Welcome to the Philippines!

I apologize for not posting sooner, as I haven't had internet access until today. My mom and I flew out of Texas Monday, September 28. We took Continental Airlines from Houston to Narita, Japan, then Japan Airlines to Manila. At that point, it was already September 29, our time. We stayed the night at the airport since our sleep schedule was already screwed up anyway, then on the morning of Wednesday, September 30, we flew to Dumaguete.

The flights weren't so bad, and it was a change because this was the first time we didn't go through Los Angeles. Also, we flew the long, 13-hour flight from North America to Asia during the day, rather than the night like we usually do. It was nice not having to camp out in LAX like we usually have to, but I think taking the long flight at night is better. It makes me feel more comfortable sleeping on the plane when it's dark out than when it's day. I enjoyed going to Japan, though. I've never been before, and while this may not count as 'going there,' it was still an experience (especially trying to use their crazy, psychedelic toilets.)



When we arrived in Dumaguete around 8:00 am, we were greeted by several family members. We visited in the parking lot for a little while, and I got to show off the brand spankin' new diamond on my finger. From there, we had breakfast (though it felt more like dinner to me) at Jollibee's (the Filipino McDonald's, I suppose?), then to my aunt and uncle's house where we'll be staying.

The rest of the family left the house around noon, and my mom and I crashed. Apparently she woke up last night at 10:00 pm and has stayed up all day since, but I slept till 2:30 or 3:00 am. We had some quality mother-daughter bonding time (for once in my life!) when I woke up in the morning as we ate a VERY late dinner. It was nice. My mom wasn't too happy to hear about the engagement, so she hasn't mentioned it much lately and I haven't either for fear of upsetting her. However, this morning we were able to talk about it like it was nothing. It was really nice. We also talked about my dad, and JJ, and our jobs, and our goals in life, and just everything else really. I enjoy it. My mom and I don't really have the opportunity to really talk heart-to-heart often (more so, we have the opportunity, just neither of us ever take advantage of it), so I really enjoyed being able to talk to her about all the things going on in my life.

After that, we finished unpacking together and hung out before my aunt and uncle awoke. At that time, which was around 9:00 am, we had breakfast, then my dad called and I got to talk to him. He's really upset. He misses us a lot, and it's tough for him to be at the house all alone. My mom told me not to worry about it much, though, and to think of this time as 'mother-daughter bonding' before I go off and get married and we don't get the chance again. It does make it much easier to think of it that way, and I think she told that to Dad as well and it helped him to ease up a little.

After breakfast, we all talked and hung out for a while. At one point, I heard a kitten meowing outside, so I set off to go look for it. It was a tiny, calico, frightened thing. I lured it out from the vehicle it was hiding under with some food, and now it won't leave me alone! It's been following me all day.

My other aunt and some of my cousins dropped by around lunchtime, and shortly afterward we out to the city to catch up with relatives and explore. My cousin and I split off for a little while because I wanted to check into gyms and a new cell phone service.

I found a pretty nice gym with weights, treadmills, an elliptical, and other stuff for only P500fee, and P800 a month. The price even includes a personal trainer. Pretty sweet, I thought. PLUS, it get's better! While we were going through the building the gym is located in, we saw flyers for dance classes. I searched EVERYWHERE in the internet for belly dance classes, browsing the web, asking on forums and Yahoo! Answers, the works. Everywhere I looked, I was told there were none offered here in Dumaguete. Well, guess what, suckers? YOU WERE WRONG! Totally found out that in the same building as my soon-to-be-gym, there's a place that offers ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, and BELLY DANCE! Sure, it's only beginner-level, but I'll take what I can get. It's not like a review would hurt, plus they may even cover things I never learned at my old school. I'm super excited.

After that, we explored the town some more and visited relatives. We finally made it back around 6:30 pm or so, and we just got through having dinner.

I'm so happy that my aunt and uncle have a reliable internet collection; I was really worried I would have to camp out at McDonald's every morning or something.

Anyway, that was pretty much it for my day. It's only about twenty till 8:00 pm, but I don't foresee anything exciting happening between now and bedtime.

I really wish I could go out; I'd love to experience the nightlife here. I would love it if I could go out to a club or bar or something. There's a place called Why Not over on the boulevard that my dad always liked to go to. I've read online that the place is kind of a ripoff, but if my dad liked it so much and other people still go than it can't be all that bad, right? NOT THAT IT MATTERS, though, because I'm not about to go out by myself, and it seems like there's no one here who would want to go out with me. I have a cousin about my age (the one I was exploring the gym and everything with), but (in her own words) she's a "homebody" and doesn't "really like to go out." It's a shame because I think it would be a lot of fun, but she's pretty conservative and I don't want to go out alone and play the typical reckless American girl. Instead, I sit here in my room, and play on the internet. So exciting.

Ah well, it's only the first day. Maybe things will pick up, and we'll do something exciting soon? I very much doubt it, though. My mom is happy just hanging out at the house and relaxing; whenever my whole family would come to the Philippines, it was always my dad and I who went out alone searching for fun and excitement. Maybe it was dangerous of us, but like I told my mom when we were talking about this earlier, nothing is more fun and makes for better stories than doing crazy things. I keep expecting Dad to walk in and ask if I want to go out for a walk to the store or something with him. Too bad he's not here. I'm really missing him.