About

I’m Maggie, currently living and working in Thailand as a homeroom and subject teacher to adorable but oftentimes wild and naughty first graders. I’m 32, a Leo. An avid collector of shoes and bags. Of anything simple yet elegant, girly and pink things that sparkle. Yes, typical female. I am a Christian by birth and by heart, who chooses to follow certain principles and examples of Buddhism. Recently, I have taken interest in meditation, healthy living and social networking, hence the reason for writing a blog.

Singlehood and Relationships:

The idea of writing a blog started when I came across Mandy Hale’s page about singlehood. A particular portion called The Single Woman’s 30-Day Blogging Challenge inspired me to share my experiences and thoughts about being single. Certain events in my life prompted me to reflect on my dreams and goals as a woman and the realities that lay bare.  For some, singlehood is nothing more but a solitary state. Others use it to escape certain responsibilities. A few more, embrace it and see it as limitless freedom. And to a number of people, they choose to take singlehood as a stage in life that has no age or time bracket. It has no expiration date. It is something we can neither rush to end nor achieve. It is something to be taken one step at a time. To be lived one day at a time. This blog isn’t just singles, its for people with different relationship statuses. How to appreciate our freedom if we are single. How to accept commitment if we are in a relationship. How to value ourselves and the people around us.

Travel:

I’ve loved traveling ever since I was a little girl. My dad’s stories of Europe and the mountain tribes in the Philippines, mountaineering and camping ignited my passion for the outdoors. My mother, who has had her fair share of traveling in the US, gave way for my brother and I to spend many happy summer vacations with my cousins in Texas and friends in California. As a university student in my hometown in Bicol, Philippines, I’ve engaged myself in a few out of town research works in Anthropology. Upon moving to Manila after college, I’ve also had the chance to visit interesting places in Luzon and a short time in Cebu.  

From 2008 till 2012, I’ve been able to juggle career and traveling. South Korea has been my favorite destination then. I spent about 3 years in Seoul for work and graduate school. And though Korea held a special place in my heart, I decided to come home to my country and spent a year there teaching in the university and cherishing days with my family and childhood friends. Until such time when fate caused me rethink about moving again. That’s when I thought of coming to Thailand for a two-week meditation retreat in a Buddhist monastery. After the retreat, a job opportunity presented itself and the rest is history. I plan on seeing the rest of Asia. Learn some more of its interesting cultures and religions. I dream of backpacking across Europe someday, see tribal groups in South America, go on a safari adventure in Africa, take lots of pictures of ancient cities, ruins, breathtaking landscapes and grand architectural structures wherever my feet can take me. 

Food

    Cooking has always been therapeutic for me, a complete stress reliever. Anything I can find in my fridge and kitchen (left-overs or fresh ones), I can cleverly make something out of it in an instant. I can settle for a carbo-loaded snack, to street food, home cooked meals and fine dining gourmet dishes any time of the day. I’m not an expert in cooking, but at least the people around me appreciate what I whip up in my kitchen. At least they say it’s palatable and non-toxic : ) . My comfort food consists of pasta, fried chicken and chocolate cake, as they remind me of children’s parties in the Philippines. They remind me of my happy childhood. Oven baked ham with pineapple chunks remind me of Christmas in my country. A bowl of hot and savory mongo bean soup reminds me of my mother’s love and concern for us and even for our neighbors. My hometown is yearly frequented by typhoons. Neighbors who live in low-lying areas usually stay in our house overnight. And while waiting for the storm to subside, my mom cooks a huge pot of soup for all of us to eat and warm ourselves with. Cakes and cookies remind me my elder sister; her expertise in baking is where I got some of my knowledge. I experiment a lot on Asian cuisine and bit of Western. I’d love to learn more about French and Mediterranean cooking in the future. Do a bit more barbecuing with friends outdoors.

As soon as I have finalized the concept on what my blog will mostly be about, that’s when the little light bulb in my head turned on. Singlehood, the quest for finding meaningful relationships with people, traveling, food, art, DIY, music… why, they’re all that I am! Magnolia is my given name, and this is my way of sharing simple and hopefully helpful ideas and experiences to you dear readers. 


Credit: Google Images