It has been a long time I have not written any article. So far, this is the second for this day. Hopefully I can write more often, work less I think to better achieve this goal. 
I have nothing to offer in this article but an experience I have earned from our recent visit to our main office in San Francisco. This is my first time travelling to United States and my first time in San Francisco. I was super nervous and super excited, both feelings made me brain sick for the long days of waiting as well as our departure date from our homeland. I am just one of the luckiest person being picked to fly to SFO, together my buddy, Lissa. We worked as consultants but we never been recognized being so. Remember Jesus of Bethlehem was not recognize as Jesus the Son of God in Bethlehem, as to San Isidro’s expense as well.
March 2012 – The Announcement:
It was not paid off when our manager called us for a meeting, a surprise meeting we did not even expected. We are informed during that meeting after a short update of our projects, that we are requested by our counterparts to visit the main office. Hearing that, my buddy and I gave out soundless-shocked responses which ended up a group hug with our team manager. Then the processes were next.
Agony of Waiting:
As the day goes by and as the details of our flight came looping in our mailboxes, fear and pressure were the next two feelings I’ve felt. I don’t know but those were what I’m feeling. Some say I’m just excited that I don’t even understand my own feelings but to myself I’m really freaking out. These questions: How will I act once I get there? What will happened during the training? How are we going to overcome their expectations? How will we make them proud of the Manila team? These questions…
April 1, 2012 – Lunch Time
I offered this day to my family for a lunch date. We ate at Kanin Club, UP Ayala Techno Hub with my mother, siblings, nephews, niece, and my brother’s in law. It was short but a meaningful event for me. I haven’t eaten my meals for almost 5 years with my whole family. I eat breakfast when they’re done because I always arrive late in the morning. I don’t eat lunch because I need sleep. I eat dinner before then eat dinner because I need to report to work. This whole crazy schedule keeps me from eating with my whole family.
April 1, 2012 – Afternoon
I need to check my documents and my luggage before leaving the house and opt to NAIA. To the last minute, I forgot to print my hotel confirmation so I need to run to the nearest computer shop to access my emails and print my itinerary. I was all sweaty from heath of summer but still there were no feelings of excitement that I’m going to San Francisco. All my thoughts that day was not to miss the flight for me to make it to our schedule on Monday and report to work. This is why I don’t feel the excitement. This is not an ordinary trip for me that I can definitely enjoy my stay because I will be busy working still.
April 1, 2012 – Night
Lissa and I were at the airport (with our loved ones company and they left as we have checked-in) waiting and our trip got delayed for an hour. Note this: ALL flights to US with PAL got delayed for that day. So we stayed there waiting and we have drifted off to sleep, woke up, sleepy again, and woke up while we were sitting on the waiting area’s floor. I don’t want to agree with those who commented that NAIA is the worst airport in the whole wide world but at this moment I am.
We got our call for boarding a quarter late before midnight so we hurried and lined up. Noise were all over the place which made it hard to understand the person and announcements for boarding. I no longer care because this has been a long day for me. We got on board, took out our blankets, checked on PAL movies and sounds, and drifted off to sleep. Then we were awaken by the food served in flights, then watched movies, and drifted off to sleep. This is my routine for the whole trip. The trip lasted for 14 hours and we landed in SFO around 8 PM of April 1, 2012. SFO is smaller than I expected but I’m worried more about being stock with the immigration. Luckily we passed through immigration easily. Yehey! We were able to get our luggage and was shocked when we heard one of the officials asking the guy next to us if he got some “magic sarap” or “noodles” or “pancit canton” in his baggage. We were not asked so we just went through the exit.
We are in San Francisco airport waiting area and we were waiting for our friend and co-employee Louie who promised to pick us up.
Did we left our hearts in San Francisco?
Lissa’s roaming was not working which really sucks, it never worked for our whole stay. This was our lucky day cause by the moment we have opened the exit doors, Louie just got in. As we went out of the airport, then we’ve felt the San Francisco air. It’s like we have entered a butchery fridge…
Louie’s mom was there waiting and we were picked up and brought to Red Robin for dinner. It was really cold but we felt the warmest welcome from Tita Erika and Louie. This has made SF like home…
The next story after this were all about work, fun, and “gala” times…
