Friday, December 21, 2007

A Christmas Message



I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while I have no excuse other than I've been busy working. Oh well, hopefully these two posts and lots of pics will make up for it.
So when I think about people writing the annual “Christmas letter” I think of people with families: 2.1 kids, minivan/suburban, parents with good careers plodding along, the kids doing well at school and looking forward to getting their report cards. On the other hand I also think of my wonderful grandparents; updating everyone on the progress the highlights of their retirement and making a point of any other important accomplishments from the children or grandchildren. Now me in my mid twenties I have begun my own and weather this is a good thing or not time will tell.

Let me think about this past year well at the beginning I was fretting about weather Peace Corps (PC) was going to take me or not and then where I was going to go. I was also planning my escape of Havasu if I didn’t get the greenlight and offering myself to grassroots development. Where was I planning to escape to??? Well Connecticut, New Mexico and Colorado were looking very promising because of the grad schools. All I can say is I’m glad I’m not in grad school cause seriously I’m still not ready to go back. After getting my acceptance to PC and then getting assigned to Philippines I was planning my departure from the first “real” job I ever had.

My dad got remarried and this was the second marriage in my family within 6 months (Tucker and Vix in October ’06). It was beautiful and of course dad had to be goofy writing us kids a note, sticking it to his butt and flashing us during his vows. Beck’s was sooo cool about allowing me to pick out my dress; my first little black cocktail dress (that probably won’t fit anymore L). I can’t remember the cake being cut but I’m sure it was beautiful, actually I cant remember Tucker cutting his cake either; I must have had a really great time at both weddings!!! I’m a sucker for a good time.

Leaving CPS was bitter sweet. It was a really tough job but so rewarding. I still wonder a few times a week where my kids are now. One of my favorite parts about my office was I could walk into my boss’s office and express my frustrations and what seemed catastrophic issues about my clients and he would listen patiently, take his time and process with me. No issue was too big or without a solution and he always had time to chat. I also got plenty of direction from my coworkers when I needed it.

Then I had to go and say “goodbye” to America; at least that is what my dad said. Between March and May I think I was home for a total of a quarter of the time off and on. I had a great chance to visit Lake George when the lake was still frozen and the town was still in hibernation. I ran my first ½ marathon – 13 miles (26 km) and I can still feel the inability to walk for 3 days after. I attended my best friends wedding in the Dominican Republic with my sister’s future mother in-law who is totally fun. I got to taste what the weather would be like in the Philippines yet I was too dumb to realize it at the time. I drank fabulous cosmopolitans at 10am brunch with Aunt Peg, my beautiful sister Courtney and wonderful friend Tawnya in a little bistro in New York.

Actually leaving in May was surreal and having Dad and Beck’s drop me off in L.A was really comforting. Pre Service Training (PST) was really tough and a totally loaded schedule. This was the most intense emotional rollercoaster ride with my 3 site mates and trainers; all I can say is looking back it really sucked!!! Being in it you wondered every night if you could do another day and every morning you willed your body out of bed and to work another day. Picture this: you cannot catch up on sleep, you start language at 8am till noon and start tech at 1:30 till whenever it gets done but lets not forget our infusion of culture sessions. Then you are supposed to study or work on tech projects. By 7pm you are so physically and emotionally exhausted there is no way! Every language lesson was valuable and most technical sessions were too but still it was crazy. I think no matter where you are or what PST you are in you feel totally overwhelmed and that is “normal” if that is even possible.

On August 3rd we swore in at the U.S Embassy in a beautiful ceremony. From there all 60 of us dispersed to our sites and we were officially split up. My new family was broken apart and I was an official Peace Corps with a button ;-). I started work at my site that Monday with Flag Ceremony at the regional office bright and early at 8am. Since arriving at site I have instigated day camps, helped educate high school students on HIV/AIDS, tried in vain to teach English and so much other cool stuff. I have had the opportunity to see some of the jewels of the Philippines including Bagio, Segada and Boracay. Philippines has so much to offer in the area of natural beauty it would be a mistake to not visit (this is my only advert to visit :-).

This year has also had some tragedy that has affected my life and those in my family. I lost 3 of my family to cancer. Uncle Martin left us last December, my beautiful cousin Casey took his place amongst the angels this past August and my always inspiring, fun-loving aunt Peg went to visit and take her place beside my mom in late November. Being far away makes me treasure the family and close friends I have back home and how important it is to make everyday count. I treasure all the letters I received from Peg since I have arrived especially since she was supportive of me being here.

Well everyone, I love you, I miss you and I hope you are enjoying the amusement park we call life. Thank you for being my rock while I’m far away.

More Fun in the Sun in Boracay


Just a few more pics of our adventures and the natural beauty of Boracay.

