilocano, if a word sounds a certain way, it can be spelled that way.

  Ex: Diak ammo (translation: I don’t know) can be spelled in a variety of ways. A few examples are ‘Jak ammo, jak mo, and djak ammo.

  As long as the idea of the word is there, the word is wrong. The English version of this is the American vs British way of spelling certain words:  defence vs defense, cancelled vs canceled, enroll vs enroll, etc.

  Out of the languages I’m exposed to, I pick up the quickest on Itneg because it’s the one I was exposed to the most but that doesn’t mean that I use it. The language I can speak and understand the most is Ilocano because it’s the language I used with the locals. Tagalog is the language I can sing, read, and write the easiest because it’s the language I can refer to in the books. There are actual textbooks over Tagalog or Filipino, but there are no accurate books in Ilocano except the magazine that I mentioned.

  Being here has helped me understand the culture better. I’ve also been enlightened on the different religions as of recently. I, personally, don’t declare a religion, but I’m not against religion either. I understand that religion is made to help people understand the world and how it was created. It is also there to help people understand morals and figure out how they should live their lives. Personally, I don’t see why I have to be limited to one religion, when I can listen to all of the religions and see for myself what makes sense and use what I learn from each religion and integrate it into my life.

  Lately, I’ve been thinking of writing a public journal that documents my research over mythology, religion, philosophy, psychology, and culture. It’s a lot to write about which is why I’d only focus on one of the topics and the next time I would write I’d write about another topic. There’s a lot to learn in these subjects and I want to share what I learn with others.

  Something I wish I could explain to the Filipinos around me is that I come from a multicultural country, where it’s okay to not have a religion, it’s okay to be yourself, it’s okay to not follow traditions… One barrier that I’ve faced that I cannot break is that some of these people do not wish to extend their knowledge and they want to stay ignorant. Ignorance is bliss, but it is also a choice.

  I hope that I can keep myself from falling under the category of the ‘general population’. There’s a lot that I can share about the Philippines and the first thing that I want to do is start from the beginning of my journey (when I first started this blog) and compare how times have changed since I first stepped foot into the Philippines.

  I would also like to mention that I passed my aptitude test! In order to become a sophomore, I needed to pass that test. So, I have the ability to continue next semester as a sophomore! (Think of the aptitude as the TAKS Test or STAR Test during high school but for college).

  For the summer I would like everyone to help me with my blog by asking me questions that y’all have on your minds so that I can make a Q&A sort of post. I have many topics that I can talk about but I need people to help me figure out what I should talk about first. I have ADHD and it’s hard enough for me to focus. If I don’t have a list of questions, I tend to go ‘left field’ on my stories or post which is why I need my audiences help!

Please let me know what’s on your mind! Thank you for reading!

DJ/Cho/Nar

Keep up with me at the following:

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

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 Instagram

       I follow anyone who follows me! This is mainly pictures of where I go!

 Wattpad
(This week's Watt!) 

(Link)

Sunday Watts: Sensual Distortion

A Barrier Meant To Be Broken

If you'd like to read more from this public poetry book you may! 

Click the caption!

Click Me!

The below is taken from the poetry book so if you read this, you may skip the introduction in the poetry book and read to your hearts content!

Sensual Distortion 

There's a vision with my eyes and with my touch.

But I smell home, I can taste it, I can hear it all the same.

I walk in the city I am in but feel disorientated. 

How can I be in two places at once?

My soul is home, and wandering,

My physical vessel stands here,

Eight thousand miles apart.

And somehow, my senses say that I am here but I am also there.

My friends and family back home,

They miss me ever so dear.

And here, I have made friends...

Who will miss me as soon as I disappear.

In death, people live within the hearts of others.

During life, each person makes their mark on each other. 

Can that part of their soul, the memories that they make...

Is it possible to have a bond so strong that what each sense is sensed by others?

I can smell it, the air back home.

The taste of the food-

A warmth in the air-

I can sense it.

I can hear it.

I am there.

But with my eyes, I know my place. 

Across the sea, thousands of miles away.

Reality of the absence of my hometown is concrete with my touch.

