i got my mom all excited once she realized she can have me go into google maps and try to search for her hometown- she has not been in the philippines ever since 1987
it was like seeing a dog find her way back home...umm virtually
and she had me looking everywhere, she never truly smiles legitimately, and I know how to discern her real smiles from her fake ones
she told me which streets she used to grow up in, the school and etc.. where to direct me.
She actually gave me hints as we went, "I know that street leads out of the city- let's go back to where we were." She slightly knew what she was doing.
But, when she looked at them...she had a...slight expression of disappointment on her face.
"Everything's changed?" I ask.
"Yes...everything," she replied.
"You don't recognize anything you see?"
"No, it seems my home was renovated...everything has changed. I don't know this place."
She'd tell me what landmark used to be what in the past, which seemed to fit the size of what seemed to be renovated or destroyed.
Looks like she was trying to stomach it in, the change from a smile to a slight frown seemed so quick as I browsed through the streets.
The only thing that hasn't changed, was a drug store and a mega church.
"Would you like to go back there to see things for yourself?"
"No, not anymore." My mother answered.
I think she's been in deep thought ever since I helped her look into her hometown.
this is actually really interesting