Fun in the Sun - Boracay


A group of us went to Boracay Island after a project and enjoyed a wonderful visit. Lots of great food, dancing and fun in the sun!!! :-)

Island Adventure


I got a great opportunity to help with World Aids Day down in Kalibo on Panay Island earlier this month. We were there to educate high school students on what HIV/AIDS is, how it is contracted and how to prevent it. Roger and I were teammates and descended on a group of 65 in a really far away and beautiful school. We tag teamed the presentation and delivered our vital information. It was interesting because one of the most difficult facts the students had to grasp was that it takes only one time during sexual contact to contract the virus. They just couldn’t or wouldn’t believe this fact. Rather interesting; a little food for thought. It was rather easy to deliver the information because the students really paid attention from the beginning also we played a lot of games and used ice-breakers so it wasn’t boring. We also participated in a march with school bands, students and civic organizations and marched around town. It was great!!!

The next day 10 of us PCV’s headed over to Boracay for a little R&R on a banca boat (a 10 min ride from Panay to Boracay). Now the only reason I even heard about this magical island was because many PCV’s mentioned it but more so in one of the many airports I have strolled through I saw an exquisite picture of a beach with a palm tree and aquamarine water and the name “Boracay” scrolled across it. I figured if the airport is trying to sell me on visiting this place I have to go if my opportunity comes up. It didn’t take long hu? Well what the picture was selling the island produced.

Stephanie and I with a few others were at the beach admiring what luck we had to be there when she expressed her utmost desire to jump in the water fully clothed. Nobody wanted to go in yet as we were famished and heard there was a yummy Mexican restaurant just down the beach when she pulled me in. Thank god the pants and shirt I was wearing did not have pockets or my cell phone might have ended up swimming too. The water was amazing and when my sunglasses fell off my head they were not too difficult to find because the water was so clear. Everyone had a pretty good laugh at us.

Our Mexican lunch was huge! Each meal could have been shared, yes they were American sizes and oh so good also like American Mexican food if that is not an oxymoron for you. I got a combination beef and chicken burrito with refried beans and creamed corn. What was also so nice about where we were there was so many different types of cuisine and by the end of our 2 nights, 3 days I had Indian, Thai, Filippino and of course Mexican. I think Indian is my new favorite because of all the flavors my taste buds experienced and each bite I got to notice some slightly different flavor.

The first night we went dancing at a local club and I think we were all out there dancing our little hearts out. I don’t know if it was because we were just able to let loose or the absorbent amount of alcohol we were consuming but it was probably a combination. I think of the things I really miss from home going dancing is at the top of the list. We rocked out till 3:30am before catching a ride home from the resort service vehicle. The next night was much more relaxed and we got to sample a variety of bars. At the Hobbit House we got a chance to listen to smooth sounds from a woman and her guitar playing cover songs while drinking an imported beer (they had Castle Lager on the menu but were out; I had to settle for a Boddingtons – that was one for my English peeps). We moved onto another easy going outdoor bar while listening to some great Reggae music. For all my fab friends who will visit me do NOT get anything with Red Bull it is not the same at home and I learned the hard way! Next door was a techno beach bar that had the best Mojito’s. I know this is no surprise to you as the reader to know my ability to sniff out a place with good music and tasty drinks.

When I got down really close and actually looked at the sand I was able to understand why the sand has an orange hue to it… there are small specks of red sand mixed in with the yellow and light brown. It was also beautiful to see the green sands speckled giving it further variety. Enjoying the sunsets, hearing the wave’s crash upon the rocks and the natural beauty enveloping me made me feel truly close to the God force and Mom. Getting such a high makes me wonder how truly astounding this island must have been before developers put up resorts and commercialized it. Unfortunately the reef just off the main beach is almost dead but it does still have a few truly beautiful fish swimming in its midst. I got to see a medium sized aquamarine fish with a bright magenta strip lining the top of its back and other colors including deep green, yellow with pink lips. There was another black fish with violet plums hanging around this one corral which held my attention for a good long while. When I was heading back to the boat I noticed a brown and grey eel; I really don’t like them. They remind me too much of Flotsam and Jetsom from the “Little Mermaid” nasty critters. My paradise definitely includes a beach or at least being able to hear the waves and within walking distance from my place.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Seeing the Philippines

In the Philippines we take what we can get and use it. During the time I saw this kid round the corner and ride towards me he had to put his bike chain back on twice. I just loved the bike because even with two different tires it works like a charm. I don't think I would ever see this kind of ingenuity in the U.S.

Here is a piece of land between that I walk by on my way to work along our national highway. It is an informal settlement which people are squatting on. What is interesting about this land is how badly it floods. This woman is wading through the "road" to get to her home from the highway. I told you the flooding here is crazy!
Okay so I was in Manila with some coworkers picking up a kid. Also on the road was this truck and the men riding in the truck were sleeping in hammocks. What a way to travel!!!!

Beauty is Only Culture Deep

So being away from home makes you realize how different people really are yet we really occupy a similar shell. Our body or shell is the subject of so many different opinions and being in one place can have totally different views. I have heard that beauty is only skin deep but really it is only culture deep.

In China back before it was outlawed small feet were deemed very beautiful and could raise your social standing. Women would have their feet bound and broken and risked being crippled or death by doing this. Yet culture deemed it beautiful and so it was done. In America thin is beautiful and fitting into a certain proportion. You can’t be too hairy if you are a man and so many want to look like a celebrity.