It presents a visual effect that I must accept.

However, that does not mean I am not there. 

For it is true, my soul has lingered home while I have banished my vessel here. -

-

September 21, 2019

Thanks for reading everyone, let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!

DJ/Cho/Nar

Schedule: 

Sunday Watts - 12PM

Monday - Weekly Entry 12PM

 Wattpad

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

      This is mainly for communication so go ahead, add me. Message me every once in a while so that I remember who you are. Otherwise, I'll delete you at the end of the year when I clear through my Facebook lol.

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Key tags: Wattpad, Instagram, Facebook, Blog, Personal Blog, Social Media, Poetry, Poem, Poetry Book, Sunday Watts

May 21, 2019

  School is almost out for the month and I can’t help but wonder what I should do with my spare time. There are many topics that I want to cover that I think about but I don’t actually write down. It’s as if I mentally write about it then I realize that I haven’t actually written it down.

  My friends have talked to me at different times and I keep meaning to write about them on this blog. I lost a flash drive so I lost some of the entries that I wrote. Hopefully, with all this time that I have, I can keep write up more entries for you all.

  The neat concept of a travel blog is that even when I go home, I can still write about my hometown! Yes, to people of my hometown, that can sound boring but to people in the Philippines, writing about what I do at home is a new experience to them. Lately, I’ve been living my life and not writing about it. I tend to forget or I’m too tired to ‘not’ write in poetry form.

  I want to thank those four consist readers who read over my poems despite me not writing actual entries! You all deserve a gold star in my book! Although, I do not hear from any of you, all of you exist to me and your presence is know which is all that matters! Thank you for your loyalty as readers.

  Last week I wrote about Mother’s Day and how family cultures are different depending on where a person is raised or not raised. Today, I want to bring back up the meeting with the Tuan Thailand band and introduce to y’all people that I met two weeks ago on Friday May 10^th!

  Last month I got to experience a concert of a Thailand band called Tuan Thailand. I got to be part of the concert but more importantly, I got to meet to interview the bass player of the Tuan Thailand band. Through this interview, my world suddenly shook. Even though Win, the bass player of Tuan Thailand, had been never met me until that moment, he didn’t judge me for not fitting his description of a Filipino.

  To him, I was a Filipino but something about me was different. He couldn’t quite place why I sounded different and slightly acted different from the Filipinos he had experienced up to that point but he didn’t think of me as ‘not a Filipino’ which is bias thought of most Filipinos when they find out that I cannot speak Filipino or Tagalog. It was that moment, when Win looked at me and conveyed that I was different not incorrect that my world turned upside down.

  It did not occur to me that I wanted to fit into the society around me. I hadn’t realized how out of place I felt until he made me feel in place. Thanks to Win, I took a step back and saw that it wasn’t that I wasn’t accepted into society as a Filipino… I was asking the wrong people to accept me into society as a Filipino.

  Well, I hadn’t exactly asked ‘God’ or anyone for help but I had to sit through a guidance counsel session after a two weeks because it was required of each class to visit the guidance counsel. The guidance counsel then tried to figure out if we needed help in a specific area or they would try to get us to understand the few others in our counsel session. Luckily, I got my best friend and two other girls that I didn’t feel ‘close’ to but they weren’t my enemies.

  After the guidance council meeting my world was still in pieces. I knew that there were people in the society who accepted me for who I am but I was still shaken that it took one interaction with a stranger for me to see that my standards for myself were not aligned with my values. These people I wanted to be accepted by would never truly accept me no matter what I did so I needed to refocus on who was important to me and whose opinions actually mattered.

  On May 10^th, I met a group of people at KFC. I saw two dark skinned people and a white guy. I was standing in line behind them and listened to the white person’s accident. He wasn’t from America or from Europe, so what did that leave? At the time, I couldn’t quite place it. The two black people that were with him also didn’t seem like Nigerians. Their hair was different and their style of clothing looked familiar. Finally, I built the courage to present myself.

  I said ‘excuse me’ then proceed to ask where the white guy was from. Australia, he declared. Of course! I thought, mentally face palming myself. How could I not remember that? The Australian was glad that I had picked up on his accent and that I didn’t assume he was American. It was ironic because I am America. He said that most people assume that he’s American and can’t understand that he’s not. I knew how that felt.

