Nomad Manager

JEN HORN (@nomadmanager) is a community engagement consultant, responsible travel & consumption advocate, and founder of MUNI. This personal blog is dedicated more towards her travels, personal wellness & sustainability journey, some feelings (agh!), and other word vomit.

[nomadmanager]

While in New York for a week in mid-July, I visited a few stores for friends who were quick to maximize my trip to NYC. 😜 One of them being a visit to @patagonia for @farmerenzo to trade in his worn out jacket, as part of the company’s #WornWear initiative, which allows you to trade in old or damaged items for store credit. . Although not a Patagonia clothing owner myself, I’ve always been a fan of the brand, so I was more than happy to oblige. Initially, I went to their store in Soho (5th photo) but it was unfortunately closed because it was their staff field day (“Let my people surf,” as founder Yvon Chouinard might say). 😍 . So, I made my way to their Bowery branch (1st photo, with me wearing a beautiful Esmeralda skirt from @anthillfabric, another lovely, eco-ethical clothing brand) where I was met with signs of their new water-saving, low carbon dyeing technology, and their accommodating staff who swiftly facilitated the exchange (or at least as soon as Enzo replied with what item he wanted in exchange, which took a bit of time hence a quick photo op with @yassanchez 😜) . I really didn’t feel I needed anything in the store, so I didn’t proceed to look, but if I ever realize I do need outdoor wear, I believe that money spent on Patagonia would be money well spent. . [P.S. When I was in NYC back in 2015, I also stumbled upon a roving repair caravan of Patagonia’s, making its way through a neighborhood in Brooklyn, mending clothes for free as part of its #WornWear campaign throughout the country. How can you not love these guysss?] . . . . #bcorporation #mindfulbusiness #consciouscommerce #consciouscompany #scp #sdg12 #responsibleproduction #sustainableproduction #lowcarbon #waterfootprint #patagonia #outdoor #outerwear #sportswear #athlethic #ethicalfashion #consciousconsumption #responsibleconsumption #socialenterprise (at Patagonia)

[nomadmanager]

Ah, New York. The reason why I’ve got jet lag, and am now up after a “nap” from 6pm to 12mn. 😂 . This photo was taken during the Manhattanhenge, as popularized by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History. . “Manhattanhenge, also called the Manhattan Solstice, is an event during which the setting sun or the rising sun is aligned with the east–west streets of the main street grid of Manhattan, New York City. The sunsets and sunrises each align twice a year, on dates evenly spaced around the summer solstice and winter solstice.” . Notice how the pedestrian lanes are occupied by folks trying to take photos of the sunset. Myself included lol. . 📷 July 13, 2018 | 8:17 p.m. . . . . . #newyork #nomadmanager #manhattanhenge #summersolstice (at New York, New York)

[nomadmanager]

It’s been a crazy (awesome) month, and I’ve got to take a moment to look back. 💙 . A year ago, I had unknowingly begun planning #MuniTravels while on a spur-of-the-moment month-long trip in the Visayas to get away, but also to learn more about sustainability, conservation and social enterprise. I was fiercely trying to move on from extended heartache, while grappling with the meaning of life and the next moves I’d be making. . The trip I took back then wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, and it had forced me to ask myself hard questions and really reassess what I valued. I thank the people who helped refill my cup this time last year. 🧡 . Earlier this month, I had the privilege of taking a second group of travelers on a condensed yet amped up version of this trip with me — to meet some of the people who refuel my drive to do what I do, and restore my hope in humanity and the future of the planet. ☺️ . Thank you to our Negrense hosts for your inspiring work and grounded perspectives: @dave.albao @pregaurana_ @kimikaikoa of @danjuganisland @sweep.ph, @inagaston of @haciendacrafts, Doc Anabel of @26herbgarden, Francine Uy of @freshstartorganic, @angel.treehugger & @lolapig of @hamsa.earth.consciousness, @cidnim & @lynmapa of #villamapaisa, and @tinmansinares of the Negros Tourism Office. . And of course, our fellow travelers, whose reactions to each new thing also help inspire us to keep @muni_ph going. 😍 If I were to measure impact in good tears shed, then I’d really like to believe that this trip really meant a lot to you too. 😅 . @stungbyagelafish @kaaarrinaa @vizcondenicole @jaimetapayphone @whutthebaj @laladonnabanana @rinatengco @anakristinalaaventurera I hope time doesn’t diminish the feeling you guys got from the trip too. ☺️ . Thank you for taking this journey with me. Even if I was the trip leader, it was as enriching for me to be taking this trip once again and traveling with you all too. ❤️💙🧡💚 . . . . . #munionthis #responsibletravel #sustainabletourism #sustainabletravel #transformativetravel #lifedetox #mindfulliving #consciousconsumption #responsibleconsumption #zerowaste #zerowasteph #sustainableliving #sdg12 #scp (at Talisay, Negros Occidental)

