In Germany, being part of a recognized religious institution—mainly the Catholic or Protestant church—comes with a financial commitment known as the Kirchensteuer, or church tax. It’s a unique system that’s been in place for decades, and it surprises many, especially newcomers or those not deeply involved in religious life. While for some it’s just another… Continue reading Church Tax in Germany: Faith, Money, and the Quiet Exodus
Category: Random Topics
Grateful for the Pause: A Public Holiday to Catch My Breath
It’s not even the end of the week, but I’m feeling especially grateful for today. A public holiday. It sounds simple on the surface. But this one is landing like a lifeline. A pause in a calendar that has barely allowed time to think, let alone rest. Burnout doesn’t feel far away anymore. It’s circling… Continue reading Grateful for the Pause: A Public Holiday to Catch My Breath
796 Cries in Ireland That Were Never Heard
Reading the article on Sky News about the excavation at the former mother and baby home in Tuam, Ireland, shook me to my core. As a mother, it’s hard to even type this without my chest tightening. Nearly 800 infants — tiny, innocent babies — buried in a sewage system. No graves. No headstones. No… Continue reading 796 Cries in Ireland That Were Never Heard
Small Talk in Germany: Why It’s Rare and How to Navigate It
If you’ve ever visited Germany or spent time with Germans, you may have noticed something interesting: small talk doesn’t happen much. The friendly banter that comes easily in some cultures—chatting about the weather, asking about your weekend, or tossing in casual comments during an elevator ride—isn’t as common here. In fact, many visitors feel confused… Continue reading Small Talk in Germany: Why It’s Rare and How to Navigate It
The Love for Planning: How Spontaneity Feels Foreign in Germany
If you’ve ever tried to plan a last-minute dinner with German friends or invited someone out on the fly in Germany, you might have been met with a surprised look, a polite decline, or a reply that sounds something like, “Let me check my calendar and get back to you.” For many visitors or newcomers,… Continue reading The Love for Planning: How Spontaneity Feels Foreign in Germany
Car Nation vs. Climate Goals: Germany’s Automotive Dilemma
Germany is known around the world for its impressive cars. From Audi and BMW to Mercedes and Volkswagen, many of the most famous and respected brands come from this country. These companies have built a reputation for quality, performance, and technological innovation. On German roads and highways, you see sleek sedans, sporty convertibles, powerful SUVs,… Continue reading Car Nation vs. Climate Goals: Germany’s Automotive Dilemma
Deutsche Bahn Woes: Why Trains Are Often Late in Germany
When people think of Germany, they often imagine precision, efficiency, and punctuality. After all, this is the country known for its engineering excellence, orderliness, and structure. So it’s quite a surprise—sometimes even a shock—to find out that Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway company, is notoriously unpunctual. For locals, it’s a running joke. For tourists and… Continue reading Deutsche Bahn Woes: Why Trains Are Often Late in Germany
Sunday in Germany: The Quietest Day of the Week
If you’ve ever spent a Sunday in Germany, you probably noticed something felt… different. The streets are quieter, the shops are shuttered, and the entire pace of life slows down to a near standstill. For newcomers, it can be a bit of a shock. While Sundays in many countries are full of shopping trips, errands,… Continue reading Sunday in Germany: The Quietest Day of the Week
Why Germany Is Still Struggling with Digitalization – A Real-Life Look from Finance
Working in Germany, especially in a field like Finance, often feels like stepping into a strange paradox. On one hand, you’re in one of the most advanced economies in the world—known for its precision, engineering, and efficiency. On the other hand, daily tasks can feel like they belong in the 1990s. If you’ve ever had… Continue reading Why Germany Is Still Struggling with Digitalization – A Real-Life Look from Finance
Unsettling Times: A Wave of Bankruptcies in Germany
Something feels different walking through the streets of many German towns and cities today. Familiar stores are gone. Once-busy clinics have locked their doors. Midsize companies, even some well-known names, have suddenly disappeared. In a country known for stability, it’s unsettling. More and more businesses—from fashion chains to auto suppliers, bakeries to hospitals—are declaring bankruptcy… Continue reading Unsettling Times: A Wave of Bankruptcies in Germany
