I Came Back to 3D Three Times. Here’s Why.

When I first booked my four-week stay at 3D ACADEMY in Cebu, I didn’t expect anything life-changing. I was working in Tokyo, juggling long hours in a corporate job, and I needed a break—just a “language vacation.” My plan was simple: study a little English, enjoy the tropical weather, and return to Japan refreshed.

But what happened during those four weeks shifted something deep inside me. It wasn’t just the English lessons or the structured daily routine. It was the sense of connection—with my roommates, my teachers, the staff, and the city itself. And that’s what brought me back. Not once, but three times.

This is my story.

First Visit: The Unexpected Power of Community

I arrived in Cebu on a rainy Sunday afternoon, nervous and unsure.

It was my first time in the Philippines, and I had no idea what to expect. I’d signed up for four weeks at 3D ACADEMY, hoping for a short break from my stressful job in Tokyo—a “language vacation,” nothing more.

But from the moment I stepped into the 3D dormitory, something felt different.

The receptionist looked up, smiled warmly, and said,
“Welcome home.”

That small phrase hit me.
It felt too soon to call this place “home.”
But somehow, deep down, it gave me comfort.

My first night, I shared a room with two students—one from Vietnam, the other from Korea.

We spoke in awkward English, stumbling over simple phrases.
I felt embarrassed. Afraid to make mistakes.
But my roommates didn’t laugh.
They nodded, helped me find the words, and told me,
“Don’t worry. We’re all learning.”

By the third day, we were already sharing snacks and inside jokes.
That’s when I realized: I didn’t just join a school.
I had joined a little international family.

The classes were challenging—four one-on-one lessons a day plus group classes.

At first, I hesitated every time I opened my mouth.
But the teachers were kind.
They smiled, listened, and corrected me gently.
One of them, Ms. Lyka, said something I’ll never forget:

“Mistakes mean you’re trying. Keep going.”

That line became my mantra.

Outside of class, Cebu became our playground.

We went to Ayala on weekdays, Moalboal on weekends.
We cooked ramen in the shared kitchen, tried halo-halo in the streets, and once, we stayed up until 2 a.m. talking about life goals.

One night, we had a dumpling party with students from Taiwan.
Another time, a Brazilian friend taught us how to grill churrasco.

We weren’t just learning English.
We were learning how to live together, across cultures.

After four weeks, my TOEIC score had improved by 100 points.

I had better grammar and a longer vocabulary list.
But that’s not what mattered most.

What I gained was something deeper:
Confidence.

For the first time in years, I felt capable.
I felt heard.
I felt like me—a version of me I hadn’t known before.

I came for English.
But I left with courage.
And a sense of connection I never expected.

That’s when the seed was planted.
Someday—I knew—I would be back.

Second Visit: A Pause After the Storm

A year after my first visit to 3D, everything in my life turned upside down.

My company went through a major restructuring. Departments disappeared. Colleagues left. I was offered a new position—but something inside me said no.

So I quit.

It was terrifying.
For the first time in my adult life, I didn’t have a plan.
I felt like I was floating in space, with no anchor.

But then I remembered 3D.
I remembered the peace I’d felt there, the clarity.
The version of myself that had emerged in that simple, sunny school in Cebu.

So, I booked a ticket.
And I went back.

This time, I stayed for eight weeks.
Longer than before.
Not because I needed more grammar or listening practice—
But because I needed space to breathe.

I enrolled in business English courses, thinking maybe it would help with whatever job I found next. I also joined the IELTS group class, just to challenge myself. But honestly? The tests weren’t the point.

This second visit wasn’t about improving my English.
It was about restoring my mind.

My daily routine was simple.

Wake up early.
Breakfast in the cafeteria with students from Thailand and Mongolia.
Morning one-on-one classes.
Lunch.
Afternoons journaling under the mango tree or walking laps around IT Park with a coffee in hand.

And in those quiet moments, something strange began to happen—
I began to hear myself again.

I had been so busy in Japan.
Meetings. Deadlines. Expectations.
Everything had been scheduled to the minute.

But here in Cebu, there was space.
Space to pause.
To question.
To imagine something new.

I started asking myself:
What do I really want?
What kind of life am I building?
What does success mean to me now?

On Tuesday evenings, I joined a volunteer group visiting a local orphanage. It was a program introduced by one of the Filipino teachers at 3D.

The kids were full of energy—laughing, running, curious about everything. At first, I thought I would be helping them. Teaching English, offering support.

But it was the other way around.