Out here I have received more compliments on my nose than I ever thought possible. Those giving the compliment love how it is pointy and small. In general noses here are wide and flat. My host aunt said if she were to have another child she would home the child has a nose like mine. I’m not the only PCV getting this compliment but many of us have had this opportunity.

People here also use skin whiteners. It is in soaps, lotions, make-up and so many other topical products and they even have pills. It is hard to find soap without a whitener in it. Here to have a light skin is more valuable and I have been told it can even help you secure employment by my host family. It is interesting in the U.S we are trying to be tan by using creams, tanning salons and baking in the sun and here nobody can understand why I would want to get a tan and get darker. A nickname for a light skinned Filippino is Tisoy (boy) and Tisay (girl). My host family informed me that it is one of my nicknames in the community yet nobody has said it to me directly. We have a set of twins (girl and boy) in the nursery that I’ve just fallen in love with and they are both very light skinned (but that is not what drew me to them) and this is also their nicknames.

As a westerner being called “fat” by another person is a horrible and distasteful comment or judgment. Here it is used often and people just use it to describe someone else and have no problem saying right to the person. To them we are big just because of our height, bone structure, we are just bigger and often cause they don’t know how else to describe us. In my last host family one of the little host cousins I had was a little chubby. The way I was introduced to him by my host brothers was: This is … and he is chubby (with little chuckles and laughing). It was as if I could not see this child had a few extra pounds. By the way the kid was obese but looked like he was about to grow and kids do hold on and retain a few extra pounds before growing.

I do find people here to be very focused on the “shell” of themselves and each other. On many of the t.v shows they have dancing girls in the background in scantily clad outfits that could be mistaken for a 2 piece bathing suite yet going to the beach girls will wear shorts and a t-shirt. I have to be honest this t-shirt and shorts thing is for 2 reasons: 1. to be modest and 2. because light skin is beautiful and the more you are covered the less direct rays settle on you making you tan. What a concept “beauty” is.

Earthquake and other “Drills”

Last Thursday a group of us PCV’s and counterparts had a meeting at the Regional office. Just as we were to leave to attend the meeting we were told it was going to start late but had no idea why. Upon our arrival we were informed that there was to be an earthquake drill at the top of the hour (9am). Just after 9am we were told to head outside because the alarm had been sounded and we needed to evacuate (no alarm was heard by any of us). Anyway we headed outside and everyone had their hands resting on their head, I guess to protect it but not sure. There were no instructions about a proper exit strategy.

We walked down the street a bit towards a large open area. All the Region 3 offices in the area were participating in the drill. When we arrived at the main open area we could hear the Mission Impossible music theme playing in the area and there were two to three large covered areas erected next to each other in the open area. There were stretchers laid out and tons of plastic chairs set there with a large group of people under the tents. These people included Region 3 directors, police and emergency coordinators and who knows who else. On either side of the large open space are two buildings with smoke billowing from them (not real smoke but probably a canister).

The rescue teams were sent in to “rescue” victims. Victims were able to sign up to participate for the role during this drill. It was rather organized; ambulances were pleasantly coming round the corner with victims to drop off at the tent or pick up others to take to the hospital. Eight rescuers calmly carried down a victim on a stretcher board to the tent. It was the most amazing thing to see. Another rescuer was scaling down the side of a building with a “victim” who was on the top floor of the burning building.

It was rather comical and rather amusing drill but totally unrealistic. If there was an earthquake the tents would not be prepared ahead of time and just waiting for the injured. As in an event of a real emergency we would unfortunately not have the pleasure of the Mission Impossible theme song to keep our spirits up.

I will post pics next time I'm at the computer shop.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Eating in the Philippines

So I was talking to my crazy sister the other day and was discussing my dietary preferences and eating utensils. Found what I had to say rather interesting and said I should write about it in my blog so here goes nothing….

Lets start with meals. The main staple here is plain white rice; they eat it at breakfast lunch and dinner. A meal without rice is not a meal at all and just a snack or what we call here: merienda. There are three meals a day and at least 2 merienda’s (morning and afternoon) with a possible third between dinner and bed. That is right out here we eat 6 times a day and I am quite okay with that. Now rice is our main carbohydrate and out in the good old U.S we thrive on spuds or bread so I’m really not all that surprised the only major difference is we change up the carb and here it is always just white rice. Okay back to the meals part… since we are eating so often and it is so hot I’m honestly full most of the time. I can’t believe how my portion size has reduced and actually it bothers whoever I eat with cause I’m never eating enough rice. I just remind my wonderful friends and family that I’m sticking to the three spoons of rice rule I have given myself cause I’m really not a big rice eater; I’m more of a potatoes girl.

