My Houston trip – Part 1

My Houston Trip (March 22-29, 2009)

When my friend Malou invited me to visit her in Houston, I didn't think twice and took up her invitation. It was supposed to be a mini reunion for us as 3 other high school friends would join us there since it was Spring break. While everyone was so enthusiastic in the planning stage, I was the only one who actually made it to Houston.

We arrived in Houston at 12PM, 20 minutes earlier than schedule because of a medical emergency on the plane. It happened few minutes after take off when the attendants were serving snacks. Of the many passengers on board the plane, I was the luckiest being served my snacks and the attendant was telling me to be very careful my coffee was too hot when someone shouted for help and all heads instantly rotated 3 seats behind me. That very moment, the attendant rushed to the cockpit in panic, leaving me soaking in hot coffee, ouch! I choose to be in immaculate white blouse that day but my tan jacket complimented the new abstract blouse design – thanks to the coffee. While people were busy reviving the guy behind me, I was busy drying myself off. The pilots must have flown the aircraft in full speed to get us there so early, and the paramedics were waiting, thank God, the man was responsive. We were not allowed to get up yet until all the paramedics have disembark so I turned on my phone to see the time (it serves as my watch too), it rang before I could even see the time and as if on cue, I heard someone say "Welcome to Texas". That was Omar in San Antonio.

My host – the Delarosa family planned meticulously for my arrival. Cesar and Malou took a leave from work so they can take me to places of interest. The three adorable Delarosa girls (Angel, Katkat and Bridget) were as benevolent as their parents, making sure I enjoy every minute of my visit asking me "Tita, are you enjoying your visit so far?" Isn't that cute?

As I got out of plane Malou was already waiting in the baggage carousel and grabbed my luggage while Cesar and the Delarosa girls were waiting outside, my welcoming team. As planned, we went straight to St Paul Catholic Church in Nassau Bay where Malou's brother Fr. Al, was celebrating a mass, but we waited in his residence just across the church because it is a Spanish mass and we couldn't understand. By then we were getting hungrier so we decided to leave and went to Clear Lake and found a really nice Filipino restaurant by the water. It was already 2PM and the restaurant was still crowded but I was happy that finally, seeing the wide selection of Filipino foods in the buffet table, I felt at home in the US for the first time. Not only the food but the whole atmosphere in the restaurant makes me feel homesick. The waitresses and the cooks are Filipinos but the guests are a mix of different cultures, I think we were the minority. Isn't it a joy to see people of other culture enjoying the food that you grew up with? Our food is a testament to our culture, tradition and belief. For me to know that a foreigner embraces our own food and devours crispy pata, sinigang, dinuguan, pinakbet, pancit with gusto is an honor. Eating truly is a universal language, you need not speak to be understood. Afterall, were not supposed to speak when the mouth is full, haha.

Next, they took me to Kemah Boardwalk, a fun place with rides and adventures, themed restaurants, shops, a marina and more. Since it was Sunday, the place was packed with people. We stayed for a while in the rides and watched people scream their lungs out while being dropped 140 feet to the ground on the drop zone. Funny how people pay to torture themselves like the ones we saw on the Inverter, a ride that flips people and takes them upside down in a manner that turns your insides out. I refuse to take this ride especially after a sumptuous meal of sinigang na bangus, calamares and crispy pata.

It was fun watching those crazy rides but we remember that we need to go to mass still so we left in a hurry to fulfill our religious obligations. Fr. Al was already in the altar when we came but the celebration was just starting so we haven't missed much. It was the liveliest mass I have ever attended in the US, the music ministry was just so amazing you feel like you are already in heaven. I've been to Charismatic mass and concerts in the Philippines but never here in the US, I feel so blessed. We stayed a while after the mass to catch up with Kuya Al but all seems to be really tired to even go out for dinner so we just went home and heat the left over at Cesar's kitchen.

It's just my first day of adventure in Texas.