Things that are weird.

Happy late Thanksgiving everyone.

Thanksgiving is a little weird for me, because we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving. Given that Thanksgiving is an American holiday, and my parents grew up in the Philippines... so... you get the point here.

Here's my dilemma....

Soooo... when I tell people we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving people get angry. And say I'm "Un-american" and ask me if I hate america. NO. I do not hate America. People tell me to embrace the heritage of this country, and when it's not Thanksgiving they tell me to go back to where I come from....? hmmmm.... weird...? I think so.

Because I was born in California. But everything I am, how I act, and what defines me, is Filipina. The blood racing through my veins is on fire with that Filipino Pride.

Don't get me wrong, America is great. And because I live here I have a lot to be thankful for.

but I don't get pissed at people when they say they don't celebrate Christmas. Sure I think it's a bit weird, but it's just the way the think.

But Every day is a day to give thanks I think.

I'll tell you what I give thanks for EVERY SINGLE DAY I'm alive.

My family:

For amazing parents who, at times seem completely insane, but are more reasonable than anyone else. For awesome sisters who set good examples. For older brothers. Honorably served/serving missions. And kuya diego, who still manages to mess with me even though he's across the world. For Auntie Lala and Uncle Edwin, the best aunt and uncle ever, they are so kind and loving. For COUSINS, everyone can say they have awesome cousins, but wait until you meet mine. You'll wish you were a Malit/Yasona. :P

My Heritage:

They say the biggest mistake a Filipino can make is to forget where they come from. And I never really knew what it meant until this summer. I hear of people going back to the country of which they came from, and hating it. But I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES. I loved it before I went there, and now that's even stronger. People will joke and say, "it's because everyone looks like you there.". And it's true, there's something about being around people who share that same blood. But there's something about the Philippines that no other country has. No matter how great, or how much opportunities, or money, other countries have, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE THE PHILIPPINES. Everyone I met in the Philippines has changed my life. Maraming salamat, sa lahat. :)

My Religion:

In this world, we all need something to hold on to. Yet I've never heard or seen anything as strong as the gospel. If only the Elders that taught the Malit family and the Yasona family the gospel knew what they have done for us, they would be truly amazed. I'm thankful for all my missionary friends out in the field, and all those soon to be off. You all are amazing and I'm honored to call you my friends!

Three simple, yet monumentally important things. these things define who I am, and keep me going.

.THANK YOU.

.GRACIAS.

.MERCI.

.MAHALO.

.GRAZIE.

.KIA ORA.

.MARAMING SALAMAT.

See you on the flip side.

AYO AYO ^^

Things That Break My Heart.

I'm sitting in my house, listening outside. There are no sounds of jeepneys honking, dogs barking, nothing. Dead Silence. I look out side and it's just a bunch of houses, no lush green forest, or put-puts driving by. There are no missionaries walking around. It's quiet. It's a weird feeling. 

Everything looks strange.

I have NO idea how to use my cellphone. 

My house looks different. 

The streets looks bigger. 

The buildings are huge. 

There are huge trucks. 

The people are different.

 Everything is different.

I'm different. 

I have missed Utah tho. I've missed my friends, and my parents. but there's no place like the Philippines. hmmm... I imagine this is what RMs feel like. haha It's only been half a day and I'm already missing the Philippines so much. T^T

Now I have to start being all grown up and stuff. LAME.

But I conquered 4 airports in 24 hours. that sounds pretty grown up to me.

MANILA AIRPORT WAS A NIGHTMARE.

So we almost missed our plane to America. hehe

but here's the story... 

So we land in Manila from Tacloban and our luggage is already checked in, except we aren't. So i ask the guard where I am supposed to go, and he sent me to the back of this huge. It's 2:30 pm, and our plane leaves at 4.  so we get to the front of the line, and it's about 2:50, the guard there tells us we have to go to the ticketing office, because we rebooked out flight. so we run to the ticketing office, and it takes until 3:30.

 Me = freaking out. We were supposed to check in at 2:00 pm. So then we run to the Check-in booth, and I realize, we probably need more money, but this lady in front of us is taking like nine years cuz she had like a billion bags.

so after check in we run to the bank, which will only give me P100.00, which is like 2 dollars.

so after that we run to pay the terminal fee and the guard won't let us through because we have a guitar that doesn't have a case. so we have to go get it wrapped and check it in. as we are getting it wrapped I hear over the intercom "LAST BOARDING CALL FOR FLIGHT PR 106 BOUND FOR VANCOUVER AND LAS VEGAS." that's our flight. and these people are taking there sweet time wrapping it. and it cost P300.00!! 

Me = FREAKING OUT MORE. I was counting our money and I was certain we wouldn't have enough money to get through the terminal, and we would miss our flight. And If we missed our flights we would be stuck in Manila because we have 2 cellphones that didn't work and no money. So we are checking in the guitar, and this person in front if us was taking forever! it is now 4:10. and i knew that if we had to pay to check this in, we were done for and stuck in Manila. So i prayed. I prayed so hard I started to cry. And luckily we didn't have to pay for it.

And so we pay the terminal fee, P750.00. We had no money left. Except the P100.00 I got out of the atm. We get to immigration. he asks for a departure card. we don't have them. So we have to run ALL THE WAY back to the check in counter and fill out these departure cards. Run back to immigration. 4:17 pm. Crap. We've missed it. So the immigration guy clears us, and i ask "Our Plane is already boarding" and he says "Yes. Maybe if you run out onto the runway you'll catch the plane" and laughs. I didn't think it was funny at all. 

So we get through MORE security, and they said gate 5. so we run!! and when we got there they were searching everyone's bags. inspecting everyone! and that gave us enough time to catch our plane. But I nearly had a nervous break down.

I miss the Philippines. Haven't started adjusting yet. hopefully I'll get used to it. It's Heartbreaking to leave. My heart is in the Philippines.