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| Ken's
Trip Diary -- Philippines 2002 |
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| I left from Logan airport in Boston and had a quick flight to New York’s JFK airport. After a few hours layover there, I then got on the plane, in which I was the only Caucasian on that flight, and flew to Vancouver Canada for a short layover. From there, we left for Hong Kong, and stepping off the plane in Hong Kong is when I felt the heat. It was like walking into an oven. I had enough time in Hong Kong to change into something clean and of course cooler. I had been on and off a few planes for about 24 hours now. Luckily from Vancouver to Hong Kong, the lady sitting next to me was a Filipina and her young daughter and they were friendly. I was able to talk about the Philippines with her and that helped to calm me down a bit. From time to time they would give me some candies also. |
| Now I realize that there are many Asian countries and that they all speak different languages, but I found it very funny that when the stewardess told her something, her English changed from good to bad so he couldn’t understand her. He only wanted her to put her seat in the upright position for landing, but she was much more comfortable with it reclined back a bit. From Hong Kong to
Cebu, I also met another Filipina that I was seated next to, who lived in the U.S. and she made the two-hour flight seem to go by in minutes. She asked me some questions and then told me of a few places to go to. I had told her that I was going to Davao also, so she wrote down a really nice restaurant for me to go to, but unfortunately, I never did make it there. She also told me that she was there looking for a house so her and her husband and kids could move there since her husband was about to retire. I saw her a few times after getting off the plane and we just smiled to one another. She seemed to be a really nice lady that must have made her husband happy. |
 Upon arrival in Cebu, I went though customs and immigrations, (forgot which order first) and then walked out towards the door that led outside. I fixed my shirt and took a deep breath and with-in seconds, found my good friend. It made me feel so comfortable to see her with this huge smile and waving to me. We stepped outside and she had me stay in that spot for a couple of minutes while she ran to her friend’s vehicle, and then picked me up. While standing there, I have to admit that the thought of, maybe she didn’t like what she saw, came to my mind. I was out of my comfort zone and didn’t know anybody in the exact area that I was in. Anyway, with-in seconds of that thought, I saw her practically hanging out of the window of her friends vehicle. I followed it for a few feet until they stopped and then opened the door and threw in my bags and got in. From the moment I sat in the vehicle, I felt so comfortable. I had told my friend that I probably wouldn’t talk for two days, as I would be so nervous, but I was just the total opposite. I didn’t stop talking. I talked a million miles an hour. I was told more than once to speak a little slower as I was speaking to fast and not clearly enough. By the end of the trip, I think I did just fine. |
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Upon arrival in Cebu, I went though customs and immigrations, (forgot which order first) and then walked out towards the door that led outside. I fixed my shirt and took a deep breath and with-in seconds, found my good friend. It made me feel so comfortable to see her with this huge smile and waving to me. We stepped outside and she had me stay in that spot for a couple of minutes while she ran to her friend’s vehicle, and then picked me up. While standing there, I have to admit that the thought of, maybe she didn’t like what she saw, came to my mind. I was out of my
comfort zone and didn’t know anybody in the exact area that I was in. Anyway, with-in seconds of that thought, I saw her practically hanging out of the window of her friends vehicle. I followed it for a few feet until they stopped and then opened the door and threw in my bags and got in. From the moment I sat in the vehicle, I felt so comfortable. I had told my friend that I probably wouldn’t talk for two days, as I would be so nervous, but I was just the total opposite. I didn’t stop talking. I talked a million miles an hour. I was told more than once to speak a little slower as I was speaking to fast and not clearly enough. By the end of the trip, I think I did just fine.