Slippery When Wet

This past weekend was interesting. A group of my friends decided to go to a mountain for some fun in the snow. They wanted to go skiing. I really only went skiing once in my life, so the opportunity to go excited me. I was also excited to go skiing in South Korea; an opportunity that many people do not have the chance of taking. The trip was to take place on Saturday around 7am. The night before we all were guessing on how far away the resort was, best guess was an hour and thirty minutes. So we board the bus around 6:45 am along with several other people from Iksan. The bus was full of people and seating was very slim. We all eventually find seats.

It was 7am and I was very much fatigued. I wanted to sleep but sleeping on a bus for me is nearly impossible especially when I am uncomfortable. So I had no choice but to stay awake and make conversation with people that I didn't know too well. I had a couple of interesting and funny conversations with people that kept me entertained for a while. The temperature outside was very cold so the bus driver decided to increase the temperature in the bus. This was a nice relief for me, for the first half hour. The bus driver put it on max heat. There were issues with that.

First the traffic was so horrible that it turned a one and a half hour trip into a 3 hour trip.

Second, it was so hot in the bus that at one point everyone started to take off all their layers to keep cool. We all had to suffer the temperature in the bus until about 10 am.

The bus eventually arrives at Muju resort. We were all excited. We were finally here to ski and we can get out of the hot bus and into the cold weather. Once I stepped out of the bus I was relieved. Then shortly after, like 1 minute, I wanted to retreat back into the bus because of the cold weather.

Prior to leaving the bus we were all asked what we wanted to do. I assumed that there will only be skiing at the resort, but they also offered snowboarding. They offered snowboarding only at a slightly higher price then skiing. I was amazed and excited. I have never snowboarded in my life and doing it in Korea really sounded like a good idea.

So I get off the bus after the 3 hour bus ride. I have my ticket in hand. The group was lead into the resort where we can pick up our stuff. We all fall in a huge line. Apparently everyone in South Korea decided to come that day to go snowboarding or skiing. So we all get in line. Eventually we get in front and are able to get the equipment.

After we got our equipment and accessories, we hunted for lockers. That took about another half hour to find an empty locker. So we didn't really get to go into the snow until about 11:45ish.

All the experienced people decided to go ahead. I lost track of the whole group all together. So I walked to the bunny hill and decided to teach myself. So there I was snowboard on hand and no clue on how to use it.

It took me 10 min to figure out how the straps worked. Then it took me about 3 hours to figure out how to stand up. After that turning and stopping was simple. Even though I figured out how to do all that stuff my confidence was not high enough to tackle the mountains. So I stuck around the bunny hills and the smaller hills to practice not falling on my face and what not. So I ended up spending all the day on my face or the other end.

It was a fun day but I ended up breaking my sunglasses that I had in my pocket. No fun.

So we return our equipment. We were waiting for some other people to come meet us. We were supposed to get to the bus around 4:20 and it was supposed to leave at 4:30. The majority of the people made it to the bus. We tried to stall the bus as much as possible, but we voted to leave. The people that were missing ended up at the top of the mountain still skiing. So we wished them luck and the bus went on it's way.

The bus trip was relatively short in comparison to going to the place. We got back before I knew it. My friends and I decided to rest for an hour then go out. We get some food and then go out. We made jokes about the people we left behind. Eventually they meet up with us. We gathered to hear their story on how they got back.


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The End


If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.


-Cezar-

Slippery When Wet

Torn

So I left Manila on the 27th. I had planned to go to Bagiuo for one night and stay for most of the next day. So I did. I played and talked with my cousins for the whole night. My little cousin, 5 years old, had become obsessed with Micheal Jackson. He started to dance and sing for the whole family entertaining us for hours.

I after the day was done, I traveled to Cabanatuan. I was very excited. I was going to see all of my family again. I was going to be able to finally just relax with them. I will not tell you all the gory details. I saw all of my family. I had a lot of fun. I ate way too much food. I shot off some fireworks. I shot off some guns. I went and had tons of fun. I was able to blow off steam and reconnect with my family and my roots.


my family


though it may be small it packs a punch

The whole experience was just amazing. The people I met. The places I visited. The things I did. The things I saw. I cannot escape the feeling of longing for my homeland. I will always have a special place for my family and for my homeland. The Philippines is a place where I have never really felt out of place. I understand that they see me as American, because the way I walk and carry myself. I really throw that aside, because in my heart I will always be a true Filipino.


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The End


Home is where the heart is.


-Cezar-

Torn

This isn't Kansas at all!

The last time we left our Filipino hero he was on the airplane.

