" You can never visit the same place twice. Each time it's a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe what came before." - Maureen Johnson

One might be quick to assume that visiting the same place three different times will paint the same picture.

I daresay nope, not really.

I think each place we visit changes. It depends on who we are with, the season, the circumstances, the moods we are in and the experiences we have created.

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." 

Mike Tyson

I almost spit my coffee, while I stifled imploding laughter when I came across this quote because it's so true!  

We all have received several life punches.  Mine would include family separations and drama that would be a cool pitch for a telenovela script.  

Financial rock bottom made me stand up clapping with inspiration when I watched Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness. 

We weren't always like that. I was born in a middle-class family, but my Dad suddenly passed away and my Mom left her high-income job shortly after and was unemployed since. I am the eldest of five children. I was barely out of college and I was definitely not prepared when everything suddenly came crashing down. But this change is an example of one of life's punches.

"When in doubt, eat Tapsilog"

Haha, that's my attempt in being funny today.  (Tapsilog is a popular Filipino breakfast, a plate of marinated beef with fried rice and sunny side up egg)

I will be honest. My friend, the repatriation blues has re-visited me quite often lately. 

Sometimes I wonder, what if I had the chance to warn myself in 2015 before leaving Dubai and coming home to the Philippines for good? These are the words I'm going to tell her:

Dear Self,

We could just dream, can we?  Opening our cupboards and they would be loaded with items we have grown to love while living abroad. 

Living in a country raining with balikbayan boxes (care packages) sent by family and friends abroad, I have had my fair share of stuffing a super jumbo box while I was living in the Middle East with items I bought during pay day. I packed the box and made sure each space and cranny was meticulously occupied. Shipping it gives one a great feeling, once it is completely full. 

The greatest reward is to see their smiling faces once they receive the box, for the satisfaction that our hard earned money made our families happy back home.