They helped me.
Their joy, despite having so little, reminded me of the basic things that truly matter:
Connection. Kindness. Presence.

One girl hugged me at the end of the night and said,
“Thank you for coming back.”

She didn’t even know me before.
But still—those words landed deep.

Outside the classroom, my second stay was quieter than the first.

I didn’t join every weekend trip. I wasn’t chasing nightlife or adventure.
Instead, I found myself spending evenings on the rooftop, watching the sunset melt into the ocean.

One night, as the sky turned purple, I whispered to myself,
“I’m okay.”

And I meant it.

3D had become something more than a school.

It was a sanctuary.
A retreat.
A quiet place in the middle of my noisy life.

It gave me permission to pause.
To step away from the chaos.
And to simply exist.

Not as an employee.
Not as a test-taker.
Just as me.

When the eight weeks ended, I didn’t want to leave.
But I knew I was ready.

Not because I had found all the answers.
But because I had found something more important—
The strength to keep asking.

Third Visit: Coming Home

Three years after my first visit, I found myself on a flight to Cebu once again.

Not because I needed to improve my English.
Not because I was lost or at a crossroads.
This time, I came back for one simple reason:

I missed it.

I missed the sound of students greeting each other in the cafeteria—half English, half laughter.

I missed the rooftop BBQs, the smell of grilled meat mixing with ocean breeze.

I missed the school, not just as a building, but as a feeling.
A place that once helped me stand up again.
A place where I could simply be.

So I returned. Quietly.
No big plans. No goals.
Just a suitcase, a journal, and a craving for peace.

This time, I booked a private room. I wanted a bit more solitude, a slower rhythm.

I enrolled in just two classes per day—enough to stay connected to English, but not so much that I couldn’t wander, reflect, or nap when I needed to.

I spent mornings at my favorite café near IT Park—where the barista still remembered my name and my usual iced Americano.

Afternoons were for walking.
Sometimes to the beach.
Sometimes nowhere at all.

On weekends, I took familiar trips: Bohol’s white-sand beaches, Moalboal’s sea turtles, the mountain air of Busay. But this time, everything felt a little different.

Not because the places had changed.
But because I had.

Back at 3D, I ran into a few familiar faces.

A staff member remembered me and said,
“You’re back again! You really are part of the 3D family.”

I smiled. I didn’t say much. But inside, I felt a deep, quiet warmth.
Yes—I was back. But more importantly, I belonged.

One evening, I joined a rooftop dinner. A new batch of students was there—nervous, excited, just like I had been years ago.

I listened to them talk about their first week, their struggles with pronunciation, their fears of speaking out loud. And I just nodded.

Later that night, one of them turned to me and asked,
“Is this your first time?”

I laughed gently.

“No,” I said.
“My third.”

They looked surprised. “Wow. Why do you keep coming back?”

I paused, then answered honestly.

“Because it’s the only place I’ve ever gone where I feel like I can breathe.”

On my last night, I sat alone on the balcony outside my room.

The city lights shimmered in the distance.
Jeepneys moved below like fireflies.
The humid breeze carried the sound of someone singing “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran from a nearby karaoke bar.

And I thought: I’m not a visitor anymore.

Cebu had become my second hometown.
And 3D? It was no longer just a school.

It was part of my story.
Part of my rhythm.
Part of me.

Why Students Come Back

You might wonder: why would anyone come back to the same English school three times? Don’t you already know the lessons? Isn’t it just repetition?

But 3D isn’t just about English. It’s about transformation.

• The first time, I came for self-improvement.

• The second time, I came for healing.

• The third time, I came for belonging.

At 3D, I learned that growth doesn’t stop after graduation. The teachers taught me grammar and vocabulary, yes—but they also listened to my stories, helped me through rough days, and encouraged me to keep going.

The school changes with you. Each time I returned, I was a different person—and 3D met me exactly where I was.

A Message to First-Timers

If you’re thinking about studying abroad but feel unsure or scared, I get it. I was you. I hesitated too. But taking that first step to 3D ACADEMY changed everything.

Start with just four weeks. Come with no expectations. Open yourself to the people around you.

You’ll leave with more than just English skills.

You might leave with a new sense of purpose.

And who knows? You might be back again.

Why I’ll Keep Coming Back

People often ask me, “Will you go back a fourth time?”

I always smile and say, “Why not?”

Each season of life brings different challenges. And now I know: when I need time to reflect, reset, or just feel at peace, I have a place I can return to.

3D doesn’t just teach English.
It gives you the space to become a better version of yourself.

That’s why I came back.
That’s why I’ll keep coming back.