After moving to the U.S. from the Philippines in 2006, sophomore Juan Alega and senior Jose Alega traveled back to Manila, Philippines to visit their family for the first time in 10 years.

“It was great because we all got to catch up and honestly it was like meeting each other for the first time again because we haven’t seen each other for so long,” Juan said.

The Alegas haven’t been able to go back and visit family and friends since 2006. They moved to the U.S. after their mother was offered a job opportunity and decided to take it. After moving to the U.S. the Alegas have only been able to reconnect with family and friends through social media. Since they moved here, they’ve had green cards and haven’t been able to travel back to the Philippines because they would risk losing their green cards.

After getting their citizenship last year, they decided it was time to take a trip back to the Philippines to visit their family and friends after moving to the U.S. 10 years ago.

“The Philippines were different because they’re not as developed as America, so it took a lot to get use to the streets and the way people move,” Jose said. “It was nice to experience different cooking because my dad can cook some Filipino food but there’s a lot he doesn’t, so it’s nice to be able to experience more of it.”

The Alegas drove to Chicago Dec. 17 and then got on a flight to Manila on Dec. 18. When they got there, they visited family and friends as well as doing things such as going to the beach and shopping at places like the Mall of Asia. After staying for three weeks, they flew back to Chicago Jan. 6 and drove home that day.

“It was an amazing experience overall, just to be able to go back after 10 years without seeing them,” Juan said. “I forgot everything because we left when I was 5 years old and I didn’t know I had some cousin I had. It was great to be able to go back to the Philippines and reconnect with them since I haven’t seen them in so long.”