Home for the Holidays, Part 5: Epilogue

I’ve been back in the U.S. for a little over two weeks now, just enough time for the jet lag to wear off but still short enough of a time to still remember the vacation. Coming back from a vacation from your home country I think is always sentimental, but this time meant something extra to me because I realized a few things:

First, I have a renewed appreciation for water—or more specifically, strong water pressure. If you live in America it’s something very easy to take for granted everyday: you turn on the faucet and water comes gushing out, sometimes even too strong. But when I went back to the Philippines and re-experienced what it’s like to take a shower with water that’s just a tad stronger than a trickle, I suddenly realized how much of a luxury I was enjoying day after day!

Second, I realized how much I came to depend on hot water off the faucet. Seems second nature to me in America—you turn any faucet on and you come to expect hot water when you turn the knob to the left. Well, the first time I turned on the faucet in the Philippines, I instinctively turned the knob to the left and my brain automatically expected hot water to come out, but my hands got confused because the water was still cold! And that’s when I realized another everyday convenience that I had gotten used to.

Third, Traffic. Ah, the infamous Manila traffic. I realized I had gotten so spoiled by the Albany “traffic” that when I encountered real traffic—the one that renders you so helpless that you don’t have any choice but to sleep (while commuting of course, not while driving)—I was mildly shocked. Even though I used to live this life everyday—commuting three or more hours day in and day out—it was still disconcerting for me to experience it all over again. Having gotten so used to counting my Albany driving by the minute, it was extremely frustrating for me to have to waste precious hours just idling away.

Lastly, Retirement. I realized that, even though I appreciate very much all the conveniences that I enjoy in America, I would still eventually settle down and retire in the Philippines. I know, it seems counter-intuitive given all the daily obstacles and frustrations involved in Manila life, but the people and the culture are too embedded in me to want to retire somewhere else. Not anytime soon though, this is way down the road… for now I still plan to enjoy life in America. :)