[nomadmanager]

Happy World Oceans Day! ...and happy ocean getaway with #MuniTravels Round 2 coming up! Sign up until June 10 only! 😊💙 . #Repost @muni_ph ・・・ We’re thrilled to offer a second run of #MUNITravels to #Negros on July 4-8, and this time, we've partnered with @reefnomads to give you a meaningful skindiving experience too! . It’s going to be a 5D/4N experience in Negros Occidental where you’ll have the opportunity to explore @danjuganisland, a conservation area off the coast of Cauayan, visit social enterprise @haciendacrafts, and meet like-minded change-makers in Bacolod! . Join us and learn more about marine conservation, sustainable tourism, social entrepreneurship, and the impacts of our waste on the ocean. Apply for your slot by June 10 via the link in the @muni_ph bio! 😊 . . . #danjuganisland #marineconservation #ourchoicesmatter #choosetoreuse #cutthecrap #savephseas #zerowaste #zerowasteph #zerowasteliving #consciousconsumption #responsibletravel #responsibleconsumption #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #sustainabletourism #skindiving #negros #negrosoccidental #bluemind #planetorplastic #bluemind (at Negros Occidental)

[nomadmanager]

My first time in this city was back in 2015 for @99u, and I’m going back this July, this time for @unitednations. ⁉️😬 . Anxcited to be in over my head while revisiting this city. Looking forward to walking the streets, through parks (and THE park), past pizza and falafel stores. Not looking forward to missing my train stops again and again. 🤪 . Hoping to meet other cool folks while in the city, specially those who are also into sustainability and responsible consumption & production! Know anyone I can connect with? And possibly partner with for a Muni Meetup in NYC with on July 14? 🙂Please tag him/ her and connect me! ❤️ . 📷 by @merciraymond #NYC #Greennyc #Greencity #green #manhattan #newyork #centralpark #travelingsoon (at Central Park)

[nomadmanager]

3/4 When @swimjunkieph first posted the photo of the finisher medals for #swimjunkiechallengevip2018, I was all “huhu so prettyyyy”. So pretty that you kind of really didn’t want to leave Lobo without one. . But medals are really just symbols, and for me this medal reminds me of two things: . 1) I actually finished my first open water swim. And I actually conquered the fear of the open water. I was afraid of the deep blue, but mostly I feared of death by jellies. 😬 And yes, there were jellies, and yes, I got stung. But as those jellies stung, there was only one thing to say: “not today.” 😂😅 (see entry 2/4 for a less troll-y remembrance of finishing) . 2) More importantly, I believe that the medal serves as reminder of the corals and marine life that inspired its design, and the organization of the @swimjchallenge. The Verde Island Passage (VIP) is the center of the center of marine biodiversity, and there is a lack of awareness of Filipinos about what a gem of a country we’re living in. . I appreciated the airtime given to @robertsuntay to share about VIP and his work with SEA VIP, and that @swimjunkieph had a ready answer about recycling when I asked about plastic waste produced by the event (which even I don’t have an idea how to forego altogether). . As someone who organizes events myself, there are always struggles about the impact we create while trying to communicate a particular cause. There’s still things that could be done to reduce impact and deepen the awareness, and I’m hopeful that this awareness translates to action beyond the days of the race as well. 😊 . 🌊🌊🌊 To learn more about marine conservation & protection, and sustainable, zero waste living, visit this @muni_ph page https://www.muni.com.ph/upcoming-events/, and join us for the #MuniMeetup on #APlasticOcean with @savephseas on May 26, and #MuniTravels with @reefnomads on July 4-8. 😊💙 . . . . . . #swimjunkie #swimjunkieph #conservation #marinelife #biodiversity #coraltriangle (at Lobo, Batangas)

