The Pseudo Expat

Thelma and Kyera at Alabang Town Center in the Philippines for Kyera's ballet performance

Thelma spent the first eleven years of her life mostly in the Pacific Northwest. Her dad was in the Air Force so her family moved a few times. They lived in Houston, Texas, Portland, Oregon, Vancouver, Washington, and then back to Portland, Oregon, where her dad lost his battle with cancer and Thelma’s mom decided she wanted to return to her homeland.

She sold their house, packed everything inside, and moved to Manila, Philippines, leaving behind everything Thelma had known.

Fast forward sixteen years, Thelma’s mom had a massive stroke and passed away five days after her sixty-fifth birthday.

Kirby and his now consumed nylabone

Before becoming an orphan, Thelma became a wife, ex-wife, single mom, newscaster, broadcast announcer, executive assistant, secretary, production manager, production assistant, Mickey Mouse dresser for Disney Live, band manager, race-car driver publicist, model agent, theater actress,  morning show host and professional voice talent… among other things.

In 2007, after twenty-seven years, she and her daughter returned/moved to the U.S, returning Thelma to her first homeland and moving Kyera away from everything she had known at the age of seventeen.

Rocco's first day at our apartment in Orlando

Sometimes Thelma feels more American than Filipino; other times, more Filipino than American; sometimes, equal parts.

But for the most part, she feels mostly like a pseudo expat; a non-foreign foreigner. Like she doesn’t really fully belong to either of the two but somewhere in between where she can comfortably call either country home. The Pseudo Expat is where she dumps her occasional radio memories, her amazement with God, and ramblings on life in the third culture. And lots of bragging on her daughter. Lots.

After living in Florida for more than a year, Thelma—as a club concierge for a four-diamond property—and Kyera—as front desk support for an eye center—now call Nashville, Tennessee, home with their adopted Yorkie, Rocco and rescued Mini-Pinscher/Chihuahua mix, Kirby.

Mother and daughter both work for Christian organizations. To Kyera’s chagrin, she and her mother are frequently mistaken for siblings.