Friday, September 12, 2008

Remembering my 1st Year in the U.S.


Looking back on the day when I arrived here in the U.S., I can only smile with the wonderful memories that my heart holds dear the most. Exactly a year ago, my sister, my brother-in-law John, nephew Bren and of course, my babe Jeff picked me up at Chicago O’hare Airport. I wasn’t on my best self physically on that day. I’m sure everyone who had flown for more than 20 long hours can relate to the crappy feeling that I've felt on that day. To make matters worse, I had a flu on the day of my flight and imagine my discomfort when I was flying that time. I was desperately in need of a very nice bed to lay down to and a very warm comforter to protect me from the numbing coldness. But of course, everything was worth it when I saw Jeff coming down from the escalator. I would never forget the unexplained sparkle in his eyes when we finally held each other at the airport after being separated for 9 long months from his last visit to the PI.

I'll have to say that my 1 year of staying in a foreign land had been a memorable journey. I'll be a hypocrite if I was gonna say that I didn't feel sad, lonely, depressed, and melancholic within the first 12 months that I was away from my family and country. I was just one of the millions of Filipinos all over the U.S. who misses their loved ones back home and still think that PI is a country like no other. But my husband makes things a little bit easier for me as far as my adjustments here are concerned. He has done countless ways to show me that my personal sacrifice of leaving everything back home just to be with him is not futile. He's definitely worth it and not even once did he fail to be very supportive with everything that I had to go through in relation to my being here. It wouldn't be this wonderful without him.

Some of the highlights of my first year in the U.S. are the travels that we made and of course our wedding. Our wedding might not be grand but it was the best thing that happened to us. Within a year, we've been to 5 states in the U.S. namely Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and a couple of times in Illinois. It wasn't really as much as a goal but it did make me feel happy and proud that within a year I did learn how to drive and got a driver's license, got approved with the immigration process and the best part was finding myself a good job. What else could I ask for? I feel so blessed and lucky that I have all these. I am so grateful to God for everything that He has provided for me. I definitely don't have the right to complain. It has been a year of blissful marriage, memorable journey, worldly blessings, happiness and contentment. It'll surely get better as years go by. I can't stop thanking Jeff for the steady love and support that he has given me on this journey of life that we both chose to live.

8 replies:

Anonymous said...

kadali ra sa panahon. 1 year naka diri ate Jenn. But you have adjusted well and has definitely lived a normal happy life. more years of love and life!

Ken said...

Your experience ... is so wonderful to read. Talagang love story. Congratulations and may you be blessed with beautiful children :-).

Anonymous said...

i'm happy for you. we had been staying in a foreign land too, from Thailand for more than 10 years then we moved to Finland last year. we celebrated 1 year of stay in Finland last month.

Shawie said...

wow! congrats:) that's very wonderful to hear! more power to both of you!
I didn't even realize that I have been driving for 6 months now, lol! have attended big conventions with hubby knowing that I'm a little shy about being in business.. but things have changed:) for good!

SHIELA said...

congrats. i'm happy for you for everything that you achieved in your first year in US. what's the next plan???

Anonymous said...

hi! may you have more wonderful years with your babe there. :)

It's so hard nga to catch the kim sam soon everynight kaya sana may DVD na alng.:)

lispeth said...

Hi Jenn, thanks for the comment...do not worry there are more challenges to come and you will never know...you wil be posting them sooner or later

Anonymous said...

Hi Jenn, thanks for the comment...do not worry there are more challenges to come and you will never know...you wil be posting them sooner or later