Showing the World to my Folks

when my travel to the philippines was disapproved due to many urgent reasons, i was so stunned, then depressed, then angry. since january, i have been planning for our church camp, for my friend's wedding, and for all the other things i usually do when i am home.

all those day-dreamings came to a crashing halt on that one fateful January afternoon...

after going thru the different scenes of emotional tapestry, i finally got hold of my senses and thought for a while. 'what if i bring my home here to dubai?' hmmm.... when i mentioned this to my boss, he did not give second thoughts. so we rushed my folks' visas and travel documents.

a few days before their arrival, i was already so excited, and anxious, can't sleep. i was going thru the mental exercises of reviewing worst case scenarious in the manila immigration where many visit visa holders become victims of extortion. i'm thinking of how to guide them since this will be their first journey abroad. i gave them a step-by-step guide from manila airport to dubai airport and rehearsed them everytime i phone them. and now... they are here!

barely two weeks, i think they have covered more grounds than those who have been for two years! after all the practice in being a tour guide the past month, little did i know that the ultimate application would be for my folks!

showing this world to my folks has been an exciting one. they are like little kids curious about anything. many things are new to them, coz indeed, they are. from third world to first world. it's so easy to please them, and i appreciate that so well. all the mundane things becomes so amazing. the many things i take for granted, they effectively highlight and unconsciously bring to my attention.

i took them to the malls, the cultural places, desert safari, dhow cruise, abu dhabi, sharjah...

also showed them where i work and where i live, and the people i move with.

more than the new things that dazzled them, i was more than happy seeing my mom and my dad together, sans worries and just enjoying each other. i think i have not seen them like that. never. all their lives, they've been working their ass out to try to give us a bright future. i guess this trip is a small yet sweet recompense...