This is Mia who was also adopted from the Philippines. Her family lives in my hometown and we met a few years ago through Camp Mabuhay - a culture camp for families and their children from the Philippines.

Her Mom and sister drove all the way from CT to attend the Also Know As Culture Day. www.alsoknownas.org

Culture Day was developed by AKA for internationally adopted children to learn about their birth country and other cultures. Other countries represented have been Vietnam, China, and Korea.

I joined the planning committee when I first moved to NYC and helped develop arts and crafts ideas and cuisine from the Philippines. There were not many adoptees from the Philippines but I was just as happy to share ideas of my culture.

Truce kids visit Bard College

As the Junior Advocate one of my responsibilities was to go on an over night college trip of the Hudson Valley.

Eight of my juniors visited Bard, SUNY New Paltz, and Marist. They got a glimpse of a liberal arts school, private medium sized school and a state school. Though they may not attend any of the schools I think it was important for them to see what other types of schools are available.

I would have benefited from a college trip of some sort. My college counselor was pretty useless and I ended up applying to colleges I had no shot at getting accepted to. Then again he discouraged me from applying to colleges I probably would have had a chance at. Thank gosh I was involved with sports.

GO LADY BISHOPS

One of the first people that I told about my pregnancy was my very good friend RB. We have known each other for over a decade now.

She was in CA at the time and I did not make a final decision immediately though probably could say now that I knew I was going to follow through with the pregnancy.

I did need ponder about the timing of the pregnancy, finances and of course whether the baby daddy was in agreement to have the baby.

RB was planning to head back to the East and asked if I wanted to join her in AZ to drive cross country. We did drive in a record three days because RB had a rehersal to go to and because she is a veteran at driving long distances in little time. She insisted on driving the entire way and I did not object.

The picture above was taken at a rest stop in AZ.

We talked alot about motherhood, friendship and where we saw ourselves in the coming years. The road trip was exactly what I needed to clear my mind and share ALOT of laughs with RB. I hope she knows how much she means to me.......