Jimmy's graduation party...

This past Saturday we were invited to a graduation party in Carpentersville. Jimmy Engracia graduated from high school last week and we had the opportunity to celebrate with him. Jimmy's dad, Mario, and my dad (also a Mario) grew up together in the Philippines. The Engracia's actually helped us in our transition here to Illinois: they picked us up from the airport during our visit to look for a place to live before we actually moved here, and they were so nice enough to give us their old dining table and couch as a way to help start our new life here in Illinois. It is so nice to know that we actually do have "family" close by.

The get-together was fun: nice people to visit with and of course, good food! The had lechon (with Mang Tomas sauce too!), leche flan, lumpia, and all sorts of Filipino food that we haven't had in awhile. I felt like I had a bottom-less stomach. Sarap!!

One of the first guests we met there was a man named Glenn Acoba, whose family used to be the Engracia's neighbor awhile ago in Hanover Park. We got to talking and found out that he and Kaui had a special connection: they were both from Hawai'i! Glenn said he was from Maui and immediately starting throwing out some pidgen to Kaui, which made Kaui "feel at home." Another connection is that his daughter just recently graduated from NIU, so they made many trips to DeKalb. Glenn also told Kaui that his daughter dances hula at a halau in Elk Grove and that they have many Hawaiian gatherings. He advised us to look it up so that Kaui can get back into dancing hula again, and also get Kaila and Kenna involved as they get older. So Kaui enjoyed finally having someone to relate to here in Illinois when it comes to the Islands. They talked more and come to find out that Glenn graduated from the same high school as Kaui's step-family (Punahou High). Glenn actually knows of the Reppun brothers and played football with Kaui's uncle, Uncle Josh Reppun. What a small world! Obviously, we exchanged information and hope to keep in touch with Glenn and his wife Minda in the future.

Overall, it was a great visit. It was so nice to catch up with Tito Mario, Tita Zeny, PJ (who's going to Chiropractic school in Lombard), and Jimmy (who'll be a freshman at Southern Illinois in the fall).

Us with the Graduate