  “It’s just that…” I smirked. “I’m also not from here. I’m actually from Texas!” And at that moment, the black guy standing next to him got excited, “Right on!” He said and held his hand up for a high five. I set my hand on his to complete the gesture but wasn’t entirely sure why he got excited. “We’re from Texas.” He said with a hint of southern twang.

  That made my heart light up. No wonder they didn’t seem in place to me. While waiting in line, we talked and began to know each other. I found out that the group had met because they were all Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was dangerous territory to express my opinion on religion so I did what I could to explain myself in the most neutral way. I am neutral to religion and I’m willing to listen to each one but that doesn’t mean that I will declare myself as someone who is only under one ‘religion’. In truth, I take the lesson I learn from each and apply it to my life and they didn’t judge me for that.

  On Sunday, I returned to Vigan (I had gone to Labayug to deliver something to my auntie) and asked them if they were free. I was happy to find out that they were available and I got to meet an addition to their family. There was a father, son, and the mother of the son. Since then, I’ve been able to get along with them very well and I talk to them about my experience here in Vigan and how it’s different from the states.

  This family is very good at listening and they all have interesting stories themselves. I’m glad we can sit at the table and talk as friends without having to bring religion into the picture 24/7. It’s an American quality that I miss. Through this family I was able to find people who could understand me in a Filipino sense (the mom is Filipino and is also dark skinned so she knows what it’s like to be treated less than what she is) and the father and son understand the foreign issues I go through. They know about the bias opinions and prejudice because they experience it as well.

  Even though I’m not religious, I have to say that these past two months have paved quite a path for me. I strongly believe that what is meant to happen, will happen, and because of that I’m excited for this new friendship that I’ve made. I may not be their religion but I’m open to learning about it.

  In truth, I’m interested in learning about psychology, philosophy and religions and I’m thinking about starting a journal over it. It’s an idea and I hope that I can follow through with it. But, for now I’ll stick with my poetry and this blog.

Thank you for tuning in this week! Tune in next week to read more!

DJ/Cho/Nar

P.S: My Teacher Apptitude Test Score was a 'High Pass'! Meaning, 90-100 score rating where 100 is perfect!

Keep up with me at the following:

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

      This is mainly for communication so go ahead, add me. Message me every once in a while so that I remember who you are. Otherwise, I'll delete you at the end of the year when I clear through my facebook lol.

 Instagram

       I follow anyone who follows me! This is mainly pictures of where I go!

 Wattpad
(This week's Watt!) 

Sunday Watts: Change of Heart

A Barrier Meant To Be Broken

If you'd like to read more from this public poetry book you may! 

Click the caption!

Click Me!

The below is taken from the poetry book so if you read this, you may skip the introduction in the poetry book and read to your hearts content!

Change of Heart

At first I was not sure about you.

You seemed friendly enough.

And even though we had a disagreement,

We were able to emerge from that.

I hope you don't think negative of me,

Because I don't think negative of you.

You are funny and even though we cannot always communicate.

We seem to work it through.

Later, we will go separate ways. 

And I hope we can meet again.

I want to see how you grow as a person. 

From now till then...

You harbor a lot of potential,

And I cannot wait to see,

Where that leads you-

How that teaches you.

This college is only the beginning you know. 

I do not wish for an end to your journey.

Rather, I'm excited to see,

How beautiful you become,

And not because of me.

You, alone, have the strength,

And the will to proceed.

One day I hope to reunite with you,

By then I'll be closer to accomplishing my dream.

-

September 21, 2019

Thanks for reading everyone, let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!

DJ/Cho/Nar

Schedule: 

Sunday Watts - 12PM

Monday - Weekly Entry 12PM

 Wattpad

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

      This is mainly for communication so go ahead, add me. Message me every once in a while so that I remember who you are. Otherwise, I'll delete you at the end of the year when I clear through my Facebook lol.

 Instagram

       I follow anyone who follows me! This is mainly pictures of where I go!

