I was born and raised in Mindanao, Philippines, and moved to the U.S. when I was just 8 years old. Since then, we’ve made it a point to visit the Philippines every 1–2 years. I’ve always looked forward to those trips. Now that we both have remote jobs, we’re embracing the freedom to live and work anywhere. We’ve traveled across the U.S., tasted real croissants in Paris, soaked up the sun in Costa Rica, and even flew to Taiwan just to try that hilarious flat chicken from TikTok (yes, that one 😂).
But today, we’re back in the Philippines, living what I like to call the reverse American dream. Instead of staying in America it seems like people are leaving to explore new places. There’s something about this place, something that calls me home. I’m embracing my probinsyana roots, and honestly, I love it.
Lately, I’ve felt so grounded, literally and figuratively. The other day, I was riding in a sidecar with my husband, the wind tangling my hair as we passed kids laughing in the streets and elderly men playing cards on the sidewalk. And I thought to myself: I miss this. I’m not a city girl. I want my hands in the soil, bare feet in the garden, and fresh eggs from the coop.
My family is a bunch of farmers. I remember visiting the poultry farm and hearing all the little chicks chirping. I remember when rice was being harvested and seeing the rice seeds spit out of the tractor. Even as a teen, I was obsessed with homesteading YouTube channels and bloggers, I’ve always dreamed of creating that life.
Is this it? Is this me finally living the life I used to daydream about? Am I stepping into my purpose, my peace? Maybe I’m building my very own homestead after all.
So here we go, starting with a little vegetable garden. Let’s see where it takes me.
xoxo,
Van