Like being in America all over again: On board the USS George Washington

It was supposed to be just another mundane weekend.

I just arrived home from my Sunday morning shift, and like I always do, I opened my laptop and checked my email. But among the emails I got that day was one that stood out and made my day: an invitation from Protocol Office of the United States Embassy in Manila that went, "The Ambassador of the United States of America Philip S. Goldberg and the Commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet, Rear Admiral John D. Alexander request the pleasure of your company at a reception aboard the USS George Washington on Thursday, the twenty-third of October."

Yes, I had been invited to a party. On a US Navy aircraft carrier, no less.

I'm no stranger to aircraft carriers, jets, and other military-related stuff, as a fan of action, crime, and war films like "Battleship" and "Stealth."

And the moment I stepped onto that ship, I felt like I was living in a movie.

The USS George Washington was one of the first American ships to respond after Typhoon Yolanda struck the Visayas almost a year ago. Based in Yokosuka, a town on the outskirts of the Tokyo metropolis, the ship visited the Philippines as part of a military exercise between the Philippine and US Navies.

It took us almost an hour to get to the ship through a speedboat which was waiting for us at the SM Mall of Asia Jetty Terminal in Pasay City. From where the USS George Washington was docked, Metro Manila could only be seen as a strip of tiny lights twinkling like stars in the night sky.

There were a little over a hundred guests who visited the aircraft carrier with me: Filipinos, Japanese, Americans, and Australians who were diplomats, Marines, Navy officers, and young leaders. I was invited as a former US exchange student and a member of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), a youth program started last year by President Barack Obama.

The moment I stepped onto the ship, I felt like a first grader who had just been in a museum for the first time. The main thought that ran through my mind that night was, “Wow. So this is what an aircraft carrier actually looks like from the inside.”

Though the ship was docked on the Manila Bay, I didn't feel like was in the Philippines at all. Most of the people who attended the party were members of the ship’s staff, who were very much American in culture and habits, including its Filipino officers. The food and drinks—which included Hawaiian Punch that, as far as I know, isn't available here in the Philippines—were very American, even the rice.

There was even a mini-store that sold USS George Washington memorabilia but only accepted payments in US dollars. That night, I felt like an exchange student in America all over again.

The more exciting part for me was touring around the upper floor of the aircraft carrier where Navy airplanes take off and land. I was really living the war films, seeing real fighter jets parked on the ship’s runway, with real officers taking watch.

In the mini-bar, I met a sailor who was pretty much interested in the Philippines, asking me, “If I spoke Spanish here, would I be fine?”

It was a quick night, lasting a little over two hours. But being able to see, talk, and feel like being in the United States all over again reminded me of how fulfilling exploring the world is.

Here’s a word of advice for young people: The world is a big place, and life’s too short to spend it within the corners of your hometown. There are a lot of learning opportunities abroad, and you should go grab one and never let go of it when you see one. Like what St. Augustine said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read one page.” — BM, GMA News