Living in the PHILIPPINES - OUR FIRST YEAR [RECAP] The Good

What a year it has been living in the Philippines! The year was up and down, good and bad. On August 2, 2019, we touched down in Butuan City, Philippines to begin the next chapter of our lives. After 10 years that Maria lived in the USA and became a US citizen, we took a gamble on an early retirement, sold everything we had, hugged the kids and hopped a flight to the Philippines. August 2, 2020 is our one year "living abroad" anniversary.

There have been many good times as well as many rough times getting used to the different culture, food, and language, not to mention a worldwide pandemic (Corona Virus- COVID-19). When the pandemic hit, it really changed our lives, and trying to understand the news over here was quite challenging for me. Within a year of living here, we've gone through five earthquakes, one volcano eruption and of course, the COVID. Before the pandemic, we have had traveled to beautiful places such as Camiguin Island twice (last year and this year) being one of our favorites. We rode our motorbike to Surigao City, then ferry to Siargao Island with my childhood friend back in Washington where we grew up together. We also built a beach house, been to Bali to celebrate my wife's birthday, celebrated Christmas, New Year, and my birthday for the first time in this country. We also had stayed to two houses in a year. I could say that within a year, I had experience quite a lot already! We would like to thank our family back home - especially our kids who have been supportive of our decisions to leave everything behind to come and stay he re, to our Filipino family here who have been there for us to help us with the transitions, and for old and newfound friends. We have missed our family and friends back home in the states, but we keep in touch with them through video-chatting. We tried to go home but got flights we booked in May, June, and July got cancelled due to the current pandemic. I know this video is quite long. Nevertheless, if you had watched it all the way to the end, I hope you enjoy watching the snippets of how our one-year stay here in the Philippines has been. Mentioned Channels - All About The Philippines (All About Filipina Relationships) https://www.youtube.com/user/MrStallion46 A Fili and Some Joe https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbNI_uR9I3Ql5bdBTaHvGyw Brett Maverick https://www.youtube.com/user/27bretzki #LivingInThePhilippines #LifeInPhilippines #ThePhilippines