So I really haven't blogged in forever. I guess i've been having too much fun to sit down and write it all down. So i'll try to get everything in now. Arriving in New Zealand was great. I stayed with my friend Sarv who was also another volunteer in the Philippines while I was there. She and her family were absolutely wonderful. I had the best tour guide I could have hoped for. We went to tons of beaches all around Auckland, both north and south of the city. We went to a place called Goat Island marine reserve, but the waves were massive, and I was too chicken to go snorkeling, so I didn't get to see any cool stuff that day. I think I made the right choice though, because Sarv's friend who came ... read more

Happy New Years Eve!!! I'm approaching two weeks in thailand and it feels like it's been 2 days. The time here is really flying by, but i am having so much fun, that's probably why. After we left Koh Samui, Jac, shannon and I went to Koh Phi Phi on the 22nd. It doesn't look very far on a map, but the trip was about 12 hours, and 2 ferry's and 2 busses long. Mostly we just slept, so it wasn't too bad. But we arrived in Phi Phi and fell in love. It's a small island, and the town is so amazing. It's just brick streets with shops and restaurants on either side. There are no cars on the island, but you dont need them because it's so small, and everything is well in walking ... read more

Today is my last full day in the Philippines! I can't believe how fast 6 weeks has gone by! This whole chapter is done now, and tomorrow i'm on to the next part of my adventure. Thailand!! hooray!! Being here has definitely opened my eyes to new perspectives. Life here has (obviously) been very different than at home, and took some adjusting to. I realized a lot of things that we have at home that we for sure take for granted. Some examples: - electricity all the time, whenever you want it. Here, not so much. The brownouts can make life very frustrating and a flashlight is an essential part of life. I am grateful for mine almost daily. - Adequate Plumbing!!!!!!!!!!!!! nuff said. - We dont have cockroaches in our houses, or spiders that could ... read more

i'm an idiot, and thought that i put this up on december 6th,... but apparently i didn't put it up, so i am officially an idiot. So i'm posting it now. This is what had happened up to december 6th! Enjoy! Okay, so as mr. farrell so lovingly pointed out, i haven't blogged in a while... sorry!! It's been busy around here. We said goodbye to three volunteers here who had been here for 2.5 and 3 months, respectively. It was quite sad to see them go, but they'd been here for quite a while, and were probably ready to move on. We still miss them tho. Thinking that it might be strange for the three remaining volunteers (us), we decided that it was time to have a little getaway. So Breken, Kathryn and myself went ... read more

Yup. I have made it to Romblon, and things are definitely very different here. We got here via a small ferry (about 200-300) or so people. It left Batangas at 5pm on Saturday, and we arrived in San Agustin roughly 5am the next day. It was filled with bunk beds, and was definitely a crazy new experience for me. I slept on and off using my purse as a pillow, which was not all that comfortable, seeing as it had my running shoes and snorkel in it. But regardless, i made it and have been settling into my host families house. They are very nice so far, and my room is good. I have a double bed(!!) and a table and mirror, and that's about it. I dont need much else really. And i also have ... read more