A Year In Oz
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Stories of a Filipino nomad, roaming around the thousand islands of the Philippines and beyond in search for thet ultimate rush, the greatest adventure that ever exist, and finding the purpose of it all.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

1. What is a Nomad?
Webster Dictionary defines a nomad as:
1 : a member of a people who have no fixed residence but move from place to place usually seasonally and within a well-defined territory
-or-
2 : an individual who roams about
 
2. Why do you call yourself Xony El Nomad?
I got the Xony part from a good friend I had back in high school.
 
For all of you who still do not know me, My name is Ericson, and I am usually called by "son". Back in Highschool, I was trying to find a catchy word for my name I can use for my email address... And this friend of mine texts me "xon" when he addresses me in his messages. And I liked it. That is how it started... Then nomad eventually came because it sounds cool.
 
3. What is a Blog?
According to Wikipedia.com, A blog, from the word "web log", is a website where entries are written in chronological order. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. The modern blog evolved from the online diary, where people would keep a running account of their personal lives... It is really a huge phenomenon in the online community as people can now update and share their lives to other people and friends and vice versa. Lots of famous contemporary people already has one.
 
4. Why make a Blog?
I been planning on having one for a long time. I needed an online diary that could track the things I do and something that I can read back years from now...
 
If you really want to know, It all started when I was having trouble in school back around 2005, I was not applying myself too well because of the pressure. I really had a bad case of low self-esteem and eventually was so depressed. On my 20th birthday, I failed school and took a vacation to regroup myself. Making a blog was therapy for me... And also a way to get back on the people who did not believed in me.
 
5. What is a Travelogue and why did you choose travel as your main theme?
A travelogue or travelog is a combination of the words, travel and blog... which is a blog that gives account of the travels a person had, in chronological order.
 
Though I am just an amateur in writing but it is something that I have passion for since I was a kid. I just hid it for myself because there was no room for this kind of talent where I grew up, second is travelling. And I thought why not combine the two. Though it started to be just a personal blog in the beginning, it eventually started to be more of a travel blog later on.
 
6. Do you even go to school with all the travelling?
Yes, I'm in my last year of college now. Studying nursing, as usual. hehe. I just plan ahead to wear I go and hope that I am free at that time.
 
7. You must be rich because of travelling in other places, huh?
No, I am not. I am average. I still use money from the dough I get from my folks but I am really anticipating for the day when I generate my own... I just take advantage of the free resources I can get. A free ride from a friend who will be going home, asking for a night's stay, fishing for food, that kind of stuff. The cheaper the better... All of that is just a mix of luck, charm, and borrowing money.hehe.
 
8. How do you plan your travels?
I plan ahead using maps for my planned routes, the internet, and local advice from friends and people who I meet on the road.
 
9. What is really the name of your Blog?
Some people are confused because in the first year of my blog, I used the title "Xonic Sync Or Swim (XSOS)" , since the start of the 2nd year, it's now known as "A Year In Oz".
 
I really still don't have a final decision on what would be my title but I just made XSOS as my main title and then A Year In Oz as my subtitle. I would eventually change subtitles every year for how that year would fit me, example: A Year In Oz is the subtitle because I am deployed In OZamiz City for a year -- Sort of chapters from a book, the book having the title XSOS.
 
10. What's the story behind the blog "A Year In Oz"?.
I was not able to get the mark in Silliman Nursing standards.
 
By my fourth year, I changed school in Ozamiz though it was heart-breaking for me. I just took advantage of the situation and checked out what's in store for me in the south as it is my first time here in Mindanao.
 
11. What do you get from all of this?
A better way for me to learn is to go out on the field and experience the things for myself first-hand. I needed to take myself out from the usual, out of my comfort zone and test myself. In time, from these experiences, I might find my purpose, and learn some answers that I need as I grow up. Most especially, I can gain memories that would last for a lifetime.
 
12. What type of camera do you use in your travels?
Actually, it is nowhere near a professional camera... It's actually just a mere cameraphone... A SonyEricsson K750i phone which I got from last year. It has 2 megapixels which is good... and kinda handy and takes good pictures especially at daytime... I'm wishing to have a real digital camera soon... we'll see.