Now 5 months in the USA

I've decided that I like staying here in the USA, no matter what I've seen and experienced todate.

These past 5 months, I've been studying and learning how I'm going to accomplish God's purpose for me and to serve others (no matter how daunting these reasons can be). I've been linking, with many lessons gained along the process, my mission to be a business investor / entrepreneur with life's grand vision, as I've continued to read, study and work on applying God's word in my daily life all these years (with the help of others, some of whom have queer ways of giving and loving, and whom I've met at many crossroads in my life).

I've spent at least 4 months in New York city (NYC), where I stayed and led my life amidst others who have been apparently like me. Philippine media show not much images that depict that Filipinos are just among the many small groups comprising the very diverse population found in the US, particularly in its key cities like NYC. Focus have been spent more, apparently, on how the huge amounts of foreign currencies being sent back by overseas Filipino workers are propping up Philippine economy for years now.

I've met a lot of interesting people of different looks and color from other countries like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Peru, South Africa, China, Colombia, India, France, Germany, UK, Canada, Japan, Mali, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Jamaica, etc. They prefer and have chosen to stay and become citizens of the USA, even during these post 9/11 days. Apparently, each state in the USA differs to some extent from one another. My experiences in the USA have been flavored by those opportunities in meeting different people in those states I've visited todate. People's behavior and attitudes in NYC are far different from those I've met in California, Louisiana, and Nevada.

These months have allowed me to dwell on opportunities to become productive by meeting people from other cultures, studying more about my personal businesses, involving myself in gardening & taking care of plants, serving customers, and doing retail works in a Manhattan-based plant store whose owners / managers have been willing to take me in, given my credentials and all.

I've learned I got to be able to speak English in the right tone and accent, and not be apologetic about how I speak English now. I have become more appreciative of the Philippines' heritage of the English language. A South Korean I met in a Cingular store even described how surprised she was to hear newly arrived Filipinos who speak good English. I've explained to her that we've been studying English even before we went to school.

I've learned as well that I can become more capable in living a better life here in the USA if I understand and speak Spanish. People have always mistaken me as Hispanic, in so many situations I've found myself in these past months. People back in the Philippines may become competitive as they become more aware and appreciative of their Hispanic heritage, no matter how slow this can get. Perhaps, Spanish, in its Castillan form, may be used more widely in Philippines in due time.

I've learned that I can become better prepared in staying for good here in the USA by relating more fearlessly with what life offers me here, and by being my best self, given the situation that I'm in most times. I've also learned that I have to embrace changes more strongly and courageously. Amidst all these experiences, I've found time to ponder and pray for God's prime role in every moment I've got. I've remained and learned to be more grateful in the process. My life in the Philippines has been far better, in many respects. Yet, I'll still choose to stay here.