Lufkin is my home

My Childhood Bedroom - Everything is Still in its Place

Dave Found My Childhood Friend

We woke up late on Sunday. Dave seemed to be handling jet lag well whereas I could sleep for hours. I had also started reading Scar Tissue, Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers memoir. We didn't do much on Sunday because we were so tired. But I'm never too tired to go shopping. We did manage to buy new Sperry Top Siders (boat shoes), Triscuits and pepper jack and smoked cheddar, Nutty Buddy's and some American beers (Blue Moon and Ziegenbock) I wanted Dave to try.

Sperry Top Siders - the Best Travel Shoes

A Must-see When in Lufkin during Christmas time

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Oil Pump

We chatted a lot with my mom and dad and found out they would be holding a family party that night for my brother for his 19th birthday! That evening, we ate all my favorite Filipino foods and celebrated an more intimate welcome home with my family, aunt, uncle, my late sister’s husband, and my cousin from New York who flew in from Seoul!

My Little Family

The Extended Family

Addicted to Mom's Cooking

White Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Oreos

You Must Sing When Visiting My House

We enjoyed drinks and few games of beer pong and flip cup until my brother was off his rocker. It was a little strange to be drinking and partying with my little brother, but seeing him having so much fun with all of us was priceless. He is in the National Guard and going off to training for 9 months in a few weeks. I wouldn't have much time left with him, but I'm glad I got to spend time with him and see him having a lot of fun.

The next day, we woke up late again, but worked hard to fight off the jet lag by avoiding napping. That day, we relaxed and prepared for our trip to Austin and San Antonio. I took Dave on our first run around my neighborhood. It felt so good to run the same path I ran every day during high school. That night we enjoyed all the food my mom had made for my brother's birthday in new recipe forms such as taking the lechon and making it adobo. We reminisced and laughed hard at my many jokes and stories my dad told.

When we were in transit, the Newtown shootings happened. It was so devastating to hear about this tragic story. When I came home, my parents were in shock too, but had a different perspective – a very conservative Republican perspective. They heard Obama was looking to ban assault rifles. I praised him whereas my dad went straight to Louisiana to buy one! I love my parents and have respect for their wisdom, but in this case we would have to agree to disagree. We both agree on one thing; education is key.

The Long Way Home

Waiting for the Train to the Airport - First Leg of the Trip

It took us over 3 years to finally bite the bullet and book flights back home. I had been back to the States in September for an unexpected visit, but this time around Dave and I would be together visiting my family in Texas, his in Canada and some friends in LA. We opted for the cheapest available flights, which was still $2600 each. However, this flight would keep us in transit for 38 hours! We would fly from Sydney right after work on Friday, 14 December to Beijing. We would have an 8 hour layover in Beijing and continue to Los Angeles arriving midday on 15 December. After a 3 hour layover, we would fly to Houston at 6pm in the evening and drive another 2 hours to my hometown Lufkin, Texas.

To save on cost, we sublet our apartment during our 3.5 week vacation. We live right in the party areas of Sydney close enough to the beach, parks, CBD and opera house all in walking distance! Using Airbnb.com, we listed our place for $700 per week although we pay $410 in rent per week. Within hours, we had 3 requests! We accepted the one who would stay the longest; 18 days allowing us to break even in rental costs. We had let someone sublet our apartment in the past through Gumtree, but were very nervous about the transaction because there were no deposits, credit checks or security. Airbnb.com acted as a third party holding the deposit and payment until both parties were checked, verified and satisfied.

Handing over our keys to our new tenant on Thursday, all we had to do was work one more day of 2012 and we would be on a plane out of Australia. At 5 pm, we began our journey. We met at home, grabbed our luggage, took the train, arrived at the airport at 6:30 pm and were in the air at 9:30 pm. Eleven hours later, we hazily woke up to the tundra that engulfed the Beijing airport. We walked onto the tarmac feeling the coldest we've felt in 3 years and seeing an abundance of snow we haven’t experienced since living in Seoul, Korea.

