What is "Home?"

                    Home... As a child, I grew up in many different places, and not just different towns, cities, but countries as well. All that time, I was with my family. We moved to different countries and had great adventures as we started a new lifestyle. My friends call me "Wind Surfer", the boy who just flows wherever the wind blows and also call me "The Boy with No Home", but what does that mean to me? What is on my mind when I think of home?

                    All my life living outside of my hometown, Davao City, I always say that that place is my home. I always talk about how much I feel homesick, how I miss my friends and relatives, and how I miss the very air and atmosphere of the place. I rejoice at the very moment when my parents give us the news that we will be returning back to Davao even for just a short visit.

                    Now, I am back here in Davao City and in a situation that I have dream't about for years, to go to college here and experience school life again with actual classrooms, classmates, strict school rules, and annoying teachers. I don't remember the time when I've ever been happier than when I heard the news that I was going back to my hometown and actually stay there for a really long time. I am now in my second semester of my first year here and boy, is it exhausting, but it still is a ton of fun.

                    Though I am actually living the "dream come true" saying literally, I realize that "home" is not a place, but rather the people that make up a true home. All my life, I dream't of going back to the place where I was born, to my "home", but now I realize in all those years, I never left. My home is where my family is, wherever they may be. I miss them so much. There really is no place like home.

A Nostalgic Christmas Experience

            It has been far too long since my last Christmas in the Philippines. I am very grateful to be able to experience it this year.
            In my opinion, no other country celebrates Christmas better than the Philippines. Though, the Philippines cannot experience the more familiar "White Christmas", Christmas in the tropics is still fun! I don't remember the last time I celebrated Christmas with my relatives here in the Philippines, but I can still remember the great fun times we had, the laughs of the children, the caroling neighbors, and the nonstop pops, booms and whistles of the fireworks. And now, I get to experience all of it again! Though the fireworks have lessened greatly, as the city government has ruled it dangerous but we still get to see the amazing light show from the star rockets in the night sky during Christmas Eve.
            One thing I do know that differs the Philippines from the other countries I've been to in celebrating Christmas, is that we start early. Christmas decorations are put up as the 'ber' months begin. All the radios begin playing Christmas tunes. Everywhere you go in the country, you will feel the Christmas spirit from everyone you meet, the places you see, the atmosphere itself. To spend Christmas with the relatives after a decade or so, truly is a wonderful and nostalgic experience.
            Thank you God for this opportunity! Happy birthday to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and a very merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year!

University Life is Tiring!!

Me (4th from the right) and my basketball team.

             
Not only does the academics in my new school time-pressuring and, of course, quite exhausting, I also am a member of my division's basketball team. The practices are very tiring but nevertheless fun! We played a game during the school sportsfest but lost. We are playing another game next year, and the tournament will be even bigger so practices continue.

Other than the basketball team, I am also representing my division along with my friends and classmates in the cheer dance competition. Boy, it is tiring! My body still aches from the practices and workouts! Anyway, that's the update on me and school for now. Stay tuned! :)