Let’s try this again.
To all who wandered here, welcome! I’m Gale. From a bundle of nerves and thoughts to my first blog post, setting sail and crossing worlds this corner of the internet.
By now, I’d hit backspace and attempt to revise every thought into perfection until the perfect excuse kept them locked in my head. But this time, I’ll let them run. I’ll turn the page. Watch the next scene unfold. Speak these wonders into existence during coffee catchups or evening walks in the neighborhood.
And this time, I’ll write them down. And someday, they will grow and finally have a home here outside of my head.
Cross World Reads is, at its heart, a creative lifestyle blog and makeshift personal reference library that encourages people who happen to wander to this corner of the internet to let their curiosities lead to moments of wonder, awe, and gratitude in the world around us.
Books and media have played a pivotal role in my own life, as an immigrant who learned English as a second (third?) language and even now, both as an educator and a young adult growing towards wherever there is light amidst uncertainty and challenge. With creativity and inspiration in the everyday, I hope to create an archive of musings, takeaways, and creations that can be revisited and re-transformed as we navigate the cruel divisions and complexities of the world we live in.
What kind of ‘content’ to expect from Cross World Reads?
Note: In my first draft of this blog in October 2023, I initially envisioned mostly book reviews and education think-pieces and lesson plans, but since then, I want to grow beyond just using about this space as a separate outlet for my work and feel like I have the freedom to write more expansively. This is my tentative vision for that.
Bed-rot and park-ambience reading is my default pastime. I weather through seasons of exclusively binging anime or food documentaries. Every journey from destination A to B has a Spotify-playlist curated soundtrack and the occasional imaginary choreographic sequence that exclusively lives rent free in my brain.
I want to write about what I read and consume every now and then. These are the main categories of posts and content that you can expect:
- Reviews: This can include longer stand-alone reviews, mini-reviews as a series, or in discourse (if represented/adapted across different types of media). See my Review Policy for a more detailed breakdown and an upcoming post of my reader profile to get an idea of my taste.
- Collections: Curated reading list-esque collection of books, articles, screen, and other types of media around specific themes and occasions to peruse and check out. Very librarian-coded, also might be English teacher-coded (love a good text set).
The full versions will be housed on the website, but might have versions of the content on other social media channels.
Best Read: If you’re looking for something to add to a TBR or watch list or are on a hunt for more opinions/thoughts/impressions on said media.
Spark Notes (not the Study Guide software)
Sparks are bright; they can be fleeting, but they can be a catalyst for things to come. As someone who has high ideaphoria, the ideas are an onslaught at times. It’s hard to parse out how long I want to sit and play with an idea, but I want to make a home for them here. These are short and free form.
Ideal for: A quick read on-the-go for thoughts that you’d like to sit with on the train or for a cup of coffee (or at 3am in the morning if you want to do something besides stare at a ceiling)
Sometimes, the day-by-day feels like a daze. Inspired by DaisyButter and Melina Elisa’s Sundaze and Fridaze series, I really love setting aside space to capture the happenings and reflections of daily life, the wisdom, the serendipitous joys, and the wonders of how we get through it all. There will be a slight emphasis on the creative aspects of daily life, but ‘creativity’ in this context is open-minded and open-hearted. I may also note specific pieces of media that I want to archive and pass on, possibly for future recommendations.
Best Read During: The end of the week if you’re in a reflective mood, seeking perspective, or seeking a long-form alternative to social media-esque life updates
This is a space for think pieces (diary entries or essays) around my perspective of experiences related to my identities: first-generation immigrant, Filipino (from Bohol), low-income, woman of color, half-blind, and many, many beyond how people perceive/categorize ‘identity’. I chose ‘diaspora’ as the overarching theme because being a member of the Filipino diaspora plays a significant role in who I am and who I will become. This will also be a home for pieces I publish elsewhere if I have the right to do so.
Best Read During: A 10 – 15 minute read in the morning, during a lunch break, or if you have a long commute and are stuck in traffic or public transit for a looong while. Especially great if you’re looking for perspective on any of the topics I discuss.
This space is an online gallery (and makeshift portfolio of some sorts) that consists of my art journal spreads, occasional photography, and other attempts at art-making as they come up in my life. I haven’t done these as much as I used to, but I want to bring more art-making into my life again. I may also use these images in my reviews or post them on other social media channels.
Best Peruse When: You’re itching for visual inspiration and vibes in between reads and don’t have the means to stop by a museum or take a walk.
This post was an adventure to write (and rewrite), but the process was so much fun! Even though I don’t know where this is headed, I’m picking up new skills, documenting and archiving my own journey in a different modality than I’m used to, and learning more about myself on the way. Everything else is an additional gift.
For the first of many to come, thanks for stopping by!
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