Feliz Navidad in TEXAS, USA

 
Hello hivers! As promised, a new blog for everyone. I spent my Christmas holiday in the Lone Star State of the US. Given that Mexicans ruled this area in the late 1800s, I anticipated Mexican cuisine, restaurants, cowboys inside vintage bars or cactus plants on the front porch. I mistakenly assumed that it is colder than mine because I did not pack thicker sweaters. Nevertheless, I am ready to ride a horse and play with Woody and Bullseye.
 

Now that winter break has begun, I am looking forward to traveling to Texas, where my cousin and her family lives. New state, new experience. Yey!
 

I used to arrive at the meeting place one to two hours early; I was never a fan of “Filipino time”. So, I asked my Colombian housemates to drive me to the airport. Surprisingly, considering that it is the holiday season, the traffic was not heavy and the airport was not crowded when I arrived. I am hesitant to ask around because I will be speaking more english but it was also difficult standing at the entrance for ten minutes, so I had to get in. Lol.
Americans are incredibly understanding. They engage in lively conversation with me and always return their big smiles; it feels different but in a good way.
 

After traveling almost three hours, I finally arrived in Dallas, TX where my cousin and her family are waiting for me because they also had their trip from Chicago, IL. We spent the night in the city and would spend the following day exploring Austin, the capital of Texas. I remember when I could not feel my feet, the next morning only to find out that the heater was off! How did I forget that?
 

We visited the state capitol, where we were greeted by the amazing architectural design and fine details of the building. There was no admission charge when we arrived and they will be giving you a tour to experience and to know more about the place. First, let us discuss the exterior, which is admirable for being symmetric and Renaissance-era structure. Part of it was under construction at that time so I tried my best to find a view that is worth posting on Instagram.
 

As soon as we entered, I noticed that the walls were covered with portraits of the presidents of the Republic of Texas and governors who worked there. Secondly, I gazed up to see the inside beauty of the capitol’s dome which is centered by its iconic star. We also went to the chambers of the senate and the house of the representative. Fortunate enough that there were no people that time so I had the opportunity to take photos and videos.

When the tour ended, we headed to San Antonio because it is starting to get colder outside. It is a three-hour drive so we did a few stops for coffee and burger on the way.
 

I have to return to the coast after spending time at my cousin’ place until the 29th. We both do not want to have any delayed flights, so I followed her advice and will spend New Year’s Eve in my apartment (alone). My work will resume on January 3rd so it is convenient too.
My niece and I spend a lot of time crafting and watching Netflix movies because my cousin and her partner have duty in the hospital. And they always say that the person you need is nanny McPhee, but I am not her. Lol

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I felt the cultural norms back in PH when I spent my Christmas Eve at my cousin’s place; they host the event because it is spacious enough to accommodate us all. There, we are all Filipinos and I am glad to hear and speak the Filipino language again. Everybody brought a Filipino dish to share with. There were parlor games for adults and for kids too. And as we all sing Christmas In Our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan the “monitos and monitas” are exchanging gifts. It feels like home, even though I am miles away from it.

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The following morning, at five, I already got up and my cousin and I decided to take a walk on the neighboring lake. The place is quite peaceful and calm at the same time, which is why I adore it the first time. I can sense the crisp wind coming from the north and the cheerful sounds of the birds in the trees. We ate breakfast and spent more time at the picnic table. You can also sail your small boats and go fishing, so we are not the only ones at that time.
 

My cousin persuaded me to trim and color my hair so that I will not spend more than 20$ for a haircut. Yes, it is pricey, but I am the type of person who’s meticulous in taking care of my hair. Do not underestimate the power a new haircut can have–it can make a significant difference.
 

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Believe me when I tell you that Ayala dancing lights, Rockwell building lights and Christmas village in Baguio are the standard of a great Christmas attraction; however, this attraction in Eagle Pass Plaza caught my attention. The place is full of sparkling lights like gorgeously blooming flowers; it was vibrant and not straining to the eyes. A wonderful way to capped off Christmas Day.
 

To make my trip more enjoyable, of course, one of the goals is to go shopping and I heard there are discounts for teachers in selected stores. Upon arriving, we noticed this long queue of people passing through this small gate at the end of the overpass, only to find out that this is the Mexico-Texas border. I bought a few things I can wear at work. Cannot be guilty for this reason, right?
 

My cousin has promised to take me to Amigo’s steakhouse bar, a historic bar in town for my last day of stay. Deer heads hanging on the walls give the place a new peculiar atmosphere. It was already past nine so the place had only a few patrons. I ordered their classic steak, fried okra and beer, of course! We went to the grocery after dinner and buy ingredients for our Michelada drink. It is a traditional Mexican cocktail combined with beer, a ready-mixed spice and lime. For me I will rate it as a 9/10 because it was a new experience for my taste buds.
 

We headed to the airport the next morning. We grabbed breakfast at iHop which is similar to Pancake House. It was also my first visit, and I can honestly say that they really serve large portions of meals here. And guess what? I have a take out to eat on the plane.

To sum up my first Christmas away from my family, it was a mix of emotions. I already missed the Philippines–all of the Christmas songs you hear almost everywhere, the festive meals shared on table with your loved ones, the late-night games and conversations with your cousin, and so much more. How I wish my family could travel with me everywhere. Do not get me wrong; I consider myself lucky to be here, with good health and a stable job. I am also thankful to have my cousin and her partner who generously paid for this trip and made my vacation wonderful despite their busy schedule. if only I could stay longer, I would. I miss Texas and promise to go back wearing cowboy boots. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, partner. YEEHAW!

How about you? Share a little bit about your Christmas holiday, I would love to hear it from you, Hiver.

All images are mine unless stated otherwise