Over the past few years we have flown to the Philippines with various airlines such as Lufthansa, Thai Airways, or Emirates. This time everything was different. Singapore Airlines took us direct from Berlin via Singapore and Cebu and then SilkAir to Davao City. All three of us had one-way-tickets.
At the same time, our two containers were on their way to Davao by ship via Hamburg and Singapore. The containers were packed with many memories. We decided before, we could take everything from our both households with us. Maybe a little crazy or funny. At the beginning we thought that when we woke up in the morning, we would still be in Germany. Only the car was not allowed. Everything was in the name of Rossana because during this time a Filipino citizen was allowed to send everything back to the Philippines tax-free once in a lifetime.
When we arrived in Davao, we were amazed. Our house looked almost finished from the outside. But there was still a lot to do inside. The greeting was exuberant. We lay in each other's arms and cried for joy.
Rossana's brothers Archie and Ricardo had taken over the building supervision last year. They had already lived on the property with their families and had also laid out the small garden. A small swimming pool was there and my greatest wish had come true: dogs.
Everything seemed perfect down to the last. We lived wall to wall with our American Ninong Maurice and his Filipina wife, our Ninang Alicia. They had bought the property right next to us already in 1959.
In the next few days and weeks there was a lot for us to do. Unpacking suitcases, arranging the interior fittings and doing paperwork after paperwork. Rossana, my mother and I hardly got time to think about Germany. Homesickness did not arise. Not yet.
Rossana was especially busy sorting out the dance group costumes from Berlin. Maybe there will be another chance to perform in Davao City as a New Manisan Cultural Dance Troupe? Well, that should become reality faster than we thought. I thought about my music library and several thousand books.
And then events rolled over! One telephone call from the Davao City Port Customs Office in particular kept us in suspense. Our knees shook.
To be continued!)
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