I Suck (at Smalltalk)

I confess.🫣 I haven’t been sharing my articles with you lately. 😅 I’ve been feeling shy about popping into your inbox, worried my updates might be boring. 😆 What a drama queen!!! 😂 I’ve been writing, though! A LOT. I’m officially a writer now. (NOW?! Yep. Now lang .) Honestly, it’s the first time I’m really seeing myself as a writer. Even though my CV has: copywriter, speechwriter, ghostwriter...

Writing about these life adventures on the eve of Mikel’s birthday. Fitting! He’s a big source of motivation to move my ass and make memories. We only live once. He turns 36 this Monday, July 22. 💕 My First Van Adventure Even before the surf-obsessed Basque stranger I met in Siargao invited me to go on a trip on his van, I was already eyeing the tiny house movement . My interest in small-space li...

So… After writing this article, I watched a documentary on child labor in Philippine gold mining . It put things in perspective and my problems now feel so puny. If you can, please take the time to watch it. 💕 Public speaking has always been a gut-twisting source of cringe. Around strangers, self-consciousness and the pressure to sound articulate bubble up to a boil then leave me and my nerves in...

I was chatting with my mom and sister about memory loss and fears of dementia. The World Health Organization says there are over 55 million people worldwide with dementia . My heart goes out to families that witness their loved one suffer through it. I understand the concern to finding a cure or, at least, ways to mitigate its effects. As if the universe was eavesdropping (It was most likely just...

Scroll to the end of the article for Tips to Support Someone in Grief . Aprovechar : to make the most of. That's the verb I'd use to describe my six-month unemployment phase . I dove into a whirlwind of courses, volunteered for various events and organizations, and met countless inspiring individuals. It was a period of intense learning and personal growth, and though it left me a bit spent, I'm i...

Hello, lovely person! This is Janine Ramirez, reluctant creator of the 'I Suck at Smalltalk' podcast. Ten episodes in, and it's already been so fulfilling. The biggest lesson I've learned in this podcast journey is that… I don't actually suck at small talk. Or at least I don’t anymore! Haha! Seriously though, I am so grateful to the friends that agreed to be interviewed by me, who fought the cring...

"Te sientes como humano otra vez?" (Do you feel like a human again?) My friend's question echoed in my head after emerging from a much-needed shower. I had spent the past 24 hours shuffling from couch to toilet, courtesy of a vicious stomach flu. Worst of all, I wasn't at home; I was crashing at a friend's place in Barcelona for what was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway. Argh! Here I thought m...

I almost fell into the garbage container.🤪 I swung my big bag of basura , slipped on the sidewalk, and almost dove in. Funny. 'Coz I've been feeling like garbage lately.😬 Ring the shame bell. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was dragging me down over the New Year celebration. I choked it up to being professionally lost. Then during my short psychology course on self-awareness and self-este...

🎶 Chestnuts roasting by the corner stand. The scent of churros & choco finds my nose.🎵 Yuletide carols and lights never tire. And folks non-stop shopping by the riooo…🎶 I'm rhyming it with the song.😅 Haha! I do enjoy Christmas feels! As long as it's without Manila traffic and all the rush.😜 Frosty Donostia, with the fiesta de Santo Tomas , lights, and Christmas market by the river, feels fest...

Tamad (Lazy) to read? I speak the article (and ramble 😜 ) on the audio version. Or click here to skip to the year-end reflection questions . Not feeling the ‘Life Design for New Year’ vibe? I have new podcast episodes you can check out instead! 🙌🏻 For the majority of my conscious life, my sense of direction came, not from specific objectives, but from an ideal self. What kind of person do I wan...

Kax Uson, seasoned product manager in Barcelona, joins this episode to help process the FilipinA experience abroad, specific challenges to building a successful career, and the annoying imposter syndrome that pops up. Her face absolutely lights up when she starts talking about her mission to empower women in the tech industry! If you connected with Kax and her cause, subscribe to her newsletter an...

Craving meaning in your achievements? Contemplating a move to the UK? Meet the super Pinay thriving in her career in the UK healthcare industry: Marian Gureng. We're diving into the art of balancing confidence without arrogance, tackling accents, navigating motherhood, and her jaw-dropping experience managing a team for conjoined twin surgery. The Science geek in me turned giddy! I’m so glad I had...

