A story of an R.N.

2:30 p.m.

I was sitting in the departure area of NAIA3. I still had one hour before my flight and so I took a nap.

And before I knew it, a female voice was calling my name because I needed to board on the plane. She said, " It's time to go, sir. You must have slept very well."

"Yeah, I think so" I replied. And I we went inside the plane. The woman, who was a flight attendant, ushered me to my seat.

After the 13-hour trip, the sign "FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT" was switched on. And I heard the captain saying," Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Los Angeles International Airport."

"At last, finally. I'm here", I said. I felt like coming to the USA was the greatest success of my life.

I took a taxi from the airport to my apartment where my future colleagues were waiting. They welcomed me with a pizza party. Everything was wonderful except that I missed my love ones in the Philippines. How I wished that they were with me in that beautiful place. Yes, everything was beautiful.

Days and months and years have passed.

I had a green card. I was able to buy my own house and my own SUV. I had $145,000.00 in my bank account. I was able to purchase a condominium in The Fort in Manila. I was able to a have a European tour. I worked as staff nurse in L.A, California and Miami, Florida. I played twice in a casino in Las Vegas. I had a successful career.

Then suddenly I asked my self, " What happened to my friends?"

And so I decided to have a vacation once again in the Philippines. I looked for my classmates and former co-workers. I found my best friend in college and I was surprised.

He did not work abroad even a single year in his whole life. I told myself that he's not as successful as me. And I asked him why.

" Many nurses are cramming to leave this country. For them, working abroad means success. And staying here is a failure."

I was astonished with his response. With no doubt, what he said was real. Some students even took the "prestigious" BS Nursing because of their desire to live and work overseas. And because of it's promising greener pasture.

I was also wrong when I thought that my friend being stucked in the Philippines did not succeed. I saw that he was happy with his career life. I guess he had the same kind of happiness I have with my life.

And I realized that success doesn't rely on the things that you have purchased or the countries that you have been to. My friend was satisfied with everything he has done from our college years until that time we met again. That was another meaning of success to me. Satisfaction.

And I was not satisfied yet. I wanted to have millions of dollars in my bank account. I wanted to have my own hacienda. I wanted to travel a lot and learn different languages. I wanted more and more than I have.

I was wrong.

I was not as successful as my bestfriend.

3:20 p.m. NAIA 3

A woman woke me up. I knew she's a flight attendant.

"Oh my God! Am I late?" I asked the woman.

" No Sir, you still have 10 minutes to board the plane", she replied. " You must have slept very well?"

"Sounds familiar." I was talking to myself.

I went inside the plane. The flight attendant ushered me to my seat. I smiled.

Everything was a dream.