I am back in the good Ol' USA. Friday was honestly the longest day ever. Crossing the International Date line headed this direction is miserable. Your day becomes 36 hours long! Really!! Flight was bumpier than I cared for. However, it could have been that I was much more aware after hearing the news of several airlines lately. Yes, and thank you everyone who continued to ask "Hey did you hear about Qantas!?" That's like telling someone who is going scuba diving "Hey, they have had 3 shark attacks in there the last 2 days" Please... for the sanity of those traveling don't do this. I am sure there were good intentions but I jumped at every bump of turbulence and hardly slept on the plane. The man next to me from Seoul to ATL was very nice and made sure I got through customs and my luggage checked through. However, on the flight he slept the whole time. And our seats almost fully recline. So, I had to time my bathroom time when he woke up to go himself! Which was only twice. Couldn't get up and move around, which is not fun for 14 hours. We flew a more southern route, so we were over the Pacific a lot more, means nothing to look at out the window. There was also a solar eclipse that we were just ahead of. Would have been really cool to see, but I was able to see news clips of it from China.
I was in 3 different countries and airports in one day. And believe it or not, USA was the rudest and the most overweight of all of them. Granted, Eddie said that Atlanta could have a lot to do with the rude part since no one in that airport is happy to work there. One could hope. But I was not used to that. Maybe Americans should all be required to travel abroad and you come home with an appreciation of another culture, securities we have, etc. I did catch a great movie "Outsourced" about an American that is sent to India to help a call center there take over his job. It's interesting to watch his transition and finally embracing the local culture to help with the success of the new location. He even learned about mango just like me and was shocked when the lady who did his laundry had ironed his boxer shorts! My pjs were ironed when I would get them back from laundry. hehehehe So several things I was able to relate to.
I have slept most of the time since coming home. Though turning my own bed down and making it in the morning has sucked! hehee Susan was a sweetheart and got me milk, cereal, bread, bananas and eggs. So I have been living it up with the milk & cereal. Ahhhh skim milk how I have missed you. :) I really need to get my clothes out of the suitcase. The mess is starting to annoy me. But I did go to the grocery store today. Funny, never thought I would feel a sense of peace in the grocery store. But as I walked back through the produce section (yes, I picked up mango - hehe) the fresh meat was in sight. And seeing glass cases with meat BEHIND them made me at peace. I know.. believe me.. I know that sounds weird. But when you have seen everything out for display and for flies to land on just grosses you out - seeing the safe way to sell meat (packaged/wrapped or behind glass with the butcher) I just sighed and smiled. Something else I did while there - looked for any food product that is sold that might be considered weird in any way. I even stood in the potted meat/canned meat area for about 5 minutes looking. There's gotta be **something**. Nada. I did see that we sell canned octopus. Blah. But they have that there! So it wouldn't be considered odd. Jamie said I am just having withdrawal not seeing anything weird. Maybe. But it was nice to feel safe knowing the food I was buying the FDA has put their stamp on. :)
I am so glad I was able to spend time in the Philippines and work there. Learning about a new culture, first hand, and I hope that I am able to bring some of their things back just as much as I hope I left a little of me behind. Their work ethic is incredible. So nice to customers - that is the biggest thing I really want to bring home - along with their desire to learn. I hope to continue working with them on a regular basis and maybe back in their center again in the future.
Jollie and your team, thank you. You are a wonderful person and really made sure I was taken care of. Your hospitality was very comforting to a girl who had never been out of her home country. I do hope to see you when you come to the States in December and able to do the same for you. Salamat!!!!!! Feel free to send any new Tagalog words/phrases to me - along with PROPER pronunciation. hehe I don't want to say something that bad!! Remember, Alak Pa!! :)
Friends and family - Salamat (thank you) for all your IMs, e mails, & phone calls while I was gone. It's good to be home. I'll see those of you in Tampa/Orlando/Jax area over the next week and a half. :-)
And I will be updating the blog from time to time with things going on. School, work.... work... school... pretty much my life. ;) But especially with graduation information when that comes around cause there will be a party. (FINALLY) I will also let you know when I get the pictures from Melissa & Russell from Hong Kong & Boracay. They have "photo club" cameras and should have some amazing pictures. I'll be sure to post and pass along!!
Paalom (good bye)
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