Our First Christmas & New Year in the US

Christmas is the time for giving and receiving...time to love and share...time to be happy and celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. But it's the other way around here in the US, besides the decorations in the malls and lights on the streets, I don't see anything that makes me feel the spirit of Christmas. In the Philippines, once the month of "ber" arrives. Peoples starts to decorate their houses and make their Christmas shopping list for those who are "nauthy and not" even with their "butas na bulsa". Malls and radios start to play Christmas songs. Streets are full of life with colorful Christmas lights. People seems to be living in a very fast phase...Even with the hardship of life in the Philippines you will feel the love and happiness in the air...


On the 24th of December 2005, my husband still needs to work so we travelled from Charlotte, NC to Atlanta at around 8pm, we almost spent our Christmas on the road. We drove to Walgreen since it's the only shop open to sell food. We didn't even have the chance to shop for Zoe's & Josh's gift because hubby was working 24/7. Luckily, our friends in NC gave them gifts before we headed to Atlanta and that's what they opened on Christmas eve. We never felt so lonely on a very happy occassion such as Christmas but when we hugged each other we felt the love in our family. I realized that no matter where we are or what we have on our Noche Buena, Christmas is with us for as long as we are together...

Ang munti naming salo-salo

Thanks to Walgreen for our Noche Buena

Thanks to Tito Anton for the Elmo.

Thanks to Tita Theena and Tito Micke for the gift.

New year's eve, new life...life that is basically us, "only Us". Me and my husband, Zoe and Josh. My new year's resolution is not to be over-standard or else i will have a hard time finishing everything on my own. I have no problem at the moment since we have been living in the hotel for like 2 months now in Charlotte, NC where cleaning is not my responsibility YET. But, when it comes to my kids' welfare, I still could not afford to down-grade my standards because they are my precious ones...

Our New Year's Eve celebration is as lonely as Christmas...we missed our love ones in the Philippines, we missed the "paputok" (fireworks) for like hours and the "usok" (smoke) that seems last forever. After we had our salo-salo, we just cuddled in the couch and watch the countdown in the TV, then went to bed with the hope of a better year in the morning.

That's baked ribs and Pasta... yummmm at least, homemade na yan di na binili...

This is US...noticed the teary eyes of everyone...

This is after we attended the new year's mass at Saint Jude.

Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all!!!

Carowinds Winter Fest

Last 18th of December 2005, we went to Carowinds here in Charlotte, NC for the winter fest. Eventhough my husband was not feeling well because of working 24/7 on call, he still managed to bring us there. Maybe he thought that we all need a break from being in the hotel for a month now, could hardly go out because of his work load and crazy schedule. As preparation, we even brought Josh to the emergency a day before we went to Carowinds because of some rashes to make sure that he is safe to go out. Zoe was so excited as it was her first time to go to a theme park here in the US.

Hey ate you are choking Josh!!!

A pose with ummm... forgot... i think it's the fairy Godmother...

Zoe love Dora and boots...

Sponge Bob square pants

A kodak moment with our new found friends in Charlotte, NC

from left (Anton, Noel, Nanette, Tata, Me, Zoe, Paulene, Miko, Mhel, Josh, John, Brendan, Odette, Naj, Ashley, Tina, Zorina, Rodgie)

Georgia Aquarium

Last November 27, 2005 was our very first "lakwatsa". We visited the newly opened Georgia Aquarium, it is the largest aquarium in the world... Along with our lakwatsa were Tolitz, Amy and little Aldwin who visited Atlanta for Thanks giving. Since we just decided to go there the night before, we didn't get the chance to purchase a ticket online. We suffered from blistering wind falling in line for 4 hours to get in but the long wait was worth it because we saw a lot of water kingdom species that we never saw before... Zoe was so amazed as a am specially when we watched and heard the Beluga whales sounds.

Daddy and Josh were looking at the same spot...it was the great white shark coming !!!

A pose at the Tropical fishes section

My family at GA Aquarium

After exploring the whole aquarium we sat down to do some gags. Josh was on his nap time.

A pose outside the Aquarium before we bid goodbye

The great thing about roaming around Atlanta is that the tourist destinations are just close to each other. The GA Aquarium, Coke, CNN, Phillips Arena and the Centennial Park. You can visit it all in just one day. So before and after our GA Aquarium Escapades we took a glimpse of the Centennial Park.

@ The Centennial Park with the View of CNN Head quarter.

Don't choke me m'hal...

The Symbol of Olympics held in Alanta in 1996 which was also the Centennial celebration of Modern Olympics.

Way to go Zoe!!!

First Thanksgiving

On the 24th of November, 2005, we celebrated our very first thanksgiving in Atlanta, Georgia. We were invited by George and Angela Benson together with my husband's colleague. George is the boss of my husband and Angela became a close friend of mine when M'hal was assigned in Taiwan. I met her during the family day of Lemcon. We had a great talk and connected right away because she is so kind and sweet. When they were assigned in the Philippines we went to Baguio together during the Holy Week.

