krystlesee
June 2011
23 posts
Listen
Hawaiian Airlines soundtrack.
Foodies
In documenting my life via the intarwebz, I’m moving all food-related posts to http://krystleeats.tumblr.com. Follow it if you want to know what I’m cooking, baking, eating or what I’m obsessing about in to food realm.
Also, some of y’all know I’ve been hustling the cake-y goods for a while now and I’m officially relaunching a new-new brand upon my return from the motherland. Be on the lookout for website and order info to get you some sugar-sweet goodness from mah kitchen!
The journey begins...
In less than 10hrs, I will be on a plane to LAX. After two days I will be on a plane to HI. And the day after that, I will be on a flight to MNL. It has been 12 years since my return to the Philippines, and as I write this, I am eating crab guacamole and eggs and watching Slumdog Millionaire. I have finally packed my suitcase after much anxiety. I have all my copies ready and my ticket printed. All of my pick-ups and drop-offs are set. THIS IS IT.
As I mentally prepare for this trip, I think about who and what I am taking with me. This isn’t Krystle, an individual going to Manila. I am an Ilag, a Cheirs, a daughter of strong blood, a representative of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment, a member of the National Democratic movement of the Philippines, a teacher, a student, an adventurer, a set of skills which I am about to gain and empart on others, and more. This trip reminds me of being reborn. I know everything and nothing about what will happen to me and to the members of my group. What I mean to say is, beyond the logistics, the months (and in my case years) of planning for this trip, the transformation that will happen is unknown. I know this much, when I return, I will be changed.
I will have gained a different perspective and see things no one in my family has. Talking with my Lola in her rehabilitation center after her hip surgery (which she left yesterday, thank God), I can hear sadness in her voice about me going home. Not because she is worried about my safety, but because she can’t go back home yet. In talking to my mom and titos and titas about this trip, I’ve learned that none of them have been to the places where I will go and they are excited for me to be able to do what they haven’t.
I am filled with intense emotions about departing and arriving. My last trip to the Philippines in 2000, I had all these surreal emotions. And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to balance out surrealism and fantasy with reality about my mother’s homeland. I am excited for all that is to come and I hope to share it with you as I go.
My initial reaction to this episode of Doctor Who…
„,but I’m glad I won’t be missing it whilst I’m away in the Philippines!
My initial reaction to this episode of Doctor Who…
…but then realising the 3 month gap in my life now…
=’(
