"It's more fun in the Philippines!"

"Mabuhay Pilipinas!"

As you land at Manila airport, these advertisements are not-so-subtly thrown into the face of the newly arrived. Initially, you disregard it. But, as you exit the airport and go into the city, these advertisements continue. Incessantly. After which, it becomes a mild annoyance.

Emotional attachment is a curious concept. Sometimes you just know you'll end up loving something. Other times, it remains a mystery. In my case, it was the latter.

What makes you fall in love with an entirely strange and unknown land? According to 13-year-old me, nothing. With the rebellious teenage blood flowing inside me, it was to be expected. It was made easier by the Philippine weather. Gloomy skies, constant rain; it was a recipe for disaster. There was no way I'd ever come to accept this place as home, or so I thought. Perhaps 13-year-old me was afraid of change: afraid of leaving behind family and friends, having lived his entire life in the same city. Afraid of leaving behind familiar surroundings.

I'll be honest. Change is scary. For everyone. Doesn't matter how old you are, or how much you've traveled, the thought of heading into the unknown is terrifying. It's also what drives humanity, what makes us better and stronger.

The Philippines is by no means a perfect country. It's rife with corruption, has really hot and humid weather, and the Manila traffic will frustrate you endlessly. However, there is a certain charm to the country that makes everyone who goes there fall in love with it.

As you walk into one of Manila's plethora of shopping malls, you receive a very congenial greeting from the security guard standing outside. Then, something in one of the shops immediately catches your eye, and you go in. Instantly, you will be received by one of the shop attendants with a huge smile, as they call out in an almost sing-song voice, "Good afternoon sir!" At that moment, you can't help but smile. That's when you realize, you loved it. Even if you end up buying nothing from the store, they will say a genuine, heartfelt thanks to you for visiting. It's these small acts that make you feel warm inside.

Despite being a relatively poor country, Filipinos tend to be happy with their lives. With them, they bring about a cheerful attitude and a fun spirit. Years of living there change you as a person, it makes you more appreciative towards life, and you begin seeing the joys in the smallest of things. The incessant traffic transforms into a hub of activity and liveliness. The thundering rains and typhoons develop the blissful touch of Morpheus, softly lulling you to sleep. Suddenly, everything seems so calm, so serene, despite all the chaos of the city. Suddenly, it feels like home. You never know when exactly the switch happens, but it does.

I never thought I would call it home. Now, as I count down the final few days before moving to college, I can't imagine using that word for much else. Perhaps, even at 18 years of age, the 13-year-old inside me is still afraid of change. Going to a country halfway around the world, away from everyone and everything I know is a scary prospect. But there's no telling the future. All we can do is strap ourselves in for the ride, and make the best of it. We are here but for a brief time, so make the most out of it while you can! You never know where life will take you. Perhaps you will love it. Perhaps you won't. All that matters is, look for the best in every situation, and suddenly, life will be better.

And now, fly, little bird. Upwards and onwards. Discover new horizons. Push your limits.