Monday, December 22, 2003
DAD RETURNS FROM OAHU, HAWAII
He's home to spend the Holidays with us
WE picked up my dad last night at NAIA. We arrived at the airport just on time. It was packed with people. The parking lot was loaded with cars, we ended up parking at the far end.
My dad has been working on a ship for just over a year. The last time he was home was last June up until August. The last time he was home, it was sort of a grand arrival. I mean, we didn't throw a party or anything, but the improvements in the house tripled. We bought a new CR-V (2 years to pay). They bought me a new Philips TV and VCD/DVD player. My dad brought home my Digital Camera (which up to this day, is the main reason my blog has turned into a photoblog).
His return this Christmas was actually less anticipated. Although we'd love to spend the Holidays with each other as a complete family (we didn't last year), we wearn't even expecting him to return until February or March. So his return now is sort of a surprise.
***
We waited for almost an hour and half for him to emerge out of the airport. The Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo-Narita arrived, but I imagined the lines inside the airport due to the Holiday season.
We waited on the 2nd floor of the Greeters area which felt more exclusive. I didn't want to stand in the ordinary greeting crowds. I wanted to go upstairs and see the whole terminal area from there. It was our first time upstairs.
***
I wanted to escape. I imagined myself traveling to foreign lands with a girlfriend, a colleague, or a best friend. I pictured myself with that drive of adventure running through my veins.
Everytime I see the airport, I get sentimental.
Wishing I was a traveler. Seeing distant lands and enjoying exotic cuisine. I think I know what I want to be exactly in the future. Someone in the media that travels to foreign lands. Perhaps a news correspondent or something, working in some international news bureau elsewhere.
***
Kuya Jhong and I spotted my dad. He was wearing this dark blue shirt with a teal horizontal stripe in the middle. I knew it was my dad when I saw that bulky brown luggage and that green hand-carry I used to use back in Korea.
My mom was in the CR at the time. We went down the stairs and we signalled my dad to cross the street. We all met again and went straight for our CR-V which was really far away.
We couldn't find a Starbucks (i have an unfulfilled craving again for ice cold crap) so we went straight home.
***
I'm glad my dad's home for the Holidays. I think he can put things into order in case it gets screwed up or something. It's the end of the year and I think it's nice of him to be here and see how much our house has changed. How much our lifestyle has been upgraded a little to feel like the way it was before when we were abroad.
During my entire High School years, our lifestyle was just so rough. I mean, for people around it's normal. But for people who came from abroad, who spend all their lives since birth abroad (that's me)... and coming to the Philippines and experience a bit of the "Hard Knock Life"... at least now... in the year 2003... so much has improved.
For once I can say our house finally looks beautiful.
And no more smoke, traffic, heat, sweat, and stress when riding that bumpy "steel on wheels" aka the service jeep. We now have a CR-V that is just so comfortable to be in as we ride down the roads of Cavite and Metro Manila.
Thanks Dad for working abroad and bringing home the bacon. Thanks to the Lord that he kept my dad safe abroad during the times my dad worked on a ship during the Iraq War (my dad's ship was in the Persian Gulf).
He's home to spend the Holidays with us
WE picked up my dad last night at NAIA. We arrived at the airport just on time. It was packed with people. The parking lot was loaded with cars, we ended up parking at the far end.
My dad has been working on a ship for just over a year. The last time he was home was last June up until August. The last time he was home, it was sort of a grand arrival. I mean, we didn't throw a party or anything, but the improvements in the house tripled. We bought a new CR-V (2 years to pay). They bought me a new Philips TV and VCD/DVD player. My dad brought home my Digital Camera (which up to this day, is the main reason my blog has turned into a photoblog).
His return this Christmas was actually less anticipated. Although we'd love to spend the Holidays with each other as a complete family (we didn't last year), we wearn't even expecting him to return until February or March. So his return now is sort of a surprise.
***
We waited for almost an hour and half for him to emerge out of the airport. The Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo-Narita arrived, but I imagined the lines inside the airport due to the Holiday season.
We waited on the 2nd floor of the Greeters area which felt more exclusive. I didn't want to stand in the ordinary greeting crowds. I wanted to go upstairs and see the whole terminal area from there. It was our first time upstairs.
***
I wanted to escape. I imagined myself traveling to foreign lands with a girlfriend, a colleague, or a best friend. I pictured myself with that drive of adventure running through my veins.
Everytime I see the airport, I get sentimental.
Wishing I was a traveler. Seeing distant lands and enjoying exotic cuisine. I think I know what I want to be exactly in the future. Someone in the media that travels to foreign lands. Perhaps a news correspondent or something, working in some international news bureau elsewhere.
***
Kuya Jhong and I spotted my dad. He was wearing this dark blue shirt with a teal horizontal stripe in the middle. I knew it was my dad when I saw that bulky brown luggage and that green hand-carry I used to use back in Korea.
My mom was in the CR at the time. We went down the stairs and we signalled my dad to cross the street. We all met again and went straight for our CR-V which was really far away.
We couldn't find a Starbucks (i have an unfulfilled craving again for ice cold crap) so we went straight home.
***
I'm glad my dad's home for the Holidays. I think he can put things into order in case it gets screwed up or something. It's the end of the year and I think it's nice of him to be here and see how much our house has changed. How much our lifestyle has been upgraded a little to feel like the way it was before when we were abroad.
During my entire High School years, our lifestyle was just so rough. I mean, for people around it's normal. But for people who came from abroad, who spend all their lives since birth abroad (that's me)... and coming to the Philippines and experience a bit of the "Hard Knock Life"... at least now... in the year 2003... so much has improved.
For once I can say our house finally looks beautiful.
And no more smoke, traffic, heat, sweat, and stress when riding that bumpy "steel on wheels" aka the service jeep. We now have a CR-V that is just so comfortable to be in as we ride down the roads of Cavite and Metro Manila.
Thanks Dad for working abroad and bringing home the bacon. Thanks to the Lord that he kept my dad safe abroad during the times my dad worked on a ship during the Iraq War (my dad's ship was in the Persian Gulf).
Comments:
Post a Comment