Hilariously Lost

So Lee posted a photo on my wall yesterday (see below) and then I started laughing. All of a sudden I remembered getting lost in Brooklyn the other month! Of all places to get lost it really had to be in NYC!

I can't even get into details how it happened, let's just say from a 'hipster' neighborhood -- all of a sudden I was already surrounded by conservative Jewish people. Like with their tiny cap, long beard, black outfit. Just like how you see them on TV that's it! Oh and I don't think they appreciated the fact I was wearing a tiny tube dress.

So I went to one store and asked the lady how to get back to the town where I came from she started telling me to take the subway and ride two trains.

I thought to myself 'Why would I take the subway if I just walked all the way here?'

So I saw the next station and while I was climbing up the stairs I just had that instinct - I don't think this is the right way. I looked up and realized that I really did cross to the other side of Brooklyn Bridge! So I went back down and saw a police officer. I finally pulled out the tourist card and explained I was lost. She was a sweetheart! Actually I was lucky enough to find an officer who was hella animated and funny.

She was like 'Oh hunny! You don't take the subway! You take the bus back to Nassau!' So she walked me to the bus stop and she said that since I have the metro card already I can use that already and to ride bus no. 62. I shouldn't even think about jumping into another number. I suddenly heard the angels sing when I saw bus no. 62 approaching.

When I was about to get down the bus, I already saw my cousin and I knew she ready to give me a piece of her mind. When I came out - we both started laughing out really loud.

Seriously who gets lost by just walking and taking photos? Thank goodness I was in a country where everyone could understand English! What if I was in Europe? (Hahahahahahahaha! I'm ready)!

Proud to say I didn't cry but yeah there was a part that I panicked- sorta. :p Surprisingly, I didn't get lost when I was in downtown San Fo while I was exploring alone! :) Google map is my new best friend!

Double J

I owe this blog more than 10 entries already – but let meshare one of the highlights of my US trip which I can relate with a current event in our country. It’s not like this entry is really deep but I just want to speak my mind out now.

The moment I landed at Dallas, Texas and saw my good - the first thing I told her was “Let's go to the JFK Museum”. Surprisingly, after living there for 5 years, she’s never been there and I’m glad that I was able to share this experience with her.

So we put in our earphones and went on with our audiovisual tour – aside from my old World History books back in high school, I was ready to meet John Fitzgerald Kennedy again.

I remember getting goose bumps, almost crying and being at awe by his life. All I could think of that time was – “He was a good leader –he shared the same vision as his people”. I just didn't understand why he had to die so early and it was just so tragic that the he was right next to his wife when he got shot. I did not only see how the US mourned for his death – but the whole world. I also witnessed the power of media even when there was no internet back then.  I don't think apathy was never a problem back then.

I left a pretty long message in their guestbook – key message was “I hope that the Philippines will have a great leader like him someday.”

Then when I got home – the plane of Secretary Jesse Robredo crashed. While watching the news I was thinking – is this even possible?  I felt like this was just part of a movie.

I remember reading the article of Cathy Guballa-Babao and sobbing in my cubicle. Of course that’s when it really hit me that not only was Robredo a great leader but also a great father. He was the epitome of THEFAMILY MAN.

Of course – all these testimonials and features started coming out in media but what impressed me the most was his TSINELAS leadership.

For both leaders – it was all about SERVICE.

They both stood out because they were not defined by what they receive (the title, the power) but with what THEY GIVE.

Yes the nation is really sad but I think it gives us more hope that GOOD GOVERNANCE still exists if not in this country – most definitelyin this world.

Thank you JFK and Jesse for giving me the spark to stillbelieve.

"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"