Lifestyle in America

February 2, 2019

Lifestyle in the US is completely different from the life I am accustomed to in Manila. We do have cars and drivers so I seldom walk long distances.
But here in America, I walk while carrying heavy bags with no one to help me. I drive short distances but no driver. I take Uber, taxi, and trains too.

A guy on the train asked this fashionable lady what her hair’s inspiration was, she answered nachos.

On the train, I deal with many kinds of people. There are people who board the train and start preaching about Jesus. Someone told me I have to repent or else my soul would vanish into thin air.

I actually admire these mobile bible preachers who board the train and bravely preach even if no one pays attention to them. They don’t ask for money so for me what they are doing is very noble. They are devoting their time and effort trying to convert sinners like me. God bless these people.

I love street musicians. I always have a dollar or two ready for them. I also have difficulty saying no to buying their CDs. That would be an extra $5 or $10. Okay na yun, ako na lang ang bibili, kesa ako ang mahihirapan magtinda ng CD.

I bump into lots of psychologically challenged people. To keep myself safe from being a target, I sometimes act crazy too so they stay away from me. I have to blend well. Look homeless and act crazy. Some people also think that way. They are not crazy, they just act crazy and hassle people.

Until now many still wear their jeans up to their thighs and walk like ducks. It’s been 10 years na nauso yan, hangga ngayon meron pa rin na nagsusuot ng pantalon na lawlaw.  One time I was at the stop-light,  ang bagal nung lalaki na tumawid,  nung tiningnan kong mabuti kung bakit,  eh kasi yung pantalon nya ang baba,  halos nasa tuhod na.  Tapos nakalitaw yung salawal nya.  Praning talaga.  Masasagasaan pa yan.

When I proudly showed my husband a bag that I bought for $85 plus tax, he was not amused. I thought he would be proud of me. I told him I needed a bag that doesn’t catch attention when I ride the train. He understood my point. The wife of my high school classmate lost her Louis Vuitton handbag to a snatcher while she was walking from the parking lot to the train station. I didn’t want that to happen to me.  Mabuti pa plastic bag na lang.

For the past several days my SUV’s dashboard was showing a warning sign that the front left wheel needed air. I also needed to put gas. In times like this, I miss either my son or my husband who could do this for me. I have learned a couple of things for survival like putting gas. Things I learned when in America.

I am so busy cleaning and doing laundry. This I enjoy because it forces me to move my body. I take it as a form of exercise. I don’t like ironing that’s why I wear gusut-gusot dress. Even when I am in Manila, I don’t mind being seen wearing crumpled clothes.

I cook my meals and seldom eat in restaurants when I am alone. Because it’s been chilly, hot wanton and chicken soup is best for this kind of weather.

I put lots of cilantro.