Home for the Holidays: What's good?

Stuck at Gate 60 waiting for our rebooked, delayed flight.

I've been looking forward to going home for the Holidays (for one month!!!) since we booked our flight ages ago. I've been counting down the days, trying my best to still function despite being already in a "holiday mode". I even packed my luggage weeks before my flight making sure that all the chocolates and gifts I bought for my friends and family are safe and intact. You might say I'm too excited. Well, I really am! It's been awhile since I last  seen my family and I couldn't wait to be with them asap.

On the day of our flight, we received an email that our flight was cancelled. Imagine my disappointment. I was soooo infuriated. Of all the days and flights in Sydney, ours was cancelled! So, we called the airline and rebooked for the next available flight. (We were happy to know that it's still on the same day!) Now that we're in the airport, checked in and passed through immigration, the Flight Information Display shows that our flight is delayed at least by an hour. How cruel is that? I already got a cancelled flight, rebooked a flight and that next available flight is delayed. 

I was like "Sydney, are you seriously kidding me? I've been dreaming of this day that I am finally coming home after almost a year of being away and now, you don't want me to leave?". Yes, I had my bad days but this one's the most annoying so far. 

It was kind of difficult for me to see the good in this situation but I realized, it was better for our flight to be cancelled and delayed. 

Here's why:

1. Our family van was coding in Manila on Tuesdays. If we arrived Tuesday night, our parents were planning to just take an uber to the Airport. They didn't have to because our arrival was moved to 12AM Wednesday. We saved money! (At least $40!!!)
2. I got to prepare some backlog on my piano lessons! (We got an email early in the morning about the cancelled flight so I still had all the morning for me to update my students' progress records and email them their summer practice pieces)
3. We didn't have to take the Airport Taxi ($90) to Sydney Airport! We reserved an airport taxi because our Aunt couldn't drive us to the airport in the morning. We have filo friends who knew that our flight was cancelled and offered to take us to the airport in the afternoon for free! That's another $90 savings!
4. We got free meals provided by the Airline as an apology for the cancelled and delayed flight. I love food so this is a good thing for me. LOL
5. We still had time to look around and charge our gadgets before boarding time. I am the type to explore airports and the facilities they offer for their guests (shout-out to Changi Airport! My favorite airport so far!) so we had time to look around and eat.

It took me awhile to see the good things but I'm happy I still did! They say that if you see the good in a bad situation, you win! Did I? LOL

At the moment, I am having the time of my life reunited with my family and friends. I have not had a day of rest even on Sundays because friends and families keep inviting us over for lunch, dinner or a family outing. We've been busy going out and I am so happy! My friends stayed the same, we didn't get to talk all the time while I'm away but when we meet it's as if nothing's changed in our friendship! These are the things that I was praying for and I am so glad they are happening. I couldn't ask for a better "home for the holidays" story! 

Meet my beautiful family! <3 

After 2 and a half years, we're complete again (?)

xx

Twinks