Reminiscing my first travel to the US

On Friday, February 23, 2007, I left for Houston, Texas for a 4-month visit to my brother and sister. I was scheduled to arrive at my destination the same day (4:13 pm, February 23, Texas time). However, due to engine trouble which occurred while the plane was still at NAIA, there was a delay and change of itinerary (original itinerary: Manila-Narita-Minneapolis-Houston). The scheduled 7:50 am take off did not happen. The plane took off at NAIA at 4:40 pm and arrived at Narita in the evening. As expected, I missed the original connecting flight. The airline booked me in another flight in Narita that was scheduled to leave the following day, February 24 at 5:15 pm, which is a direct flight to Houston. Together with 3 other passengers, we were driven to Nagoya to stay at Hilton Hotel for the night. 

The following day, we were driven to the Narita airport where we took the flight to Houston, Texas and arrived there at 1:50 pm, Saturday, February 24, Texas time (2:50 am, February 25 Manila time). But the delay was ok with me because I was able to be in Japan for almost 24 hours, and while there, I stayed at Hilton Hotel which was a delightful experience for me (even though I really felt very, very cold because it was winter in Japan).

My sister in Texas, aware that it was my first trip to the U.S, was so anxious when she heard from my family in the Philippines that there was a delay in my flight. She called the airline to locate me, and when she was informed, she called me at Hilton to check on me.

It was my sister and her friend who went to the airport to meet me. We went straight to my brother's house, and because he did not expect me, it took sometime before he finally realized that it was me (hehehehe). I was 99 pounds (sobrang payat), maybe that was the reason. I was 115 pounds when I returned to the Philippines after four months.

My brother and sister, on separate occasions, took time to show me around and to introduce me to their friends. For the first time since the Sangel family (our Crusade Bible Church friends) left the Philippines 26 years before, I was able to reconnect with them in Houston.

I was able to visit Las Vegas, Louisiana, Galveston, San Antonio, Dallas, Lufkin, NASA and Keemah. My other sister, who is residing in Pakistan with her family, also arrived while I was still there. It was sort of a family reunion (although not complete because our 2 brothers were not there – they were in the Philippines). My brother and his wife brought us to several tourist spots, thus my sister also had a wonderful opportunity to see some places.