"Soy Janine y soy de Filipinas." Every introduction in this city brings forth the inevitable question, "So what brought you here?" My response is simple: Love. I cringe but it’s true!😆 With this blog revealing how my life and self is unfolding abroad, I thought it fitting to share what brought me to my new home. So I'm embracing my cheesiness to share the love story that doubles as my Donosti ori...

I made kwento a bit more in the audio ☝🏻️ so hit play there if you aren’t annoyed with my voice and don’t mind hearing me talk about the trip instead. Links and photos available throughout the post! Two personal revelations from my London escapade: * I’m a geeky, tireless, kuripot traveler. Geeky because I gotta know the history and trivia of the spot. Tireless because I can walk endlessly and ho...

Nikki was the anchor of my teen years, tackling boy drama with Spice Girls magic.😂 Her blend of fun, likeability, organization, and responsibility was truly admirable. While I always knew she'd excel in any career, our recent conversation unveiled to me her incredible journey in architecture and design. Tune in as we chat about her Master's at Parsons School of Design in NYC, her lighting design...

I mustered the courage to attend an event about the Circular Economy all by lonesome.🙌🏻 Overcoming my fear of small talk (in Spanish!), I made at least four new connections with amazing people making a real societal impact. I was charged and inspired! I had the pleasure of connecting with an experienced environmental advisor who shared some incredible insights. Equally inspiring was a wonderful...

There are some people with whom you share such a strong bond that you can always pick up right where you left off. Claudine Liljedahl is one of those people for me. (Love you, Din!) Even after years of being out of touch, we can snap our fingers and discuss her life, career, and lessons from moving to Scandinavia. Close to the end of the convo, she introduced the term ‘microaggressions’, which led...

In the buzz of the digital age, the term "Attention Economy" has been making the rounds. Sound familiar? It's a game-changer. The concept that our attention is like a currency with real value in dollar signs wakes me up from my digital coma. Companies are making big bucks out of our clicks, reads, and reacts. (Our data, too! But that’s another post. Haha!) I’m conscious of it now every time I clea...

Lately, I've been pondering womanhood, the unsung challenges, and the strengths that define us as a gender. Read on (or listen to the audio version!) and let me know your thoughts. Not Many People Know This Horror Story It happened on my first night in Budapest. I was traveling alone and I hopped on the nightly river cruise to see the city lights from their main water channel. Lovely! Another grea...

Have you heard of Gallup's StrengthsFinder? It's one of those personality tests, like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (I'm an INJF) and the Enneagram (I'm a Type 1). StrengthsFinder, now called CliftonStrengths , focuses on identifying your top 5 strengths, which tend to remain consistent throughout your life. The idea is to cultivate these strengths instead of dwelling on frustrating weaknesses....

Mon is the karaoke-performing knight in shining armor that stole my sister Patty away from the clutches of Metro Manila. Ha! I’m so grateful for all the times they let me third wheel with them. And I’m lucky-AF to have Mon and Patty to swap “living abroad” stories with! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janinay...

I met Nicole over four years ago when we took Spanish classes in El Aula Azul. We would do random things together, from practicing Spanish to playing Bananagrams, and even attempting to kayak to Isla Santa Clara on a not-so-safe-for-kayaking day. I'm thrilled to catch up with Nicole and hear about her Pyrenees adventure and how she’s recovered from a recent fall. This is a public episode. If you w...

Join this captivating conversation as we explore the real struggles faced by an Asian, Filipina woman in the fast-paced world of kitchens around France. Chef Sinag Adviento shares her firsthand experiences, tackling issues like machismo, language barriers, and the relentless determination that keeps her thriving abroad. Discover the importance of grit and resilience in this eye-opening and fun cha...

Do you search for recipes online like I do? Here’s the scenario: I’m looking for a simple recipe with the ingredients and instructions formatted in bullets, but recipe sites dish out endless tales before revealing the coveted content. They start with the origins of the entrée, cooking tips, alternative ingredients, health benefits, the author’s love for garlic, and more, all before they finally sh...

My dog’s name is pronounced gil-yan, like the seashell chocolates. He was from Tito Andy’s first dachshund litter. Thanks, Tito Ands, for giving me Guylian who may well be the greatest gift of my life. Also thankful to Yaya Leds, Mang Edgar, and my mom for being Guyli’s family and safe space as I explored the world. I may have cried all the tears saved up over the past years; tears I’ve held back...