As everyone of you know already here that Aaron is going to the States next year. In God’s grace and glory. My gosh, I am so excited for him that he already has the confidence to travel there. But at the same time my heart is aching a little bit each day. To tell you the truth I am sad too. My kids never been away from us for a long time. So this is really the first time for one of our kids to be away for this long. Can you imagine the day when we will be sending him off? So many of us here in the house will be so sad and excited at the same time.
When we first planned his trip we already shed tears there, especially me. Sigh… But I am really so happy that he take the leap to go there by himself. Aaron is our quiet kid. He will talk or make a conversation rather to people that he knows well and hangs out more often. That’s just his personality. He really took it from my dad and Bob’s dad. He is a deep thinker and observant. So of course as a mom I am a bit worried for him not asking people for help. I am starting to remind him that he needs to ask help from other people through out his journey. I continue on saying that many of those people will be happy to help him.
I did told him my journey to the States by myself at the age of 21. Naive and shy. I’m kind of like him in a way so quiet. But I never hesitate to ask a lot of people along the way. At that time internet didn’t exist yet, so I can’t share to the world my whereabouts. 🙂 . Phone call during my time was a bit difficult too, have to call collect to Bob if I want to get a hold of him. Luckily I didn’t call him on that journey. So I have to really talk or I get lost.
This will be a new beginning for him. He will have to see the other side of the world. Being born there in the States and he has to start re-learning everything about the place. And seeing relatives again in a long time and some of them for the first time. I am telling him already to see my best friends there, one of them who I’ve met early on my time there. She’s a Filipina from Cebu, married to a guy who works in Boeing. They had 2 kids. My other best friend our next door neighbor, and practically we were like sister’s, she’s from Jordan. She had 4 kids who I love very much. Happy to reconnect with her 3 boys on Facebook. She’s not a facebook fanatic. She’s close to Aaron before because she was there when I had Aaron. She calls Aaron her Habibi (My love, my babe) in Arabic. Aaron learned Arabic from them before. Hopefully Aaron can visit them in Northern Oregon.
Let me tell you after my mother-in-law found out of Aaron going there, she told me that she can’t hardly wait for him to be there. She’s even telling me that she doesn’t know how to contain her excitement. Just minutes after telling her my God, she’s calling her friends right away, practically every person on her personal phone book list. Ha ha ha. They were really so happy for her. They know how much she misses the kids. Not so much for Bob and I. Ha ha ha… :-).
My best friend here in the Philippines called me when she read the post of Aaron. I did not mentioned to her about it because I want to wait until Aaron will say something. So she found out on his post. She then called me and asked me how do I feel about it? I told her that I am happy, excited and sad, but in a good way. Happy that Aaron will decide hopefully then on what he wants in the future. Excited for him traveling and experiencing new beginning. Sad because he will be away from us for a while for the first time. But I thank God that He gave Aaron the courage to do what he plans to do. So thankful for internet nowadays, so easy to communicate with him and know what’s going on with him there.
Thank you guys for the moral support for our son. I really appreciate the nice message you’ve sent to Aaron on his post. God bless LiP Family!!!
Feym, what state is he going to?
Im here in Orange County, California, about an hour drive south east of Los Angeles…
I cannot imagine how you must feel but it is good for him..and for his future…
Hi Perla – He is going to my mom-in-law in Vancouver, Washington. Just right across Portland Oregon.
It’s really good for him to go there and know his other side of the family. We are all excited for him and sad at the same time. I’m going to miss my walking and talking buddies. Hu hu hu…
Thank you for stopping by here. Have a great day!
I think it will be a wonderful adventure for him! My son, who is a little older, is spending this year, (July 2013 – July 2014) living in Chile. It is a great adventure for him to be a student abroad, but it is not without its challenges.
You are right, though, about the differences. Long ago, when I was in the Navy and stationed in Japan, it was very expensive to call home, so I almost never did. Now, with Skype, it’s free. Big difference.
Hi Tom – Yep, it will be a good learning experience for him. I’m sure he will be having fun staying at his granny’s house. Good for him to reconnect again with his Dad’s side of the family.
Is your son an exchange student? Yep I hear you about some challenges. It will be good for your son. At least he is open to going to other places and learning other culture. I was talking to Aaron about being an exchange student. We had one when we’re there before. That kid was from here in the Philippines. He was communicating with his parents through email and phone calls. No skype and other free internet calls at that time. You know what that kid still lives in the States and last time I know he was a pilot instructor in Florida.
Good to see you here Tom, and thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful day!
