Chasing Stories Beyond Borders: Meet this Local Author, a Filipino Teacher-Explorer in Thailand (Introduction Post)

"SMALL BUT TERRIBLE"
That's probably the simplest way to describe me. When God was giving away talents, I think I was in a deep sleep. I got a sense of humor, a quick wit, and lips that could probably compete with Angelina Jolie's.😅 The only thing I didn't get was height.✌️
Still, I learned to make the most of what I had. Height may not have been my strongest asset, but I found other ways to stand tall in this world.
I've come a long way from the little girl I once was. Through the years, I explored different paths, wore different hats, and discovered strengths I never knew I had. I dabbled in small businesses, including multi-level marketing, worked as an insurance agent, served as an office girl, and as a "content creator" simply for fun and to connect with my online friends. Along the way, I also had the chance to travel and explore different places.
So who is this little girl now?

Hello there beautiful people!
I am Quischel. I come from the humble yet beautiful mountains of the Cordillera region in the Philippines.

I am the youngest among the seven siblings. After finishing my secondary education, I left my province to continue my college schooling. I initially dreamed of becoming a journalist, so I thought of enrolling in a journalism course. Unfortunately, my only brother discouraged me, saying, "It's a course that is not easy to land a job in". Young and easily convinced, I immediately changed my plan from journalism to agricultural engineering, but then again, my brother said, "Look at your uncle who is a graduate of that course, until now, he is not employed." So I felt disappointed again. For the last choice, I told him, "Okay, so I will enroll in veterinary medicine then." But I didn't expect his response, "Do you think you can inject a mother pig?" I laughed so hard and instantly gave up on those dreams. I also heard neighbors saying, "do not take teaching profession, your students will be taller than you." 🫣
Long story short, I graduated with a degree in Business Administration and thought my life would revolve around business. But things didn't turn out the way I expected. It led me to different adventures, unexpected opportunities, and experiences that shaped who I am today.

Eager to find a stable job, I started working as an office staff member in a private company in our province. Like many young professionals, I eventually left home in search of better opportunities and a higher salary in the city.
I was fortunate enough to be hired as an administrative assistant. Life in the city, however, was very different from the quiet province where I grew up. But there was no turning back. I had to learn how to keep up with its fast-paced lifestyle.
Back home, transportation was never a problem. It often felt like the vehicles were the ones looking for passengers. In the city, it was the other way around. You had to run after them.
Just six months into the job, I was unexpectedly terminated. At the time, I thought life was being unfair. Looking back now, losing that job pushed me toward opportunities I never would have considered otherwise
Not long after, a new opportunity came my way. I was hired as an executive assistant by someone who happened to be a college friend of my cousin.

A few months after working in Metro Manila, we moved to the beautiful city of Baguio, known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Looking back, that move became a turning point in my life. It was the beginning of my international travels and many unforgettable experiences.
Well, almost free. I still had to shoulder my pocket money, of course.
Through my work, I was given opportunities to visit different countries and places I had only dreamed of seeing before. But before I share those adventures, let me first introduce the city that became my home for a while.
Baguio quickly became one of my favorite places. Coming from the mountains myself, I felt at home there. The cool weather was a welcome break from the heat, and the city had a charm that made me want to stay longer. Its cool climate offers a refreshing escape from the tropical heat experienced in most parts of the Philippines, which is why it is known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines.
I later learned that Baguio became popular during the American colonial period because of its cool climate. Even today, it remains one of the country's favorite destinations.
Baguio will always hold a special place in my heart. It was more than just a city where I worked. It became the starting point of journeys that took me beyond the borders of the Philippines and introduced me to a much bigger world.

Aside from my local travels, my company also gave me the opportunity to travel abroad.
Hong Kong was my very first international destination. I was so innocent back then that I was genuinely surprised to see McDonald's, Jollibee, and KFC in Hong Kong. I honestly thought they only existed in the Philippines.😂
It was also during that trip that I discovered Watsons and 7-Eleven were international stores. Imagine that!

Of course, we also visited Disneyland. Everyone seemed excited, while I was quietly wondering what all the fuss was about.
I grew up in a very simple household. We had no electricity and very few appliances until I was already in my third year of high school. Because of that, I was not really exposed to Disney movies or characters growing up, except for Snow White and Cinderella which i saw on notebook covers. lol.
Poor kid, right?
What made that day truly special was being able to spend it with my sister, who was working abroad at the time. More than the attractions and the souvenirs, it was the chance to be with family that made the trip unforgettable.
To this day, I remain grateful to my former boss for giving me the opportunity to experience what "abroad" really meant. When I was a child, the word abroad was something I only associated with overseas workers. I never imagined that one day, I would be traveling to another country myself.
And that was only the beginning.
I have many more travel stories to share, and I can't wait to tell you about them in the coming posts.

On Becoming an Author.
As they say, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
I guess that's what happened to me.
I became an author out of pain.
At first, I wrote simply because I needed an outlet. Writing became my way of processing pain, disappointment, and the things I couldn't easily say out loud. I never imagined that the words I wrote would one day turn into a published book.
One of the greatest rewards I received was when my hometown recognized me as its first published author through a municipal resolution.
To be honest, I still find it a bit surreal whenever I think about it.

But then, nothing in this world is permanent.
The time came when I had to leave my job. I returned to my hometown and once again tried my luck in business. Filled with hope, I opened a small food business and poured my heart into it. Despite my efforts, I had to close it down two years later.
At the time, I saw it as a failure. Later on, I realized it was simply leading me somewhere else.
And that's how my journey led me to Thailand.
For more than a year now, I have been teaching adorable Grade 2 to Grade 6 students. Every day brings new lessons, funny moments, cultural discoveries, and unforgettable experiences.
There are days when I miss home, Filipino food (the famous adobo and tuyo), and being around family. But teaching in Thailand has also given me experiences I would never have had if I stayed inside my comfort zone.
Through this blog, I look forward to sharing my adventures as a teacher in the Land of Smiles, from classroom stories and cultural experiences to the simple joys and challenges of everyday life.

If there's one thing my journey has taught me, it's that there is always something new to learn, no matter where life takes us. Even now, I continue to discover new things about myself and find ways to become a better person.
Writing has always been close to my heart. It helped me through difficult times, celebrated my victories with me, and gave me a space where I could simply be myself. Whenever life becomes overwhelming, I find comfort in putting my thoughts into words.

That is why I became interested when I came across a post by Hive account@antonette about Hive. As someone who enjoys sharing stories and experiences, I saw this platform as a place where I could freely express myself and connect with people from different parts of the world.
I am grateful to Hive account@antonette and Hive account@chinito for guiding me through the onboarding process. They patiently explained how the platform works and introduced me to the community.
One thing that stood out to me was the importance of creating original content and engaging meaningfully with others. I appreciate that because I believe the best stories come from real experiences. I may still be figuring things out on Hive, but I'm excited to meet fellow writers and learn from the community.

As I begin this new journey, I look forward to sharing more about my life as a teacher in Thailand, my travels, my experiences as an author, and the lessons I continue to learn along the way.