The Little Things That Shape Our Life Abroad
Lifestyle is where we write about the everyday side of our life in the Philippines — the small joys, the funny frustrations, the cultural surprises, and the little things that can suddenly feel much bigger when you live far away from where you grew up.
It is about the food we miss, the habits we had to change, the things we had to learn, and the moments that made us laugh, wonder, or occasionally shake our heads in disbelief. From the eternal search for decent bread and affordable cheese to the realities of tropical living, noisy mornings, local discoveries, home comforts, and the art of adapting without completely losing yourself.
This category is not about perfect expat life under palm trees. It is about real life — sometimes beautiful, sometimes confusing, sometimes hilarious, and often somewhere in between.
Because lifestyle abroad is not only about where you live; it is about how you live, what you miss, what you discover, and how everyday life slowly becomes your own story.
After writing about the tragic situation of cheese in the Philippines, I came to a painful realisation: it is not only the cheese. It is also the bread. Because what is cheese without bread? It is lonely. It is unfinished. It is like a German without a complaint: technically possible, but somehow suspicious. For a …
Being an expat in the Philippines is not always easy. People often think the biggest challenges must be the heat, the humidity, the traffic, the paperwork, or the mysterious ability of a rooster to start his concert at 3:47 in the morning. But no. After years of careful observation, deep personal suffering, and several emotional …
Living in the tropics is beautiful. The palms are swaying, the sky is blue, the mangoes are sweet — and by 10:30 in the morning, your house can feel like someone accidentally parked it inside a pizza oven. So yes, staying cool is not a luxury here. It is survival. But the power bill? That …
Cockroaches are a disgusting topic, but unfortunately they are also a very present topic in many households. Especially in tropical areas, but not only there. They are everywhere: persistent and with absolutely no respect for personal boundaries. Some people see a cockroach in the house and stay calm. They say, “Oh, a cockroach,” as if …
After almost 35 years of being on the road—planes, trains, and the occasional tuk-tuk—I find myself asking a question I never thought I would: is traveling still worth it? It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with discovering new places, far from it. Vietnam and Cambodia recently gave me some unforgettable adventures, the kind …
Maybe you have to spend a long time away from home to start thinking differently about travel. I used to live for the dream of ticking destinations off my wishlist—the pre-trip research, the daydreams, the “this time next month I’ll be in…” fantasies. Honestly, sometimes the anticipation is its own kind of happiness. Is it …
Let’s be honest: I’m a tropical soul. I love palm trees, balmy nights, and the smell of salt in the air. But there’s another place that managed to capture my heart and, in a way, delayed a long-cherished dream for three whole decades: Nepal and the Himalayas. Strange as it sounds, my so-called substitute for …
When I was younger, the months—or even years—between trips to somewhere warm, exotic, and tropical felt endless. I’d spend days dreaming of the next escape. That wait could feel like an eternity, especially as winter stretched on in Germany and the only palm trees in sight were the ones in travel brochures. But as any …
Let’s face it: travel snobs are everywhere. You’ve probably met at least one—if not, check the mirror (just kidding!). The ancient debate rages on: Are you a traveler or a tourist? Let’s settle this once and for all… or at least have a good laugh. Meet the Cast The Tourist The Traveler The Profi Traveler …
Let’s be real for a second: writing a blog can be frustrating. There’s this romantic idea that you’ll pour your heart, soul, and many, many hours into a post—crafting sentences, tweaking metaphors, reliving stories you can’t wait to share—and then, miraculously, a crowd of readers will appear to devour every word. Maybe they’ll leave thoughtful …