First Timers

http://pinoyteacherstories.blogspot.com

(Snippets of the adventure!~)

I remember, on our very first day in New Orleans, Louisiana, we were looking for sari-sari stores! There's none!!!

Unlike in the Philippines where you see stores in every corner? 

Here?, none (you miss it, but after some time, you get used to it!)

~ 
We have no car, since we just came. What did we do? You think we would hire a taxi, NOT! We walked! Yes, we were the only ones walking too!!! LOL!

So we "paraded", with "umbrella", under the heat of the sun! (We could feel people at their cars, staring! Care to the world… this is America, remember!?!)

~ 
Alas the mall! We toured some more, and thought, "so, this is the mall? THIS IS THE MALL!?" (Mmmm.. malls are more fun in the Philippines! truly!)

~ 
What about food? Let's see... Chinese Food Budget meals... $7.59 (2 viands meal) $8.59 (3 viands meal)  “What’s the current exchange rate?” “45.00 pesos”

OK, here goes... 7.59 X 45.00 = Php 341.55 divided by 3 persons = Php 113.85  divided by 45.00 = $2.53

8.59 X 45.00 = 386.55 divided by 3 persons = Php 128.85 divided by 45.00 = $2.86

Decision made: Share one 3 viands meal to the three of us! LOL!

Rule of the game the first week: convert before you eat! 

~ 
Groceries? WALMART! we were excited to see Walmart the first time that we even took pictures!!!

... and yes, we did the same, we converted dollars to pesos before deciding what to buy!

... and that was EVERY TIME we went to the stores! Truth be told! LOL!

~ 
BUT after some time though, we decided to live normal.

We stopped converting, we enjoyed walking, we lived!

First timers no more :)

NAMASTE.

"The Land of Milk and Honey"

http://gemsdaily.blogspot.com

... and then the airplane landed… I didn’t know what to expect!!!

“The land of milk and honey!, The land where dreams come true!, The land of abundance! - Here I come!!!”

I was just pumped up seeing all sorts of people, hearing different languages and smelling different odors!LOL!

Funny, I was one of those Filipinos who perceive that America will make me an automatic money-maker! (As in the moment the airplane lands, I am rich! LOL!) I was imagining the golden roads (exag! LOL!)… and that I could act like a millionaire! Super LOL!

“Mabuhay!, Kumusta na kayo?” a tall, dark and old man spoke from behind us… A Filipino!!! –working in the airport!!!... I was so happy to see one!, wait.. one more, there was another one over there!... and another one! … and then it dawned on me.. the many Filipinos who were in America already.

Nice… I was happy to listen to their stories… like a sponge, I was the eager learner, I just took everything in…

The weather? It was September then and it was soooo cold!!! (Well, coming from the Philippines, it was already colddddd for me! LOL!)

Then we rode a smaller plane to New Orleans, LA… our work place.. our final destination.

New Orleans was hit by Katrina in2005, we came two years after and what we saw was a city still struggling to keep up with the times.

It was disheartening to see the place the first time,that time, there were still a lot of rundown houses, damaged buildings and roads and desolated areas.

Reality started to bite.

Nope, there were no roads paved in gold. Nope, money-making wasn’t automatic! Nope, the "I’m a millionaire act” never happened!

The truth is America is the land of milk and honey. It is the land of opportunity. It is the land where all dreams come true. It is the land of opportunity… just like any other land…

I learn that I bring “me”, wherever I go, and wherever I am; there are the blessings of heaven and the Promised Land.

Wherever you are right now…there is your heaven. (or hell, whichever you want to create…)

The land doesn’t really matter. It is what YOU bring. It is what YOU offer. It is what YOU give.

NAMASTE.

Airport Blues

I was so excited! Well, it was actually a mixed feeling! 

At this time, I was with Louella (Checkout Louella ‘s picture here!) 

We checked in our baggage first. No problems.

It was around five o’clock in the morning, still early so we went outside again to eat some breakfast, took some pictures and after a while, we said our goodbyes.

We now walked towards the immigration line. 

 Confident, excited, anxious… and then I was asked, “Where’s your travel permit?” 

I was dumbfounded!

I don’t have one! 

My mind took a 180 degree turn! 

How will it ever be possible for me to secure one at 5 am!!!

I immediately mouthed the words, “travel permit??!!” to Louella, and she immediately whisked me away from the line. 

I wasn’t able to think clearly. I know it was impossible to have one at that time!

She took a deep breath and then asked me to follow her.

She walked towards another immigration officer! (why didn't I think of that?!)

She headed first this time.. after 30 seconds, she was approved. 

My turn (at this time, I have called on all the angels and saints!!!)... 27, 28, 29, 30 seconds... 

NO QUESTIONS ASKED, 

whew! 

Thank God!

Lesson 1: 

Be prepared! If you are a public school teacher, it is a MUST to secure a travel permit from your district. Sometimes, they will not ask for it, but you never know! Just like what happened to me!

Lesson 2:  

Presence of Mind is very important! Thank goodness, Louella has got it! :)

 America here we come! 

But, the airport in HK is so big! 

Oh no! 

We got lost!!!

Ooops!

Our baggage were dropped of in 

Los Angeles instead of New Orleans! 

Uh Oh!

Lesson 3:  

Be sure to take out all negative vibes! :)

Just thinking aloud, we are not jinxed, right? LOL!