United States of America (USA) – the country known as the land of the star-spangled banner is one of the most famous countries in the world. It is bound to amaze everyone with its mesmerizing beauty, captivating culture, historical personalities, tech innovation, and welcoming people. One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the USA is to travel the all-American way - road-tripping!
Road trips are forms of travel and movement that encompass much more than what we see on the road. Much over, the real joy of the road trip lies in its spontaneity and unpredictability.
The 12-day visit to the US was indeed a rare opportunity provided to me by the University of Baguio and the School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management. It was a privilege, a great blessing, and truly one of a kind that will remain among my lifetime memoirs. The cultural immersion, meeting people, visiting different properties, meeting our students, and most of all road trips with the University of Baguio Team (Dr. Janice Kaylyn Lonogan – VPAA, Ms. Melanie R. Saro – Director, Linkage Office, Ms. Jenelyn M. Mapatoc - Dean of SIHTM, Ms. Kareen B. Leon - Dean of SBAA, Ms. Helen Alalag - Dean of SON, Ms. Mary Joy Limpin – Program Chair, AACACO) and the ZIP travel Team (Mr. Aaron Black, Ms. MJ De Guzman, and Ms. Marilou Wana) made this US trip a rewarding experience and a memorable one for me.
A blogger once said, “It’s impossible to talk about the US and not mention New York City”, and indeed, I couldn’t agree more. NYC is where our visit kicked off and a visit to this city that never sleeps would not be complete without setting foot on the famous Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, the center of the Theatre District and formed by the intersection of Seventh Avenue, 42nd Street, and Broadway. The next day, we started off with a hop-on-hop-off tour to see some of the most iconic landmarks and it was a great time to learn about the city’s history and architecture with on-board commentary as we enjoy the panoramic views from the view deck of a double-decker bus.
Then, from the amazing places we‘ve visited in New York, our road trip adventures started with the following states:
1. Pennsylvania
It was the first state we visited from a 3-4-hour trip from New York where there are 2 properties we visited.
The first that we visited was Camelback Resort in Tannersville which has the most epic indoor waterpark named Aquatopia, with 13 thrilling water slides and many more. We were warmly welcomed by Ms. Shana Robinson, the Recruiting Manager who is responsible for assisting the J1 visa holders in the company. We were also joined by the Visa Sponsor from the Alliance Abroad Group. It was an awesome place nestled in the scenic Pocono Mountains and we had an opportunity to go around the property and tour the place. The Nursing students in Summer and Work Travel programs, including Business Administration students, were the students assigned to this property but most of them were on duty so we only met those who were on their day off.
I learned that Camelback Resort has a great program for J1 visa holders or “associates” – as they call them. It was mentioned that they offer certification to the associates who will be assigned to the resort as well as intensive training. I consider the visit as a means to know what the program is all about and to make sure that the students are getting the benefits indicated in their training plan. As we toured around the property, I realized that basic life skills like swimming and knowledge of first aid are needed to be assigned to a resort.
Next was the Kalahari Resorts and Convention in Pocono Mountains, an African-themed Resort and Convention, home to the East Coast’s largest indoor waterpark and a massive family entertainment center where we had the chance to meet the 4 lovely ladies from the School of IHTM and also students from the School of Nursing and tour the property. I was glad to hear that these students enjoyed their workplace and that their supervisors commend them for their hard work. Listening to our students about their experiences at work and how they cope with their daily activities overwhelmed me because this program made them realize how to value their finances and time and be able to save money for the future by applying to another program.
2. North Carolina
It was an 8-hour drive to Banner Elk, North Carolina and it was a rainy day when we reached Lees Mc Rae College - a private college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is one of the few colleges to be named after two women, Suzanna Lees, and Elizabeth McRae. We were welcomed by Dr. Charlie Calvert and other members of the administration of the school and the visit leads us to a future partnership and network as UB furthers its internationalization programs. With the opportunity to tour the campus and its facilities, it was tickling to the mind how the students’ privileges on the campus can also be observed at the University of Baguio.
After the visit, we tried the best barbeque in town with Dr. Calvert before heading to Florida for a 12-hour drive.
