Happy Manilaversary

Today marks our Manilaversary – our one year anniversary of moving here, to Manila.

I didn’t wake up thinking ‘wow today is the day’, even though I had been thinking about it over the past few weeks. I saw a flashback on my Facebook page which reminded me. I have wanted to switch those off for a while because each day has been a reminder of the painful process of packing up our lives and moving. Despite the hurt, it was sort of interesting getting these reminders every day of how things were, and remembering.

Back then I was full of wonderment. I was so excited at taking on this adventure and I often found myself wondering who I would be today. Would I even make it to this moment in time? Well yay, I have! I am still intact too and I have to say that despite having adapted and fallen into the groove of daily life, I am still filled with wonderment.

Top 10 Ways I have Changed since living in Manila

1. I am happy sieving the bugs out of the rice before cooking it.
2. I drive like a local and love it.
3. I’m generally okay eating manky veggies that gave up on life some weeks before.
4. I’m tougher, after being screwed over so much for being ‘Too Australian’. Yet I still retain a soft, caring side.
5. I am more relaxed about my kid’s lifestyle and routines. That has just made things so much more accessible and enjoyable.
6. I’ve stopped being polite when stopping strangers calling my three year old ‘sexy’, and trying to touch or photograph my children. My patience has gone and I don’t care what others thing about that.
7. I’ve eased up on my OCD tendencies around cleanliness. Okay, honestly I still get grossed out really easily and I hate dirty floors, but I am more chilled out about it.
8. I am mastering my American twang to help the locals understand me better…
9. I never ever thought that I would be a loyal StarBucks customer. Yet here I am, excited when I get a personalised message written on my coffee cup each morning.
10. I am more understanding of the bigger issue that affect communities. I have shaken off that privileged do-gooder attitude. The one where you think you have the answers to save the world. I get it a lot better now, it is frustrating, but I get it.

The roller coaster of life provides us with so much opportunity to learn about ourselves, develop new strengths and bring more awesomeness into our lives. I am kind of relieved this year is over but I am super pumped about this next one because I have plans and I’m not hanging around anymore, afraid of stepping off the cliff. Bring on the freefall and let the next chapter begin.