4th of July Weekend
We had the Monterolas (Ate Elaine, Kuya Marlo, and their kids Sammy and Sophie) visit us last week. They stayed with Tito Mayo the whole time, and are on their flight back home in Chicago right now. It's been a really fun week and I'm sorry to see the go. I really am so happy that my family on my father's side is such a close-knit bunch.
Sammy and Sophie have grown up so much, but they are still the cute and charming kids we knew a couple of years ago. They went along well with Alec, although there were tensions at first. Ate Elaine and Kuya Marlo are 2nd-generation Filipino-Americans so I guess that makes Sammy and Sophie 3rd-generation. Sammy kept saying he was American and Alec insisted that he was actually Filipino. Alec, who grew up in the Philippines but has a US passport, still refuses up to now that he is an American citizen now, and is naively patriotic.
We basically showed them around town, and during the 4th of July weekend, we went up North to the San Juan Islands, which is a beautiful archipelago. We went to the main island, Orcas Island, and went hiking and kayaking. We took the ferry back to the mainland and stayed in Bellingham. The next day, we went to the Peace Arch Park, a neutral ground in between the US and Canada. After that, we went to an Oyster Farm and to Larrabee State Park, which had an awesome beach.
The 4th of July celebration on Monday was capped off with the usual fireworks, which we greatly admired, but unfortunately did not mean much else to us. Before I apply for a citizenship, I will have to understand what it all meant, and read up on American history.
During their stay, mom called at one time, telling us of her intention to visit us as well. When I told her how much a plane ticket costs, she said that she changed her mind, and would probably not visit for now. Oh, mother.
Sammy and Sophie have grown up so much, but they are still the cute and charming kids we knew a couple of years ago. They went along well with Alec, although there were tensions at first. Ate Elaine and Kuya Marlo are 2nd-generation Filipino-Americans so I guess that makes Sammy and Sophie 3rd-generation. Sammy kept saying he was American and Alec insisted that he was actually Filipino. Alec, who grew up in the Philippines but has a US passport, still refuses up to now that he is an American citizen now, and is naively patriotic.
We basically showed them around town, and during the 4th of July weekend, we went up North to the San Juan Islands, which is a beautiful archipelago. We went to the main island, Orcas Island, and went hiking and kayaking. We took the ferry back to the mainland and stayed in Bellingham. The next day, we went to the Peace Arch Park, a neutral ground in between the US and Canada. After that, we went to an Oyster Farm and to Larrabee State Park, which had an awesome beach.
The 4th of July celebration on Monday was capped off with the usual fireworks, which we greatly admired, but unfortunately did not mean much else to us. Before I apply for a citizenship, I will have to understand what it all meant, and read up on American history.
During their stay, mom called at one time, telling us of her intention to visit us as well. When I told her how much a plane ticket costs, she said that she changed her mind, and would probably not visit for now. Oh, mother.