Recovery time from yesterday's long journey

A sunny day Sunday here in Carbondale, Illinois is now about to end as I write this blog. I welcomed the day with a smile on my face as I was very excited for the day’s lined up activities, and to formally meet the other participants. Though I was got exhausted from the previous day’s long trip, I was already wide awake by 7:30. I used to wake up that early because back home, I usually come around by 5 o’clock to prepare myself for my 7:30 class.

Early this morning, around 12 or so, my sleep was got agitated when the Indonesian’s came. (But it’s definitely fine with me, not a big problem that I should deal with. Haha!) And so I left my room and greeted the newly arrived participants, I had the chance to have some chats with them, but I decided not to have it so long, ‘cause I know they’re damn tired by then, haha. They reached Carbondale very late because of some problems they’ve encountered at the airport.

Thank God we were given enough time to recover our lost energies!  We spent the morning wandering deeply at the SIU Carbondale campus. I must admit, the campus’s land area was very wide and open by about 4.6 km²! It’s like a mini-village with tall buildings and nice landscaped-grounds. The lawns were properly trimmed, the trees were all looking good – a very nice to describe, and a good school to be in.

Going to the McAndrew stadium, we walked the huge overpass with the train rail below. We run quickly to see the train but the train’s length was about a half kilometer! And so we watched the train to pass until we saw its end. We end up laughing at each other, because we run very quick so we won’t miss to see the train that passed the overpass for around 10 more minutes. 

By 10 am, we were fetched by Drew at the Boomer hall to attend the Catholic mass near the campus. We head off to the St. Francis Xavier church (with Deisha) and spent the next hour there. Two men greeted us upon entering the church. I find there mass more livelier than what we have in the Philippines, the church was more elegant, the flocks were more attentive and they gave appreciation to the children who were present that time. We were greeted by the priest before he started the mass and so the ceremony solemnly went by.

All of us were shake handed by the priest at the exit door, wishing us good luck and God’s guidance for the rest of the program. Then a man approached us, a man named Aldwin Anterola. We were all surprised that he’s also a Filipino and was from Batangas, sharing of stories happened next. He was the Assistant Professor and Head of the Bryotechnology Laboratory of the Plant Biology Department in SIU Carbondale.

After the encounter with Mr. Anterola, we took our lunch at Burger King. It is true that self-service’s implemented  in most fast-food chains. We fetched our own litters after eating such huge hamburgers and took them off to the trash bin. The fastfood chain doesn’t have waiters to serve your orders or to clean up your trashes – a fact that’s very different from ours back home. I find it very nice because customers were tasked to be responsible for their trashes and that the fast food chain won’t need to pay so much service crews. We went back to the SIU Carbondale campus for the afternoon’s introductory tour, welcome and administrative orientation by the institute staffs.

The SUSI participants were guided by the graduate mentors and they allow us explore the beauty of SIU Carbondale campus and the high-technology facilities they have. We then proceed to the Law School Room 204 to meet Dr. John Foster and Dr. John Jackson, alongside with the other graduate mentors.

Every participant had the chance to introduce themselves and Mr. Foster lead the orientation, explaining the program’s background to us. Mr. Photographer took a photo of each of us, that will be posted to the SUSI New Media website. Reference books were also given to us that we’ll be using for our class discussions. Senseless might it seem, but the big notebook they’d given to us was the first thing I noted at the bag that was full of class materials they provided for us. I have decided then, that I won’t use the notebook for this study, instead, I will keep it for myself. The notebook that has this sentimental value – symbolizing the achievement I got.

All in all, the institute’s staffs really amazed me and I do feel proud of/for them – in a sense that they really performed the necessary preparations for this program. I can’t find any floss, everything's perfect (except the very hot water coming out at the men's restroom in Boomer hall, but that wasn't their fault), everything's well prepared – I commend and acknowledge all the staffs behind this wonderful program.

