Somewhere in the Middle: A Journey to the Philippines in Search of Roots, Belonging, and Identity

In this energetic debut, Filipino American blogger Douglas narrates her “quest for self-identity” while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines, a country she knew little about despite being the birthplace of her father. She lived in the country from 2011 to 2014, and tells of life in Baguio City, “the salad bowl of the Philippines” located in the mountainous Cordillera region. Douglas’s introduction to Filipino culture is thwarted at first by her vague grasp of the language. Assigned to a local school and community center, she forges relationships with co-workers over snack and coffee breaks as she discovers that, for Filipinos, “sharing a meal means generosity, kinship, connection.” Some of Douglas’s observations, however, can verge on whiny (while in a hospital being treated for asthma, she says, “This isn’t what I envisioned when I first learned I would be living in the Philippines”). On the other hand, Douglas’s stories of weekend trips to remote, unspoiled areas for hiking, caving, and waterfall climbing are high points, conveying her thrill of exploration. It’s her efforts during her stay to integrate music into her life—via guitar lessons, choir rehearsals, and monthly coffeehouse music sessions—that enable her to form lasting friendships. Douglas is an amiable narrator, and those searching for their own roots will take pleasure in this heartfelt memoir. [em](BookLife) [/em]