Heck, Feyma, one year is not that long. Try not to be sad. Just think of the fun he will be having staying at granny for an entire year connecting with relatives he never met and experiencing American culture. Before you know it, he will be home again. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find a subtly different AJ in personality and with a hardened physique when you meet him at the airport upon his return. My advice for AJ is to hit the gym regularly and try not to let concerts consume you. One year of total workout and you’ll have Davao girls chasing you when you return. Not long ago, there was a commenter’s advice for AJ in a related article about not being shy in asking Americans for help, such as directions to the CR. AJ, on this side of the ocean, we call it “men’s room”. 🙂
Hi John – Good advice there. Ha ha ha attracting girls he already had plenty here. LOL 🙂
That’s one good thing with AJ being half American, he already learn a lot from his dad and through reading on the net and movies. No problems on most terms. He knows only a few there knows when he will say CR. His granny knows the term “CR” luckily and of course the Pinays and the husbands. LOL…
Thank you for the good advice though. Have a pleasant day!
Mrs Feyma.
Just tell him to soak up as much American culture as possible and have a great time with Granny.
Hi PapaDuck – Yep good advice from you there too. He will be busy going all over the place, so many invitations on his plate right now. Ha ha ha…
Thank you for the nice message PapaDuck.
Have a great one!
Hi Feyma,
At AJ’s age it will be one big adventure, we learn and adapt quickly at that age.
I wouldn’t worry too much, every International Airport that i’ve been to has Help/Advice Counters if anyone has a problem, and most Airline onboard staff are usually helpful too.
Biggest problem i have with long haul flights is boredom after 5 or 6hrs, you can only watch so many movies or read so many books, then you arrive at your destination with a square backside lol.
Hi Chas – Yep, for sure. I agree with you. He will be bringing along with him a good reading books. He is like me, he likes to read too. He will be loading up his cell phones with music too.
Ha ha ha… The young ones will not complain of any body problems yet. LOL.
Good to see you here Chas. Have a pleasant day!
Wow Feyma,
I can only imagine how you and Bob feel. Some days I am ready for my girls to move on but I know it will break my heart when they do. It will be a learning experience for all I am sure. We currently have a Japanese Exchange student living with us until the end of the shool year. I can tell that some days are rough for her. For AJ english will come much easier having grown up with you and Bob in the Philippines. I have wondered how Billy is doing while reading this Blog. We are always pretty busy but if we can help in some way let me know and we will see if we can help.
Hi Feyma
I don’t think AJ will have too many hurdles adapting to things here as I am sure with his experience on the internet as well as having exposure to American Culture through you and Bob will make things a lot easier for him. I know how much I was able to learn about your country via internet before my first visit so being in the Internet Age sure can be a big help.
I don’t know if AJ will be flying direct to the USA from Davao or will have to transfer at Manila or some other place. I am sure his flight will be shorter than mine to New York. I don’t know for sure if I really get any sleep on the plane or not but at times I almost feel like a Zombie or something.
I guess my best advice to AJ for the travel would be do not be afraid to ask questions if having the slightest doubt about anything along the way. I have always found Airport and Airline people to be most helpful and polite, even at NAIA which a lot of people seem to complain about.
Travel and visiting or living in another part of the world can provide a kind of education that you would never find in school books, so you could consider it a situation to add to a well rounded education.
If AJ decides to travel a bit and gets to Florida, runs out of cash. Young people seem to need a bit more. He is welcome at our home. He can use the phone too call home, collect of course. LOL good luck to AJ peace to Mom.
Hello Bob and Feyma
I have one daughter, she graduated from high school and moved away to college almost 2 years ago. The empty nest is the hardest thing I have ever experienced. You will not stop worrying about him, even though he is at your family’s home. Its just parenting, it never ends. God Bless you as you let him spread his wings and fly the world. You have raised him, he will do well.
P.S. I cried in the shower, no witnesses….LOL
Hi Feyma.
Exciting and sad at the same time to know that our kids one day will fly out of the nest. We pray that we have empowered them enough with good values and sensibilities to make good decisions. When they succeed. .. we will he happy.. kudos to us for preparing them to life of independence but it does not take away the fact that it is a different phase now… we are not there to hold their hands when we feel we need to. Hopefully this is not often. My big girl started boarding school and thanks to WhatsApp, viber and Skype I have not gone loopy yet.. big mummy hug to you.
Feyma,
How exciting for him. My best advice is to sleep on the plane, lol. That will help him adjust to the time change better. I hope he enjoys himself. A great opportunity for him to see the USA under the watchful eyes of your inlaws and friends, hehe.
Mark G.