After the orientation, we all went to the International Groceries and Walmart. We did our shopping businesses, our groceries and bought some stuffs for the week. The Filipinos saw some "Lucky Me!" at the noodle stand while we're laughing by surprise.

And that was what happened for this day.

Good night.
(at last, yehey!)

We did it.. Our way to the United States

After weeks – or even months of preparations, the submission of papers and other documents for the Study of the United States Summer Institute on New Media for Student Leaders (SUSI 2010), after all the conversations thru Facebook – asking the why’s and how’s on a certain topic (but mostly about the visa issues), the team of student leaders from the Philippines finally (we) made it to the top! We were chosen because of our leadership skills. (I dunno if I really possess that attitude? Maybe at some point, there's a leadership in me. Or I should call it bossy-ness? Hmmn.)

Alongside with the other participants: John Patrick Allanegui, Edgar Vincent Antolino, Nhel Kevin Cacho, Kathryn Grace Cruz, Sedfrey Lacsamana and Jan Victor Mateo, I am very flattered and overwhelmed for this opportunity that the US Department of State had given to me. This is another moment in my life that I am very and should be thankful for (and definitely proud of!). It was not easy to meet the requirements for and pass this program, but now we can say that “yes! We definitely made it!”

And so this is my second time to go out of the country (the first one last year was for the Japan East-Asia Network of Exchange Students and Youths - JENESYS),  but my first time to be in the United States - the Land of Milk and Honey (as what Sed have said). It has always been a pleasure to me to ride by the plane, haha! The trip we had going to the US was a little bit tiring – 18 hours or so, (with so many connecting flights!) and so we survived! Haha!

From the Philippines, we took an international plane flight via Delta Airlines (and all of our trips were by Delta Air!) going to Narita, Japan, then Japan to Detroit Metro Airport then from Detroit to St. Louis Lambert Airport. That’s one heck of a  journey if you would think, but for me, I enjoyed it! Haha!

I spent most of the time by sleeping and sometimes, my eyes were stapled at the plane’s window, as if I can see anything more aside from the sky and clouds. I wish we were aboard by Japan Airlines from the Philippines going to Japan, for what reason? Because JAL has this mini-TV in front of the passenger, and so the passenger has the leeway to watch any program or music he'd like.

Arriving at St. Loius Lambert Airport – we  were welcomed by Drew Seib and Cary Bryant. I immediately saw both of them, holding a hand-written banner that says “Welcome: SUSI New Media Participants” (something like that). I've seen Drew on his Facebok profile before, not knowing we have the same height, haha!

After our hi's and hello's with the two, we head off then to Carbondale, we saw the famous St. Louis gateway arch, then we took a stop at Dairy Queen, or so we called it DQ. Everyone’s tired (also Drew and Cary?), so we must have some rest for a while. Everyone lined up to the counter and Nhel gave his order first and then me. We were all in empire state of shock when our order was given to us! Some of us ordered “Blizzard Treats” for medium size, not knowing that what we’ve ordered was comparable to the large size we have in the Philippines! Then everyone’s reaction was “Oh, my God”.

I should have ordered for a small size because I can't take the B'Treats by myself alone because it's very big, and so I need some help. I ended up sharing spoons and the Blizzards with each other, taking turns to have some scoop of the B'Treats just to finish the MEDIUM-size I have. (I admit, the Blizzard Treats strawberry flavor was definitely a slice of heaven!)

The DQ moment's done, we took a glimpse of McDonald's and what it looks like here in US.

We reached the Boomer Hall II (dormitory), inside the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus. Drew and Cary toured us at the hall and poof! there's a kitchen for us, haha.

The two left us at the hall. We took rest, take a shower, changed clothes, then we decided to roam around the campus. I was surprised to see that the sun sets here at around 8:30-9:00. 'Cause in the Philippines, it's around 6:30 and the sun's all set.

After an hour or so, the other participants from Malaysia came in. Exchange of hi's and hello's happened, then the Philippine team decided to call it a day - a day of adventures!