Utensils: here the use of a knife is almost unheard of. I’m sure they are used more in the cities and various people but in my community we do just fine with a regular spoon and fork. I have become quite an expert at cutting anything I need to with my spoon and tearing food with my fork. Actually in my community it is also just fine to eat with your hands but something I’m not quite used to. It is a rather liberating action because in American culture the only time you eat with your hands is to handle a burger and fries. I occasionally participate in but for some reason I hate my fingers and hands being sticky. I’m warming up to it. I don’t really know why knives are not used but a spoon and fork are fine enough. So when using your spoon and fork you hold the spoon with your dominant hand and then push the food onto your spoon with your fork so in essence the fork has replaced the knife. I like the spoon taking the place of the fork cause you can fit more on it.

Food is really good here and they do have some exotic foods that I’m too much of a baby to eat. For example: balot is a chicken egg with embryo and can be at different developmental stages. One of my host cousins likes ballot when it is still not quite formed. The other doesn’t mind if it may have a beak or a feather or two developing. I am too much of a baby to try but I enjoy watching others eat it. Then there is bull frog. I haven’t tried it yet but I hear it tastes just like chicken. I said that if they took out the meat and then cooked it I would eat it then. Some of my fellow volunteers eat the intestines of chickens and I guess the chicken head and feet are a delicacy. I’m very boring and won’t do any kind of internal organ.

Main dishes usually have chicken, pork, beef, fish or seafoods as basic ingredients. They come boiled, broiled, fried, or sautéed, usually prepared in concoctions and mixtures rather than as basic one -element fares (as in steak). The combinations are varied and while a total taste and effect is sought, each particular ingredient is also supposed to be distinct. My favorite is Adobo Sitaw or sautéed string beans in toyo (soy sauce). Masarap (Yummy)!!!! The sauces are not thick here as they are in the U.S but are more of a broth consistency. I’m really enjoying it. Salads here are very different. We enjoy lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, peppers and cucumbers as the stable of our salads with maybe a few extras like avocado or feta cheese. Anyway, that is not the case here. My friend ordered a salad at a restaurant and what came out was 1/3 of the plate chopped purple onions, 1/3 of the plate chopped mango and a 1/3 plate tomatoes with a side of shrimp paste. That was one of the biggest learning experiences and has not been forgotten. At that point we realized not to assume anything and that what we order may not be what we get and needed to clarify. Those who ordered the salad were happy with it but noted it was very different to what they are used to.

Bananas are readily available here so there are so many ways to make them: fried, sauted, in the main dinner meal (always interesting to have a slight sweet banana flavor while you munch on that piece of pork), in a creamy coconut sauce, or they dip them in this syrupy sugar and makes it crispy and soooo good. Anyway the Filipino’s love deserts and my sweet tooth loves it even more.

Back to rice… when a child takes rice they take almost a heaping plateful. Me on my three spoons looks pretty measly. I just don’t understand where they put it all. If I ate that much rice I would blow up bigger than a balloon!!! I just keep reminding myself that different cultures have different body types. However I’m still shocked occasionally at dinner with my host family and my host cousin who is as thin as a rail can pack in a plate full of rice, meat with veggies and still have room for merienda in less than 2 hours. For some reason since I’ve arrived I’ve established some self control and do not eat through all the good things they offer.
Later I will discuss more on the variety of my favorite meals.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Singing My Little Heart Out

Okay so I was talking to my dad about how much the Filippino's love to sing and that kareoke or as it is called here "videoke" seems to be a national past time. I LOVE VIDEOKE!!!! I think the best part is that you don't have to be good or bad but just want to do it. My first encounter was during our inital arrival orientation in Manila because the resort or the Peace Corps office brought a videoke machine and we got to sing our little hearts out in the lobby. During this training I was a little shy but during our actual 3 month training I got to videoke at a friends house and boy I did not hold back. They had the machine for a couple days so our compound was hoppin for a while.

Since those two monumental opportunities I have not quite had the pleasure to participate in one of my new favorite past times however I'm told that my current host family has a big family reunion coming up and they will have a videoke machine willing to play all night!!! Watch out neighbors it could get crazy. Anyway there really isn't much difference between the kareoke and videoke except in videoke they have pictures of landscapes in the background so you get to see pretty stuff too. Ian I know you love kareoke and seriously you would love it out here.

Videoke bars are all over the Philippines that are specifically for this purpose. There is videoke just a level above the internet cafe's in my town but it is not the same if you are not doing it with other people. I guess it is the vibe and honestly I'm becoming someone who likes to participate in activities with people more and more. For all my friends at home you know what I'm talking about and that I was just as happy hanging out exploring by myself but this fact has changed. Also some activities you just can't do by yourself for the same effect.

So if anyone comes out to visit be prepared to videoke and you may want to practice a little before you come so any nervous gitters you may have are out of your system.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Thank god my head is attached to my body ;-)

Just to preface I wrote this on Sep 6th….

Some people are born intellectually and fantastically smart, some wise with words and ever so funny and then there are those of use that the clumsy things happen to and I happen to fall in the latter category.

