Babies: The Anti-Homebody

The Citadel, July 2018.One of the myriad ways my life has changed (for the better) thanks to Piopio is that I’m out and about more. To say my daily routine has changed since Piopio came around is an understatement. Kail and I are both introverts and homebodies, and our preferred way to to spend a

Home Leave | Virginia Beach

Post-5k race.After a few days apart in Michigan and California, Kail and I spent the last portion of our home leave visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Virginia Beach. Kail stayed for a week before heading back to Amman, but I was able to enjoy an extra two and a half weeks with my family.

2017 Intention Review: A Letter to Myself

I recently shared my 2018 future letter to myself, and now I’m sharing the outcomes of my 2017 annual letter. How much “came true”?2017 was marked by the happiest and most important life change Kail or I have experienced to date: Learning that we would become parents. (This will, of course, be eclipsed by actually

Coming Soon: Diplobaby

In two months and some change, Kail and I will become parents to our very own diplobaby boy. We’re so excited and already in love with this little person we have yet to meet.I can’t even explain what my happiness has felt like throughout my pregnancy. (I mean, I could make an attempt, given that I’m

RRB in the Philippines | Villa Escudero

The second full day of our trip to the Philippines, my family took us to Villa Escudero, formerly a private estate founded in the late 19th century  as a sugarcane and coconut plantation and later converted into a public resort. It’s about a two- to three-hour drive from Manila, depending on traffic.

RRB in the Philippines | Manila

Our primary purpose in traveling to Manila was to meet my family, but we managed to squeeze in some sightseeing too. Manila is a huge city and we only covered a small fraction of it during our three-night stay.

RRB in the Philippines | A Homecoming

As I mentioned earlier this week, Kail and I recently visited the Philippines for the first time. After 30 years, there was a lot of catching up to do. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Truth be told, I was a bit nervous about meeting so many relatives at once for the first time.

RRB in the Philippines | By the Numbers

Kail and I took our third RRB (regional rest break) to the Philippines. It wasn’t an ordinary vacation. It was my first trip to the Philippines in 30 years. I was born there, but when I was one year old, my family immigrated to the United States. It took three decades, but I finally made it

Home Leave | Mackinac Island & the U.P.

We’re about halfway through home leave. Our departure for Afghanistan seems far enough away, but I know how quickly a few weeks can go by. Time flies when you’re relaxing and spending time with loved ones.

Spanish Friday: Suegros

Today is Spanish Friday: Blog post in Spanish; English translation below.Mis suegros están visitándonos por unos días para pasar el Día de Acción de Gracias juntos y aprender un poco sobre nuestra vida. Es la primera vez que han viajando fuera de los Estados Unidos otro que Canadá. Y qué lugar a visitar!