Key tags: Wattpad, Instagram, Facebook, Blog, Personal Blog, Social Media, Poetry, Poem, Poetry Book, Sunday Watts

Sunday Watts: Blinding Pride

A Barrier Meant To Be Broken

If you'd like to read more from this public poetry book you may! 

Click the caption!

Click Me!

The below is taken from the poetry book so if you read this, you may skip the introduction in the poetry book and read to your hearts content!

Blinding Pride

What is it that I've done to you? 

Why won't you let me know? 

Instead, all I see are your cold eyes. 

And that attitude that glows.

If I did something wrong, why won't you say it? 

I told you before, if you do not tell, I will not know. 

Yet here we are, you look down at me.

Part of me does not want to care.

Another wants to know.

I want to know so I can fix it. 

So tell me, let me know.

However, I know that you are prideful.

That's why you look down at me in the first place. 

You think I want to be better than you, 

The truth is, I'm not.

We are both human beings. 

Everyone makes mistakes. 

I do my best to be honest.

What is that I've done to you?

Speak, I will listen. 

Is it because they come to me instead of you? 

Fear of being judged, a fear understood.

When you think about it... 

Maybe, your fear is telling you, 

That if you judge others, they feel the same.

I've made it clear. 

I do not judge.

If anything, I want to understand. 

Which is why they come to me instead of you.

But that does not have to be the case. 

You have leadership in your eyes.

The only problem is,

Your pride is twice as intense.

So put down your pride,

Talk to me.

What did I do?

Have someone stand with you, 

That way I can figure out your message.

Our language barrier is thick.

And that does not mean, I want it thicker.

Talk to me,

Communicate.

I want be your friend.

Come now, I'm willing to listen. 

All you have to do, is tell.

-

September 21, 2019

Thanks for reading everyone, let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!

DJ/Cho/Nar

Schedule: 

Sunday Watts - 12PM

Monday - Weekly Entry 12PM

 Wattpad

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

      This is mainly for communication so go ahead, add me. Message me every once in a while so that I remember who you are. Otherwise, I'll delete you at the end of the year when I clear through my Facebook lol.

 Instagram

       I follow anyone who follows me! This is mainly pictures of where I go!

Key tags: Wattpad, Instagram, Facebook, Blog, Personal Blog, Social Media, Poetry, Poem, Poetry Book, Sunday Watts

Sunday Watts: A Bitter Sweet Goodbye

A Barrier Meant To Be Broken

If you'd like to read more from this public poetry book you may! 

Click the caption!

Click Me!

The below is taken from the poetry book so if you read this, you may skip the introduction in the poetry book and read to your hearts content!

A Bitter Sweet Goodbye 

It's the insecurities that wake me. 

They prevent me to be sound. 

My heart jolts, an aching beat, 

There are no tears to be found.

I told myself that this was for the best,

And yet, here I am, my heart betraying me. 

It stings. A cold rush climbs through my veins, 

My breath becomes a gasp,

And then there is fear.

To be forgotten,

A memory, even if it is bright, 

I become a stepping stone below the blossoming environment.

Silence. How could it be so loud? 

Doubt comes with the quietness. 

Happiness... That's what I want. 

But this was my choice.

And I said, "Spread your wings."

This doesn't mean it won't hurt. 

When I see you fly, 

A bittersweet goodbye. 

And a rhythm in my heart,

That I know too well.

A song I've sung before. 

It would be assumed that the pain would be less.

Instead, the pain is different. 

And the intensity is the same if despite the past.

-

September 19, 2019

Want to read more poems about how I have handled my adjustment to the Philippines? Click the link under the cover to read more! As always, thank you for reading and I hope you tune in next week for another Sunday Watts! If not, I hope you stop by to read my Weekly Entry! 

Your views are always appreciated

DJ/Nar/Cho

Schedule: 

Sunday Watts - 12PM

Monday - Weekly Entry 12PM

 Wattpad

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

      This is mainly for communication so go ahead, add me. Message me every once in a while so that I remember who you are. Otherwise, I'll delete you at the end of the year when I clear through my Facebook lol.

 Instagram

       I follow anyone who follows me! This is mainly pictures of where I go!

