Yes, I am not joking. I just came back from my trip that includes a visit to 3 Countries namely Netherlands, USA and Canada. No, this was not done on a whim. This has been planned for sometime. Originally, I wanted to just go to the US to renew my drivers license, see some old friends, and relive the “old days” in Philly and of course, see my sister’s family and my mother in Canada. MrC also had planned to go the Netherlands to keep in touch with his clients and business partners and of course see his family. He also missed Gouda cheese big time! In short, in the end he persuaded me to go through the Netherlands so that his friends and family can also see me. However, since the business is crazy busy these days he wasn’t able to join me even in Canada. So this is how the trip went.
Day 1-5 : Spent each day visiting our friends. One couple with a small daughter in Haarlem, another new couple who just moved to a 2 floor apartment in the suburb of Almere and finally, another couple who just moved in to a nice spacious duplex house. In between visits, we spent quality time with MrC’s family. Of course one would not forget the typical sumptuous vegetarian dinners, and almost unlimited cups of tea with the “compulsory” cake or cookie. We even went home with a “care package” bag composed of cheese sandwiches, chocolate, and oranges. Thanks to MrC’s mom and his business partner! We stayed in our usual Best Western hotel which was very near MrC’s parents house — highly recommended by his Mom of course!
Day 6: I flew to Newark. I’m glad it was a direct flight. It only took around 9 hours +. It wasn’t so easy carrying all the heavy stuff by myself though. I was carrying a lot of winter clothes that I am going to leave to my mom and sister. With a rented car and a GPS I was all set to see NJ and PA! Oh man, I just didn’t know how great the feeling was to be back again. America did feel like home to me! I stopped over a Ruby Tuesdays to have my first meal in the US of A. I couldn’t help but grin after hearing this from the waitress: “Hi my Name is Janine (not her real name) and I am your server for today” . Welcome to America!
At around 6:00pm I arrived safely at my friend’s place. This is where I would be staying 3 days out of the 5 days I stayed in the US. The rest of the 2 days was spent in my other old friend’s big house in Pennsylvania.
I’ve read somewhere that most of the time if a Filipino-expat mixed couple moves back to the Philippines it’s usually the Filipino spouse that has a hard time. I think in a way this applies to me. When I was abroad I missed things Filipino but somehow part of me has also embraced the American way of life, otherwise I wouldn’t have applied for naturalization. I am proud to be both Filipino and American but now after going back there I feel as if I am slightly a bit more “at home” in the US. Not all people are the same. My friend still subscribes to ABS CBN and GMA channels and watches Filipino shows more than ever. On the other hand, I was secretly indulging in all the American shows that I missed watching most of my free time. Thanks to having a really high speed Internet connection (40mpbs) I can watch them there on-demand. AAhh! I miss 40MBPS! Right here back at home, my “high speed” Bayantel goes up to only 1MBPS (cry).
As part of my intended re-immersion into American culture here are the things I did: (1) watched friend’s kid’s school Halloween Parade (2) Visited and shopped in a factory outlet (3) Ate Chicken Wings while watching championship baseball match in a a sports bar (4) Ate Philly Cheesesteaks in a small pizza joint in South Philly (Italian Market) while listening local folks banter about the last baseball game. (5) Drive in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Turnpike for at least 1.5 hours! Seeing the old places, and quaint autumn vistas along the hilly suburbs West of Philadelphia, I can’t really find any more words to describe my feelings but it felt like meeting an old flame, and was uncontrollably smitten. Enough said.
In Canada, I saw my sister’s family (husband, 3 kids) and mom. I haven’t seen them for at least a year! I missed them a lot. I spent a whole week attending Hockey practices and matches, sending off nephews to their school bus, helping out at my sister’s Kumon business, being interviewed by a 4 year old “Oprah style”, having breakfast in a Canadian diner, attending church with family, having a birthday dinner with family, going to the mall (of course) and eating at the Chinese food court (yummy and cheap). And having a relaxing time overall. When I was leaving the airport, my family gave me a group hug. I was touched. I held off my tears until it was time to board the plane (that long hehe!).
I went back to Amsterdam filled with fond memories, a renewed drivers license and a balikbayan box to boot which I filled up in New Jersey and will be sent via LBC thanks to my dear friend!
The next morning MrC and I took the next flight back to the Philippines.
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