[nomadmanager]

#MUNIonThis: What’s for lunch? And how can your food choices impact not only your own health but that of the planet? How can we reduce our food waste and source food more sustainably? . Join us for a#MuniMeetup on #SustainableDining on May 12 at @clockinbgc together with our lineup of panelists! (Scroll right) . • @farmerenzo, Chief Farmer of @earthbeatfarms; curator of @globalshapersmanila • @paulaaberasturi, convivium leader of @slowfoodph, the Manila hub of @slowfood_international; co-founder of @downtoearthph • Charlene Tan, co-founder of @goodfoodcommunity and @goodfoodsundays • @mabidavid, founder and chef behind @meandmyvegmouth • Rina Papio of #Earthventureinc, a company that turns discarded food waste into compost . Complete your registration until May 9, Wednesday only! Learn more and sign up via the link on my or the @muni_ph bio! 💚💪 . . . . . . #sustainablediner #mindfulliving #consciousconsumption #eatyourveggies #knowyourfarmer #zerowaste #zerowasteph #foodwaste #compost #eatrealfood #ourchoicesmatter (at Clock In BGC)

[nomadmanager]

#MUNIonThis: What’s for lunch? And how can your food choices impact not only your own health but that of the planet? How can we reduce our food waste and source food more sustainably? . Join us for a#MuniMeetup on #SustainableDining on May 12 at @clockinbgc together with our lineup of panelists! (Scroll right) . • @farmerenzo, Chief Farmer of @earthbeatfarms; curator of @globalshapersmanila • @paulaaberasturi, convivium leader of @slowfoodph, the Manila hub of @slowfood_international; co-founder of @downtoearthph • Charlene Tan, co-founder of @goodfoodcommunity and @goodfoodsundays • @mabidavid, founder and chef behind @meandmyvegmouth • Rina Papio of #Earthventureinc, a company that turns discarded food waste into compost . Complete your registration until May 9, Wednesday only! Learn more and sign up via the link on my or the @muni_ph bio! 💚💪 . . . . . . #sustainablediner #mindfulliving #consciousconsumption #eatyourveggies #knowyourfarmer #zerowaste #zerowasteph #foodwaste #compost #eatrealfood #ourchoicesmatter (at Clock In BGC)

[nomadmanager]

2/4 #swimjunkiechallengevip2018 [TLDR: Oftentimes, the things that hold us back are our own unfounded fears and self-talk. But when we endeavor to conquer those fears and set goals to do so, we can overcome it. The fear will still be there, but once you reach your goal, you realize you’re much stronger than you give yourself credit for.] . My first encounter with the @swimjunkieph was during an events / marketing consultancy gig on @lioelnido, where I helped the team for the first @swimjchallenge in Palawan in June 2017 . I thought to myself, “Damn, that’s so cool. I wonder if I’ll ever be brave enough to swim out to sea like that.” . In 2013/2014 (after taking skindiving training that made me realize how badly I sucked at swimming), I would have to stop to catch my breath every 1-2 laps (25-50m). . Then I just tried to swim more frequently, and my endurance improved. After a few months, I found I could go on a few hundred meters without having to take such long / frequent breaks. . I had contemplated getting lessons years before but the thought intimidated me, so I continued swimming casually, eavesdropping on other coaches teaching at the club in which I swam, and watching Youtube swim tutorials just to make sure my form wasn’t completely shit. . It really wasn’t until I decided (in December 2017) to join the #swimjunkiechallengevip2018 on May 6 that I thought, hm, perhaps it’s time I got some formal lessons. And since @swimjunkieph was only based in the south, she endorsed me to @coachmoi. . KEY 👉 I swam more consistently, and this time, with more purpose. . In theory, I should have been able to complete the race course in 70-75 minutes, but I didn’t put any real time pressure for myself in this first Open Water Swim. . I really just wanted to finish: the thought of swimming in open sea unaided still scared me so much, even if I could confidently swim the race distance in a pool. . But I surprised myself with a time of 66 minutes and 31 seconds. 😊 And I imagine if I trained harder, I could improve that time and go greater distances! . #openwater #openwaterswimmer #swimjunkie #bluemind #wateristherapy #waterismedicine #achievementunlocked #goalsetting (at Brgy. Malabrigo, Lobo, Batangas, Philippines)

