About the blog
The first chapter of The Philiad revealed the protagonist volunteering in Bolivia. The second found him teaching in Mexico. In this the third chapter the protagonist has moved to New York and become a starving student. Although the scenes change, certain themes remain the same. The Philiad is a frustrated travel blog; it would like to be a Philodyssey, but the name had no ring to it, and anyway the protagonist is far too sedentary. Still, it mostly deals with travel, just in a very slow and relatively unepic way.
About the boy
Raised in Australia, the protagonist has been adrift – usually alone – since 2005. In the course of his travels he has picked up an odd assemblage of tastes and fixations. He has a thing for ruins (both ancient and modern), and another possibly related thing for skeletons. He is probably better with animals than people, and probably better with books than animals. He is often guided by his stomach.
Are you deciding to live permanently in Mexico, if so where?? Its my first time reading a blog post about an Aussie in the Americas =D
Hi Diana, thanks for commenting!
This is definitely not a permanent move! I’ll be living in Guadalajara, Mexico for a couple of years. Basically as long as it takes to see a good part of Mexico and nearby countries. I don’t know where I’ll be headed after Mexico but I’m definitely not done with the Americas.
Thanks for taking the time to read….
We’ve talked movies, but I am just now getting around to reading the “About me” part of your site. What a life! I’m so jealous that I don’t have the opportunity to get out of the country (no time, yet). Anyway, considering my new interest in all things (and people) Spanish, I am really enjoying living vicariously through your blog.
HVB
Hi Phil,
I think we may have a common friend, Kelly, and that shortly before my relocation to Spain I got in contact with you regarding teaching English. Sound familiar?
BTW reading your posts is somewhat unsettling for their similarity to some of my own. We never did meet. I’m still in Madrid, 5 years after leaving Oz.
I’ll keep reading!
Nik
Hey Nik, thanks for commenting. 5 whole years in Madrid? My paltry six months there feel like such a haze; I would love to come back and get to know the city properly. Glad to know there are some like-minded bloggers out there. I’ll be linking to your blog and dropping by from time to time. Are you settled in Spain for a good while longer yet? I haven’t heard from Kelly in years. She’s still carving up London though, isn’t she? Thanks for reading…
If you do return to Madrid, to settle or visit, make sure you get in contact. I’m sure I’ll be here (I still feel like I’m just getting started).
Hello,
I am a writer & moderator for BlogExpat and truly enjoy the blog. We recently started a new project where we feature expat interviews and I was hoping you would be interested. It would entail a brief questionnaire with a personal introduction, questions about being an expat, and a picture.
If you are interested, please let me know and I will send the questionnaire. In any case, keep up the great work.
Cheers,
Erin Porter
ExpatBlog Interviews
Sounds great! I’ll be in touch. Thanks for reading…
Hey Philip, I was wondering if you could add my friend Nomadic Samuel to our Rukus Intl. group?
Also, Samuel and I started a facebook group and wanted to know if you wanted to join. The concept is a lot like Tribrr. Basically, its going to be a tight knit group and we all cross promote eachother.
What do you think?
Also, what are you studying at NYU?
Cheers,
best,
Leif
Hi Leif!
I’ll be studying International Education at NYU. I tell everyone though, it’s not so I can be a teacher. It’s more like building education programs for developing countries (in my case, in Latin America).
Anyway, I’ll invite your friend as well, just let me clear up whether some other invitees are going to join first. And for sure, add me to the facebook group, sounds great.
Hope all’s well…
Gasp. You finally put up a picture!
Ha ha ha it’s been there for months! This page is almost 6 months out of date – haven’t updated it since Mexico. Stay tuned though, it’ll be getting a facelift over Christmas.
Love it!
I really like your blog and the range of topics you write about. I just found you so now I’ll have to tune in more often!
Interesting blog, like the graffite photograraphs. waiting to hear more about your experiences