So just a few weeks ago I had an accident on my bike. I was riding down the street, stopped to talk to a few friends and started back on my way but I didn’t go far. My bike chain broke, my handle bars went sideways and I fell backwards. Thank god for my helmet otherwise I would have had a nasty bump on the back of it. I did suffer a few scrapes, cuts and bruises but I managed to walk home after.

This week I was playing with a few of the toddlers in the nursery who need as much attention as they can get. I was playing with the little guy that I was specifically assigned to who is so sweet and has the cutest smile. Then as I was rolling him backwards in my lap I felt something warm and wet beneath him. Yes, he peed on me. Gosh, why did this have to happen to me??? I didn’t realize he didn’t have a diaper on under his cloth bottoms. Just another “Kate” situation.

On Tuesday I miss stepped going down 4 stairs from my room to the living room and slid down them which really hurt the bottom of my feet. Then yesterday as I was walking to the family bakery for dinner I saw a neighbor at her house and was curious about her dinner and was talking to her as I was nearing her. As I went to step down off a ledge a little bigger than a usual step I totally miss stepped and rolled my ankle and landed on my rear, ouch!!! What really sucked was not being able to walk to work today, it’s my exercise.

Now if my mom was still around and heard about the recent incidents of falling and miss stepping she would say my energy field is low and I needed to recharge. Good point, well I plan to go to the beach on Sunday for some extra vitamin D, recharging my batteries and hanging out with my Peace Corps friends.

I usually don’t have these many incidences of stuff happening to me thank god. They are usually much smaller issues like missing the bus stop causing me to get rather disorientated for a while or not realizing I actually didn’t have enough milk for the amount of cereal I poured causing breakfast to be really dry (bran flakes without the right amount of milk is yucky!!) Maybe I just need to pay more attention instead of being so aloof but then I would not be me.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Wish List

Hello Friends, Family, people just looking around,

So I have been asked to put up a Wish List of sorts, different things I may want but I do NOT need any of this stuff. I can live without it. I am going to put up a variety of stuff so don't be freaked out. But seriously it is not necessary. It will be updated, here there and everywhere.

cards, letters, notes
ear buds
markers/ colored pens
fructice surfer hair paste (it is in a tub)
movies (dvd's only - no vhs player)
books/magazines - even if they are old, stuff you have read just sitting on your shelf that you don't want
peanut m&m's
planner/fun calendar
nalgene bottle
art therapy source book by bernie siegle

I WANT TO SEND A BIG SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SENT ME E-MAILS, CARDS AND PACKAGES I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!! IT IS WONDERFUL KNOWING HOW YOU ARE DOING WHILE CHOMPING ON A RICE CRISPY TREAT :-)

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Some of what I've seen in the Philippines


These are some photo's from my first host community Saguing, Bataan. I really loved it here and learned soooo much :-)


Well the Philippines is so diverse and this is a big part of what makes it special. People here are always smiling and love to dance, sing and eat. I am afraid of gaining any more weight but my host mom thinks I am "reducing" which is making her nervous.

Manila August 2007

More photo's from our last stint in Manila.

Manila Swear In and Training


So these are some of the wonderful people I have been working with and currently work with. Swear In was amazing it was beautiful, grand and really fancy. It was held at the U.S Embasy in Manila and our host families, advisors/teachers and coworkers were invited. It was the nicest event I have ever been to. I am so lucky to be here!!!

Monday, August 13, 2007

Floodings/typhoons

So when I think about flooding I think of some excess water in the yard or wash that is gushing with water after a monsoon rain during the last hour. Water that will recede within just a short time and the only remnants of gravel and dirt in the street would remain indicating there was ever water rushing down the road.

Here in the Philippines the floods are a little more extreme, well "a little more" may be an understatement but in my community it is a fact of life. A flood something that will happen whether you prepare for it or not (like last week). It rained for 72 hours straight from a mild drizzle to an out right torrential down pour. Lightning crashed and the wind ripped leaves and branches from trees. I was either at work, at the bakery (watching the weather with amazement) or in my bedroom wondering if I will be able to get to sleep with the noise during this time. I am lucky that I have roof insulation because the roves here are made from tin and are really noisy. The other morning I was on the phone with my dad and the rain (ulan in tagalong) really started coming down; I could barely hear him and moved to different parts of the house to continue the conversation. In the end I lost cell phone signal and realized it was the beginning of the harshest part of our 72 hours. Why did we have such crazy weather, well it is easy… we get these crazy down pours when a bagio (typhoon) hits relatively close. In this case the bagio hit the side of Luzon (I live on the main island Luzon) and we get the left overs. Lets face it the Philippines is also known for their crazy weather. We have just been in a drought (so much so that we have had brown outs because there is not enough water in the dams for hydro electricity) so it is really good we got some rain.

Last year a bagio actually hit my previous barangay and it even took out a side of someone's house. Concrete block houses are built at least 2 cinderblocks off the ground. Most are about 4 blocks high and then the living room and bedrooms will be a cinderblock higher. My current house is like this: I step up one cinderblock onto the patio. I step up another cinderblock into the house and go up 4 steps to my room. If we have a flood I am totally safe. In my last house you would walk up 3 cinderblocks into the outdoor kitchen, then another step into the dinning room and living room and finally one more step into my bedroom.

