this is the last installment (finally) of my series of stories about my US trip.  this may be longer than usual, since it covers three days, including my trip and arrival back home.  as always, i do hope you enjoy reading it as much as i enjoy telling it. 

november 22-24, 2007 – thursday to saturday – "mixed emotions" – these three days felt like one big, long day for me.  i woke up early since we're supposed to attend thanksgiving mass at 9AM.  one thing that was constant in my head was that i was already leaving that night.  i don't know if i was excited, apprehensive, sad, or whatever.  subconsciously, my six-day vacation changed some things in me.  i didn't know how or why, but it was the first time i felt strange in such a long, long time.  i immediately took a shower upon getting up and i can already smell the turkey from the kitchen being cooked for tonight's celebration.  we had a light breakfast before heading off to church.  it was way colder than usual, as i shivered upon getting off the car and walking towards the church entrance.  we had brought some canned goods to be offered as per instructions by the priest this past sunday during mass.  when the mass started, the church was fully packed with people.  again, it was very solemn and meaningful, and i felt moved by the event.  after the mass, everybody was greeting each other "happy thanksgiving" so i naturally got caught up in the emotion and joined in.  hugs and handshakes were all around outside the church grounds even with the very cold temperature as both friend and stranger greeted each other on their way to their separate destinations.

thanksgiving holiday in the US is compared to holy week in the philippines where virtually everything shuts down.  very, very few cars were on the road and what i was used to seeing during the last couple of days was way different from today.  good thing denny's was open so we decided to have brunch there since we'll be busy preparing for tonight and not have time for lunch.  i got the breakfast platter consisting of scrambled eggs, bacon, two kinds of sausage, and muffins.  we went over the plans for tonight since the thanksgiving celebration will be held at one of my cousins' house in vacaville.  the plan was to be there by 6pm and have dinner at 7pm, then leave at around 9:30pm for the airport for my flight scheduled at 12:15am.  we got back home just before noon and my aunt immediately continued to work on the turkey, my mom with the fruit salad, while i went over my things one last time to check if everything is in place and ready to go.  my mom would occasionally help me with my stuff, especially with the handcarry luggage i'll be bringing, carefully deciding which items would be included so as not to look bulky.  princess dropped by (much to my forbidden delight) to see her aunt and get some stuff to bring to the party.  she was still unsure if she will make it on time for dinner, but will definitely follow.  she went over to me and gave me a tight hug, pecked a kiss on my cheek (incresing forbidden delight!) and wished me a safe trip back home right there and then, just in case she won't make it in time for me to still be at the party.  i reciprocated the act and said "thank you and i still hope to see you later at the party,"  to which she replied, "yeah, i hope i make it" and then left.  at least i got to say goodbye to her and froze that hug and kiss in my head while i watched tv, with all my things done.

after taking another shower which would be my final one on this side of the world, we had some photo ops and i then brought the box over to the back seat of the car since it won't fit in the trunk, followed by my other check-in luggage which can fit in the trunk.  i took a very good last long look at the house which was my home during the last six days, for it might be a long time until i set my eyes on it again, and slowly got in the car.  my mom carried the turkey on her lap, with the other stuff in the trunk and my aunt began the long drive to vacaville.  on the way, i savored looking at the establishments in the vallejo area for the last time and thought to myself if they would still be there the next time i come visit.

it was already dark, but only a couple of minutes before 6pm when we arrived.  the housing complex had a separate parking area for non-residents so we took a short walk to the house after parking the car.  upon entering the house, there were some other filipino guests (friends of the host) who were there as well.  again, hugs together with "happy thanksgiving" greeted me as i was introduced to everyone in the room.  i guess the hug is the universal greeting on this side of the world, and i was thinking, if this happened in the philippines among strangers, sexual harrassment suits will be flying left and right.  the host offered me a beer to which i graciously obliged.  i had two bottles of coors light which tasted good especially being ice cold and had nacho chips on the side as an appetizer for dinner.  we mingled with the other guests while waiting for my other cousin (juno's owner) before we begin dinner.  the dinner table already has the turkey, some chicken, nachos, bread, rice, pancit and salad.  much to my forbidden delight again, princess made it in time for dinner.  my other cousin, who brought juno along, followed suit and it was time to say grace before partaking dinner.  the host said thanksgiving grace, with a special mention of me having a safe trip later on and then, dinner was served.  it was the second time i tasted turkey meat and this time around was better than the first.  overall, it was one of the best dinner celebrations i have had, and a very memorable first thanksgiving celebration.  some of the guests started to leave immediately after dinner while the ones who were left engaged in conversations.  i finally got the chance to get a picture taken of me together with princess (posted on my friendster profile) and she then too, had to leave.  i got a second serving of her hug and kiss and i jokingly asked her when will it be her turn to visit the philippines.  she told me that she might go next year (2008) and i told her to let me know when.  she wished me a safe flight and said her rounds of goodbyes to the other guests and left.  after a couple more minutes, it was time to make the trip to the airport.

