My heart almost jumped out of my chest when I reviewed my online transaction history. Being a student in a foreign land implores watchfulness bordering on paranoia regarding one’s financial state, and imagine my horror when a significant amount of money suddenly disappeared through a transaction made somewhere in Gibraltar. I’ve always been mystified by … Continue reading
So after two full months of visa-related stress and beachcombing in Philippine waters, I am back in dear Scotland. As with all other things beautiful and worthwhile, the 40-hour journey took its toll on my good spirits and human will to go on. That, of course, is an exaggeration, but forcing myself to refrain from … Continue reading
A year ago, a Google search about the trends in autism and employment led me to an article that changed my life. (Disclaimer: I should first say that while using big words like “life” sometimes makes the lure of verbosity and unwarranted philosophical claims too tempting to ignore, there is no denying that when i … Continue reading
I fell through the cracks for the past couple of months, fumbling my way through loads of readings, 2000 something essay words, and a budding, gentle kind of love. But the first day of a new year just tends to push me to soak in a bit of nostalgia about the year that was, to … Continue reading
Dejé de estudiar español hace unos meses, puesto que me he dedicado mucho tiempo preparándome a hacer esta maestría. Entre los libros y tareas domesticas, tenia ganas por volver a hacerlo de nuevo. La verdad es que cuando me encuentro yo sola, suelo poner la música reggaeton y bailar zumba o salsa. No sé por … Continue reading
Special Note: My “Overseas Filipino Student” story should’ve started with Chapter 1. But no, I missed that completely. I’ve had my fair share of misadventures, in fact plenty of them, albeit my capacity and inspiration to document these have been largely limited by pragmatic concerns (mainly of household chores, financial planning, and coping with school work). … Continue reading
A few days ago I decided to take a new route from the tube station to my university. Apart from the fact that I needed to keep reminding myself to look first on the right when crossing the street, it was a pleasant walk. There was UCL on the corner. Cool. Oh, and there’s a … Continue reading
School is officially starting in three days and I am being hard on myself, shoving six readings up my throat about educational policies and economics. It is in fact interesting, nonetheless far from anything I’ve been accustomed to doing back home. I would teach kids, do reports, go out for a good dinner with friends, … Continue reading
It’s real. I sometimes still need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming, but this plastic card is proof that I am really here, about to do my masters and change my life. This is the start of my life away from home: from the tropical climate of the Philippines which often left … Continue reading
It is my 5th day away from home, living with four other international students in a shared flat far, far away from the heart of London. By choosing to live here, we are passing up the opportunity for excitement and pub nights. But that is exactly what we might need, with the prospect of a … Continue reading
there and back again 