When I left to go home from work on Wednesday I had to step in ankle deep water to get to the vehicle just to take me to the main road. My compound is on a slight slope so the water does not remain in the courtyard but just flows towards the back of the compound and goes somewhere else.

I went to Olongapo last Wednesday to buy a bike because having to ride in this weather gets me home faster than walking in it and I am not in a city where public transportation is readily available once you walk out to the street. I also need the exercise. The only vehicles that were making it were the big public busses (like a Greyhound). My counterpart said that Olongapo would be a little flooded but not where I was going. Since I was on a mission no amount of bad weather was going to stand in my way, after all I was already walking home in it. Okay the havoc the rain had caused was immense. People's homes were flooded by the feet. The roads were knee deep in water and people were wading through it. A great big machine was reaching over the bridge grapping debris caught at the bridge because water was pouring over the bridge. In some places the water was as high as the top of the bus wheel. Every field and open area was flooded and could not determine how deep it was specifically but it was at least 2-5 feet deep.

In Olongapo the wind was out of control and you couldn't even use your umbrella for fear of it breaking (hello incoming Mary Poppins). Lisa met me here with her host mom even though she wanted to curl up and read her book today. We both got a rain suit and boots so we are more prepared. I also got a bigger umbrella one that could cover a small family because I really didn't feel well covered in mine and I happen to be bigger than the average Filippino but now I will be totally fine.

Please understand that I am in no serious danger and don't be concerned about my safety regarding where I live, work or even the weather it's just that I totally underestimated the power of the weather and what people have to live through. I am getting such an education here and I love it :-)

Sorry no photo's

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

1st Day at Site

Gosh today was a great day and it was the first official working day of my two year Peace

Corps service. My counterpart was out sick today but that was okay I was able to observe and talk with many other people at the center. I chose a rather busy first day actually.

Upon my arrival I got to meet about 4 people from the regional office at the center to do inventory of all the government items and label every chair and stapler that belongs to the government. It was really interesting. I actually had the chance to meet many of them yesterday at the Flag Ceremony at the Region 3 head office in San Fernando, Pampanga. Okay so a Flag Ceremony happens every Monday morning about 8:30am. At this time everyone at the office meets out in front of the flag, the national anthem is sung and the flag is raised for the week. After a prayer is said for the health of the agency, workers and various other things (it was in Tagalog and I only caught some highlights). The regional director introduced me to the staff and welcomed me into the Region 3 community. I waved and nodded. Our Region 3 director is new and from Mindino. She arrived last Wednesday or Thursday. She talked about ethics and professionalism and focused on the dress code and arriving on time especially since everyone working in the regional office should be an example to every other DSWD worker and the community. She was very poetic. We (well they) sang a song which was upbeat and I think about something positive regarding work. Birthdays were read out and the birthday song sung. Another prayer was said for those with birthdays. The rest of the staff raised their left hand towards the sky while bowing our heads blessing those whose birthday was this month. There was only one small problem… it was so hot during the ceremony and being outside without a handkerchief or towel was difficult. From what I understand all government agencies have a Flag Ceremony on Monday mornings including my center and the schools.

It is interesting that in this society there is absolutely no separation of church and state. For example: trainings are never held without saying the national anthem and a blessing (prayer) from one participant at the beginning and usually at the end too. I am so used to a culture (American) that scoffs at religion and downplays its importance and will cause an almost national incident for any use of religious connotations in any government proceedings.

Okay back to my day… I observed a house parent and caregiver in the toddler cottage. These workers have their hands full with the boys and their needs. Later I followed the head social worker in to the cottage for the older boys until the volunteers from a private high school arrived and did some homework with the children and threw the kids at the center a party. It was really nice and the kids liked it.

Also a family from the USA arrived today to pick up a little 7 year old boy they adopted. It was really cool and the entire staff was really happy for him. I did meet the adoptive family briefly and they were pleasantly surprised to see a Peace Corps volunteer.

I had a chance to talk with the social workers about their needs. One just arrived back from the USA after escorting prospective children on an overseas visit with a possible adoptive placement. She said that children from the center go every year in various programs to English speaking countries for prospective adoptive placements and need more English skills. She wanted to set up a class for these specific kids so they are better prepared. Another asked me to help with her training for foster parents which was really nice. I will be co-facilitating 2 half day trainings for 2 different sets of foster families. This is the second 2 half day trainings I was asked to participate in. I have only been there one day and already get to be utilized. I am really excited about this center and really tried to stay out of the way today and practiced my tagalog as best I could.

Being here and starting again (this time at the center) is a little surreal. I guess since training is really over and my knowledge and skills are being put to the test I will see how I can perform. Already I feel I am up to the task but you never really know until you are in the situation. I can say identified some areas I could help with however I am at the center at their request and I want my projects to be sustainable so I plan to really work with the needs they identify and in time suggest other areas of interest.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Just a Quick Message

I am on a big writing letters kick so if you would like a personal letter send me your address.

