Carol Ramoran Hamilton Malasig is a diplomat’s wife. And there is so much joy in watching her stories unfold on her popular blog, “Almost Diplomatic,” and watch snippets of her day on Instagram. The world she belongs to is one that is filled with exclusivity and elegance.
But more than just being a wife, Carol is a distinguished journalist. She graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas and started her career at the former English news channel, Solar News, as its foreign affairs reporter.
She recalls that during this time she was often asked by officials if she wanted to try to become a diplomat herself, but she turned it down simply because she loved what she was doing.
“Turns out, I was destined to marry someone in the foreign service instead,” she said.
Carol continued to pursue her journalism career after marrying her husband and even worked as a lifestyle reporter for one of the country’s top digital outlets. They soon moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2014 and this was when she started blogging and freelancing for international titles like Forbes and Esquire, to name a few.
When asked what the transition was like for her, Carol looks back willingly.
“Before moving, I was rather excited to get a break from my highly stressful industry. I was not allowed to do full-time under a diplomatic visa and I thought maybe a one-year break before exploring freelancing options was a great idea,” she related.
Ever the go-getter, Carol grew bored rather quickly, “Three weeks into posting, I finished the stack of books I wanted to read. I am someone who enjoys the company of others as much as being with my own thoughts. So, after setting up the apartment and my schedule got a little too relaxed again, I found myself exploring Kuala Lumpur by my lonesome.”
She continued, “It was fun, but I found myself wanting to share my experiences, so I started contributing articles again to publications I’ve worked for in the Philippines, some magazines in KL, and outside of Malaysia.”
As for the transition, she said the most challenging part of it was carving something that belonged solely to her.
“Before I married my husband, I was a career woman in the industry of my dreams. I had a plan and the move felt like a detour. You go to diplomatic events and you are often asked what you do. It felt so weird during our first events when I was asked that question, I would say, ‘I was a journalist’ and that being in the past tense never felt right. When I found my footing again and started freelancing, I felt like my own person again. That made the move to Berlin easier because I knew who I was and what I wanted to do while working around our constant moves.”
A big part of her career trajectory is her blog, “Almost Diplomatic.”
“The blog came about at a time when people were asking me about diplomatic life. Not everyone knew what a diplomat actually does and that there’s so much more for the diplomatic spouses beyond the events, coffee mornings, and the dressing up. I wanted to shed some light on it. I also wanted to document the things I experience. I felt incredibly lucky for the opportunity to live in different places and get to know countries like Malaysia and Germany at a much deeper level.
“With my husband’s career and my freelancing as a journalist and content creator, I also get to meet a lot of interesting people who I learn so much from that I want to share as much as I can to people. ‘Almost Diplomatic’ lets me make the most out of our postings abroad but I really want it to inspire other women to go for the things they want, be whoever it is they want to be, to love our own country and culture, and live the good life within their budget.”
As a woman who describes herself as a journalist by profession who has chosen to make a career out of wifehood, I couldn’t help but ask if she thought that having balance was possible.
“It does exist but achieving balance doesn’t come easy, especially if you’re someone who has more than one role. I believe it comes with planning but also being flexible enough to take things day by day. Each morning, I check my calendar and see if it’s a day wherein I’m more of a diplomat’s wife, a journalist, or a content creator. Or maybe it’s a free day and I can spend more time being a dog-mama and meeting my friends for a coffee? Some days, I need to play more than one role, but I can be everything every single day. That’s the perfect recipe for burn out. We can be anything we want to be but not everything at the same level and at the exact same time. You need to give space for each role to grow and to be able to give your best for each task you assign yourself.”
Today, Carol relishes in the time she has left in Berlin. She and her husband are returning to Manila after six years of being away. “I am so excited to go back and get to know my country again.”
She was also gracious in giving advice for women who are experiencing the same things she did.
“Be open, be flexible. I used to plan my life down to the itty-bitty details. I still plan but I now leave room for flexibility and give myself options. If it’s your first year in a new country or city, get out there. Say yes to almost anything (as long as it’s not illegal or will get you into trouble) you get invited to. Make friends with locals and don’t just live in an expat or diplomatic bubble. Make the most out of your time at a new place, go on adventures, take photos. Collect memories, always be thankful, and never ever forget where you come from.”
This interview may have ended, but for Carol, her best adventure is just beginning.
To know more about Carol, visit almostdiplomatic.com.
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