Destination: USA

California Dreamin'

YEARS passed and our next stop was in California to visit my brother-in-law and his family in 2006. We are so fortunate to have been granted visas on the first try at the US Embassy (maybe because of our Hong Kong sojourn as a family or my wife Neri’s repeated trips to the US with her ten-year multiple entry visa, or maybe because it was really just meant to be). Just think of how many try so hard to set foot into US territory -- both through legitimate process or illegal means (para sa mga desperado). God must be in His best mood that day we went in to apply for a family visa. 

As we were scheduled for a morning interview slot, we were at the embassy gates a couple of hours way before our time (eager beavers avoiding traffic and dealing with an active adrenalin pump). It was only the three of us who went in -- Paolo, Jaila and I. Neri just waited for us outside (doing her share as a prayer warrior). Days before, she had been briefing us on what possible questions may be asked by the consul and how it would be best to answer them to increase our chances of approval.  If asked as to the purpose of trip/visit, we agreed to say that we are going to visit and spend the Christmas holidays with her brother Mark before his next tour-of-duty to be assigned by the US government. He is a medic with the US Navy. And my, how the US love its soldiers with all its heart and soul!

We really didn’t go through the much-anticipated “grilling”.  All three of us were approved by the Caucasian lady consul-on-deck admonishing Paolo and Jaila to follow the legit process should they want to work in the US someday after finishing school (as they were both students then). Meantime, she said, they’ll be allowed to visit for pleasure (and were given a one-year multiple entry visa). I was allowed five years multiple entry. These days, both Pao and Jai are doing well in their respective careers here in our country. Both have travelled to different countries all these years but are not settled yet with the idea of working abroad or staying there for keeps. Homing pigeons.

Back to the embassy. Before we went out, we hatched a plan that we would all look dejected when we meet up with my wife who we’re sure was very agitated waiting...hoping for the best, but actually expecting the worst. 

“Denied” kuno ang peg naming tatlo. When she saw us with our bowed heads and sad faces, she broke down and cried (buying into our “mini-drama”). But we waived our little yellow papers (courier service receipts) and yelled "Surprise!" That's when we all hugged each other laughing our hearts out.

Fast forward. The prep prior to the trip was a blur I could barely remember the details since it was December and our family was also caught up in school and work before the holiday break. I remember though that we had worked out bringing a requested (big) San Fernando parol as pasalubong from the Philippines aside from the usual Kowloon siopao, Cow Label dried beef, kiamoy, (instant) sabaw ng sinigang, Knorr cubes (all flavors), Ilocos chichacorn, Reno liver spread, dried squid, danggit and tuyo, vermicelli noodles (sotanghon) and pancit canton, calamansi juice (freshly-pressed and bottled as you couldn’t bring agricultural products including fresh fruits with seeds into US territory), and Barrio Fiesta bagoong (spicy and sweet), among others. It felt as if we were going to open a Pinoy neighborhood sari-sari store in California. While Filipino stores are a-plenty there, iba pa rin kasi yung pasalubong from home na family ang nagdadala. Besides, these goods (so commonplace and cheap here) are exhorbitantly priced in Filipino stores in the US.

It was our family’s first long-haul trip outside the country so we expected to encounter the unexpected every step of the way. It was a 14-hour non-stop flight to LAX that we actually had to figure out every conceivable sitting position that will be comfortable enough as we had to contort our legs and arms to adapt into a tight space and ease out cramps while trying to get some sleep with our seat belts fastened for safety. 

Nakakangawit. Lucky enough for us there were no wit-shaking turbulences over the Pacific Ocean and Philippine Airlines served good in-flight holiday meals even for the economy class. The best part, of course, was travelling together as a family (despite the inconveniences and minor hassles along the way).

ARRIVAL. First impression (I had then hoped will not last): Luma at sugatan na ang LA airport. Kailangan na nito ng major makeover. Ewan ko lang these days kung ginawa na ito...

The immigration lines were long. Sabay-sabay dumating yung airlines from different parts of the world. Nakakatuwa yung eksena. Parang United Nations -- multi-race; multi-language. We lined-up and were interviewed by a US airport official regarding the purpose of our visit, length of our stay at kung anu-ano pang SOP questions na madali namang sagutin kung totoo ang sinasabi mo. (Note: After the 9/11 bombing incident, the Americans tightened their airport security measures including immigration procedures.) 

The moment we stepped out of the airport terminal building, nabigla kami sa lamig ng hangin. Napakasarap. So fresh. Amoy stateside! (First timer, eh!)

We had dinner at Denny’s (wala pa sa Pinas then). Everything was BIG sa kamalayan namin. A thick slab of US steak kaagad ang welcome meal ko -- all to myself, as requested ke bayaw. Masarap lang palang isiping kainin pero (sa totoo) mahirap ubusin. Hehe...