i thanked my cousin the host for a great thanksgiving dinner and went around the other guests and bid my goodbyes to them.  it was a bittersweet feeling leaving the place for instead of going back to vallejo, i'm headed to san francisco international airport.  it was my aunt, my mom and me.  traffic was quite moderate on the freeway heading to the airport.  i was still having a plethora of emotions running through me at that moment.  i was dropped off at the departure area and was told to wait at the lobby while my aunt parked the car together with my mom.  after getting a trolley and placing my things, i went to the airline check-in counter to get my tickets.  i still had another stopover at taipei before heading straight to manila.  i asked the counter person for a window seat to which he granted my request.  after checking in my luggage, i got my tickets and waited for my mom and aunt.  i saw them walking towards me and upon meeting, i told them that i already checked-in.  we proceeded to the security area near the gates and sat down for a
couple of minutes while waiting for just the right time to proceed to security checks and boarding.  i used the opportunity to thank my aunt for her hospitality and that i hope to see her soon.  i wished my mom luck as she tries to find work during her stay unti around may 2008.  we also went through some procedures upon arrival since i'll be flying alone for the first time.  i told my mom not to worry and that i can handle everything.  we finally said our goodbyes to each other just minutes before midnight and i proceeded to the security check.  showed my passport, ticket, removed my shoes and belt and placed it along with my handcarry luggage on the conveyor belt and passed through the security check.  upon gathering my things, i waved goodbye to my mom and aunt from a distance and they waved back, then i went to the boarding gate.

i didn't wait long as boarding commenced.  i got a window seat at the right side of the plane this time.  an american couple in their mid-twenties sat beside me.  not sure if they're married, but judging from the looks of it, i guessed they were not.  after everyone has settled, the plane taxied its way to the runway.  the feeling was all too familiar when the plane roared for takeoff.  i was glued to looking outside the window as i slowly become detached from the ground below and the buildings kept growing smaller and smaller until only the string of lights are the ones visible from our current altitude.  i silently said "goodbye" to the western hemisphere and recalled all of the things i have done during the last six days.  "dinner" was served shortly after the plane stabilized to its cruising altitude and it was quite weird eating a meal after midnight.  the woman beside me initiated a conversation by asking where i was headed.  i told her that i was heading home to manila after spending thanksgiving week in vallejo.  on her part, she said that they are headed to indonesia for a vacation and also had taipei as a stopover.  i asked if they have ever been to the philippines, and i was told that they haven't.  being the unofficial ambassador of my country, i gladly encouraged them to try and visit it sometime and also try the beaches in boracay and other local tourist spots.  her boyfriend was busy with his PSP while we were having the conversation.  'twas only a short one though, as i felt quite sleepy after dinner and excused myself to go to the restroom first before sleeping.  it'll be a long flight, so nothing to do but sit on my ass and either watch in-flight movies, listen to my mp3s on the ipod or sleep.

i arrived in taipei at around 5:30am saturday morning.  looking back, i left shortly after midnight friday, and now it's saturday morning.  spending a whole day on a plane doesn't feel good at all.  it's as if you skipped an entire day.  i said goodbye to the american couple and wished them well on their vacation.  i didn't bother to get their names since it'll most likely be the last time we'll be seeing each other.  i underwent another security check at the transferring gate and patiently waited for the boarding flight back home.  it was raining in the area, and i recalled that a day before i left, there was news of typhoons hitting the philippines.  though i was quite concerned with the weather conditions en route to manila, if the situation was that bad, we should've heard some kind of announcements by now, so i just remained calm.  after close to an hour, boarding began and before i knew it, i had that same swallowing feeling while taking off.  to my surprise, the weather upon entering philippine airspace was sunny.  no rain whatsoever.  the two-hour flight was quite short and i found myself seeing familiar terrain when landing sequence began.  upon touchdown, i whisphered to myself, "home… i'm finally back home," recalling the week that has passed starting from leaving the country, to arriving again.

i immediately sent an sms message to my brother upon landing, telling him that i just landed.  going through immigration took quite a while as a large number of people were queued up.  after passing through immigration, i went to the carousel to get my luggage.  out first came the box.  it took several more minutes for the other luggage to come out.  i went through customs easily, then i sent another sms message to my brother saying that i'm heading out to the arrival area.  he replied that he'll be there in 10 minutes, so i took my time in heading outside.  the warm tropical weather greeted me as i moved out of the confines of the airport.  i didn't wait long as i saw the family car headed towards my direction.  my brother then got out of the car as i carried my luggage towards the trunk.  i placed the box at the backseat of the car and in a few minutes, we were off.  i held my brother in his shoulders as we were headed out of the airport area, visibly glad to see him.  my sister is in the backseat and i nodded to her as she welcomed me back.  we stopped for lunch at yellow cab and had pizza, then headed back home.  the sign of "welcome home" was posted on the main door as i arrived home quietly just after 1pm.

as i settled into the sofa, i took stock of my entire week's experience.  it all seemed like a blur even though it was six full days.  maybe it was being always on the move or doing something everyday that made it seem like it was only yesterday.  one thing is for certain, that week's worth has changed a lot of perspectives.  it opened my eyes to the possibility of working, even living in the US that i hadn't felt before.  it had comparisons to how things are done, and how life is lived here and there.  but those have to take a backseat for now, as i have to get some sleep in time for work tonight.  yup, no rest for the weary, as i'm thrown immediately back to the real world.  as i finished unpacking my things and putting stuff from the box where they need to be, i went to my bedroom and went to sleep, knowing that when i wake up, it was like waking up from a dream.

THE END