How the War Between Russia and Ukraine Changed Life for All of Us
It began in early 2022, when the world watched in disbelief as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Most of us had seen conflict in other regions before, but this felt different. This was in Europe, between countries that had been neighbors for centuries, sharing not only borders but also histories, economies, and families.… Continue reading How the War Between Russia and Ukraine Changed Life for All of Us
How Korean Dramas Made Me Fall in Love with Kimchi
Last night, I stayed up a little later than usual, not because of a drama cliffhanger this time, but for a different reason: cabbage. I had started prepping napa cabbage for kimchi, letting it rest overnight with salt to draw out the excess water. It’s always the first step, and even though it’s simple, it… Continue reading How Korean Dramas Made Me Fall in Love with Kimchi
The Hidden Hands Behind Power
After watching enough period dramas, especially the historical kind, I started noticing something that goes beyond the love stories and palace rivalries. It’s this quiet, unsettling truth that keeps repeating in every story: the king may wear the crown, the president may give the speech, but they’re rarely the ones actually running things. It’s always… Continue reading The Hidden Hands Behind Power
The Cost of War: Iran, Israel, and the Price the World Pays
It’s hard to find words that can fully capture the weight of war. Especially when it stretches beyond borders, past reason, and far from the people who actually suffer because of it. The recent conflict between Iran and Israel isn’t just another chapter in a long history of regional tension—it’s a painful reminder of what… Continue reading The Cost of War: Iran, Israel, and the Price the World Pays
The Day Everything Changed for 241 People
It happened on June 12, 2025. A beautiful summer afternoon in Ahmedabad, India. Air India Flight AI 171, a sleek Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, lifted off the runway, bound for London Gatwick. On board were 230 passengers—families, couples, dreamers, travelers—and 12 crew, all anticipating new beginnings: vacations, reunions, perhaps new lives in London, or simply going home. In… Continue reading The Day Everything Changed for 241 People
The Flowers on the Path: A Thought on Life and What Catches the Heart
There’s a scene from the Korean TV series Remember You (Hello Monster) that quietly lingers long after the credits roll. Seo In Guk’s character says something simple but striking — when you walk down a path, there are flowers you step on, flowers you pass by, and flowers that catch your eye. It’s a gentle… Continue reading The Flowers on the Path: A Thought on Life and What Catches the Heart
Letters of Credit: A Lifeline for Global Trade
In the global economy, international trade is both an opportunity and a challenge. Opportunities come in the form of expanding markets, diversifying customer bases, and boosting profits. The challenges, however, lie in distance, regulations, currency differences, and most importantly, trust. One of the most effective tools used to bridge that trust gap is the letter… Continue reading Letters of Credit: A Lifeline for Global Trade
How I Became a Fan of Han So-hee (Thanks to Jungkook)
It’s funny how sometimes you stumble into someone’s world just because of a music video. That’s what happened to me with Han So-hee. Before the release of Jungkook’s “Seven,” I honestly didn’t know much about her. I had probably seen her face in passing or heard her name mentioned here and there, but nothing clicked.… Continue reading How I Became a Fan of Han So-hee (Thanks to Jungkook)
How Sleep—or Lack of It—Can Make You Look Older or Younger
We all want to look our best, whether it’s for a big day, a night out, or just feeling confident when we look in the mirror. While we often reach for skincare products or makeup, we tend to overlook one of the most powerful beauty tools we all have access to: sleep. Yes, real, good-quality… Continue reading How Sleep—or Lack of It—Can Make You Look Older or Younger
Three Hours to The Hague: A Trip I Might Not Take
