2024 Annual Letter | Return Home

This year began with 6 months left in Hong Kong, with Swiss visas in hand and plans to move to Zurich in the summer. But life had other plans. After celebrating Lunar New Year, circumnavigating Taiwan by train and bus, and carbo-loading on boba for a week, Maricar had a feeling— after 5 years of being away, it was time to return home.

And just like that, the gears shifted. By the end of the school year, we were back in California.

Why the change?

• To plant roots.

• To be close to family and friends.

• For the familiar rhythm of the local school system.

What happened in 2024?

But before we wrapped up our International life, we squeezed in a few last adventures:

We checked off a major milestone: completing the last of Hong Kong’s long trails. That’s a total of 298 kilometers and 14,478 meters of elevation gain—most of it conquered in the relentless humidity. Each trail brought its own challenges and breathtaking rewards, making the achievement even more meaningful as we did it all together.

In April, we explored South Africa—Cape Town, the Garden Route, and Kruger National Park, where we saw four of the “Big Five” (buffalo, hippo, panther, and elephant). Seeing the animals in their natural habitat was wild. A few days in Dubai to see tall buildings, surf the sand dunes and ride a camel. A weekend trip to La Union, Philippines connected the kids to their grandparents’ roots, mapping their stories to an actual place.

And then, one final big trip: New Zealand. For the second year in a row, we piled into a green-and-purple Jucy van, circling the South Island to make sure we didn’t miss a thing. From single-lane roads (and sheep traffic) to stocking up at Pak’nSave and becoming Top Holiday VIPs, the journey felt just as important as the destination. The North Island, with its multi-lane roads and urban feel, seemed almost foreign after our adventures in the south.

We made it back just in time for the SF Marathon, a Maricar & James tradition we couldn’t miss.

Back in California

We moved in with Papa Joker and Mama Becky while making our house livable again and enrolling the kids in SRVUSD. Life in California has been an adjustment, but if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s adapting to change.

• Driving everywhere—and then having to park.

• Too much space means more cleaning and less together time.

• A nearly 20-year-old house comes with quirks: door handles breaking, leaky showers, and stubborn sockets.

There’s been plenty to love too:

• The dry, warm Mediterranean weather.

• Being closer to friends and family—and having them over.

• The beauty of Northern California, where nature and adventures are just an hour away.

Still, we’ve learned that proximity doesn’t guarantee connection. Life gets busy, and days slip into weeks if we’re not intentional. So we’re trying to keep an adventure mindset—being tourists in the Bay Area, exploring new neighborhoods, hiking, and staying out of Costco’s sample aisles.

This year marked a first for our family: all three kids are at different schools, and they bike to school daily. The first few weeks were tough—especially socially—trying to reconnect with faces and personalities from five years ago. But they’ve settled in – for the most part.

Do they miss life abroad? Sure. But they love being home and wouldn’t trade it for the alternative.

Feris (10, 4th Grade @ LOES)

Feris’s appetite has grown as much as her personality and height—she’s always snacking or helping herself to seconds. Navigating mood swings and the occasional forehead pimple, she’s starting to show glimpses of the tween years ahead. But some things haven’t changed: she still gives the strongest hugs in the family and has a way of making everyone feel loved. This year, she traded in the piano for the clarinet, and while there’s the occasional squeak, it’s infinitely better than the screech of a violin.

Lea (13, 7th Grade @ WRMS)

Lea has fully embraced her teen years with all the confidence in the world. She loves painting her nails, misting herself with trendy floral scents, and experimenting with bangs (with mixed results). Her signature style includes crop tops and a growing passion for yoga, which she practices like a pro. Her school recaps are full of social intrigue, detailing who said what, who is dating whom, and who belongs to which group—always delivered with dramatic flair. During her annual physical, she received news she refused to believe: she may have stopped growing. Determined not to let that stop her, she’s taking every opportunity to show Feris she’s still tougher—big sister energy in full force.

Jero (15, Freshman @ DVHS)

Riding his road bike has become a defining part of Jero’s identity, alongside his guitar strumming and growing list of impressive physical accomplishments. Transitioning into an American high school after years abroad hasn’t been easy, but he’s figuring it out academically and socially. His sense of humor shines through—he finds any excuse to strut around in his speedos and has a supportive water polo community.His maturity hasn’t quite caught up to his appearance—he looks like he’s grown up, even if he’s not quite there yet.

Maricar & James

MM: Midnight runs are her idea of fun, and she’s developed a deep affection for the dishwasher and sparkling water, which has become a new addiction. While she dreams of Hong Kong and occasionally wishes we were anywhere but here, a moped remains the ultimate dream. This year, she logged an impressive 2024+ miles, completing the goal weeks ahead of schedule.

JB: James ventured into the absurd this year and conquered the Quad Dipsea—a feat he once thought was ridiculous. He co-published a memoir with the kids, blending family memories with personal reflections. On the running front, he got a big DNF at the HK100. That hurt. In his uniquely thoughtful way, he celebrated everyone’s birthday by writing them a “living obituary,” because, as he says, why wait to celebrate someone when they’re still here?

As we close the chapter on 2024, we’re reminded that life is full of surprises, detours, and new beginnings. We’re grateful for the love, laughter, and lessons this year has brought, and we hope 2025 brings you all enough of what matters most.

Happy New Year from our family to yours!