🇺🇸 United States of America

The Journey That Raised the Bar

The United States was, and still is, the best trip I have ever experienced. Even today, it feels surreal to say that I was able to visit a country that once felt impossibly far from my reality. Long before the flight tickets, itineraries, and photographs, there was first the challenge of getting there. The journey actually began at the U.S. Embassy, during the visa application process—the same process that almost disrupted my Indonesia trip due to schedule conflicts. Looking back now, everything somehow aligned at the right time.

Applying for a U.S. visa was one of the most mentally exhausting travel preparations I had ever experienced. There were forms, website processes, appointments, and the pressure of an interview where a single decision could determine whether a long-held dream would happen or not. I honestly never expected approval. I still remember being asked only a handful of questions—around five to eight—and the one I remember most was unexpectedly technical: I was asked to enumerate the OSI Layers. Then came the words that instantly erased all the stress: “You will get your VISA in two weeks.” The officer kept my passport, and I walked out carrying excitement I could barely contain.

That happiness stayed with me long after leaving the embassy. I still remember walking outside and, in the excitement of finally being approved, I decided to treat one of the soft drink vendors nearby. Looking back now, the funny part was that the treat I gave her was… the soft drink she was already selling. She happily handed me the drink, and somehow that small and slightly ironic moment became part of the memory. When my passport finally arrived carrying a 10-year multiple-entry U.S. visa, the excitement became even more real.

Suddenly, the country that had only existed in books, movies, and imagination no longer felt unreachable. What once looked distant became a real destination waiting ahead. I wasn’t traveling to the United States for vacation at first—I had been assigned to attend NetScout Engage in Dallas, Texas, together with one of my colleagues. But even before departure, I already knew there was another destination quietly waiting in my heart after Dallas.

The trip itself was exciting and exhausting at the same time. We flew from Manila to Hong Kong, then crossed the Pacific from Hong Kong to Los Angeles via Cathay Pacific, before continuing onward to Dallas via American Airlines. By the time we reached our hotel early in the morning, exhaustion had mixed with excitement. I still remember our first meal—a simple burger that somehow felt more satisfying because we had finally arrived. The next few days were dedicated to training, seminars, networking, and learning through NetScout Engage.

The training itself exceeded expectations. I learned new things, met professionals from different places, and enjoyed the energy of being surrounded by people passionate about the same field. But if I were honest, one of the unexpectedly exciting parts was the event experience itself—the food, the freebies, and the atmosphere. Another memorable moment was playing golf for the first time, something I never imagined doing during a technical event. Those small moments made Dallas more than just a work destination.

On our final day in Dallas, I explored downtown and visited places connected to one of the most significant moments in American history—the site associated with President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, along with the memorial and nearby parks. Walking through those places made history feel more tangible than reading about it in books. But even while enjoying Dallas, I knew my heart was already waiting for the next destination. The following morning, we boarded a flight to New York.

New York was different. Unlike many places I visited because of work or opportunity, New York had been a dream for years. When I was in college, I often visited National Book Store in SM Naga and repeatedly picked up a DK Eyewitness Travel guide for New York City. I never bought the book, but every time I read through it, I quietly told myself that someday, somehow, I would make it there. It felt unrealistic at the time. Yet there I was years later, descending into New York.

I still remember looking outside the airplane window as the clouds slowly disappeared. Suddenly, I saw the Statue of Liberty and then the Manhattan skyline. That moment gave me goosebumps. At the airport, my cousin—who was already living there—picked us up. When she hugged me, she said something I still remember today: “It feels like I was hugged by the whole family and the Philippines.” Those words made arriving feel even more meaningful.

She brought us to our accommodation in Queens, which happened to be her former apartment occupied by Filipino tenants—and amazingly, we stayed there for free. That first night, we went straight to Times Square, and seeing it in person felt unreal after years of only seeing it in movies. Over the next days, we explored much of New York—from Manhattan to Brooklyn, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, discovering neighborhoods, and simply experiencing the city. One unexpected stop was McGee’s Pub, the inspiration behind the bar scenes in How I Met Your Mother, which made the visit even more fun.

But the moment that affected me most happened at the Statue of Liberty. During the ferry ride, I stood near the front looking toward the statue as we approached. I became emotional and realized something—I never thought the version of myself standing there would ever exist. I remembered my younger self in college quietly reading that travel book at National Book Store and imagining impossible things. If I could go back to that moment, I would tell him: Congratulations. Your dream came true.

We also visited Ellis Island, where I learned more about immigration and the stories of people who arrived in America with hopes for a better life. Afterward, we stopped at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where I spent time praying and thanking God. We visited Central Park, though we barely scratched the surface because of how enormous it was. Our final stop was the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where I quietly reflected on everything the trip had become. By then, I was already feeling the sadness of knowing departure was close.

Before returning to Queens, I took one last look at Times Square and wondered when I would see it again. My cousin treated us to Shake Shack, which became one of the best burgers I had ever eaten. Before separating, I jokingly reminded her that crying was not allowed. During the long flight back to Hong Kong, nostalgia hit harder than expected. I watched Brooklyn and listened repeatedly to Leaves by Ben&Ben—a song my colleague had played constantly in our Dallas hotel—which somehow became permanently attached to my U.S. memories.

One funny memory from the flight still makes me laugh today. I was so sleepy during meal service that I didn’t realize my ice cream had melted and stained my clothes. I only noticed the mess when we arrived in Hong Kong. We eventually landed in Manila early in the morning, and just like every trip, life returned to normal.

But the United States never really left me.

Until today, I still miss the atmosphere, the energy, and the feeling of possibility I experienced there. More than any destination, this trip became one of the inspirations behind my love for cities, urban life, and even parts of creating Fitzland—alongside Singapore. The United States raised the bar not because it was perfect, but because it showed me what dreams feel like when they finally become real. And someday, I hope to return.