I passionately teach. 👩‍🏫

For eleven years, I wake up every weekday being around with students. The interactions that I get from my learners feed my soul. Weird as it is, I am more confident in a crowd of children than adults. It is their innocence and vibrant personalities that heave me towards this taunting yet fulfilling profession. Now, I get to experience this with my multicultural learners here in the State of Arizona, USA. They enlightened me to a whole different perspective. These learners who innocently express their thinking and opinions which sometimes appeared offensive. Yet, upon understanding them, I learned that I am the one who should adjust to their culture. Before starting this journey 3 years ago, I knew this would happen but I was never be prepared for all the cultural differences, both desirable and undesirable, that I had encountered so far.

These are my learners’ outputs as they transfer their learning into writing and share it to their classmates.

I am a pathfinder of my own life.👣

Being born with limited opportunities, I owe it to my family for supporting me in becoming who I wanted to be. The youngest of six, the only one who got married through a civil wedding because I chose to and they respected that. The only one who took the leap of faith of leaving the permanent teaching position for an unsure greener Pasteur abroad. The only one who still chose to be child-free as I am still living the life that I dreamed of. Nonetheless, the freedom to take any path and try new routes serves as the fuel of my current journey to this roller coaster ride called life.

I give back to my family.👪😍

Being raised in a family that can only afford the needs and never the wants, I’ve seen the hardship of both my parents and elder siblings. In a typical Filipino family, my parents get up as early as our neighbor’s roosters crowing. Thus, leaving the elder siblings to have an equal responsibility with the parents in rearing the younger ones. As the youngest, I sometimes feel the guilt of not being in those hardest time. All I can do is to give back and make sure, that I can offer them the other side of the story. It s gratifying to see how I can make them feel more comfortable with even just the simple family gatherings, to spoiling my mom with an out of town vacation and of course giving my nephews and nieces with some extra requests from their tita tits (my chosen words of endearment). It is nothing luxurious yet already far from where we used to be.

This one is for the books. The very first debut celebration in our family. Growing up, my sisters and I never had any sort of birthday party even when we turned 18. Thus, I promised to myself, I’ll make it happen. We rented the venue for a day and had an intimate debut celebration at E and J Hidden Beach located in Udlot, Bogo City, Cebu.

This was one of my mom’s favorite part of our Palawan Trip. Enjoying the scenic view of the Maremegmeg beach and its beautiful sunset.

I watch drama series till my eyes hurt.😵🎞

Through the use of internet, being able to watch variety of movie genres has been possible. Thus, I realized how interesting the Korean and Chinese historical palace dramas are. The dreadful conspiracies within the palace really hooked me into it. Apart from learning how a kingdom and even dynasties fall or thrive, this opens an idea of how cruel people can be just to be in power and somehow it keeps me grounded. It shows how lavish lives of queens appears to be a façade of the true loneliness and struggles they have. That if only given a chance to choose, they would rather live a simple yet a happy life.

I am exploring the world with someone I prayed for. 💑

After a heartbreaking long-term relationship, I prayed for him. For him who will be true to me and to his words. I prayed for him who will be with me through my ups and downs. Him, who respects his parents and value his family. Now, after all the struggles we’ve encountered and surpassed together, I am blessed to explore the world with him. We travel together. We try new restaurants and coffee shops. We spoil each other with newly dropped sneakers. We shop together and become each other’s critic on the aesthetics we wanted to try. We hunt ramen places within the city and state. We try new things we haven’t experienced before. It is no longer an “I” but will always be a “We”.

Here are snippets of our adventures with my hubby Reino.

I join the hive to express and ascertain. ✍️📖

Writing has been an outlet for me to express my thoughts and happiness. Yet, in the new journey that I am now, it was kept hidden for quite a while. Thus, I am hoping to yet again find my path going back to it through this community. Moreover, it also satisfies me to read another people’s writing. I am a person who truly reads a very long sensible facebook post until the very last word. Lately, I hardly find time to finishing a book as I always reflect. Upon knowing about this hive, it definitely took my interest and it came just in a perfect time.

I am looking forward to be one of the contributors of this community who share wonderful and meaningful experiences. After my sister @nanayko shared to me about the purpose of this hive, I eagerly asked her to let me be part of it. She reached out to @indayclara about my interest to be in this blogging community and it excites me to be part of the batch whom she gladly onboarded last January 20, 2024. Since she is in the Philippines and had to do the webinar at 4:30 p.m., pacific time, I never hesitated to prepare my alarm at 1:00 a.m. USA time. Had to wake up with a very hoarse voice but it was all worth it. I enjoyed grasping all the pieces of information which even added my desire to jumpstart this new venture. I definitely know this is a perfect hub for me to share about my journey being a J1 teacher here in the USA. More so, I can’t wait to convey the amazing learning experiences that I have with the hope to express, inspire and learn from my fellow hivers.

Thank you for spending your time with us @indayclara and for giving us the chance to have this awesome opportunity as well.