Chrissaire

I remember what my younger sister used to say to me.  She told me on one occasion when she was still living in Jacksonville that for almost two years that she has been in the United States, she was not fully convinced that she was already in the United States.  That shook my thought too.  And I realized that I feel the same way.  For someone who traveled across the Pacific Ocean to settle down in the United States, our idea of America is parallel with a fast-paced life.  And shallow as it may sound, but the only way for me to be truly convinced that I am already here is when I see the Lady Liberty, or if I take a pose outside The White House, or if get the chance to stroll down Hollywood.  Truly I was not living the American life, until last Sunday.

It was Dad’s idea- his invitation and his treat.  He has been dying to see the Tampa Bay Rays’ game in person.  And as for me, although I only know a little about the sport of Baseball I just couldn’t let that invitation pass me by.

So there we were outside the Tropicana Field- lined up to claim our tickets that we purchased online.  Outside the stadium was filled with people despite a gloomy and windy weather brought about by Gustav.  And even when we were just walking towards the venue, jostling streams of people were also marching in.  In Cebu, we could only have that exodus during the feast of the Sto. Nino and the Sinulog Celebration.

I tried to savor the experience as I could.  This is an American experience that I only see in the movies (remember how Juliane started flirting with Michael in the stadium in the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding?).  The next thing I knew, I was already taking the last few steps leading me to our seats.  And that very first time that I looked up and realized that I was already inside this vast dome (it’s an indoor stadium) with seats and a huge field, I was absorbed by my own American thought.

It was indeed amazing.  The stadium was filled with jamming crowd who clapped, yelled, cheered and booed when called for.  It was like being in a big children’s party.  There were mascots dancing or racing around the field every breaks.  They play different music for each and every Rays’ player who was about to bat.  And like in Cebu (and the Philippines) there were also vendors.  Cotton candy for four dollars.  Roasted peanuts for five.  And then, once you buy soda it will be in a Rays tumbler.  Then Chris also bought ice cream- one that truly proved Americans’ ingenuity.  By mere looking at it, you are looking at tiny balls of white and mint green.  All three of us agreed it looked like tiny bits of styrofoam.  And it was placed in a plastic Rays baseball cap.  Isn’t that cool or what?

Tampa Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles.  That was the game.  But I went there not just to watch the game.  I was there to enjoy an American experience.  No doubt Major League Baseball is part of an American lifestyle.  I cheered, clapped and dance along with the crowd.  I am not an American.  But since we breathe the same air and I just enjoyed being with them, I have to say that such an experience became an affirmation that indeed I am already in the United States.

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Cebu, Major League Baseball, philippines, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana, Tropicana Field, united states

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 at 7:24 pm and is filed under Entertainment, Family, My Journey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.