Carpe Diem

                         Carpe diem means to seize the day. I started liking and using this phrase since I learned it. Why is that so? Because for me, it is important to live your life to the fullest and trying out new things instead of wasting your time doing nothing.

                         It all started when my parents asked me to go to the United States for a vacation. When I overheard my mom and dad talking on the phone, I heard them talking about my flight to U.S. At first, when I hadn't thought through it, I started hating my parents that time. And I had this thought in my head. "Why go there if I'm just going to live with my dad? I'd rather stay here than spend a month with him". There was a time when I shouted at my mom for making me go there even if I don't want to. But deep inside me, I know that there is nothing I could do to stop this from happening. And the last thing I know, I was at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport waiting for my plane. It's really hard for me to say goodbye to my mom, especially because I grew up with her always by my side. Because I never experienced growing up with my dad around. He left us when I was still about 1 1/2 month old. Even though I didn't really cried in front of my mom, deep inside, it feels like my heart's been crushed into million pieces. Seeing her face like she had lost everything, I couldn't help myself in thinking that it's all my fault. 

                         When we were asked to board the plane, I instantly took my cellphone out and called my mom to say our last goodbyes. Hours passed and I wake up to the sound of the stewardess that we are to be discharged in the Vancouver Airport for the plane is to be refueled. When we got back the plane, I immediately slept out of boredom. The next thing I knew, we arrived at the McCaran Airport. I was assisted by a worker because I'm still a minor travelling without a companion. It took us a few hours to finish arranging the documents. After that, I went out of the immigration area and found my dad waiting for me. When he saw me, he immediately hugged me and I hugged him back in a very awkward manner. My stay in Las Vegas was fun especially when I get to try out some new stuff like their food and seeing a lot of people roaming around the streets. I stayed in Las Vegas for about 3 days before we went to Los Angeles.

                         I stayed there long enough for my cousins to tour me around Los Angeles. And I must admit that it really was fun doing those stuff. Even though I'm hesitant to go with them the first time. That's when I realized that I had to apply the phrase Carpe Diem. From then on, I started to like exploring new stuffs that's unfamiliar to me. I also went to San Francisco to visit my cousins on my mother side. When I arrived, they were all surprised because I've gotten so much bigger. In my stay there, I learned to be more responsible and to be more helpful. I get to experience a lot of things that I haven't done in my life. Like fishing. We also went to see the Golden Gate Bridge. And when I first saw it, I was really amazed by its beauty. For me, it's pretty because of its design. I love architectural stuffs especially when I saw those in person. My most memorable moment there was when I first experienced trick-or-treating with my cousins. I've never experienced doing that even as a kid because we don't do that here in the Philippines. I even wore a Super Mario costume and it was really fun dressing up and knocking on their doors asking for candy. When we finished trick-or-treating, we counted our candies but didn't really finished counting because we kept on eating each candy that we grab from our loot.

                         When I got back to Los Angeles, during the month of December, we went to a place where it is snowing. It's my first time seeing real snow and get the chance to touch it. When we'd arrived, I was amazed because it really is my first time seeing snow. I call the place "Winter wonderland". My cousins and I went to mountain high to try snowboarding. We also played sled with my younger cousins. And I must say that I keep on falling from the sled and end up sliding down the hill with my butt as the sled. I really had lots of fun during my stay there.

                         When I was leaving America to return back here, I learned a lot of new things. Especially when it's about trying to cope up with my dad. Also with me that day is not just things I intend to give my mom. It's the experience and memories that I will surely cherish for a lifetime.