My Cousin Ruby

My cousin Ruby left for Germany yesterday, where she's going for training as part of her research job with the University of Mindanao. I haven't gotten all the details but yesterday was some sort of comedy.

Her original itenerary was to fly in from Cagayan de Oro, ETA Manila 2:20 via PAL. Proceeding to the German Embassy for a courtesy call. And then wait for her flight to Germany at 11:30PM.

Whoever made those arrangements did not know anything about travelling in Metro Manila. Normally, PAL is late, and travel time from the airport to Makati takes at least one hour. The Embassy closes at 3:30PM. So that is cutting it close. Monday, she called the Embassy and informed them that she might not be able to get there before close of business hours. So that settles that. Next problem was that, of course, she wants to meet family in however short time she'd be spending in the metropolis. So it was arranged that Tatay and Mama would be going to the airport to meet her. The mix up started there.

We were not able to inform her that Tatay and Mama would be meeting her at the airport. And then she proceeded to the Emirates Airline office to get her ticket. The office was in Makati. When informed that she was in Makati, my parents followed her there. And somehow after spending some time in Makati, they escorted her back to the airport to check in her bags for the outbound flight.

Like any other Filipino with relatives abroad – in this case, her aunt on her mother's side – there was a request to bring some things: including pickled vegetables and bananas. She was prepared though and she brought enough money for the excess baggage fees. Bananas! She said she did get special permission from the Embassy. Okay, not my problem then.
She'll be attending a six-month training, preceded by a two month crash course on the german language. So, right now, she knows just enough Japanese to get around, because she'd already attended a training in Japan. And now, she'd need to be fluent in German as well. That is super.

We'll be spending more time with her when she gets back sometime in October or November maybe.


-- andoy
2 March 2005