[nomadmanager]

1/4 #swimjunkiechallengevip2018 Last December, I decided to face my fears of swimming in open water (without fins or snorkel) by joining the @swimjunkieph open water swim leg in Verde Island Passage (VIP) in Lobo, Batangas. . Being a noob, I chose the shortest swim distance in the series: 2.5km. 👆And this is what that looks like! 😱 (I still can’t believe it.) . People think that because I got my scuba license in 2012, I can swim (that’s a false equation). Or that I might know how to swim because I later learned how to skindive in 2013. . And while skindiving is what made me want to practice swimming more, I don’t think (proper) swimming is a skill is a strict requirement for skindiving. But it was all a part of a process for me to get more and more comfortable in the water. . I thought I would feel too chicken to ever swim in open water unaided by a BCD / tank / fins / snorkel / any flotation device, but kudos to @swimjchallenge for helping make racers feel safe with all the precautionary measures (marshals and rescue boats and divers). 👏👏👏 . . . . . #openwater #openwaterswimmer #bluemind #watertherapy #waterismedicine #achievementunlocked #viplobo #batangas (at Lobo, Batangas)

[nomadmanager]

Truth is, I still struggle to convince my family to do away with ALL the single-use plastic bags, especially on market day, when they argue freshness / shelf life and don’t see bringing food containers as a viable solution as these are hard to work with in limited fridge space. . If I lived alone, it might be different (but not without minor inconveniences), but living with other people is not a hindrance but a challenge to live more sustainably with other people. . So whenever the produce is more forgiving, I will defend the use of reusable bags (like with these mangoes and sweet potatoes that you leave outside the fridge anyway). . Now you don’t need to buy fancy produce bags to ditch the plastic, but if you’re interested in these ones, we’ll have them at the upcoming #MuniMeetup on #SustainableDining on May 12! . Sign up to join via https://www.muni.com.ph/muni-meetup-mnl-sustainable-dining-on-may-12-2018/ on or before May 9. 😉 . . . . . . #zerowaste #zerowasteph #upcycle #producebags #upcycledfloursack #floursack #marketday #zerowastemarket #consciousconsumption #responsibleconsumption #saynotosingleuse #choosetoreuse

[nomadmanager]

Made a shit ton of pesto (among other things) in the kitchen today just because. 💚🌱💪 . All the basil (and kale) that I added into the mix were some of the leftover veg I came home with from #WorldDiscoSoupDay with @slowfoodph @sfynphilippines @enderuncolleges, thanks to farmers @farmboyraffy @farmerenzo and food saver @macflorendo! 🤙 . @muni_ph is continuing the conversation on #SustainableDining (including fighting against #FoodWaste) at our #MuniMeetup on May 12! Hop over to the @muni_ph IG feed and bio for more info! 🍽 . . . . . #ZeroWaste #ZeroWastePH #FoodRescue #ZeroHunger #ResponsibleConsumption #ConsciousConsumption #ThankAFarmer #SlowFood #SustainableDiner

[nomadmanager]

