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An Attempt to Outsmart My Fish-Obsessed Friends


09 September 2015

Roxas City is full of wonderful, happy people, and the longer I'm here, the more like home it feels. Today is my last day in Capiz. I set the alarm for 7 a.m. but was up at 5:30. My laundry was still wet. I placed the clothes in a trash bag and put them inside my backpack. I should’ve had one of those Baye-Baye and a very strong cup of coffee, because the next stage was a half-hour walk to the harbor.

A couple of weeks ago, I developed what some might call a "fish problem." Prior to that, I never even thought about fish. I mean, I knew they existed, but I never really paid attention to them.

But then I started hearing some of my friends talking about different types of aquatic animals, and I became curious. What was all the fuss about? They weren't becoming marine biologists; they were just becoming irritatingly articulate about the difference between a Wrasse and a Snapper, and I began to feel like I was the only one who couldn't relate.

My mission: become a fish expert in 48 hours, armed only with a laptop and a profound fear of missing out. So, I watched as many YouTube videos as I could, and this documentary captured my attention.

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