It’s funny how sometimes the mind and the heart pull us in two different directions. That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling thinking about the upcoming event in The Hague. The last day of the photo exhibit dedicated to FPRRD, and a chance to see Vice President Sara Duterte, is happening tomorrow. It’s something I truly… Continue reading Three Hours to The Hague: A Trip I Might Not Take
Cravings, Comfort, and Korean Mukbang: My Late-Night Escape
It’s funny how comfort can come from the most unexpected places. For me, it came in the form of strangers on YouTube eating piles of food I couldn’t have, at a time when I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat much, and could barely find a position to rest without aching. Mukbang—especially Korean mukbang—became a strange but… Continue reading Cravings, Comfort, and Korean Mukbang: My Late-Night Escape
Someone’s Loss Is Another’s Gain: Life’s Quiet Trade-offs
There’s a phrase we all hear now and then, tossed around in casual conversation or murmured when something unexpected happens: “Someone’s loss is another’s gain.” It sounds simple, even a little detached, but within it lies a quiet truth that governs many of life’s biggest and smallest moments. This idea plays out constantly—in love, in… Continue reading Someone’s Loss Is Another’s Gain: Life’s Quiet Trade-offs
When Rain Meets Another Rain
Rain is something we all know. It taps on our windows, soaks our shoes, brings the smell of wet earth. But have you ever thought about what rain feels? Not in a poetic, imaginary way—but in the way we might project a quiet kind of life onto something so constant, so present in the background… Continue reading When Rain Meets Another Rain
Too Much Sun Makes a Desert
It’s hard not to love a sunny day. That gentle warmth on your skin, the blue sky stretching endlessly above, everything just seems a little more alive. We associate sunlight with joy, growth, clarity. Plants grow, moods lift, things get done. But what if the sun never stopped shining? What if day after day, the… Continue reading Too Much Sun Makes a Desert
18 Years Since That “Yes”: The Real Anniversary That Counts
Today is our church wedding anniversary. The 14th, to be exact. I’m not going to lie—there’s no grand dinner reservation or dramatic bouquet waiting on the kitchen counter. No hotel booking or social media countdown. It’s just a regular day. Since it’s Sunday, there’s no work, just a slow day at home with our energetic… Continue reading 18 Years Since That “Yes”: The Real Anniversary That Counts
The People We Just Click With
There are certain people in life you meet, and something about them just feels right. No awkward silences. No need to impress. No explaining who you are in a hundred different ways just to be understood. You just click. It’s as if your souls already know each other. It’s rare, but when it happens, it… Continue reading The People We Just Click With
The People Behind the Mask
There are people you meet in life—at work, at gatherings, sometimes even within your circle—who leave you wondering. You talk to them, you share space with them, maybe even eat lunch side by side. And yet, there’s something about them that feels… off. It’s not something they do outright. They smile when they should, they… Continue reading The People Behind the Mask
Talk To the Person, Not About the Person
It’s strange how often we talk around people instead of to them. Although we live in a world where staying connected is easier than ever—with smartphones in our pockets, social media at our fingertips, and instant messaging or video calls just a click away—we still often avoid having real, direct conversations. We talk about each… Continue reading Talk To the Person, Not About the Person
The Balance of Yin and Yang
In every part of life, there’s a push and pull, a light and dark, a quiet and loud. Yin and yang is an old idea from Chinese philosophy that explains this balance. It says everything has two sides, and both are needed. Like night and day. One fades as the other rises, yet both depend… Continue reading The Balance of Yin and Yang
Why Ayuda in the Philippines Is Not Sustainable and Why Many Are Getting Tired of It
In the Philippines, the word ayuda has become a part of everyday language since the pandemic. It means government assistance—usually financial—given to poor or low-income families. On paper, it’s a noble thing. In fact, every country has some form of aid or subsidy to help those in need. But the way ayuda is being done… Continue reading Why Ayuda in the Philippines Is Not Sustainable and Why Many Are Getting Tired of It