I want to thank everyone for my cards, e-mails and gifts for my birthday. Some I have recieved, some I haven't. It was a great birthday even if I was not at home. We had mid-training meet up with all the education and social work volunteers and my birthday happened to land during the training. After dinner we played cards and drank beer. It was chilled, relaxed and great!!! My host mom also had a dinner for me before I left for training. I feel so loved by you all from home and from my friends here.

The RSCC

My site is the RSCC is about 30 minutes walk or a 7 min trike ride from my new host family. It is also about a 25 min trike ride from my training site. It was started 30 years ago to help abandoned children from the ages of 0-6 years old. However children who are abused, neglected, and street children are also among the residence. They still try to support the 0-6 ages however it is a governmental organization and so they have some kids as old as 20. They also care for “special” children, those with physical or mental disabilities. Right now they have 4 children with cerabalpalsy and 2 of them are under 2 years old. Most of the children in this facility are boys (80%) and this seems to be the trend throughout the centers in the country.

The facility itself is beautiful and well cared for. It would put some of our group homes to shame. It also gets financial support though an organization in the Netherlands. They have build additions to the facility and even put in a pool for the “special” children. Right now they are funding a physical therapy building for these children. The agency has a capacity for 80 children however they are housing over 100.

There are about 50 staff members in total which is a heavy burden. The house parents work a 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week and handle between 8 and 14 kids. In one of the cottages they have 3 staff members because of the needs of the boys. Most of the children have behavior problems, which is expected and it does make it difficult. One of the house mothers said that her first few months were extremely difficult because she did not know how to care for these children however she is comfortable with her position. In her cottage there were girls from 6-14 years old.

The nurse I spoke with was there for 20 years and is not the oldest staff member which was incredible to hear. She has worked in most of the direct care positions except as the social worker throughout her career.

I played with the infants in the nursery yesterday and in this room they had all the 0-2 children which made up about 25 children and the other wing had the 2+ and numbered around 15. They also keep all the “special” children in this wing until they are 7 years old. I played with these boys (all of these children are boys) for about 2 hours and had them crawl all over and want to be cuddled at all times. They would even push each other out of the way to get cuddles.

In the culture a way to show respect is to take your hand and put it up to their forehead because it is a blessing. Most of the children do this to every adult they interact with. On my first day I was in the head social workers office when a group of elementary school children arrived home from school and almost every child did this to me.

Since the first day I have been working on my computer in the office. Children come in and out all day and want to listen to my earphones and tap on my keyboard. The coolest part is they are willing to share the experience with the child who comes in the door next. They also love looking at my photo’s on the computer. Right now I am a novelty. I am so excited to work here on a regular basis!!!! One more month.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Crazy Dreams, Crazy Malaria Pills

So we have to take Arelen (chloroquine phosphate) for malaria two pills once a week. One of the side effects however is really vivid dreams; this seems to affect me and it is tough. I take them on Monday mornings hoping it won’t affect me however that is not possible since someone or something is trying to kill me every Monday night.

For example a couple of weeks ago my dream involved me, my sister Courtney and a drug dealer. Courtney and I were surfing off some coast and I decided to come into shore early. There was a man on the beach who wanted me to go out to the boat just beyond the waves and get some drugs of his. But there are sharks out there and a good chance I could be lunch. He said I had to do it or he would kill me or Courtney. I am now freaking out and trying to shout to Courtney to swim away as fast as possible and stay with the other surfers. She kinda hears me and starts to swim towards me. I can’t remember exactly what happened after but I do know I was getting close to being murdered. It woke up in the middle of the night sweating just before my death. I was told this is common because if you were to die in a dream you would really die in real life
Who knows????

So last night (Monday) I dreamed I was in Las Vegas gambling (it did not appear to be L.V but in my dream it “was”). I was gambling at a high stakes table with some very large men. I needed to win to get some medical procedure for some friend. I walked away with $93,000. I was staying in a hotel that was dingy and dirty and I remember it having a red tint to it. My friend Kelly and a mutual male friend (nobody I knew but we will call him Bob) were also staying there.

I was in the lobby when Bob came up to me and said I was in serious trouble and I had to leave town A.S.A.P. He indicated I had won the $93,000 at a table with a bunch of Las Vegas Italian mafia enforcers and they needed to win to cover something up from the mob boss. Can you see my imagination working overtime here??? We run into Kelly as we are going to my room and we decide that it is safer if I leave my room and put my luggage in Kelly’s room and worry about it later. The current priority was to get me out of the hotel in one piece. I had the ticket for my winnings in my pocket however I did have $1000’s in my luggage. I am willing to give the mafia the money I won but I am concerned that if I hand it over they will kill me anyway.