Sunday Watts: To My Sun

A Barrier Meant To Be Broken

If you'd like to read more from this public poetry book you may! 

Click the caption!

Click Me!

The below is taken from the poetry book so if you read this, you may skip the introduction in the poetry book and read to your hearts content!

To My Sun

Think about me in your arms tonight.

Under your sun, is my moon.

And even though I see stars when you see the bright sky...

That doesn't mean, we're separated by our hearts.

Every kiss that we gave.

Every hug, each memory made-

I cherish them and hope you do too.

Because there's not a day I don't think about you.

When I turn on my phone I see your face.

That smile, those gorgeous eyes...

And I cant help but hear, "I love you, Babe" in the back of my mind.

And I catch myself saying "I love you too."

Communication was what kept us together.

A vow we made to each other in the beginning.

I'm so glad that I met you.

I'm also happy that we're working together, doing what we can, and hoping for one another.

There's not a day that you don't cross my mind.

Little things make me think, "I wish you were here." 

But I also know, that right now we're on our own paths. 

And all I hope, is that when we are brought back together,

That our love will be stronger.

And nothing will be able to break what we will become.

-

June 11, 2018

Thanks for reading everyone, let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!

DJ/Cho/Nar

Schedule: 

Sunday Watts - 12PM

Monday - Weekly Entry 12PM

Wattpad

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

      This is mainly for communication so go ahead, add me. Message me every once in a while so that I remember who you are. Otherwise, I'll delete you at the end of the year when I clear through my Facebook lol.

 Instagram

       I follow anyone who follows me! This is mainly pictures of where I go!

Sunday Watts: A Fault

A Barrier Meant To Be Broken

If you'd like to read more from this public poetry book you may! 

Click the caption!

Click Me!

The below is taken from the poetry book so if you read this, you may skip the introduction in the poetry book and read to your hearts content!

A Fault

Must there be a 'fault' at all times? 

When people speak, they are weary. 

Afraid, self-conscious. 

"Everyone will judge." Their thoughts remind them.

Alone, I stand. 

Questions asked as if there were no end to them.

One answer brings clarity but many questions as well 

To be judged by everyone is not what I fear.

What I fear is to live in ignorance.

Better to make a fool of myself for a moment rather than dwell in the absence of knowledge. 

In the future, I will teach

When that day comes, I hope

My children will also see the way I see.

-

Written September 2018

Thank you for reading! Tune in this Tuesday for my weekly entry and next Sunday for the next poem!

DJ/Cho/Nar

Wattpad

Read more poetry that I've written! My most current works are A Barrier Meant To Be Broken and Kinetic Potential.

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

      This is mainly for communication so go ahead, add me. Message me every once in a while so that I remember who you are. Otherwise, I'll delete you at the end of the year when I clear through my Facebook lol.

 Instagram

       I follow anyone who follows me! This is mainly pictures of where I go!

 

Sunday Watts: Introduction

A Barrier Meant To Be Broken

If you'd like to read more from this public poetry book you may! 

Click the caption!

Click Me!

The below is taken from the poetry book so if you read this, you may skip the introduction in the poetry book and read to your hearts content!

Introduction

  Most of you know me by many names. For internet purposes we will concentrate on the name 'DJ'. In 2010 I joined Wattpad. In 2014-2015 my appearance on Wattpad became less. Now that I am going to school in the Philippines I have learned that Wattpad is part of the culture here. So, to reach out to the audience I am surrounded by, I have created this journal.

  I will write poems and share my thoughts much like I did in 2010. I'm sorry everyone for disappearing on you. Now that I am of legal age I need to share a secret with all of my followers. In 2010 I was fourteen years of age. I shared my thoughts, hopes, and dreams with all of you. However, I did keep one secret from you. Since I was not eighteen yet I was weary about people finding me in person. Now that I am twenty-two I don't mind as much.

  To prevent people from finding me I switched my gender and changed my name. Over the years, I have gone by many names and I still won't share my given name to you all. But I will tell you that in the real world, I am a female. Writing in a male's perspective has helped me consider how the world treats both genders. My official writing alias is 'Danieljames Joaquin Domar'.

