Meet Carolyn, a freelance lifestyle journalist, diplomat’s wife, and mom to a three-year-old Welsh Corgi Pembroke named Juancho
Name: Carolyn
Pronoun(s): she/her
Nationality: Filipino
Current location: Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Occupation: Lifestyle Journalist and Content Creator
Hi! I’m Carolyn but most of my friends call me Carol.
I’m a freelance lifestyle journalist, diplomat’s wife, and mom to a three year old Welsh Corgi Pembroke named Juancho.
Before joining my husband abroad for his postings, I was working as a TV reporter, covering foreign affairs for one of the English news channels in the Philippines. I also worked as a lifestyle reporter for an online multimedia news site.
After leaving for our first post, I started freelancing as a lifestyle journalist. I also created Almost Diplomatic, a lifestyle b/vlog on featuring things I enjoy – from travel, beauty, dining out, and everything related to being a Millennial diplomat’s wife. I wanted to share the things I learn along the way to people who might be interested in expat living, to debunk some myths about diplomatic spouses, and share some of the challenges that come with it as well.
On Education
How did you choose your program? Did your decision change over the course of your time at school?
As a kid, I already knew what I wanted to be as a grown up – a writer. It was a choice between Literature and Journalism and I eventually went with the latter. I really enjoyed my program at the university of my choice and I finished it in the allotted four years. I believe it prepared me well for a career as a journalist. However, I also think that the things I learned outside the classroom – from doing freelance work and saying yes to opportunities like being a regular guest DJ as well as spending time with experienced journalists – helped me a lot as well.
Did you participate in study abroad while at school? For how long, and with what program?
I didn’t get the chance to as I was so busy with opportunities available at home. However, I did fly off to Israel for a week to attend the First International Youth Congress on Holocaust Remembrance. It was quite like a study tour and those seven days taught me so much and opened up my mind to a lot of things.
Is there anything you would do differently education-wise in college? How much have the courses you took influenced your choices post-undergrad?
I loved my program so much and I’d take it all over again if I need to go back in time.
The only thing I’d do differently is I’ll add some more business and marketing units to my course load. Journalism has changed so much these past few years and being a content creator on the side, I find that learning to run a business while on the move is a great asset to have
Currently, I’m learning the business side of content creation as I go!
In your opinion, how does travel enrich a traditional education?
I traveled whenever I can locally and internationally when I was still in school.
I love history and reading about far-off places but nothing beats experiencing a place for yourself. Walking through the streets that you once read about, sipping coffee in the café your favorite writers frequented. There’s a unique energy in each place that one can absorb and fully immerse in just by being there
Conversations with locals and seeing how other people live opens up your eyes to things that may either be better or worse than how you’d normally do things but it’s always a learning experience. Books are great, I think you can ‘travel’ just by going through pages. Whenever I can’t board a plane, like now because of the pandemic, I travel by reading, taking note of the places I’ll definitely want to visit someday.
Professional Background
How long have you been in your current position?
I’ve been a freelance journalist and content creator since 2014. That’s seven years now and I still enjoy it. I don’t see myself going back to a 9-5 or in the case of my work in TV, an 8-10.
What has working outside your native country taught you about yourself and the culture you come from?
That there are different ways to approach a particular situation. A lot of times, disagreements or not seeing eye to eye on a certain thing is not a personal matter but more of a difference in cultural upbringing. I like how living abroad opened up my mind to differences. Even though I come from a multi-cultural family, there’s really still much more to learn from others and the learning begins once you step out of your comfort zone.
How might your career path have differed if you’d stayed in your home country?
I think I’d still be working for TV. I loved it. Despite the long hours you get this adrenaline rush when you get an exclusive story, you meet interesting people and learn from them, and you get that proud feeling when your story goes on air during prime time. It’s a stressful career but it was something that I really loved.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I get to meet people and hear their stories. I also get to share the things that I enjoy – from a delectable dish, a new and innovative beauty product, or the feeling I got when I finally saw a place I always wanted to travel to. I always saw myself as a story teller so getting to share my experiences through my work is a gift in itself. Whenever I get feedback from readers or those who watch my videos, saying that they found my work helpful or enjoyable, it really makes me feel so fulfilled. As a freelancer, I love that I can work wherever I am. I also have the luxury of being my own boss and having control of my time.
