Two years and counting…

How’s it been?

I told myself two years ago that I’d leave after two years, but here I am, still occupying space in this little red dot of a country. It’s been a love-hate relationship — a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs over the past two years. Yet, here I am, still here, and forever a grateful girlie.

Every year, I take time to reflect on how far I’ve come. Only this time, I put it here in a blog. My wins, losses, the challenges I’ve faced, and how I’ve grown as a person. KA CHAR BA UYP!

Over these two years, I’ve kept many stories close to my heart — the things that kept me going, as well as the disappointments. All of this, I want to share in this blog, in what may be a series of parts. And yes, expect a lot of photo dumps along the way!

2019 – The Answered Prayer

2022 was a turning point for me. There were three key decisions that shaped my path:

I needed to find a new job with a higher salary.
My father’s retirement plans were looming.
I wanted to stop working full-time in 5 to 6 years.

At the time, I was juggling a full-time job and a part-time gig. The salary was enough to get by, but it wasn’t going to take me anywhere. I knew I needed to find more sources of income. And what better way to make a decision than to fly out of the Philippines and be a tourist (or, let’s be honest, a freeloader) in Singapore?

I arrived in Singapore in July, enjoying my time as a tourist for about a month. My sister and her husband talked me out of the idea of working here, and I hesitated. I wasn’t sure what would happen. I had the comfort of home, the familiar environment, friends, workmates, and my spontaneous trips around Cebu City. All of that would be gone.

But by the second month in Singapore, I was 70% on board with the idea — moving here and becoming an OFW seemed like a good decision. Then, a neighbor from Cebu introduced me to a job opening. I applied, but didn’t hear back until my third month, which just so happened to coincide with my 30th birthday.

During that waiting period, I prayed. I asked God for guidance, for anything to push me forward in life despite uncertainty. And here I am, two years later, surviving and reflecting on it all.

I believe in the power of prayer. I always have. And God always answers, and he listens.

And so, here I am — two years in, reflecting on a journey that started with uncertainty and prayers, but led to growth, new beginnings, and lessons that I carry with me every day.

But this is just the beginning. There are countless stories from my past, moments that shaped me, and experiences that still echo in my mind. The struggles, the small victories, the risks I took, and the rewards I never expected — I can’t wait to share all of them with you.

So, stay tuned. This is only the first chapter. In the next few posts, I’ll dive deeper into the rollercoaster ride that’s been my life, exploring the twists, the turns, and the moments of clarity that have made me who I am today.

Here’s to the journey and to all that’s still to come.

Drunken Soybean