  Here in the Philippines I go by 'DJ' instead of my given name. My given name gets mispronounced often which is why I have gone by many names over the years. My current goal is to become a certified Elementary Teacher by Filipino standards. My destination is to be a tutor in many subjects including languages.

  Right now I am trying to learn the languages Filipino and Ilocano. Eventually, I will master Itneg (my family's mother language on my mom's side). You will be see me write in a mix between these three languages for practice purposes. I'm hoping by using them together I can eventually separate then fluently. By the end of this semester I hope to be fluent in Filipino but I know more Ilocano. If you are able to explain Ilocano or Filipino well, in English, please message me. I would love to talk to you.

  I am currently living at a dorm in Tamag, Vigan City, Ilokus Sur because I am going to a the University of Northern Philippines. I am a first year despite my previous college experiences. I hope you enjoy this journal.

  Feel free to add me on Instagram and follow my blog. Let me know so I can follow you back. The links to both my Instagram and blog should be on my profile. I'll update once a week for sure. The names in this journal will be different from the given names of the people I interact with for privacy purposes.

  It's good to be back everyone. Let me know what you're thinking as I post. Editing my previous work will probably not happen right now. Fare warning to those of you who are new to my work... My old poems are not edited and they are also based during a darker time in my life. Thank you 

-

  If you have any questions of comments feel free to share what's on your mind. This is the introduction to my poetry book in which you can access by clicking the picture. The purpose of sharing my poetry book with you all is so that you can read about my experience in poetry form or through the entries each post will have something different that you can read. I hope these are interesting for y'all. Please let me know what you think as they are posted! 

Tune in this Tuesday for my weekly entry!

DJ/Cho/Nar

Wattpad

Read more poetry that I've written! My most current works are A Barrier Meant To Be Broken and Kinetic Potential.

Ask Questions Here

 This will send me an email with your questions you don’t have to leave a name. I will post the answer to the blog!

 Facebook

      This is mainly for communication so go ahead, add me. Message me every once in a while so that I remember who you are. Otherwise, I'll delete you at the end of the year when I clear through my Facebook lol.

 Instagram

       I follow anyone who follows me! This is mainly pictures of where I go!

 

April 8th, 2019

February 25^th, 2019

Howdy y’all!

  Contrary to belief not all of us Texans say, howdy. Some of us do but not all of us. Lol. This past week was kind of a blur. We’ve had missing teachers but they still give us assignments so I’ve been busy. One of my cousin’s father’s passed away and the funeral with be on the fifteen of March so I’ll be going back to San Emilio that Friday. I’ll be missing class but it’s nothing I can’t make up.

  I’m now on the fourth book of Game of Thrones! I kept putting it to the side otherwise I would have finished it long ago. I try to limit the amount of reading I do in a day because books here are expensive and even though I enjoy reading through them I can’t afford to start a collection here. I mean, I suppose I can but feeding me and my cousin is important…only on some days…

  My friends and I went to Shakey’s this week. If you don’t know what Shakey’s is… Well, if you ever visit the Philippines this is a place you have to visit. It’s probably the best pizza I’ve ever had and originally they were franchised in the United States. I don’t know if there are any left but I do know that the owner moved his base of operation to the Philippines many years ago.

  Last weekend I went to Paltoc, San Emilio. A lot has changed and not everyone stays at the house anymore. My auntie’s business is getting more attention and there was unwelcomed company where her store is so she stays there some nights.

  I should have been aware from my experience in Texas that I was sleeping in their room. I didn’t know that it was originally theirs. I figured it was but this weekend they had their stuff in the room and I felt bad because I was now sleeping in the room while they were sleeping upstairs. With me not being around, my cousin Rio has the whole second floor to himself and my auntie, uncle, and their other son, cousin Ninyo sleep in the room that I sleep in right now.

  Eventually, I want to add more rooms to this house. If they’re up to build it. I know my Uncle Krilo wouldn’t mind putting it together. Besides, it would take a long time for me to get the funds. But, I’d like to add more room to the house. Eventually, I want to buy land myself.