#Repost @muni_ph ・・・ Happy to have new faces in the @muni_ph community at last night’s #MuniMeetup on #ResponsibleTravel! 😊 . We’re inspired by everyone’s desire to “up their responsible travel game” and also try to create impact beyond themselves by engaging their friends, families and communities! Let’s continue the conversation via the MUNI Community group on Facebook! . Thank you again to everyone who attended and helped make this meetup happen! Couldn’t have done this without the help of our partners @forestfoundationph (check out their #BFFMovement), our venue @acceler8ph, our awesome panelists from @masungigeoreserve @reefnomads and @upmountaineers, and support from @airasiafilipino @gridmagazineph @wtn_wheretonext, and @wawaisph for reef-safe sunscreen, and @greenerykitchenph for the night’s vegetarian food! . Follow our stories and feed for more updates! 😉 . . . . . #municommunity #mindfultravel #mindfulliving #consciousconsumption #responsibleconsumption #sustainabletravel #sustainableliving #sustainabletourism #mindfultraveler #munitravels #gadventures #wheretonext #grid #transformativetravel #trylocalph #culturalcreatives (at Acceler8.ph)

[nomadmanager]

Happy when I’m by the sea. 💙 . Will be sharing more posts about my recent trip #NegrosOccidental via the @muni_ph feed. In the meantime, check out Muni’s latest IG stories about our awesome first run of #MuniTravels! (Archived stories on our bio!) . It’s looking like we *could* do another run this year maybe. Comment or PM if you’re interested! 😊 . . . . . #responsibletravel #sustainabletravel #sustainabletourism #mindfultravel #danjuganisland #negros #philippines #travel #nomadmanager (at Danjugan Island)

[nomadmanager]

In life, balance is important. . A bowl of rolled oats with flax seeds, chia seeds, mashed banana, granola and dried coconut flakes...with some condensed milk. ☺️😅😋 . . . . . #healthyeats #pokebowl #granolabowl #oatmealbowl #flaxseeds #chia #banana #coconutflakes #coconutchips #granola #brekkie #goodmornings #balance

[nomadmanager]

So in between putting together sustainable living events, writing proposals & emails, creating presentation decks, going to client/partner meetings, just like any other *reasonably occupied person would do in a workweek, I‘ve decided to make time for swimming (and cut down on Netflix), and I’ve been hanging out quite a bit at these places recently. I kind of have to since I already signed up for @swimjunkieph’s 2.5km swim in May and there’s no turning back. 😂🤪😅 . Prior to the start of my training with @coachmoi, I would swim 1-1.5km as a form of relaxation...in the same way some people considered running (ugh) 🤢 to be meditative. 🤔 . But when I started training, I started to feel all sorts of tiredness that I hadn’t felt for a while now from swimming. . Oh, I know why. I wasn’t normally swimming 2k, nor was I watched by someone who would tell me my form was wrong. 💩 . This conscious effort to swim right made me much less relaxed. But I’m hoping that in time, I’ll get my rhythm, form and movement right. . In the meantime, I’ve been training for about a month and a half now and I just wanted to bookmark this here so I remember. And that I should perhaps work towards swimming 3300m 😆🤪💩and 3:10/100m. . . . . #swimjunkie #swimacademy #bluemind #openwater #waterismedicine #exceptitisalsosometimessoremuscles (at PhilSports Arena)

[nomadmanager]

Coconut crack! First tried these coconut chips by @babycafeph November last year and I was hooked! . Being a self-confessed food junkie, I’m always looking for something to munch on, and I’m usually looking out for healthier options, and I feel like a found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow with this hehe. . Normally, their chips come in craft pouches with their distributors @localedition @realfoodph etc., but I’m lucky enough to have met Gelo personally (and perhaps being @muni_ph founder helps), and I’m able to source it from them sans packaging waste for MUNI events! :) . I looove coconut errthang (almost), and I highly recommend these chips. You won’t regret it! (Or maybe you will because you’ll get hooked haha) . . . . . #zerowaste #zerowasteph #zerowastesnacks #sustainablesnacking #consciousconsumption #responsibleconsumption #coconutchips #coconutcrisps #coconutcrack #nutsforcoconut #packagefree #buylocal @muni_ph @trylocalph