Filipina Soul

Welcome again to ‘Two Cups o’ Coffee’, our own series of interviews where we casually chat with bloggers over a good cup of coffee, albeit imaginary, and exchange stories and ideas, pick brains or just get some “face”-time in the blogosphere.

Guten Tag. We’re talking with RUTH SCHAFFER from Germany, of b5media, author of Let’s Visit Asia and Eating Fabulous, and with quite an impressive resume, I might add.

FILIPINA SOUL: You’re a microbiologist, researcher and teacher by training and experience, but now you’ve expanded into journalism as a free-lance editor for scientific manuscripts, and then into blogging. In your own words you’re a wife and a mom to a “precocious” 4-year old. Tell me how everything fits.

RUTH SCHAFFER: When I became a mother, I found it difficult to strike a balance between being a mother and a lab scientist. I felt I was doing both roles half baked, so I chose to stay home and focus on motherhood. However, I’ll always be a scientist, if not by profession, then by interest and aptitude. It’s a strong foundation to the blogs I keep. Blogging about science keeps my mind sharp and in-the-know, somehow. Blogging about Asia travel, on the other hand, keeps me sane. Living in the heart of Europe, I find myself perpetually dreaming of going (back) to Asia (and the Philippines). Let’s Visit Asia keeps that dream within reach.

FS: How does your training help you blog?

RS: I write three science- and health-related blogs (Eating Fabulous, The Biotech Weblog and The Allergizer). One may not need a degree in the life sciences to write about the blogs I write, but it has helped me screen facts from hype, in judging which materials deserve to be emphasized to the public, and in interpreting the newsbits I come across and transform it into a version that can be easily understood by more people. The problem with science is that it tends to “keep to itself”, understandable and truly accessible only to people who “speak the language”. But nowadays, people are curious, and consumers are becoming more and more informed. If my blogs could help just one non-scientist understand a scientific concept, then I’ve succeeded.

As far as Asia travel is concerned, I got my training by experience, mostly on work-related trips back in the Philippines. Having traveled in the region, I feel I know Asia. However, I am not a jaded Asian traveler. There are still a lot of areas I remain clueless about. And that’s what keeps me enthusiastic about Asia and exploring its nooks and crannies.

FS: Do people need to have the necessary background to blog effectively?

RS: I suppose there is some topic where interest and passion is all you need. But, I don’t have the knowledge to be able to blog about sports or technology, and I won’t be credible to blog about fashion or personal development, for example. With ample research, I can probably whip up a few entries if you force me, but that’s not going to make the blog or me successful.

FS: Tell us about Asia Travel and Eating Fabulous, and how does being a “pinoy blogger” lend these sites their unique flavors?

RS: In Lets Visit Asia, I constantly have to fight the urge to blog about the Philippines, because after all, it’s not a Philippine travel blog. Sometimes, I end up avoiding Philippine travel altogether, except, of course, when I visit the Philippines for holidays. It’s quite tricky, actually. But being a Pinoy naturally gives me the advantage of being able to write from the perspective of an insider.

Food is very important to Filipinos. That probably explains half of my fascination with food. I don’t have hangs-up with food, and I love eating. Eating Fabulous is a celebration of food, an excuse, if you may, to eating. I don’t want to be told what I can’t eat, which food items are bad for me. I’d rather know what goodness certain food items can impart, and how eating can improve my health. I think a lot of Pinoys would share the same perspective.

FS: Wow, Ruth, it’s been productive talking to you. I’ve learned quite a few about writing better blogs… and appreciating good food too. Check out Ruth’s blogs, folks!

Tags: Asia, Filipino bloggers, Filipino blogs, health, nutrition, research, travel, science, technology