About Us
Greetings readers – Thank you for taking the time to share in our overseas adventures! We truly enjoy sharing our learnings (and mishaps) and have made some great new friends as a direct result of this blog.
Here’s a little about us: Nick and I got married twice in early 2009 (once in court and once for God) after Nick got the offer to join the State Department as a US Diplomat (or Foreign Service Officer). We arrived in Manila, Philippines on July 1st, 2009 for our first overseas tour. Here are some of the highlights from our first year abroad. We leave Manila in July of 2011 for a visit back to the states over the summer. In September we report to Washington, D.C. for Spanish language training before heading to Lima, Peru for our second tour in April 2012! WHEW. It’s gonna be a busy few years!
I proudly wears many hats, some of which include: Cancer Mindset Coach, Aspiring Photographer, Ice Cream Addict, Super-supportive Foreign Service Spouse, World Adventurer and Kick-Ass Volunteer! I am the primary writer on this blog, although I allow Nick to be in pictures and contribute ideas occasionally. :) I am happy to answer any questions about the foreign service for those who are new or considering joining!
In the meantime, please also connect with me online HERE. Please introduce yourself when you connect and let me know that you’re a blog reader!
Cheers,
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello there – I came across your blog as I was searching for blogs for fellow FSOs! I’m joining the 160th A-100 class in March 2011 and have my hubby and kids along for the ride. It’s been such fun reading about your experiences – keep up the sunny blogging – it is highly appreciated!
Awesome! Nice to meet you. You’re going to have a blast in this exciting life… I hope we cross paths if you’re still there come September. We’ll be back at FSI for Spanish! Let me know if you have any questions about anything related to FS life. Happy to help! Sarah
My application to join the Foreign Service hasn’t even arrived yet in D.C., but in the event that I make it on someday, I’ve bookmarked your blog. You have some of the most informative and insightful posts about life overseas that I’ve read in my many hours of FS blog surfing. Looking forward to reading more about your guys travels in the future.
Thanks much, I appreciate that! Best of luck to you on your application process – it’s been a wild, wonderful ride for us and I know it will be for you too! Cheers, Sarah
Just found your blog! We’ll be arriving in Manila in April (we just found out about it on Monday!) — also our first tour, and we’re also doing it as newlyweds!
I’m in love with the view of your apartment — we’re hoping we’ll end up in Makati too, but I heard there’s not much you can ask about it.
Totally stalking your blog now :)
Yay! So excited for you! I just friended you on Facebook so that we can connect there as well. Feel free to send anyone else from your class that’s going to Manila this way too. I’m happy to answer questions. Looking forward to getting to know you better!
And you’re right, housing is a crap shoot. Just say a praying to the housing Gods. Honestly though, for the most part, the housing here is fantastic. No need to worry about it.
Glad to have a new blog stalker, Sarah
Hi Sarah! I’m currently posted in Colombo, Sri Lanka, but just received our bid list and there are a number of Manila jobs on it. I’ve been following your blog for a bit and I don’t know too many people who have been in Manila so was hoping to ask you some questions. Please let me know if we could connect over e-mail. Cheers! Katy
Of course Katy, happy to help out! I’ll send you an email right now. Sarah
Hi,
I would like to invite you to join my Global Expat group pages on Linkedin and facebook. We are dedicated to assisting the expat family in their years abroad as well as the trailing spouse (STARS) in maintaining a career.
At the moment I am looking for other Stay-at-Home Trailing Spouses around the world interested in working on the project. Please visit my profile on Linkedin.com (Quenby Wilcox) which explains it in its entirety (note the business plan and website links.)
Basically, the project copies present trailing spouse associations (American Women’s Clubs Abroad, FIAFE French Acceuil chapters, etc.), but turns it into a revenue producing entity (mainly from advertising opportunities on http://www.global-expats.com ) and remunerates all of its managers and staff.
If you are interested assisting in the development of this project, please contact me at my email address quenbywilcox2@gmail.com or on skype quenby.wilcox2.
Or, just interested in increasing your blog’s audience, please feel free to post links to you blog on our Linkedin group page (http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Global-Expats-3906296?mostPopular=&gid=3906296 ) or facebook group page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_173565119365394&view=members#!/home.php?sk=group_173565119365394 )
Best regards,
Quenby Wilcox
Founder – http://www.global-expats.com
Dear Sarah,
It was good to come across your blog since I am a citizen of the Philippines. Too bad you are no longer here when I got to read your posts but I want to let you know that I am so happy to know that you appreciate our country, our culture and the shops. I would have to admit I like the shops you have listed too!
Wishing you and Nick a great time in Peru soon. Do you know that there are a handful of people in the Philippines who speak Spanish? We have been colonized by Spain for a good 300 years and a lot of the older generation are fluent in the language.
Hasta luego amiga! :)
Gracias,
Florence
Hi Florence – thanks for reading the blog! Yes, it’s true. I’m a HUGE fan of the Philippines and hope that we will be able to live there again someday… there is something so unique about the spirit of Filipinos! We did know about the Spanish influence and it helped us learned some of the words that are similar in both languages. Before moving there, I had no idea that the US had such a strong presence there as well! I appreciate you stopping by. Ingat! Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for your fun-to-read and comprehensive blog.
My wife and I are headed to Manila next month with USAID, and your blog has been extremely informative. Could I get in touch with you by email to ask some questions?
Thanks again for sharing your experiences. And belated congratulations to you both on Nia’s happy arrival!