Off We Go!Today, I’m launching the new markBlog with tons of new stuffs and a fresh new look. I don’t want to bore you with details so let me get to my first post.

I’m here in my uncle’s place in Newark, CA, taking a rest after an uncomfortable flight from Manila to San Francisco. My head is pretty much beaten up, having not been able to sleep and breathing recycled air for more than 10 hours.

Having planned this trip for months, I was so more than looking forward to spending time here. We took Eva Air and I got to say their service is somewhat nice considering how low their ticket prices were compared to other airlines. There were no personal screens on economy seats which made the flight almost unbearable and all they show on on board screens are crappy movies (Step Up?). What made the flight more horrible is because my mom and I got the window and middle seat while a creepy stranger is on the aisle. Two hours into the flight after eating our meals, I started feeling that I wanted to pee and the guy on the aisle is pretty much sleeping comfortably. I lost count on how many times I tried to excuse myself but he just wouldn’t wake up. I ended up holding it for 6 hours, that is when he decided to wake up, thinking the flight attendants were already serving meals.

The madness didn’t stop when we arrived at SFO. I went immediately to the baggage claim area while I let my mom rest on the bench at the airport. I’m waiting for a bag of clothes and two huge boxes containing various Filipino stuff for our relatives. I was there, waiting patiently while countless passengers picking up their bags and then I saw something from a distant, a white box–squished and with items hanging out of it. I kept on thinking that please let that not be ours while other people pointed and laugh. As it came closer, a can of Argentina meat and a bundle of suman (rice cake) rolled out. Sure enough it was ours. I let it passed, pretending it wasn’t mine while I’m thinking of a plan to pick it up with the least amount of embarrasment as possible. I was saved by my mom who immediately shouted “that’s ours!” and with all her strength, picked it up and put it in her own cart. Thank god nothing else fell off , I can’t imagine what would I do if dried fish and bagoong started spilling and stink the whole airport in the process.