Built by an expat, for expats

About Us: Meet the Creator

Welcome to Expat BaseCamp!

I’m Big Al, a Western expat living, learning, and laughing my way through life in the Philippines. Like anyone who packs up their life and moves across the globe to East or Southeast Asia, I quickly realized that guidebooks only tell you half the story. The rest—the real, unvarnished survival strategies, the hilarious cultural misunderstandings, and the day-to-day quirks—is something you have to live to understand.

That’s why I started Expat BaseCamp. It’s a place to share practical info, observational fiction, and a bit of comedy for fellow Westerners navigating this side of the world.

The Inspiration Behind the Stories
When I’m not writing survival guides or fiction, I’m living out my own adventure with my partner, MJ—famously known around here as "That Girl from Bohol." Yes, we are a proud age-gap couple, and yes, our dynamic brings plenty of humor, unique perspectives, and daily inspiration to my work! In fact, our life together is the driving force behind my latest project, the That Girl from Bohol comic book series.

Whether you are here to figure out how to ship packages without losing your mind, look for a relatable read about culture shock, or just want to laugh at a comic strip about an expat and his Boholana girlfriend, you’ve found your basecamp.

Thanks for stopping by, and welcome to the adventure!