Drive to Virginia Beach

We got a 15-seater from Budget Car Rentals. Boy, it was BIG! Virginia is an 18-hr drive from Springfield and Migo was already geared to face the challenge of being our ONLY driver. Armed with Red Bull, Gatorade and lots of rap and soul CDs, we started out at about 9am, Wednesday (Aug 17). The trip was uneventful except when the teachers saw a "house" wrapped in plastic, being carried by a truck. Cracked me up when they said "house for delivery". Migo drove until 8pm and we spent our night at Super 8 in Owingsville, KY. The hotel smelled new and I was happy with my choice. The next morning, we woke up to get our free continental breakfast. We had a feast!! Picture below is one taken at the Super 8 Motel in KY.

We went off to an early start. West Virginia is breathtaking! The mountains and valleys, the luscious greens! I am amazed at how they carved out roads in the mountains and maximized the beauty that nature had to offer. At times I thought some parts resembled Kennon Road of Baguio; when it was still passable :(

I was happy that we got to Virginia at about 6pm without incident on the highways. But we got caught in traffic and managed to be at the Mante's house just before 8pm. Freaking hungry and tired! Fabian and Arlene (Mante), Sharon (Reuyan) and Perlita (Gallosa) graciously treated us for dinner at a chinese buffet. I felt so welcome with the warm lingering hugs and all were so ready to help our new batch of teachers. What surprised me was Fabian. This was the first time I really got to talk to him and I immediately felt his sincerity. He is the kind who will do anything without thought of repayment. And I thought his kind does not exist anymore :) !!! Below is the VBCPS family at the Mante's residence.


To reward Migo, I picked out a hotel near the beach front. I thought I got a good deal with another Super 8. Turned out a stinky, dirty hotel and I was so tired to even think of changing hotels. In the morning, we took some pictures by the beach then off we went to do a courtesy call to Bernard. Bernard is hands-down the funniest guy in the universe. He cracks me up without even trying :) Sweet too and so not hard to please.

The teachers already shooed us to get started for Springfield after lunch (Sharon cooked shrimp!!) and we willingly obliged. As we drove further and further away from Virginia, I thought, "I am leaving teachers who will be a blessing to their students and who will make good their promise to make us proud." Corazon Delima and Flor Apape. I never got close to teachers as well as I did with them. They had me as their "caretaker" for 2 weeks! I will miss sweet and lovable Colin. Kung lahat ng apo kagaya niya, penge na ng isa (hehehehe JOKE! as in capital J) And oh, I will also miss getting a kick out of calling Blas, "Mr. Pogi" and seeing that embarassed but knowing smile :)

The trip back was tricky because Migo had been driving long hours for 3 straight days now and John Legend, 50 Cent and Gin Blossoms had gone hoarse ... in my mind, that is. To keep Migo awake, I asked a lot of questions about his vacation to the Philippines. After the trip, I felt like I was vacationing with him the whole time because I got all the details!! I mean, only those which he was willing to share, of course. We spent a night at Comfort Inn in West Virginia and had a REAL good night sleep after getting him baby back ribs from Friday's.

We got back at Springfield just before 7pm and it was good to be home - as it always is. That was 4 days on the road .... STRAIGHT! I got to give it to Migo. I never heard a complaint, not a teeny tiny bit. Hey, that is my son!