Thursday, July 31, 2008

An Adventure with Hurricane Dolly

It was Tuesday July 22 when my husband and kids arrived from
New York at 1:20 pm; thank God they made it just before the
Hurricane Dolly hit South Texas.

The place that I work is usually open 24 hours but that day
the management decided to close by 9 pm and all the employees had
to leave 11 pm. and declared that Wednesday will be “no work”.
My husband together with my step children picked me up from work
with the rain pouring and the wind blowing but we made it home.
With lots of surprises they brought me from New York and the
initial getting-to-know, we all went to sleep because we were tired.
The next morning when we woke up heavy rains were pouring and the
wind is blowing hard with no electric at all as early as 4 in the
morning, we can’t even cook breakfast, no television,no computer,
no games for the children and for a while no water. We decided to
go out to get something to eat and only Whataburger is open but
drive thru and the line was so long that we end up going back
home and making breakfast on our gas grill inside the house
because we just can’t make it outside with the wind and the rain.
The water came back but not the electric and good thing my
father in law called my husband and invited us over their house
since they have electric. Just before five in the afternoon we
ventured our way to my father in law with Dolly. We saw trees
on the streets and Highway 100 was flooded. My husband and I was
so scared, good thing that my husband purchased 3 months ago a
brand new SUV where it is high up compared to our old car. Some
traffic lights were destroyed, construction signs were floating
on water, and the wind continues to blow heavily and that roof
shingles were flying. Luckily we made it to my father in law’s
house. As the night went on the water continued to get higher.
The lake on the golf course behind my father in laws house was
overflowing and reached his fence. Three days after the storm
the electric came back so we decided to go back home. We threw
lots of food into the garbage. Most of the items were meat,
vegetables, dairy products such as milk and cheese, mayo and
fruits.It is not safe to keep those food, we just can’t
sacrifice our health. Now everything is back to normal while
some other parts of the valley are still coping up for the
damages that Dolly has done.

Together with my husband, I thank the Lord for being so good
to us. It is hard to imagine life without Him, we just cannot
do it. Praise be to God!






















Wednesday, June 11, 2008

St. Mary's Church

The St. Mary’s Catholic Church is one of the beautiful Churches
around Brownsville, Texas. This is where my husband and I goes
every Sunday for a Holy Mass. The schedule of Masses comes in
English, Spanish and Bilingual but we go for English of course.

A solemn celebration is being observed and a band accompanies
the choir that makes it lively when the assembly praises God
through singing. Every time a reading and Gospel is being said
a slide on an OHP (over head projector)is displayed with a picture
on it. During the communion the people don’t just receive the
host but the wine too which I didn’t experience from the different
catholic churches in the Philippines that I’ve been to. During
the communion people don’t push or cut in line instead they fall
inline silently when it’s their turn which I truly appreciate.
The cleanliness of the surrounding and the central air condition
makes the place very comfortable for prayer and worship. The
warm atmosphere of the parishioners for everyone especially
for visitors and new parishioners like me and my husband made us
feel that we belong to the family.

The said church is the place where we’ve met Filipinos now working
and living in the Rio Grande Valley.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

A year older in U.S.A.

I celebrated my birthday here in U.S.A. for the first time. It is something new because my mom and my sisters are not around but my husband made it a day for me to remember.

I started my day going to St. Mary's Church for a morning mass with my husband and I felt special because the Priest prayed over me after the Holy Mass. We then went to Shoneys for an American Breakfast, right after I went online and received mail from my family back in the Philippines, and offline messages from my friends and former officemates. I also received telephone calls. My husband and his parents gave me a presents. My husband took me out for a dinner date at Texas Road House Restaurant. As I turned a year older, I wish and pray for peace and prosperity around the world.






My Happy Birthday

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Memorial Day 2008

Memorial Day is one of the holidays in the United States of America. This is the day that people give tribute to the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for their country.

In Brownsville,Texas a Silent March which is then followed by a ceremony with a twenty one gun salute at the Veterans Park highlighted the event. In South Padre Island there is a fireworks display for Memorial Day.








The Silent March.






The people joining the Silent March.












The flag raising.












The 21 Gun Salute.





Me and my Husband at South Padre Island during the Memorial Day fireworks display.

Friday, May 9, 2008

License Teacher

Last April 30,2008 the Professional Regulation Commission announced the result of the successful elementary and secondary teachers. I am very happy to know that out of the 14,767 examinees for secondary teachers I am one of the 3,705 who successfully made it, (source: http://www.prcboardexamresults.com/let-exam-results-for-april-2008-secondary-level) now I am a license teacher. I thank my husband, mom and sisters for the support and encouragement, above all I thank the Lord for making my dream to come true.

To all my fellow new teachers my congratulations.

Friday, April 18, 2008

International Flight

I had my first international flight week ago. It was night time
when I left the Philippines on board a Continental Airlines bound
for USA.

While waiting for my checking inn time to appear on the
departure monitor at the Ninoy Aquino international Airport , Manila
I met a Filipina named Jennifer Bravo. We had a nice conversation
until the time of my checking inn came. My flight from Manila to
Guam was great for I had a great time talking to a Filipino who
is now an American Citizen working in Hawaii. The duration of the
flight was 3 hours and 15 minutes and it was early morning in Guam
when the plane landed at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport.
Had to go through Immigration and Passport Checking and waited for
one hour before the boarding of my flight going to Honolulu came.
I was sitting in a row with a Filipino-American Citizen who is
residing in Honolulu, Hawaii. It felt good because I had someone
to talk to about anything that popped up in my mind that had to do
about the USA. The flight was 6 hours and 35 minutes from Guam
until we reached beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii. I had to go through
U.S. Customs just like the rest of the passengers and waited for one
hour in the termininal until the connecting flight left for Houston,
Texas. On board the plane I was sick due to motion sickness because
the plane was so bumpy due to weather. I was sitting with a Filipina
nurse from Iloilo, Philippines who is now a Citizen of USA and works
in Houston.

After the long flight that was a total of 25 hours, I saw my
husband at the Airport in Brownsville, Texas. The feeling of being
tired disappeared when I saw him there. The experience of the flight
was something I will forever be thankful to God because He made me
felt at home and safe.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Summer Adventure in the Philippines

The first summer that me and my husband spent
together was in the Philipines.Aside from visitng
beaches and having good time swimming on the pool
we also went to Cagayan de Oro's pride The White
Water Rafting Adventure
and The Macahambus Adventure
Park
where we experienced walking on the sky bridge
and zip lining.

Walking on the sky bridge was an experience
that can make one not to continue the walk
especially when you look down where you can
see branches of trees, grasses, wild flowers
and some water and if you have fear of heights
you surely will not do it, unless you have the
guts and determination to do so.

120 meters Zip lining was another thing that made our
adventure a fun-some one. It's actually a heart-pounding
activity when you do it. It is safe to do when you
have the complete gear for safety and when you follow
instructions from the experts, the guides.

Water rafting is indeed a wet experience for surely you
will become wet after exploring the 14 rapids of Cagayan
de Oro river.You will be exposed to sun so it is better
to have some protection like apply an amount of sunblock
on some parts of your body or wear something that protects
your arms and legs from too much exposure of sunlight.
Everyone on the raft has to say "High Five" after surpassing
each of the rapids.

To experience an adventure like the above mentioned is
something you will never forget because aside from the
thrill and excitement, you sure will have fun!








Me and my husband.









It's me trying to conquer my fear
as I walk on the sky bridge.









My husband doing the zip line.












A pose after the water rafting fun.