STAY. "California is a desert," Mark, my brother-in-law, told us. It was a 3-hour drive from his house in San Jose, California to LA to fetch us. As he was a US Navy corpsman, he has travelled to different parts of the world depending on his tour-of-duty -- Germany, Afghanistan, Somalia, Japan, Korea...remember they have naval bases in the last two. Yung garage ng bahay niya eh puno ng mga epektos na ginamit sa maraming giyera –- mula Operation Desert Storm to the later ones (tri-color fatigues; ALICE backpacks; Gortex jackets; Kevlar bulletproof helmets; fragmentation grenade vests; full-body gear for nuclear/biological/chemical warfare; Mark IV gas masks, dehydrated Meals-Ready-to-Eat/MREs; medic and survival equipment, etc.) kaya dun pa lang, marami nang kuwentong sinamahan ng imported beer (to my delight). Kaso mas feel ni bayaw (at ng maraming Kanong Navy) ang San Mig Pale Pilsen (yung nakabote) na ginto ang presyo sa US. 

The day after we arrived, Mark brought and toured us around the US Marines Corps Base Camp Pendleton (in San Diego County) where his assigned command was with the 1st Medical Battalion, First Service Support Group.

Balik-disyerto ang kuwento. Mark was right for there are no trees in the mountains and valleys of California. Away from the hustle and bustle and mala-EDSA na trapik, Los Angeles is actually a barren land. Kalbo (like me) ang mga bundok nila. Kulay brown ang paligid, meaning walang masyadong green grass na tumutubo. Tumbleweeds marami. Dust devils palagi. Dry winter kasi. Siyempre lagas ang leaves ng trees. Walang yelo pero may frost line. Ang sarap. Hayahay kami...It was our first winter.

It’s different with orange trees though, kaya nga one of the best ang California oranges. They love the sun and they’re okay with the dry heat...not to mention the sandy soil. Nakakatuwa makita yung rows and rows of orange trees. You can even grow them in your own backyard. We saw a couple of orange trees with fruits sa bahay ng family friend (and godmother of my son) in LA. Mababa lang yung puno kaya madali pitasin yung fruits.

Ang dami naming first time experiences. Gasoline stations na kanya-kanya ang pagkarga ng gas. Self-service. Nakakapanibago yung walang gas station attendants na sumasalubong sa kotse mo. Sariling kayod. Hindi rin mausok yung diesel cars nila. Sa labas ng LA, very minimal to almost none ang transpo carbon pollution sa highway (hindi tulad dito sa Pinas -- kahit saan ka pumunta, polluted kasi luma na ang mga sasakyan).

Sobra din kaming natuwa nang habang nakasakay kami sa SUV ni bayaw eh ipinasok niya ito sa car wash at nang lumabas kami eh tuyo na ito. Whoa! Sensya na sa kainosentehan. Hehe...

Wala pang S&R and Landers sa Pilipinas that time kaya naaliw pa kami mag-grocery sa Walmart and Costco where you buy big -- by the dozens or in packs. We did Lowe's, too. Ang laki ng lahat -- store spaces, pizza, burgers, fries, soda, carts, and even shoppers! Nakakalula! First time rin naming nakita ang mga puti sa sarili nilang bansa. Medyo weird ang feeling...

It was a reconnection and short reunion for our family so sinigurado naming makapagsimba (sa Our Lady of the Valley in Hemet, CA) ng Christmas and New Year’s Eve together, more than anything else. Yung church choirmaster eh parang si Kenny Rogers. Yung pari, ka-boses ni Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) in Lion King. Siyempre pa, home-cooked ang special Noche Buena at Media Noche na tradisyong Pinoy. Sinulit namin sa kuwentuhan and short but memorable pasyals yung US trip kasi back-to-work and school na naman pagbalik. Mark, his wife Raquel, and kids Marvin and Matthew (who was a baby then with a medical condition kaya may oxygen support) and Mommy, plus the four of us, filled up the house for the holidays. Of course, Papa and Nene (Mark and Raquel’s unborn baby girl), now in heaven, were especially remembered in this family celebration.

Mark bought and put up a real pine Christmas tree kaya sobrang bango ng house. Kinabit namin yung parol (which we had converted from 220v to 110v). His was the only house with a San Fernando parol kaya kakaiba. Para mixed tradition, may inflatable giant snowman din sa lawn which the kids enjoyed. We also helped pack-up toys for the toy-giving project of Marvin’s school. 