I was super excited. I was ready to put the past couple of hours behind me. I had only 4 hours until I arrived in the Philippines. I really couldn't sleep so I worked on my book. I put more pages and added more stories to the book. The next thing I knew I was in the Philippines already. I expected the Philippines to be hot, but not too hot. I thought I could survive for a few moments with my jacket on. I was dead wrong. The moment I stepped off the plane I started sweating. I started to undress myself, by the time I reached the baggage claim I only had a shirt and jeans on.

I quickly exchanged my money and bought a sim card for the Philippines. I was greeted by some family friends at the arrival department. We take off to their house. The details of my Christmas and the first few days in the Philippines. The one detail that one would need to know is that the weather was amazing. Beautiful blue skies and a warm to hot breeze on my face everyday.

I hung out with new friends and old ones for Christmas day. I traveled around town and really just enjoyed myself.

Since my travels abroad; I really have felt somewhat out of place. The people I have met and the experiences I have had so far have been great. The one thing that the Philippines offered me a comfort. I had been apart from the Philippines for a long time. I have been back several times over with my family, but this time it was different. It was my first real time being there by myself without the supervision of my parents and family. I have felt a strong connection and bond with the Philippines all of my life, and it did not go away. I cannot really explain what I was feeling about it all, but it was a good feeling all together. Even in the times where I did nothing at all, I still felt like it was a great experience all together.

That is it for now. That is my Christmas story. I will tell you of my New years story tomorrow. There is much more to tell and show.

To be continued...


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The End


Home sweet home.


-Cezar-

This isn't Kansas at all!

The Journey that Cost a Dream

Recently I have taken some time off to go to the Philippines. I had hoped that the time would help me relax. It had been a very long time since I have been "home" during the Christmas and New Year season, so I was very excited. My travels and experiences so far was always with hope of going to the Philippines. Even though I was raised in America, I have always felt a strong connection with that place. My experience there was nothing more then amazing for me. The journey, however, was a little rough.

For several months, I had planned to go to the Philippines so that I can see my family and celebrate the Holidays in a new way. I had asked my supervisor, which I hate with a passion (a story for another day), when I will be able to take my winter vacation. She had told me that the classes with all of my schools will end December 23rd. So I bought my ticket and started to plan accordingly. My excitement grew as the months passed by and I had high anticipations for the event. A week before my flight, one of my schools informed me that the classes will end on the 22nd rather then the 23rd. I asked if that was always the case, he said yes. I was pissed once again at my supervisor because she cost me valuable time in the Philippines. It was too late for me to change my flight and my plans.

So the 23rd came around. My flight was at 8:30am on the 24th. I stayed at a friend's place the night before so that I can catch the bus from the terminal to the airport.

There I am on the bus December 23rd going towards Incheon. I had a tinkling feeling in my head that there was something wrong. I asked the bus driver if the bus was going to the airport. He told me that it was going to the town and not the airport. Since I was already on the bus, I really could do nothing about it. I thought to myself that it would probably be better off so that I can bed down in the town and catch an early bus to the airport for the next morning. Prior to that I had plans of just sleeping at the airport until it was time to check in. I thought it was a blessing in disguise. As I stepped off the bus I asked around how far away the airport was from the area. Apparently it was about an hour away from there. I started to walk around with my huge luggage and backpack towards the exit, and a man called out to me. He looked like an official; he asked me where I was going. I tell him what my plans were. He told me that it would be better if I go to the town right outside of the airport, but the only problem is that the buses stopped running to the area. The only way to get there was by taxi, which cost about 60,000 won ($55usd) and a motel in the area would cost about the same.

I could see the malicious intent in his eyes. He knew that he was getting one over me. I knew he was liar, but I really did not want to take the risk. So I take the taxi to the area right outside of the airport. We drive around looking for said motel that costs 60,000 won and we find nothing. I had to settle for a motel 80,000 won.

The next day I wake up super early. My flight was at 8:30am and the first subway towards the airport was at 6am. I was cutting it really close for check in time. Luckily the travel time was only about 10 minutes.

So I get to the airport, worried and stressed. I get to the counter to check in. I knew that my bag was overweight, but it was Christmas eve I had hopped to get off easy. I checked in and the man at the counter tells me that my bag is overweight. I tried convince him that it would be nice not to be charged for it. He didn't buy it. He told me that I would have to pay about $30 usd for my overweight. Then he proceeded to greet me a happy Christmas.

I fly through security and wait for my plane. It was a relatively boring time. I was exhausted from all the money I had to pay. I had nearly spent $200usd and I was not even in the Philippines yet. The combination of events had a very ominous feeling for the whole trip.


To be continued...


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The End


Bah-humbug! -Scrooge


-Cezar-

The Journey that Cost a Dream