Pandas: China; Kangaroo: Australia

I was dead tired when we arrived at 4 am. We had 8 hours to kill and spent 3 of them right at the arrivals gate before passing through immigration. I wouldn't have moved, but we were reprimanded by security. We ate at food court sharing plate of noodles and 4 containers of dim sum. Afterwards, we found an area to charge our phones and computer and rigged up the lap top on the Smarte Carte and watched three episodes of Boardwalk Empire, our new TV show addiction. After another stroll through the various duty free shops, it was time to board for another big push to LA. We took sleeping pills that didn't work very well, but we did manage to get 5 hours of sleep on this 12 hour leg of the journey.

First Meal in America

Bacon Cheeseburger, Parmesan Fries, Onion Rings & Ranch Sauce

When we arrived in LA, it was such a relief because we knew the trip was mostly over. We went through immigration, picked up our luggage and transferred to the domestic terminal. Upon arrival, the first thing we wanted to do was eat something greasy, American and not airplane food. We sat down at Ruby’s Diner and shared a bacon cheese burger, Parmesan herb fries and a huge order or onion rings dipped into blue cheese. I’m sure our bodies were in shock, but this was home and it tasted amazing.

The three hour flight to Houston was nothing compared to what we had endured. Luckily, my brother left our family van at a park n’ ride. I punched in the code on the door, found the keys and was on the road. We had to hurry because the Annual Filipino community Christmas party was already underway and we promised my family we would be there. But first, we had to make one-stop at Sonic Drive-In. Filled up with tater tots, mozzarella sticks and a strawberry limeade, we were ready to face a community I hadn't seen in 3 years. We arrived in Lufkin and I couldn't even remember where the Civic Center was! The last time I was there was for prom in 2004!

When we arrived my parents were flush with excitement and sweat because they had been on the dance floor. I was bummed that I missed their performance because they danced traditional Filipino dances. It was good to see them, my sweet grandmother and my sister with her two kids.

We were home by midnight and were feeling the effects of jet lag. My house was surprisingly decorated inside and out with Christmas decorations I though my parents had gotten rid of. It still smelled familiar full of Filipino food aromas. It really is good to be home.

Scooters are not toys

My Red Baby

April 10th Can't Come Soon Enough!

Today I received a letter about a ticket I got a month ago. After a cornhole tournament, Dave decided to ride on the back of my bike. He had gone to the tournament via train because he knew he would be drinking at the games and I followed a few hours later on my scooter. To ensure we wouldn't get caught, we removed the ‘P’ provisional plate because P licence holders are not allowed to have carry passengers. We drove steadily from Waverton over the Sydney Harbour Bridge back towards Elizabeth Bay where we live.

At North Sydney, a police car from Homebush (what was it doing in North Sydney?!) began to tail us. We drove at the speed limit being careful around the police car and surrounding cars. As soon as we pulled off to turn back into the city from the expressway, lights and horns began to sound and I swallowed hard.

I pulled over immediately and an old policeman appeared telling Dave to get off and walk around the corner. He asked me to drive around the corner off of the expressway. I stopped when I was just around the corner and he beeped hard at me to keep moving forward. I was so nervous. I thought you are supposed to do exactly what the law enforcer wanted you to do. He appeared again and asked if we had been drinking. I had a sip or two, but that was hours ago. I passed the Breathalyzer test. He then asked where my P plates were and if the bike was mine. He left us for a few minutes.

Every possible situation ran through our minds. We were sure to get a fine for breaking not 1 but 2 road laws, but this was our first offence. Would it be possible for us to get a warning? In the end, we had 2 fines for each of the violations; not displaying the P plate and carrying a passenger. The $600 fine hurt, but we learned our lesson and would be sure to never do it again.

So when I received the letter of suspension a month later, both Dave and I were in shock! We had already suffered the consequence of the hefty fine and now my licence would be suspended for 3 months! We called the RTA (road transit authority), but they offered no assistance. I wouldn't be able to move the date sooner and there was no way we had time or the case to appeal in court.

The traffic laws are strict in Australia and scooters are not toys to do what you want with them. This lesson is will be learned the hard way. See you red baby on April 10.