wala niyan sa amerika
translation: you dont have that in the united states.there's this commercial about this grandmother who came back to the philippines after quite a long stay in the united states. from the airport to the house, she kept saying "wala niyan sa amerika" every time she saw something uniquely filipino: jay walkers, the heat, drivers who do not abide by traffic rules, a gazillion potholes on the road, horrendous traffic. but when she got to the house, her grandkids hugged her and kissed her. her son told her: wala niyan sa amerika.we went out for lunch today because its mum's birthday on tuesday. we ate at dampa (sorry folks, i dunno how to translate dampa to english), my family's second favorite (next to our neighborhood japanese restaurant -- okasan -- which has long been demolished by the alabang town center mall). in dampa, u order the seafood that u want and they would cook it for you any way you like. it is actually the restaurant that goes to the market for you right before they cook the food. dont worry, the market is just behind the restaurant. and since my family is totally addicted to seafoods, eating at dampa is always a feast.so at lunch, family and friends celebrated mum's birthday. wala niyan sa amerika my younger sister told me. and i guess she's right. there's no such thing in the united states. although i have family there, i wouldnt have my immediate family with me. but does that change my decision that i wanna go home to chicago soon? NO.i still wanna go home to chicago. as soon as possible. i still want the freedom, independence and responsibility. i still want to see tim and nicole, eric and christine, shasha, lovine, pao, p.a., jaypee, clarence, sherrie, shaun (when he gets back from iraq), piapie (of course), cindee, bel (oh my retardedness!). and more importantly, i still need to be physically closer to mike and make sure he's ok...and there's still so much more with chuck that i need to do and make him realize.although it cannot be denied that i want to be with my family, my heart is still in chicago. and i cant wait for the day to come that i would be awaken by the planes of palwaukee airport or the sirens of squad cars in the city.i just hope that the people i left behind would still be waiting for me to come back.things and people im thankful for:- mum
- family
- crabs and shrimps and squids and all the seafood i could eat
- text message from chuck (damn i miss chuck so much it hurts)
- chuck
- mike
- my friends here that keep me sane
- the old student council...for being there for me
- my 3a class who continue to make me feel at home
- breathing and finding myself alive each day
things and people im praying for:
- political situation in the philippines thats dividing the country and continue to put the people in turmoil
- chuck--that he's always ok and safe. i hope he knows that he's holding a special place in my heart...and how much i miss him...
- mike -- that his broken heart be mended soon..and that he realizes how important he is to me
- my sisters and brothers...enough said
- tim and nicole
- 3a
- the student council
- sc 2004-2005
- pia
- bel
6:43:00 PM 