Along the road, we passed through Virginia, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia where we had the chance to go around the historic district of the city and had our meal at one of the boiling seafood restaurants in Savannah. It is a casual dining restaurant with friendly staff. It was amazing to receive generous portions of seafood in a bag with delicious seasonings. It was a perfect place to grab an awesome meal, not a hangout place, but perfect if you are on the go.
3. Florida
After 6-7 hours drive, we arrived in Florida, where we visited Amelia Island and Destin.
Amelia Island is a unique paradise among the chain of barrier islands that stretches along the east coast from South Carolina to Florida. Situated in the City is The Ritz Carlton - one of the most popular beach destinations on the East Coast, and a luxury resort.
It was an overwhelming feeling when I stepped onto the property because knowledge became a reality. It was no longer some knowledge from the book but it was an experience that I can be proud of.
Meanwhile, before the facility tour, a luxurious breakfast was prepared for us by their executive chef. We were joined by the HR director and the other VIPs of the property. They allowed us to have the facility tour and to witness the students on duty. It was a great joy to see our students on the job and made us proud as their immediate supervisors informed us about their excellent performance.
Before heading to Destin, we passed through South Walton Beach to witness the sunset and walk on the white sand where it was cool witnessing 3 wedding ceremonies happening simultaneously at the beach.
From South Walton Beach, it was another 5-7 hours drive to Destin where the house of Mr. Aaron Black is located. We spent our weekends at his place. We felt the homey atmosphere where Ma’am Joy cooked our dinner. After breakfast, It was our free time so we explored nearby shops.
4. Tennessee
After the weekend in Destin was another 7 – 8 hours drive to Tennessee. We arrived in Memphis late in the afternoon and checked – in at the Peabody Hotel where our students were deployed. The Peabody Hotel is crowned as the jewel of downtown Memphis and offers a magnificent bridge between the Blues City’s celebrated past and cosmopolitan’s present. Janelle and the group met us at Beale Street, one of the most iconic streets in America and the home of the Blues and the true birthplace of Rock n Roll.
We met Karen – HR Director in the morning and we toured around the property. As we went around, I observed that the property earned a lot of recognition that includes Forbes with 4 stars and a 4-diamond property by AAA. Another joyful heart knowing that our students are excellent in their performance.
Our stay in the Peabody Hotel was magnificent as we experienced its elegance and gracious hospitality and we witnessed the world’s famous 5 Mallard ducks marching through the lobby. It was indeed a distinctive and unique hotel.
5. Texas
We passed through Forrest City, Arkansas for a late lunch then had a quick drop at Little Rock Arkansas, at the place of Sir Aaron’s mom before heading to Frisco, Texas. Frisco is a city in Texas and part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area where OMNI PGA Frisco Resort is located. This property is the new home of Modern Golf where players of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. Featuring unique simulation and coaching experiences for golfers and non-golfers alike, sun-up to sundown fun and enjoyment opportunities abound at the Monument Realty PGA District where a variety of signature dining and retail concepts, virtual game experiences, programmed entertainment, and more are available. It was a busy day for the property that’s why we were not accommodated by the administration, but we had a chance to visit the accommodation for our students. We are happy that they stayed in a comfortable shared unit. It was a heartwarming feeling because they prepared and waited for us, and we were surprised because they wore their uniforms.
We headed to the city of Grapevine in Texas known for its restored 19th and 20th century buildings. Many of these are on downtown Main Street, which is lined with restaurants, galleries, and shops. We visited the Gay Lord Texan Resort and Convention Center where we met our students. Although few of them are at work, we were happy that our students gave a few minutes of their time to meet us. I learned that in this property, they have different privileges depending on what department they are assigned to. But all of them enjoyed their stay on the property.
6. California
California, a western U.S. state, stretches from the Mexican border along the Pacific for nearly 900 miles. Its terrain includes cliff-lined beaches, redwood forest, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Central Valley farmland, and the Mojave Desert.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. SFO was our last destination. A glimpse of the place was a great experience. The weather is cold, and it is comparable to Atok in Benguet. We had an opportunity to go around the city and explore the place, we walked around downtown for a photo opportunity. We went to the famous Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco Bridge, and Pier 39.
Overall, our road trip not just delighted us with getting to know more about the United States of America but was also a learning experience while we get to witness firsthand and listen to our students’ testimonies. It was a humbling opportunity to witness our students manifest in the workplace the UBian graduate attributes that were instilled in them.