The One with the Comeback.

What the hell have I been doing these past few weeks?

I’m finally home.

Finally waved goodbye to the traffic, awful food, and very dirty streets. You will not be missed, Manila.

Allow me to write a novel here.

The last two days of my life in Manila happened to be the busiest and stressful days of my life to date. I only had 6 hours of sleep for two days I think.

Monday. August 10, 2009

Went to AMARCO. This agency located at Annapolis which is the Manila tie-up of my real agency, Interfysio. I had to get my Work Visa packet that contained all the needed documents and instructions for my US embassy interview that Wednesday. It included my Approval letter from USCIS. I studied the 1 inch thick documents the whole night.

Tuesday. August 11, 2009.

Woke-up around 5.30 am (the earliest in 4 months). Prepared everything for my Medical check-up. Fecalysis and Urinalysis. (spell gross). Arrived at the clinic at 7.30 am only to find out that the Clinic opens at 9 am. Worse thing was, I had to stand and walk around for 1 and a half hours because there were no benches available to sit around. So I had my blood and x-ray taken and took that Psych exam which was very mentally draining that morning. The x-ray lady told me “ma’am ang payat mo”, when she palpated my scapula. LOL. The doctor and the dentist were not available that morning so they asked me to return the next day.

At around 11 am. I went to the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) training on Pedro Gil Street along Taft Avenue. I didn’t know what to ride for me to get there so I ended up riding a bus that took me about an hour or so to arrive. I ate because I was seeing stars already. The seminar was a requirement for all Overseas Filipino Workers. I didn’t know that the seminar was from 12 noon to 7 pm just to get that certificate after 7 agonizing hours. I guess I’m the only one applying for the US that time. All of them were middle-east bound. It was quite informative but after the 3^rd hour my head was spinning again and all I heard was blah-blah-blah after that.

The seminar ended at around 8 pm. I literally ran to Robinson’s Manila to purchase a ticket for me to go home that Thursday to Iloilo. I ended up getting the 4.45 am flight. I am that excited to go home. Had my dinner at around 10 and went home eventually.

I had to print another DS 157 just to make sure. I slept at around 1.30 am after I sorted all things out and just laid there with eyes wide open. Counting the flock of sheep lulled me to sleep.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009.

Woke up at around 5 am for the obvious reason that I am excited. Kjirsti and Sheila decided to go with me and I love them for doing so. I had my interview scheduled at 9.30 am. So I was able to go in at around 8.30. It was my first time so I had to move slow and just observe what everybody else is doing, and where everybody else is going. Funny thing was, 15 of the Wowowee casts and dancers were there too including Mr. Willie Revillame himself. He’s cuter in person. LoL. Anyways it was already around 11 when we were sent to the main Interview room. It was quite smaller than I expected. Again, I waited patiently for my number to be buzzed, 235 as I distinctly remember because I was looking at it and playing the little paper with my fingers the whole time.

231, 232, 233, 234……235. It was now my time. I briefly closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before I stood up. The consul greeted me with a crisp “Magandang Umaga”. I greeted him back plus a smile. So he asked me, What is your purpose in going the the United States?. I said. “to work as an H1B approved Physical Therapist Sir”. And the second thing he asked was, “Did you already take your NPTE?”. Of course I answered no, and explained to him that the New York State has issued me a Temporary License. He asked for it, and I gladly showed it to him. He was not convinced because he kept on insisting that I cannot work there if I don’t have a License yet. So I explained to him everything that I know about the Temporary permit. The conversation was going nowhere because it really looks like he didn’t believe me. So instead, he gave me this green paper stating that they’ll have to hold my application because they need to send my documents to the administrative department to review my papers. He said they’ll just call me. I said thanks as I waved a little bye-bye.

I didn’t know what to feel while I was walking outside. I told myself. He could’ve just said I’m denied so I can cry about it. Or he could’ve approved my application so I could celebrate and rejoice…my emotions were left hanging in the middle.

As I went home I could bang my head against the door when I reviewed my papers and there’s this one tiny piece of paper that says. “NEW YORK EDUCATION LAW, TITLE VIII, ARTICLE 136 AND 6735 PROVIDES THAQT PHYSICAL THERAPISTS HOLDING A NEW YORK TEMPORAY LICENSE ARE AUTHORIZED TO FULLY PERFORM THEIR OCCUPATIONAL DUTIES WITHOUT A PERMANENT LICENSE FOR TEMPORARY PERIOD, PROVIDED THEY WORK UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST”.

I suddenly wondered if I had shown him that paper would he have believed me instead? But I know everything happens for a reason so I'm not that all confused.

Anyways, after I ate my lunch I went back to the clinic where I had to finish my Medical Exam only to find out that my vision’s not perfect anymore and that some repairs had to be done on my teeth. I had to search for an internet station to email my employer of the things that happened to me because they’re expecting me to be approved and they’re really expecting for my arrival before September 20. I told them every detail of the Interview. Around 11 pm, I had my final BIG dinner with Kjirsti that night and went home to pack my things for my flight home 4.45 am the next day. Took my very last bath at our tiny place and decided to take a nap. Around 1 am. My mom called me to tell me that my Agency received my email and told her that I shouldn’t be worried with my papers. Because maybe I was interviewed by a Consul that was not familiar with the whole thing. Anyways, it was a very big relief for my part o hear that. So now all I have to do is just to wait for their call so I can fly back to Manila and fix everything.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

I arrived at the airport around 3 am. And I could barely hide my excitement. I fell asleep at the plane and woke up when the pilot guy announced that we are now approaching the Iloilo Airport. My heart literally jumped that I could feel my Sympathetic Nervous System work things up again. And yeah. Finally I was home! I could just smell the clean air. And half-ran/half-hopped when I saw my mom and dad. A rather healthy breakfast was waiting for me. Laswa kag uga. Ahaha. Then I saw my very big comfortable bed. Slept for 6 hours straight. When I woke up. A very delicious meal was waiting for me again.

Took my shower and went directly to Tita Jho’s wake. She looked lovely even on her deathbed. I got teary-eyed when I saw Tita’s Coffin mainly because I wasn’t able to see her or help her on the last months of her life. Stayed up late again at their house to catch up things with my cousins and friends.

Tita Jho’s life was such an inspiration. She was only 42 years old. Died of Ovarian Cancer. But she raised such beautiful, intelligent and very brave kids. To Serren, my favorite cousin, the eldest of four. Only 20 years old but has an emotional age of 40 I think.

I cried so hard from the last night of wake up to the funeral. My eyes were bulging that my eyebags were going to explode. 80 cars trailed off when Tita was brought to her final resting place. A lot of people asked if she was a politician or something because of the ginormous amount of people. It was such a sad moment saying goodbye to a very courageous and beautiful woman.

Probably will write an entry about her some other time.

Still waiting for that Embassy call, LoL.

Phew! Goodnight.

sorry for the typos. don't have enough time to re-check it.