Do your future career goals involve living abroad or traveling for work?
Being married to a diplomat, I know I have signed myself up for moving to a new place every 2-3 years. While it gets difficult as you find yourself having to start from scratch after every move, I take it as a fun adventure and a chance to keep learning and reinventing. New places also mean new cultures to immerse yourself in.
On Lifestyle
Why do you enjoy traveling?
I enjoy it because it’s a learning experience every single time. You also pick up experiences you would never have just by staying in one place.
Lots of people think traveling is cool, but not something they can see themselves doing. What are the characteristics of a traveler or person who would enjoy living abroad, in your opinion?
Someone who wants to live abroad should know how to plan ahead while maintaining a huge sense of flexibility. Planning ahead helps you save on expenses while being flexible allows you to adjust to curve balls that might get thrown at you. An open mind and a love of learning also goes a long way – they’ll be the characteristics that will really make someone enjoy life abroad.
Which has been your favorite country/city to live in?
We’ve lived in Kuala Lumpur and Berlin for our postings. Right now, we’re back in the Philippines, in the city I grew up in. It’s called Makati and it’s where the central business district of Metro Manila is. Picking a favorite has always been hard as all three of the places we call/have called home have been so good to us. KL is a great city for cosmopolitan living while maintaining your budget. Berlin is great for its history and open-mindedness.
Manila is the home we’ll always go back to. It’s a place that’s bustling with activity and has so much to offer to people who would give it a chance
A great dining scene, fun nightlife, lots of history, and the friendliest people. I’m sure all these things will come back after the pandemic and I hope more people will visit Manila and our beaches in the Philippines as well. We have some of the best in the world.
Did you know Berlin offers a freelancer visa that you can apply for? Check out Claire’s feature to learn more! Fearless Friday No. 20 – Claire, Blogger and Berlin Freelancer Visa Holder – The Millennial Abroad
Do you prefer fast or slow travel? Why?
I prefer slow travel when we have the luxury of time. However, my husband is a really busy guy. It doesn’t change whether we’re posted abroad or he’s at the home office. He rarely files for longer leaves so we travel based on the amount of days we have free. Fast travel isn’t so bad as long as you plan everything ahead and research well.
If you’ve ever traveled for a significant period of time, how did you afford it?
Simply by working hard, investing, and saving a chunk of my husband’s monthly salary and what I make as a freelancer. Due to my work, I sometimes get invited to press trips and I am very thankful for them.
How would you describe your travel style?
It’s a mix of budget and luxe. I don’t mind taking a cheaper flight to afford a better hotel room. We also take public transport as much as we can (as long as it’s also safe to do so) and love going where the locals eat to really immerse ourselves in the culture of the country we’re visiting. I think going local really helps us save a lot on expenses while getting a better view and experience but I would also give a fancier restaurant or a luxe experience marketed to travelers a try if it’s worth the money and calories. We’re extremely discerning travelers and we do spend our travel fund wisely while making sure we enjoy the trip by treating ourselves to things that are worth it.
If you appreciate women with a knack for mixing budget and luxe, be sure to check out Emily’s feature! A TAPIF alum and current English instructor for Strasbourg’s prestigious business school, she’s also making moves as a freelance education consultant: Fearless Friday No. 13 – Emily – The Millennial Abroad
One last question
What advice would you give to a young person who knows they want to travel but aren’t sure where that fits in with the rest of their lives?
Living with a ‘what if’ is something that would nag you forever. 😉
Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited
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Thank you for reading Fearless Friday No. 22 – Carolyn, Lifestyle Journalist & Founder of Almost Diplomatic!
If you connected with Carolyn’s story, want to learn more about what it’s like being a lifestyle journalist from the Philippines, or want to follow the adventures that come with being a diplomat’s wife, she invites you to connect on the following platforms.
Instagram: @AlmostDiplomatic
Twitter – @Carolific
Website – AlmostDiplomatic.com
Youtube – Youtube.com/AlmostDiplomatic
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