The first time it dawned to me that I was really in the US, the richest nation in the world, was of all places inside the restroom of Chicago's O'Hare International airport. It's the first time in my life I have seen toilet cubicles outnumbering around 30 users by a good 20 plus! If that wasn't enough, there were 3 kinds of TPs too - regular toilet paper, facial tissue and hand towel, not to mention a disposable toilet seat liner - in every cube! Wow, I said, so this is what a public restroom is like in america. No need for bringing travel tissue inside our bags, huh?

This rose is bigger than my fist. Yep, everything seems bigger than life here in the US of A.

Apple = Epol
Although I anticipated making lot of adjustments that goes with relocating to another country I still didn't expect it to be overwhelming since I thought that I won't have the language barrier problem. How wrong I was. To this day not only do I have trouble understanding a lot of the locals ( conversational english are usually faster and less inunciated than the ones we hear on movies or tv; especially on the phone where we can't see the mouth movements) but there is also a way of how to say it like an american that might be strange to the newbies' tongues. Another dilemma is finding affordable clothes that'd fit me. Since I am bigger than the average filipina, I thought this would be the least of my problem but to my dismay what usually are available on the store racks are not my size. There is also the matter of commuting which I must admit is better than riding a too tight tricycle or an overcrowded jeepney BUT the long wait (15-20 minutes average) is plain torture especially during winter. And who would think that handing a change of coins to the cashier or toll booth could leave us panicky and flustered with embarrassment? Before coming over, I thought that it will be difficult having no maid, surprisingly it isn't bad at all, I guess having gadgets helps. But then again, ask me once the baby comes.

One of my biggest concern before coming over was learning how to drive and it was initially as nervewracking as I had dreaded it to be but a year after I also had my small share of minor driving breakthroughs too. More than driving I braced myself to have the most major adjustment of all...working in the US - which might call for doing some totally unrelated menial job and I'd wait years before getting one that was in the same creative field that I was doing in the Philippines. Up to now I still consider it a miracle that my first job here and 2 months after I got my employment permit I found work that was suited to me. This is one of the reasons why it is very hard to consider resigning even after I have delivered our baby. I am half fearful that I won't be as lucky the next time. I was also apprehensive about discrimination too but I am happy to say I only encountered few very minor incidents although I did have a taste of racism in the workplace, which btw, that lady concerned and I are ok now - even smiling acquaintances.

Other things that would typically cross an immigrant's mind especially if coming from the tropics like the Philippines is how to survive winter. What about coping with having a different kind of christmas in the US? I also wrote something about those.

Filipinos would think that being exposed to american culture we would be familiar with their traditions and holidays. But surprise, surprise there are little known traditions of which the full impact is not felt from 8,000 miles away but very much omnipresent when in their soil, like yard sales in the summer or black Friday on November etc. There are also those unofficial american traditions which is such a huge deal that they are celebrated by everyone or big enough to make it to their evening news.

One summer when I looked out our window I saw a yard sale right below us. An informal american tradition that I look forward to that time of the year.

America, The Big And The Beautiful
Nobody warned me that dealing with the telemarketers here can be such a pain, but american customer service however, is something we could only aspire and wish for in the Philippines. Take note, local mails are delivered in 2-3 days, their efficient postal service can only make you grimace remembering that back in PI that would take 1 or even an unbelievable 2 months to accomplish, thus businesses like LBC flourish. But not everything is a bed of roses here in the US especially if you are uninsured. This alone makes me wonder if illegal aliens would risk it if they know that a trip to the emergency room would be a disaster for them if they have no health insurance. Or could it be that there are ways around this that a lot of us don't have clue about.

It is so easy to be in awe of everthing stateside on the initial months here in the US and this is not because of the big buildings, tourist spots or the amusement parks, but things that are part of our day to day life. Like taking a stroll and seeing our our neighbours' houses, or being a member of our amazing library, or even just the purchase of a litterbox with sensors made affordable to ordinary, working folks like me. To drive home a point of the possibility of having a grandiose amercian way of life, why not do some mile long shopping in the ritziest stores and boutiques carrying the name brands you only hear and read about on the glossy pages of our magazines or in the entertainment news? After you have done that and end up broke there is always the dollar store to run to. Still fun shopping in my book.

Even flipping the pages of their newspapers and reading their ads will make it hard to forget that we live in a different country now. A walk outdoors and seeing things we won't find in the Philippines doesn't help either.

Indeed everything is big or done in a big way in america that excesses closely follows. Nothing will prepare an immigrant from a poor country with the american junk. They even recycle their celphones, imagine that?

Lights, Camera, Action!
It amuses me to remember that when I had food poisoning one time and my husband asked me if I wanted him to call 911, I was horrified. As sick as I was I emphatically told him not to. 911 is only a Sunday TV show in the Philippines, but it is a lifeline here. Being in america indeed sometimes feels like a jump from real to reel life. There are days when in the middle of my meanderings it'd suddenly strike me that my surroundings would suddenly look vaguely familliar. I'd then recall a scene from a very popular movie (could be My Best Friend's Wedding or the more recent Proof or The Weather Man) and be somewhat bemused to realize that I was standing in the same spot that was a venue for a popular film. No wonder since a lot of movies are made in Chicago.

Nicholas Cage and one of Tom's favorite actresses, Hope Davis, in the movie "The Weather Man". Hope's character is suppose to live in Evanston. The neighbourhood does look like it was located here or Wilmette or other Northshore areas.

Living in the US for 2 years and a half now also had a lot of misconceptions of the US disproven to me, like americans being somewhat "atheists". Which couldn't be further from the truth, in fact I find them more passionate about their respective religion than a lot of us back home, not only that, would you believe that in our neighbourhood we practically have a church in every corner?. Another said american characteristics that I found to be untrue were indifference, unwillingness to help and aloofness. Not so. Tom and I were even grateful recipients of the american bayanihan spirit a couple of times when we needed it in a big way.

So with all that said does it mean that I prefer living here in the US than in the Philippines? People may find it hard to believe but at this point, to quote a corny line of a song, I am equally torn between 2 lovers (that my husband lives here of course carries a lot of weight). There will always be something about the Philippines I will miss. The same can be said of the US. In fact I have a top 10 list of what I love about living in these 2 countries.

Currently listening to: jazz on the radio
Currently reading: second draft of Tom's novel
Currently watching: Wife Swap for 10 minutes