Arrived in the US on the same day

It’s weird no? After flying for more than 12 hours, we arrived in the US on the same day we left Manila.

The US immigration officer asked Oyen and I what’s our relationship. I told him she (Oyen) is my favorite daughter. He looked for my husband. I told him he’s in Manila because he has to work.

Nowadays, they always ask how much money tourists bring into their country. Remember the US immigration rule: IT IS LEGAL to bring any amount as long as you declare it. You need not declare it if it’s below $10,000. Be sure to count your cash before leaving for the airport so you don’t risk going beyond $10,000 and not declaring it. They have the power to confiscate your cash if you didn’t declare it and they found out that you are bringing cash that’s more than $10,000.

What their government is trying to prevent from entering their country is cash that could be used for illegal activities like money laundering, drugs and terrorism. But legitimate rich visitors bringing in a lot of money are welcome as long as they declare it. The officer said it’s good for their economy.

The immigration officer said my daughter looks like me. He said to Oyen “You look like your mother. Looking like your mother is good. That’s good right?”

i invited the officer to come to Manila. He said he’s not Filipino, he’s Chinese. I told him it doesn’t matter.

I was glad the customs police didn’t inspect our luggage and one balikbayan box. We only brought clothes, extra handbags, shoes, some old books.

Two vehicles picked us up from the airport because they thought our luggage wouldn’t fit in one vehicle. I rode with my brother and his son. Then Oyen and Derrick rode with Len and Bong. When I realized we could all fit in one SUV, we exited the freeway and transferred my luggage to Aileen’s SUV. I didn’t want my brother to drive for two hours and it’s late at night.

Neither of these vehicles are Ford. The gray SUV is Lexus. Okay lang, we don’t sell Ford in the US so I cannot obligate my siblings to buy only Ford. Ay mali pala, the white is Lincoln MKX. The Lincoln Motor Company is a division of the Ford Motor Company that sells luxury vehicles under the Lincoln brand. Founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland, Lincoln has been a subsidiary of Ford since 1922.

After driving in the freeway for more than an hour, it’s hunger games time.
We stopped at an In & Out and ate fries and cheeseburgers. Napansin ko si Derrick aba ang sipag kuha ng kuha ng mga drinks namin, catsup, table napkins. Panay ang volunteer, ikot ng ikot. Yun pala excited kasi the last time he’s been to an In & Out was almost 20 years ago.

We sat beside the window so we could watch our vehicle while we ate. Baka mawala mga maleta namin.

When we came out of the restaurant, we saw two police vehicles parked beside our vehicle and two policemen were standing beside the lamp post and having a conversation. My sister said “I feel safe!”. The scenario in the Philippines is different. When we see policemen, we stop breathing.
We look at policemen with fear, suspicion, suspense, distrust.