May 22, 2019
We try to reduce the number of clothes and shoes we bring when we travel to America. As much as possible we travel light.
For this trip, my husband is complaining about how heavy my luggage is. He’s only staying for 3 weeks, me? Longer. I am also joining a small business delegation to Silicon Valley in the third week of June so I need more clothes.
Travel tips? Travel light and bring a personal porter.
This food stall must be owned by the broadcaster guy named Ka Tunying. Ang lakas nya ha.
Exhausted from carrying my luggage
Here we fly again. This’ my 5th long haul flight in 6 weeks, plus 5 shorter flights. The stewardess said daig ko pa daw sya. Para akong stewardess.
It was a little turbulent while we were flying over the sea of Japan. The rest of the flight was smooth.
I watched several movies including Greatest Showman again. The flight seemed shorter than when going to London but London is actually closer to Manila.
Touched down America at 6 pm. on May 22, 2019
We were directed to exit from this gate but there was a cage-like metal gate. We were like prisoners. A woman said “Hindi na nila malalaman kung sino ang nasa business class kasi halo-halo na, mauna na tayo”.
After some confusion, a female airline or airport officer came, unlocked the gate and let us out.
Edmund wore his jacket before we got off the plane. The other passengers too. My sweaters were inside my checked in luggage. My husband was nagging me that I didn’t prepare for my travel. I was wearing long sleeves polo, his actually, which I salvaged from the “donation” box. The fabric was thick. And it was not like we were going to Helsinki. And we’re not walking outdoors. From the airport, we’re riding a car. #kulithusband
Since trump is president ang dami ng changes. Kailangan na ibigay ang social media accounts at past cellphone numbers. Wala na rin office ng USCIS sa Manila. With this trade war, maraming mga nangyayari. Sana naman okay lang lahat ng mga pinoy. Hindi naman tayo nanggugulo. Tumutulong pa nga tayo sa mga mayayamang bansa. Sana mapansin ito ni God. Shelter Filipinos.
Hi Edward, They ask questions that are already beyond their scope, like the immigration saying “so you went to London”. London is not in the US.
He also asked about the details of my day to day stay. Sometimes I feel they are wasting their time and energy unnecessarily. I do understand that their job is to make sure people who come in will not become a liability to their country, they will not stay indefinitely, not work, and not do bad things while in America. With their many years of experience screening visitors, I would think that they should already have developed a strong sense of feeling about the visitors. Maybe because I would be staying a bit longer this time, the officer thinks I will no longer go back to the Philippines. It doesn’t always follow. ‘ I traveled back and forth around Europe in April and in the first two weeks of May. I am tired and just thought of just staying put. If I go home to Manila on June 26, I must fly back after a week to attend school. Then I have to fly back before Aug 8 to attend a very important event.
You are right, Hindi naman tayo nanggugulo. Filipinos who immigrate to America seeking for better lives are hard-working, family-oriented, professionals, peace-loving. Their hospitals are blessed with competent, educated, and dedicated Filipino nurses.