2022
I arrived in the USA in late January, my visa process took almost 2 years but that’s still short compared to others. I know I’m lucky. Most Filipinos I’ve met here always ask what kind of visa I have, and if it’s a green card, they assume I married a white person. I understand how most of our kababayan got here because of their hard work and their profession; it’s just rude whenever they ask personal questions about it. I didn’t even expect I’ll be here too, tbh, I don’t have the American dream.
It’s cold here most days of the year, like Sagada cold. We’re in Northern California, near the coast.
Kris and I stayed in his parents’ home on my first year here. I hung out a lot with Anna (Kris’ niece) and she’s literally my first friend in America haha. I tutored her while we’re living together, and she taught me how to play Roblox. Things are so different here, I didn’t think a city could have vast nature inside it, I always thought US is technologically advanced place and highly urbanized, but Bay Area is different. I fell in love with public libraries and public parks; those are limited spaces back home. Every time I get to see beautiful places here, I always think about my family and hope one day I can bring them here, even as tourists because they deserve to experience this life too.
^I’m grateful to my in laws for touring me around. We went to LA twice, and they also brought me to Napa Valley. I want to respect their privacy so I’ll be posting less about them. They were kind to me when I got here, and I’ll always, always, be thankful.
^Random photos from 2022: Kris toured me around San Francisco City, went to Utah during Fall Season to attend our friends’ wedding, and LA for Thanksgiving.
^SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) // We also went to de Young Museum, and Exploratorium after this in a span of two days because your girl is crazy.
2022 Holiday Season was the first time I was away from my family and I was feeling a little homesick. I still miss the Philippines, but SF is my home now.
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2023
Kris and I moved into our tiny San Francisco studio apartment. It’s 2026 now, and we’re still here :) Our apartment is within walking distance to everything- shops, a huge park, a library, and there’s lots of public transportation. It’s in one of the best locations, we love it even if it’s small. When I upgraded my phone last year, most of my 2023 photos didn’t save to my iCloud, so I don’t have much to share. I think I backed them up in my hard drive, but I’m not so sure ugh.
^ Eoty died in February 2023 :( Photos of us over the years.
The last time we met was a month before I leave the Philippines.
Sobrang bitter-sweet ng taon na ‘to.
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2024
I’ve been a patron of our public library, and it’s one of my favorite places in the world. I still feel like an alien around here, but if I go back to the Philippines, I know I would feel like I don’t belong there anymore. My siblings have their own lives now, too. It feels so surreal. I thought I’m gonna live with them forever.
I was featured on CapCut app’s Instagram page. Peak!
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I was also invited to a tour in TikTok LA headquarters, and had a meeting with CapCut staff. It was a weird time, but I enjoyed it. And I’m of course, thankful.
^Finally watched one unit of NCT live: NCT Dream in Oakland <3 // Victorian Houses Tour. San Francisco has kept most of their old Victorian and Edwardian houses, and people are still living and maintaining them. // The Handmaid’s Tale Opera
^Pumpkin Patch at Halfmoon Bay // California Academy of Sciences, and Japanese Tea Garden in SF. Overall, it was a good year.
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2025
Year of the Snake! It’s our 5th Wedding Anniversary, we’ve been through so much together for the past 10 years but I’m happy living the rest of my life with Kris.
^ BINIverse in San Francisco :) // Naga Serpent Art installation at Golden Gate Park, SF //
My Chemical Romance (MCR) in San Francisco // updated my library card to Claude, the albino alligator in Academy of Sciences :)
^ ICA Museum when they were at The Cube, their new installation is in a different place now but still around SF //
Trolls by Thomas Dambo at Filoli, Woodside, California // Les Miserable Broadway at Orpheum Theater SF // and our Build-A-Bear Workshop babies.
^ I became a naturalized US citizen // We watched an NBA game at Chase Center SF ( Warriors vs. Pelicans) //
Annual photo with Macy’s Christmas tree at Union Square, SF // Visited Musee Mecanique, 3 years in a row, this is literally a tradition now //
Art of Manga at de Young Museum, I have so much photos of that exhibit but this post is already filled with pics so yea, it’s whatever.
Whew! that was a lot of catching up. I plan to at least post a blog every quarter of the year, to continue what I started. The only year I was active was in 2015, 10 years ago, when I posted weekly. Fun times! Anyway. I hope you enjoyed this. Take care~
Jeska, Wake Up! 
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