I think if I stayed in America and nothing changed, I probably wouldn't have changed and grown either. Coming here and getting out of my comfort zone was a big growing experience for me. Perhaps it also has something to do with the Asian culture. They're big on respect here, and my fiance is traditional and is super kind and respectful, so I guess that also rubbed off on me.
Ive been to the PI a handful of times but only the shitty parts like subic bay. That place gave me a stronger appreciation for the states. It was fun but that's real poverty. There were kids constantly running up to us begging for money. Grown men trying to sell stuff or scam people out of their money and prostitution everywhere. I haven't been back since like 2014 or 2015. It was a blast tho money goes a lot further there.