  I’ve been spending a lot of time on Wattpad. I tend to share my poetry and thoughts there. It’s like an escape from the stress that I’m dealing with. I am getting better at understanding Ilocano, my issue now is being able to speak it. I can write and read in Tagalog. I can even sing in Tagalog but I can’t speak it or understand it.

  As for my skin it has finally adjusted! As long as I keep up with my showering routine my skin shows no signs of issues. I’ve come to learn that the biggest factor to my skin issue is what I eat. For those of you who do not know, I’m allergic to glutton and dairy products. I’m allergic to other things but these are my main allergies.

  Here, I eat rice, meat, and vegetables with the occasional ice cream. I sometimes have a snack of fruits. I don’t each chocolate and I don’t care to eat bread. I’ve had to cut out coffee due to the way it reacts to my medication. Between that and having to walk everywhere (even though the distance is fairly short compared to Texas walks) I am consistently walking and having to climb up stairs as well.

 

  If anything, the people say that rice is bad for you and people here cut out rice if they are trying to go on a diet. I personally think they’re all crazy because they’re all tiny people and I’m one of the bigger Asians in this country so to me all of them going on diets makes me laugh. Sure, more food for me I suppose.

  I’ve started up my tutorial again in Ilocano and I told my teacher that the purpose of the tutorial is to be able to survive and speak to the locals because speaking Tagalog, although is convenient, it is not applicable for the city that I live in. Most of the people speak Ilocano and for those who speak Ilocano they tend to give lower prices to those who speak Ilocano. If you make yourself look like a foreigner or not from the area they will charge you more (I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before but this is my main reason for not using Tagalog).

  Other than that, most of the people I interact with don’t speak Tagalog, they speak Ilocano. So, I can naturally hear Ilocano around me and pick out Tagalog but it takes me longer to process Tagalog. What I’ve learned from school in general is that learning is a natural process. Certain subjects don’t come naturally to some people and that’s when a teacher is needed to help guide that learner when it comes to that subject.

  It’s frustrating trying to learn two languages at once. Especially since most of the online content that has been standardized is Tagalog but in order for to survive I need to speak Ilocano and Itneg. I pick up on Itneg pretty easily too. However, that language is limited to my barangay and no the city that I live in.

  I’ve come to accept that language learning is the most difficult for me. I’m glad that I can sing in Tagalog but I cannot understand what I’m singing about (except that it’s probably about a love song). Overall, I do know that I’ve learned a lot from this country culturally and I’m glad that I had the chance to be here. I hope I can finish classes here but I’ve also come to realize that… I’m the only person limiting my learning process.

  It doesn’t matter how many classes I go through or how many years that pass. I will always be able to learn whether it’s in a classroom or outside of a classroom. It’s formal for me to have a paper saying that I’m a certified teacher. However, the paper means nothing if I don’t know how to teach.

  I can teach whether I have a paper or not. As long as there is a willing person to learn and I have material to teach I can teach it. I want to teach people of all ages. When it comes to learning up until eighth grade, all of what kids learn up until that point is simple enough to teach as long as you understand it. No one needs a degree to tutor their younger sibling math, how to read, or to explain a concept in science. We have the internet. We have our own experiences.

  I came to the Philippines to learn about the culture while going to school and I’ve achieved that. I’m happy that I’ve been given this opportunity. It has been a real eye opener to me and how they view the world I came from verse the way I viewed their world before I came to them.

  Well, I don’t want to babble. I’m doing well and would like my friends to message me when they have a chance. I do enjoy talking to all of you and I actually need to post about a conversation I had with a friend. I’m sorry I do not do much vlogging. I’ve been taking one minute videos of where I am and what is around me so that everyone can see what I see but I haven’t posted them.

  If I upload them they have to be uploaded while I’m at an internet café doing homework and I usually forget about them by then. I’ll see if I can get some video set up for you guys this coming March. Live video feeds fail me due to connection so I won’t be doing any of those but I’ll see what I can do with an introduction and a theme.

Anyways, Thank you all for listen and I hope y’all tune in next week!

P.S: This should have been posted on the date written above ^^'

DJ/Cho/Nar

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