From the Philippines to Saipan to New Mexico—30+ Years of Teaching, Countless Memories, and One Serious Coconut Craving!
By Esther D. Manzano | Suite & Stories — Personal Journey
Some people collect souvenirs when they travel. Others collect postcards, magnets, or photographs.
Me? Apparently, I collect places to call home, classrooms full of memories, and a lifelong craving for fresh young coconuts! 🥥😂
My journey has taken me from the Philippines to the beautiful island of Saipan and eventually to the desert landscapes of New Mexico.
Three places. Three different environments. Countless lessons.
And one thing that has remained constant through it all: my love for teaching.
🇵🇭 Where It All Began: The Philippines
My story began in the Philippines, where I grew up, studied, and started my teaching career.
Like many young teachers, I entered the classroom with lesson plans, big dreams, and plenty of enthusiasm.
Of course, teaching has a funny way of reminding you that no matter how carefully you prepare, students will always surprise you!
You can plan a perfectly organized lesson, only to discover that a child has a question you never imagined anyone would ask. 😂
But those unexpected moments are often the ones that make teaching memorable.
The Philippines gave me my roots, my education, and the foundation of a career that would eventually take me across the Pacific Ocean.
Little did I know that my next chapter would last more than two decades.
🌴 Saipan: The Island That Became My Second Home
When I moved to Saipan in 2000, I was beginning another adventure.
What started as a new chapter became 24 years of island life, teaching, friendships, and unforgettable memories.
Saipan was more than a place where I worked. It became home.
I spent years teaching students, working alongside wonderful colleagues, and becoming part of a community that shaped so much of my personal and professional life.
There were busy school days, classroom celebrations, challenges, achievements, and students whose faces and stories remain with me.
And then, of course, there was island life itself.
The ocean. The tropical breeze. The beautiful scenery.
And did I mention the coconuts?
Oh, the coconuts! 🥥💚
🥥 The Great Coconut Problem
Let me tell you something.
One of the things I miss most about Saipan is something wonderfully simple:
Fresh young coconuts!
Not the bottled coconut water sitting on a supermarket shelf.
Not the packaged coconut pieces that have traveled who-knows-how-many miles.
I’m talking about a freshly opened young coconut, filled with naturally sweet water and soft, tender coconut meat.
A delicious snack that tastes even better when you’re enjoying island life.
Now, fast-forward to New Mexico.
Here, if I want a young coconut, I have to look for one at the grocery store.
And when I finally find one?
It’s expensive.
And sometimes, it’s not even fresh!
Excuse me? 😂
Back in Saipan, I could enjoy the real thing. Now I’m standing in a grocery aisle wondering how a coconut became such a luxury item!
I traded coconut trees for cactus, but nobody warned me about the coconut situation! 🌴➡️🌵
After 24 years of island living, I suppose my taste buds are still refusing to relocate.
My address may have changed, but my coconut cravings certainly haven’t!
🌵 New Mexico: A Different Landscape, Another Adventure
In July 2024, I began another major chapter of my life when I moved from Saipan to New Mexico.
Imagine the change.
From tropical island weather to the high desert.
From ocean views and coconut trees to wide-open skies, desert landscapes, and snowy winter days.
Let’s just say my wardrobe had to undergo some serious professional development! ❄️😂
But moving wasn’t simply about adjusting to a different climate.
It meant starting again in a new environment, learning about another community, and continuing my teaching journey in a different educational setting.
I taught fifth grade in New Mexico, bringing with me the lessons and experiences I had gathered over decades of teaching.
And once again, I discovered something important.
No matter where you teach, children still need many of the same things.
They need encouragement.
They need patience.
They need someone who believes in their ability to learn.
And sometimes, they simply need a teacher who can make them laugh when a lesson becomes difficult.
🍎 More Than 30 Years Later, I’m Still Teaching!
People sometimes ask whether I ever get tired of teaching after more than 30 years.
My answer?
My feet might get tired, but my teacher’s heart hasn’t retired! 😂❤️
Teaching has changed tremendously since I first entered the profession.
Chalkboards became interactive displays.
Paper worksheets became digital activities.
And now artificial intelligence is opening new possibilities for educators and learners.
Along the way, I’ve continued learning, exploring educational technology, and discovering new ways to support students.
Today, one of my favorite parts of teaching is one-on-one online tutoring.
There’s something special about working closely with a student, understanding exactly where they’re struggling, and helping them discover what they’re capable of achieving.
No rushing through a lesson just to keep up with the whole class.
No overlooking the quiet student who needs a little extra time.
Just meaningful conversations, personalized instruction, and opportunities to celebrate progress.
And my favorite moment?
That wonderful “AHA!” moment when a student’s face lights up because something finally makes sense.
After all these years, that moment still makes me smile.
It’s one of the reasons I continue teaching.
💻 From Traditional Classrooms to Online Learning
My teaching journey has also led me into the world of online education, digital learning resources, and AI literacy.
Through my tutoring programs, I now help students strengthen their academic skills, build confidence in public speaking, and learn to use artificial intelligence responsibly.
I also create educational materials designed to make teaching and learning more engaging.
Who would have imagined that a teacher who began her career in the Philippines would one day be creating digital learning resources, exploring AI, and connecting with students through online classrooms?
Certainly, my younger self would have had a few questions!
Probably starting with:
“Wait…you can teach students without everyone being in the same classroom?” 😂
Yet here I am, still learning, still creating, and still finding joy in helping students succeed.
Technology has changed how I teach.
But it hasn’t changed why I teach.
❤️ Three Homes, One Heart
Sometimes I think about the places that have shaped my life.
The Philippines gave me my beginnings.
Saipan gave me 24 years of friendships, experiences, and island memories that I will always treasure.
New Mexico has given me another opportunity to grow, adapt, and discover new possibilities.
Each place has taught me something different.
Each has left its own mark on my story.
And each reminds me that life doesn’t always follow the plans we carefully write for ourselves.
Sometimes we have to begin again.
Sometimes we have to leave familiar places.
Sometimes we find ourselves thousands of miles away from the people, routines, and little everyday comforts we once took for granted.
Even something as simple as a fresh young coconut can bring back a thousand memories.
Because sometimes, what we miss isn’t just the food.
It’s the place, the people, and the life we remember while enjoying it.
🌴 Once an Island Girl, Always an Island Girl
Today, I’m grateful for every chapter of my journey.
I’m grateful for the students I’ve taught, the colleagues I’ve worked with, the communities that welcomed me, and the opportunities that continue to unfold.
I may now live in a place where cactus grows instead of coconut trees, but a part of my heart will always belong to the islands.
And if someone ever figures out how to deliver a perfectly fresh Saipan young coconut to New Mexico without charging a small fortune, please let me know! 🥥😂
Until then, I’ll keep doing what I’ve always loved:
Teaching.
Learning.
Creating.
And collecting stories along the way.
Because life, like teaching, is one long adventure.
And sometimes, the sweetest memories come with a little coconut water. 💚
💬 Let’s Connect!
Have you ever moved somewhere completely different from the place you once called home?
What little things do you miss most?
A favorite food? A familiar place? A childhood tradition?
I’d love to hear your story in the comments!
With gratitude and a little island nostalgia,
Esther D. Manzano
Suite & Stories — Stories, Brands & Digital Products
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