Thursday, May 19, 2011

Accidentally America

Obviously not keen on acquiring this visa. Photo taken at home. Just woke up, without changing clothes, without fixing my hair.

It was one heck of a surprise. A free trip to a country that's nonexistent on the bottom most part of our travel bucket list. And it's all because of a lavish French boss.

About a couple of months back, the hubby was asked by his boss to meet their client in California. Surprisingly he offered me to tag along. Since we ain't spending a penny for this trip, I said yes without further questions. But that meant canceling our China visit (we didn't have enough time to apply for a visa because my passport was held by the U.S. embassy for a week), which I still am sappy-angry about.

So why aren't we that giddy to go to the Land of Milk and Honey? Well, the hubby's been there. Worked there for fifteen months actually. As for me, let's just say I (make that we Filipinos) feel very much familiar with their culture because of our highly Americanized education, Hollywood movies, TV shows, American fastfood, balikbayan relatives, and phone conversations/arguments with clients in a call center (a previous job).

I love exploring unfamiliar territories and being culture shocked. I assume it ain't gonna happen in the U.S. But hey, that's just an assumption (an ignorant one I must say) and what I am excited about is to prove myself wrong about this.

Then probably I'd be annoyed we're staying for ten days only. Now Googling national parks.

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35 comments:

flipnomad said...
May 21, 2011 at 5:55 PM

congrats gay for the visa... added credibility para sa philippine passport yan... :-) they say some countries will only let you in without visa if you have an exisiting valid us/canda/schenggen visa :-)

Aleah said...
May 21, 2011 at 5:57 PM

You only have 10 days! Make the most of it. haha

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 21, 2011 at 6:08 PM

Thanks Flip! Yeah, found out about that thru Ivan H. also. Weee!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 21, 2011 at 6:09 PM

Will try, Aleah. Sherv and I got relatives there so we might visit them na rin :)

Christian | Lakad Pilipinas said...
May 21, 2011 at 6:59 PM

You'd probably be surprised tingin ko. =]

Swerti mu naman libre! I'd go anywhere basta libre haha

bertN said...
May 21, 2011 at 7:19 PM

The weather here in California is great right now....it always is, anyway. Check out Yosemite and Sequoia national parks, if you have time.

The Nomadic Pinoy said...
May 21, 2011 at 8:33 PM

Glad you got the visa!
There may not be a culture shock moment but there are many things you'll notice that are quite different from home.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 21, 2011 at 10:08 PM

Christian, me too! Basta libre, kahit san pa yan. Hihi. Excited to be surprised :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 21, 2011 at 10:10 PM

Bert, I would love to go to Yosemite! But I think my hubby's cousin will take us somewhere else. Somewhere closer to their home in SF. I'm feeling excited now.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 21, 2011 at 10:12 PM

Thanks Dennis! Really interested now to find that out first hand :)

ayan said...
May 22, 2011 at 3:01 AM

lucky you, i got denied last week.
sayang yon paid training offer.. oh well

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 22, 2011 at 5:49 AM

Sorry to hear that Ayan. I guess my visa was granted because they know I was waiting for my temporary resident visa for Australia. The purpose of visit didn't really matter.

nikita said...
May 22, 2011 at 9:25 AM

Since you are going to be in the Bay Area during your visit, you should definitely check out Muir Woods and Big Sur. I'm sure your cousin will take you to the City (San Francisco) to go to the usual tourist places. I used to live in SF and truly think it's the best city in the US to visit!

tina said...
May 22, 2011 at 7:33 PM

wow! i love free travels! though it entails work pa din, me change of scenery pa din :)

Jazzy Jaz said...
May 23, 2011 at 12:26 PM

Have fun on your US trip! :D

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 23, 2011 at 1:48 PM

Thanks so much Nikita for your suggestions. Can't wait to see SF!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 23, 2011 at 1:52 PM

Tina, you are right. Sarap ng may change of scenery.

Thanks Jazz!

RIZALENIO said...
May 23, 2011 at 6:24 PM

Love the visa photo. Pwedeng ihanay sa campaign na ginawa ng mga models na sina Helena Christensen at Amber Valletta, etc for the SUPERMODELS goes SUPER NATURAL - stripping off their make up for the camera. At bakit ko ito alam? Hahaha. Timely, just saw those portrait photos in a magazine. :)

Have fun in your US trip and take a lot of photos. :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 24, 2011 at 12:12 AM

Lito, pwede na bang ihanay? Mukhang malayong mangyari. Lol. Will see what stuff I can do. Just staying in the hotel now, and I wanna sleep all day!

nina said...
May 24, 2011 at 2:29 AM

Nice! Congrats Gay! Sabi nga ng friend ko.. wag tumangi sa free trip!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 24, 2011 at 3:32 AM

Thank you Nina! Your friend's right. Wag tanggihan ang free trip!

AJ said...
May 24, 2011 at 8:09 PM

Milk it in the Land of Milk and Honey, honey! I think there's still room for culture shock. I mean, I go to Pasay and still get culture shock. :))

Looking forward to your Californication posts, Miriel!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 25, 2011 at 12:24 AM

Haha! So far, the country's meeting my expectations. No culture shock moment yet, AJ. I think my Californication escapade would only consist of piggin' out and watching TV in the hotel room day in, day out.

Jody said...
May 26, 2011 at 8:16 AM

If you make it down LA way, pm me and I will show you and the hubby around.

Ed said...
May 29, 2011 at 12:26 PM

dili talaga pwedeng mag smile sa Visa photo? hehe

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 29, 2011 at 4:18 PM

Guess I am used to not smiling for visa photos already. Haha!

Anonymous said...
May 30, 2011 at 8:45 PM

kung masarap ang libreng food, mas masarap ang libreng byahe! enjoy! :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
May 31, 2011 at 2:21 AM

Yeah! Thank you :)

MheAnne said...
June 5, 2011 at 2:05 PM

enjoy the 10 days in California...sweet beautiful mum Gay! i'm sure you'll find lots of things to enjoy and shock you hahaha

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
June 5, 2011 at 2:07 PM

10 days - too short a time! I didn't find any thing shocking but I was surprised a little by a few things :) We did enjoy the trip!

fetus said...
July 1, 2011 at 12:53 AM

@ed: dili jud? hahahaha...

Anonymous said...
July 2, 2011 at 4:46 AM

I miss your site Gaye!!! :) --Teenie

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
July 2, 2011 at 10:29 AM

Welcome again Teenie!

Jovial Wanderer said...
February 1, 2012 at 12:43 PM

natakot ako sa picture mo... :P Parang si Miro..hahahahaha (peace Miro!)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
February 1, 2012 at 11:11 PM

Hahaha! Criminal mug shot ko yan ;p

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