Actually, we were in Charlotte, North Carolina a day before the event due to M'hal's assignment, then, we travelled on the 23rd at 11pm just to attend the dinner. We reached Atlanta around 3am, thank God the traffic was smooth. In the morning, George texted us to come around 3pm at their place. We were confused of the time as it was too early for a dinner party. Since it's our first time, we never thought that all shops were closed on that day. We drove around just to find something to bring for the party but just wasted our time and before we knew it it's already almost 5pm. The embarassing moment was they were just waiting for us to arrive and dinner supposed to be at 3pm. That early? My gosh...(parang lumabas ang pagka Filipino) always late...good thing they understood our situation as we got two kids and travelled late from North Carolina.

The party was perfect and Zoe as always, made George laughed with her jokes...talo nga si M'hal eh.. ehhehe maybe because they understood her accent better...The bad thing is that i was not able to take pictures as nobody in the group is taking one... Nahiya ang lola... "sayang". But even without pictures, the vivid memories of our first thanks giving celebration with our good friends will always stay in our heart and mind.

South Carolina

November 9, 2005, our first out of state voyage. M'hal was assigned to go to South Carolina for 1 week and ofcourse we tagged along not only because he needed me read the map and give directions but also because he wanted us to take the opportunity to see other places. It was a four hours drive from Atlanta to Columbia and since it was autumn, truly, the scenery was fascinating. Colorful mountains that you never see in the Philippines has successfully destructed me from my navigation.

There we met Amy and Aldwin for the first time, family of Tiger Woods look alike a.k.a Tolitz. Together we roamed around Charlseton City which is considered the cultural capital of the South and considered by many to be a living museum. In this beautifully preserved city, you can see historic landmarks including 18th century homes and plantations, the Battery, Confederation headquarters, churchers, even skitish cemetery and many more.

We also went to Sullivan Beach where Zoe and Josh got to play in the sand but unfortunately not in the extremely cold sea water…

Great day of adventure!!!

Picture tells it all :)

A pose with my baby while the carriage or as we all known in the Philippines "Calesa" was fast approaching.

A pose with my newly met friend who became one of my closest in front of a century old but well maintained house.

Tourist on tour

My 4 years old daughter excited to take a pose.

...and this is M'hal and his colleague Tolits pretending he was with Tiger Woods...is he really...uhh...for a second there, i really thought it was Tiger...hahaha

This was taken in Sullivan Beach, our first beach adventure...

My two boys on the seashore....

My 1 year old boy taking his first step on the beach.

Our First Trick or Threat

October 31, 2005 was the first trick or treat experience of Zoe and Josh. The little witch and baby Yoda. Since it's our first time, we just went around our complex at Saint Andrews in Atlanta, GA. It's been our 9th day in the US still not adjusted to the cold weather. It was breezy and cold that night but that did not stop us to experience the knocking and squalling "TRICK OR TREAT" at our neighbor’s door. Zoe was reluctant to knock at first because she doesn't have any idea what will happen if she did but when she saw other kids receiving goodies she voluntarily knock to every door we passed by. Some gave Zoe candies, some gave her pennies, some are small toys, however, some didn’t even open their doors. It was not enjoying as i expected it would be, totally different to what i have seen in the movies but at least i saw in Zoe’s eyes the joy and excitement of her first trick or treat…

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Trick or Treat

The witch and baby Yoda

Look mom, it's almost full !

Josh stayed in the car to keep him warm while watching ate have fun.

American Dream

When I was young, I was exposed to american culture because my dad used to work at Camp John Hay, in Baguio City. I remember attending family day every Christmas where i get to eat imported chocolates, apples and oranges. We get to play with the families of my dad's American colleagues and they always talk about how America is. They said that it's almost like Camp John Hay except that, during winter there is "snow"... and that made me dream to someday set foot in the United States of America.

As I grew up, thoughts of going to America fades-away because of meddling reality. Then here comes opportunity, which made us threw away all our current plans. "Let's go to America" we shouted with glee without any reservations...

October 22, 2005, cool fresh breeze...fast phase of life welcomes us upon our arrival. Hard to keep up but we did it..."We are in America". Detriot was our point of entry then took a flight to Atlanta as our destination. We were instructed to get a rental car and head to Staybridge Hotel in Perimeter Center, Atlanta where the company arranged our temporary accomodation. My husband John and I were dragging all our luggages to the bus going to the Car Rental office. While on the way, i told my husband "gone were the days when someone will meet us in the airport and carry our luggages and drive us to the hotel". This is it now... reality is we are on our own. However, the joy we felt overshadowed our fears and hardships. After we got the car, we asked for the direction going to the hotel...friendly faces gave us directions but it did not sink in, it's like "blah blah blah". No idea where is the duggin roads or streets or highways they are talking about....so we decided to just drive and find out...with just the map on my lap and prayers in my heart we manage to reach the hotel without getting lost... WE DID IT....THANK GOD...and thanks to my husband who was impelled to drive nervously and still kept his focus on getting us there...Hurray M'hal!!!

huh!!! that was a heck of adventure... now here we are... There is no guarantee of what awaits us but i'm sure with my family together... there is nothing we cannot achieve... This is our new voyage and we will embrace whatever dwells ahead.

This is Zoe and Josh out for a walk after they were already adjusted to the new time.

Happy and glee...

Our first autumn season