Missing, but in action

Apologies for the long-ass absence. I know I haven’t posted in a while, and I have a perfectly good explanation for why. Since I know a picture speaks a thousand words, I guess I’ll just give you a photodump first!

See, I’ve been out of the country for a little less than a month now and my schedule’s been waaay packed. Some days I didn’t even have time to check what day it is or have a chance to shower (TMI, but you know it happens anyway). Things have settled down a little bit, and I’m glad I finally had time to sit down and gather images and thoughts in my head, putting them together here in my little nook in cyberspace.

I know the pictures don’t really give it away, but I’m in California now. I’ve been here a few times, so no need really to sight-see, hence the less-than-identifiable photos. My parents and I decided to take some time out to attend my brother’s graduation and to…well, have a vacation. I’ve spent my time here mostly visiting family and friends and eating more than I should.

To be honest, I don’t really miss home all that much. (Well, I miss some things…) I love Manila and all, but trouble with it is how small the community can get. You go to high school with people you graduated kindergarten with, and your college upperclassman becomes your lunch buddy in the workplace. The confinement has its pros–things are comfortable, familiar, cozy. But when things get too much, it becomes predictable, even stifling.

Which is exactly why I decided to stay here in California for a while. No, I didn’t board the flight home with my parents. This wasn’t in the plan—and it’s unlike me to stray away from big plans, such as where to live or when to work, in general. But in the three weeks that I was here, I thought, “When else can I have an opportunity like this?” I go back to Manila, start working…and work forever, or I stay here for a few more months and just…explore. Get out of the routine. Discover things, people, myself(!).

I’m not gonna lie–it was a scary decision to make. What’s a few months, right? But that’s a stretch of time with no back up, no car, no friends, no thick jackets for fall, and hardly a contingency plan when things go wrong. This is a few months of me living away from the security–and what comforts!, now that I think about it–of my life in Manila and plunging into all things unfamiliar.

But here I am, taking it.

Wish me luck.