Wednesday, February 23, 2011

From Philippines to Hawaii

           At the age of 6, I migrated to Hawaii. Sad as it was, I needed to. My parents and my two younger siblings lived there. And in order for our family to be completed, I needed to move. I was reluctant, I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to leave my school, my relatives, my classmates, and especially my friends behind. I had so many things and people left behind in Bacarra. I remember crying on the day I left Bacarra. I cried until we got to Manila. I remember hanging onto my Aunt’s hand, begging her to let me stay with her. My grandma and grandpa carried me away and we bid our farewells. When I got on the plane, I still sobbed. Until the plane took off, I stopped crying. Why? I was fascinated with the take-off. As soon as the pilot announced our take-off in the intercom, I felt butterflies in my stomach. My stomach flipped upside down! It felt like a roller coaster ride. I looked out the window, we were flying up in the sky! After 11 hours of a grueling, vomit-filled plane ride, we finally arrived in what they called the “paradise”, Honolulu, Hawaii. We stepped out, there were so many cars, so many people, and so many luggage! Then suddenly, both my grandparents rushed to this lady and man. Then soon, this man and lady hugged me real tight. I guessed they were my mom and dad. Then I saw a little girl, about 4 years old and another girl in the arms of another lady, a year old. I guess they were my siblings. I still felt awkward around them, and I felt shy. Being the 6 year old that I was, the only English word I understood and spoke was “yes” or “no.” I couldn’t communicate with my cousins nor my siblings, even if I wanted to.
            I remember my first day of school, I felt like crying. Everyone seemed scary, I didn’t talk to anyone. After that first day, I didn’t want to go back at all! I missed home every single day, I remember crying every single night, begging my grandma to take me home. I wanted to go back to Bacarra real bad. Then soon enough, I made some friends. They didn’t make fun of me and my broken English. I was glad that I was put in an English as A Second Language program. I owe a lot to that program, without it, I wouldn’t be speaking as fluently as I am right now. As years passed, the more accustomed I got to the American culture and the Hawaii culture. As years flew by, the more comfortable I got with the English Language and school. I soon made friends, friends that I treasure now.
             It took me about a year to get used to my new environment. Took me a good 2 years to comprehend and speak English fluently and gain my confidence with my speaking abilities.
I’ve been living here in Hawaii for 11 years now, more than I have lived in the Philippines. I now consider this state as my home. But Philippines will always be my homeland. =]
   This story was emailed to me by my friend in Hawaii. 

22 comments:

Axl Powerhouse Network said...

yun oh aloha..... wala kang pic to see the beautiful place on hawaii :D

Anonymous said...

Someday i will go to hawaii... love the sea

TAMBAY said...

akala ko ikaw na eh.. kung sakali.. ikaw na ang mayaman hehehe..

iba pa din dito sa atin.. pero siguro nga depende na sa taong umaalis at doon na nananatiling naninirahan sa ibang bansa.. pero anot ano man.. iba pa din ang saya na mararamdaman sa lupang sinilangan..

nosebleed ako dito. hehehe

emmanuelmateo said...

Axl: wala po kc story lang ang ipinadala sa akin,

Archievner: ah ganun bah.eh d ikaw na ang mayaman din jeje

Istambay: oo naman.iba pa rin kapag sa Pinas ka..dto mo lng mararanasan ang ganda ng buhay hehe

khantotantra said...

slight nadugo ang ilong sa pagbasa. english.

Pero ang ganda ng kwento. Since bata yung naglakbay, naka-adopt din sya sa us environment and culture

emmanuelmateo said...

khantotantra: oo naman pero na culture shock daw siya noon at gustong bumalik sa Pinas.

musingan said...

how nice... sana kami rin... nag migrate sa malaysia.. kaso hindi eh... di naman kami taga dooon eh... eheheh

Anonymous said...

waheheh kala ko ikaw ang pupunta.. huhuh may barkada din akong 4 years from now eh magmimigrate narin...

Robert Cascayan said...

Ahh, i thought this is your story and I just realized, its your friend story after reading the last part of the post.

Im currently living here at the island of aloha since last year. Sadly, we have the same fate as your friend, i left my school, my friends. to add insult on that, i was supposed to graduate this march, but then It was all messed up because of my immigrant status. But I won't regret it. Hawaii's a nice place to roam around, but I do love to go back to Phil and re-construct my future plans.

A great day

emmanuelmateo said...

musingan: Mas maganda pa rin po dito. Wag mag migrate, magbakasyon kamo hehe.

Kikimaxxx: ah buti pa sila.rich sila siguro noh.

robkaskaian: abah anjan ka pala sa Hawaii po.nice naman..sana sa pagbalik mo meet tayo.hehe meganon.!

Rap said...

kala ko din ikaw... ahaha...

LON said...

ESSAY WRITING CONTEST ;)
REGARDS SA TROPA MO, KAHIT DI NYA KO KILALA ;) SUNOD KA NA RON.

Unknown said...

nice, mukhang mganda nga dun pero iba prin ang ating home the phils.

emmanuelmateo said...

leonrap: haha ganun po ba.

Demigod: malabo eh.wala akong pera pamasahe.hehehe

keatondrunk:oo maganda dun talaga pero iba pa rin talaga kapag nasa mismong bansa ka.

Anonymous said...

akala ko ikaw ito parekoy!hehehe

sosyal heheeh

sana ganyan din ako kafluent :)

iba talga pag may pusong pinoy
mamahlin at ndi mo makakalimutan kung san ka nanggaling

sana makapagbaksyon minsan jan
how i wish :)

magandang umaga parekoy!

emmanuelmateo said...

Jay: natutunan lang niyang mag talk in english very fluently nung nasa hawaii na po siya.magandang umaga din.thanks sa pagbisita!!

Unknown said...

ah kilala ko atan ito ah..si Mau ba?classmate niyo noong elementary dba emman?kmusta na kaya siya

Sean said...

nalito rin ako nung una dahil akala ko ikaw ito. then naisip ko 17 years old ka lang ba?

emmanuelmateo said...

dhemie: oo siya Maui nga yun..i think magbabakasyon daw sila. i just dont think if kelan.

sean:hehe ganun po ba.hindi po..im 18 years old.

Arvin U. de la Peña said...

maganda ang lugar na hawaii..

bbtoo said...

Hi there I love all the music...kaka inlove

Raft3r said...

madami ngang pinoy sa hawaii
sa bagay kahit saang sulok naman ng mundo may pinoy, eh
hehe

Photobucket