I was born in the Philippines but due to political and economic reasons, my parents emigrated in the 1970s and settled in New York City when I was a toddler. I grew up in Elmhurst, Queens surrounded by people from all over the world living as neighbors. When I was eight, my mother took me back to the Philippines to visit our family. That trip was the first time I got on a plane (that I could remember) and the first time I traveled overseas. Visiting the place of my birth was so strange because everything was so familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. I confronted poverty for the first time, permanently altering my outlook on life leading to a lifelong curiosity about how other people live.
As I grew up in America, I was raised in a traditional Filipino household. This experience developed my ability to see the world simultaneously through two distinct cultural lenses. Yet being bicultural created great emotional angst especially as a teenager when I rebelled against my parents’ Filipino worldviews. Relief came when I attended Mount Holyoke College where I discovered anthropology. The discipline helped me intellectualize the turmoil I felt inside. I studied foreign cultures of the past and present, learning how people around the planet come to understand the world they live in. I finally discovered how my bicultural identity could be useful and began to accept it as a blessing rather than a burden. At Columbia University, my masters thesis focused on the global movement of people, things, and ideas.
Travel brings to life the cultures I’ve read about in books and quenches my thirst for knowledge about other people. I love to observe how others behave, taste the food they eat, and participate in activities important to them. I seek to understand the factors that influence their behaviors. Yet my impressions are not reserved solely for foreign cultures. I also observe my own. This blog not only covers the places I visit but also the place I call home: New York City. I place special emphasis on Queens because it is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. I show you how people in New York City live.
Culture is the glue that binds a group together. It is complex, contradictory, and messy. My job is to capture its vividness, make sense of it, and share with you my thoughtful impressions. I hope to increase your curiosity about others and inspire you to step outside your comfort zone and experience the world beyond what you know.
EMAIL: actionjojo@gmail.com
TWITTER: action_jojo
I love that last paragraph, the one that starts off “Culture is the glue that binds a group together….” So True!
Glad to meet you. I’m almost your opposite — I was born in Queens but ended up in the Phils hahaha. Anyway I’m back in Texas now but just wanted to say hi and I like your blog. Best wishes on all your future travels!
Hi Derek, so nice to e-meet you and thanks for dropping a comment!!! That is so funny that you did the reverse migration…how do you like Texas? Where in Queens where you born? So happy to meet a fellow Queens native. Cheers!
I love Austin, but it truly is the only place in Texas worth visiting and generally regarded as a “fantastically artistic Democratic bubble in a staunchly Republican state.” I was born in Cambria Heights but left when I was eight, two decades ago… ended up at a small barangay outside of Infanta, that was fun. But I will also admit, I never was brave enough to try balut despite all the good things everyone had to say LOL.
Derek, so cool. I love that you have circumnavigated the world and have in lived in so many places. Cambria Heights, whoa! I had friends in HS who were from there. How long did you live in the Philippines?! That’s funny about balut…you can always try it now!!
Yes, Austin is truly the small blue island in a sea of red. Glad you are enjoying it there. I love Rudy’s BBQ! I use Rudy’s dry rub every time I BBQ here and my guests always ask the seasoning I use because it is sooo good!
About a year and a half altogether. I enjoyed it. The thing I miss most is the culture. So many times my Filipino friends would say “I may not have any money but I’m happy” yet I know so many Americans who are unhappy, even with their money. Money is not everything. Too many Americans that have never traveled fail to recognize that. Food, culture, family, experiences… that stuff is! And that is why I am a perpetual traveler and global citizen.
P.S. Oh, you’ve been to Austin? Well you just went up another notch in my book for liking Rudy’s BBQ! I have one a cpl miles from my house and I am a sucker for the moist brisket “outside cut”