Next stop: Big Bear Mountain. It was so beautiful kahit pa-zigzag at nakakalula rin paakyat doon. Remember that Manny Pacquiao trains there for the altitude of a place is important in building an athlete's lung power. Pampalakas ng resistensya. Di ba palagi rin siya sa Baguio (locally) for his training? The cold weather is so conducive for stamina-building.

We rented a two-storey log house complete with a fireplace. We already bought the things we needed at Stater Bros (foodstuff, essentials and firewood) before we hit home so as to maximize our time. Nagkabit din si bayaw ng tire chains (na first time ko rin na-encounter) to prevent the tires from skidding due to the slippery snow. We ate at KFC. Walang rice! They served biscuits instead. Dalawa lang ang crew. Yung cook at cashier na food server din. CLAYGO is practiced in the US: Clean As You Go. Mahal kasi ang labor.

First time kaming nakakita ng snow. Lumuwa ang mga mata namin sabay pictorial syempre. Nagpagulung-gulong pa nga ako na parang bata. Snow is not all white as we Pinoys have imagined growing up in a hot and humid country. "Black dirt" ang tawag nila sa me halong lupa at maduming snow, sabi ni bayaw.

I am an animal-lover that's why we took pictures of the mallards with neon-like, shiny green necks swimming in the lake. I was also thrilled watching the cute little squirrels go up and down the pine trees and the roofs of the nearby cabins. Sinisilip ko sila. Akala ko eh malalaki...smaller pala sa pusa at parang street rats ang laki. Maliksi silang kumilos. Very light and nimble. May kakaibang flock of birds din. First time din naming makakita ng licensed service (or assistance/guide) dogs who are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Sa Pinas kasi, karamihan sniffers sa malls, airports, hotels, etc. ang sevice dogs na nakikita natin.

The log house was situated on a hilly part kaya we had a good view of the snow-capped mountains and the lake. Paolo and Jaila and our nephew Marvin enjoyed sledding down the hill at the back of the house. Ang nakakapagod eh yung pag-akyat na hila-hila mo yung sled to slide down again. Nakakaubos ng oxygen sa katawan. Parang sasabog lungs ko. Ang sakit sa ulo! High altitude, remember? For the love of the kids…

They later on in the evening built a snowman in front of the house. Ang hirap pala kasi even with gloves on, you can feel the biting cold sa fingers mo. Sobrang effort! After an adobo dinner, we huddled and Scrabbled the night away in front of the fireplace burning real firewood. Ang sarap matulog tucked in bed with the heater on instead of aircon. Kakaibang experience. Mas kakaiba na nagising ka next morning and saw some young ladies frolicking in the snow wearing nothing but teeny-weeny bikinis. Ganito pala mag-sunbathing sa snow…

Isa pang ikinagulat ko eh ang pag-ihip ng hangin dun...malakas kumpara sa atin. Nakakita nga kami ng tumaob na kotse sa highway bago kami umakyat sa bundok. Wala pang bagyo ah.

I was wide-eyed in awe at the taller and wider (in circumference) pine trees there compared to what I have always seen in Baguio. Ang lalaki nga ng pine cones dun -- parang Taiwan pineapples grown in Tagaytay. 

We had the chance to drive over to San Diego, CA as well. We visited Raquel's mom and stayed over night at their home care facility. Konti na lang, pwede na sanang tumawid sa Tijuana, Mexico but we were pressed for time and didn't make enough preparations for that. Maybe next time...para may babalikan. Abot-tanaw lang kasi ang Mexico valley from the hills of San Diego.

 

PRE-DEPARTURE STOPOVER: A family friend’s house very near LAX. This was a very short visit as we didn’t have the glory of time. Dumaan lang para bumati at magpaalam. BFFs Ester (Manuel), Paolo’s ninang, and Carmen (Garzon) are long-time family friends who have remained very kind, warm and accommodating all these years. Masarap na merienda at masayang kuwentuhan na sana ay may panahon pang habaan. Their house is usually a “transit home” of my wife Neri in all of her US trips. They’re very fortunate to have acquired that house because property in LA is so preposterously expensive (before the US inflation ito)! Pang-mucho dinero!

DEPARTURE: Sabi nga nila, beginnings are hard but goodbyes are even harder. When it was time to say goodbye to our hosts, Mark and his family -- as if on cue -- tears began to fall freely. Sabay kaming napaiyak ni Neri. Mahirap ipaliwanag. Ganun siguro talaga ang paalamanan pag ang pamilya ay marami at mahaba ang pinagdaanan. Liku-liko, baku-bako o paikut-ikot man, dun din naman uuwi yun…sa masayang pagkikita. Kaya nga may memories na binabalikan. My family had a swell time. But it was time to go home and look forward to the next destination. All goodbyes are new beginnings.

 “Take nothing but photographs

Leave nothing but footprints

Collect nothing but memories."