...welcome to Canada eh...

 exact opposite

The prospect of going to another country has never entered my mind. Of course, I have always set my sights on going to New York City someday but that's about it. When an opportunity presented itself as my ticket to make that "dream" a reality, I was hesitant to take it. Not because I don't want to but because I feel that I was not up for the job.

To make the long story short, I took the chance and two years later, I'm here in a foreign country already. No, it's not New York yet but it will be easier for me to get there if I work hard at it.

When I received my visa to work in Canada, I was glad and I even got teary-eyed when I phoned my mother and told her about the wonderful news. At that time the thought of leaving has not yet sink in. I was just plain happy.

After all the necessary paperwork was done, I got my flight schedule. And still I was not thinking of leaving yet. A week before my flight, I got anxious and all. I failed to mention that I'm scared of flying ( that's what I get from watching too much TV). 

At the airport, my hands started to get clammy and I was nervous and at the same time sad. An hour before my flight, I bid my mother, sister, AJ and Mokang goodbye. When I saw Nanay cried, I hurried away. I hate saying goodbyes. Joy, Jingle, Fritzie and Mae Ann were there too, to see me off.

At the boarding area, while waiting for my flight to be called, I felt very alone. For the first time, I realized how it felt to be all by yourself. And that come from someone who prided herself on being a loner.

The flight to HongKong was uneventful, except that I got very cold, other than that it was okay. Good thing I heed my sister's suggestion to tell the Cathay Pacific staff at the check-in counter way back in Cebu, that it was my first time to fly. When I arrived at the HongKong International Airport, someone from Cathay Pacific was waiting for me and promptly guided me around the various twists and turns of the terminal until I reached the boarding area for my connecting flight to Vancouver. I waited for another three hours before my flight. I have to say it Cathay Pacific is always on time and has no delays.

My connecting flight to Vancouver took almost 10 hours or so, I think. We encountered a lot of turbulence along the way. Imagine my anxiety. Every time the plane shaked or moved, I just closed my eyes and think pleasant thoughts. But at the back of my mind, images of those planes torn in half or exploding in the air ( from National Geographic's Air Crash Investigation) kept creeping up. I got a terrible headache and downed two Biogesic.When I finally saw the lights of Vancouver, it then occured to me that, this is it. There's no turning back now. Philippines is already a thousand miles away and I can't just go home at any time I want to. Then I recalled Tiya's message for me. Thinking of this got me misty-eyed and all the more sad.

 with Mama and Ferdinand

After the plane landed, I wasted no time getting out, not totally excited but because I still have to passed by Immigration. Fortunately, there were not a lot of people in the Immigration. I survived the questions directed at me by the Immigration Officer. After a few minutes, he handed me my Work Permit and I was off to retrieve my luggage. Then I went to look for the exit, pushing my luggage cart.

 with Mama

My sister, my aunt ( whom we call Mama ) and her husband, Ferdinand, were there to met me. We exchanged pleasantires and laughs. For a moment there, I did not recognized my sister in her get-up which was far from what I've seen her way back home. Mama gave me a hug. When we stepped outside, I was taken aback by the cold. Grrrrr.....

( to be continued )