Bob lets us use his car and we head to the airport. I have a ticket for a direct flight to New York in 6-8 hours. Kelly and I wait together; we are hiding in the airport. We have seen multiple mafia men around the airport and I realize that I need to get on an earlier flight and maybe not even to New York incase they figured out my flight or where I was going. Finally I decide I need to change my flight and after making sure none of the mafia men are around I go and change my ticket. The soonest flight to New York is in an hour and I would fly through Chicago; I book myself on this flight. After I did so I think that it is still not safe to go to New York but I can change my direction once I get to Chicago and hide. Kelly also has to be careful because they may have identified her. We part ways and I see her rush to the vehicle. I head towards the security check point and dodge the mafia men. One actually walks directly past me, looks at me and then decides I am not the one he is looking for. I am not sure if I have changed my appearance at this point in the dream but I do wonder. As I ride the escalator up 2 of them notice me and recognize me; the chase is on. I get through security and I don’t want to hide in any bathrooms because I don’t want to be murdered in it by one of the men who buys a ticket and gets into the take off area.

Really I want to give the money back but preserving my life intact is just as important. I think that if I go to some remote location I could send the winning ticket back to them and they would stop looking for me. I don’t want to use any credit cards, phone anyone or utilize a friend because I feared for their lives. I woke before I stepped onto the plane but I had decided I would rent a car in Chicago and head to some remote location, utilize a fake name, use a post office box and get the money back to them.
Doesn’t this read like a bad “B” movie??? The problem is it was so real. Usually if I wake up from a dream I will not continue dreaming about the previous dream however last night was an anomaly. I woke twice and returned to this dream!!!!! I wake up at 5:30am and during my groggy state my paranoia starts in and I feel the need to identify a place that nobody else knows I would go to if I was ever in any serious trouble. I would not want to go to somebody I know because “they (whoever “they” are) could trace me through my friends/family. I watch too many movies!!!!! I even decide on a couple of states: Idaho (but my uncle lives there), Iowa, Ohio or even Montana to drop of the radar. If I ever go “missing” you can start looking for me in some really dinky town in one of the three later states. I have to start taking this medicine on a Saturday night because my day off is on Sunday and I can sleep late if I sleep badly that night.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

New Friends, I Think Not!

Today I was at a session with my fellow PCV's from the area having a link session with our technical advisor. He had organized the Department of Social Welfare office for us so we could have some air conditioning for this full day session.

The Philippines has many wonderful qualities like beautiful scenery, people dedicated to social justice, wonderful and caring locals with heaps of unique cuisine. It also has bugs, spiders and snakes.

There was a bathroom attached to the DSWD office but it was in two pieces. You walked into this small room (which had no light) with the door open, made a left and walked 3 small paces because it is so dark. The light switch was on the right. I didn't really look into that area because I wanted to close the door; I didn't want anyone hearing me pee. As I turned to walk into the actual bathroom I saw multiple large bugs scurry towards a dark area in bathroom and as I looked a smidge closer I realized they were cockroaches and some were at least 1 – 1 ½ inches in length. I got totally freaked out and started screaming and running towards the door to get out. I thought I needed to push the door out to exit the area but after slamming into the door twice with my body I realized I needed to pull it. I was out and my technical advisor and another male worker were coming towards me. Our little link session was in shock and they were still in their seats. I was almost in tears for 2 reasons: being a big baby and from the shock. Thank god we were on a break because then I got to walk around for a few minutes to relax. Then everyone started poking fun at me and had a big laugh. Jerwin (my tech advisor) was also freaked because he thought I was being attacked or something.

I really don't like cockroaches. I have seen lots of water cockroaches in Havasu but these were the ones from movies; big, thick, ugly and dirty. Just thinking about the situation makes my skin crawl. Every time I think of my freak out Men in Black comes to mind and Vincent D'Onfreo's character who is the bug man and I shiver. So it was really yucky and yes even I still freak out. I heard the other cluster got a discussion on the expectation of seeing cockroaches and how common they are in the Philippines and not to freak out like I did.

Friday, June 1, 2007

Laundry

I have found my new form of exercise. It is a wonderful household chore, everyone does it but not necessarily the way I have to do it. It is an action I only want to participate in once a week because it is truly backbreaking work. I am talking of doing laundry by hand. First I had to sort my enormous stack of washing, separating it into whites, colors and darks (which we also do in the States so no biggy). I borrowed a big plastic baby bath , scrubber and washing board from the neighbor, situated it in the small bathroom and filled it with water (there are photo's of the bathroom in my pictures section). My host mom has given me a few simple instructions and told me how to do it. The process is pretty simple:

1. Soak all the clothes in the water starting with the whites, colors then darks. Wring them out and refill the bath and add the washing powder. At this point my host mom sees me struggling because I am sitting on the toilet and the bath is so low, and she hands me the little stool.

2. Put the whites in the soapy water swishing them around, pressing them a little. I take the scrubber and an article of clothing and scrub the areas that need the scrubbing i.e. under the arms area of the shirts. Wring the clothes again and try to get most of the water out. I repeat the process with all articles of clothing. Following the washing of all clothes I let out the water and draw a new bath full.

3. I then soaked and swished my clothes in the clean water repeating the process three times.

During the scrubbing part of the laundering I had at least all the children from the compound come behind me, look and laugh about what I was doing. I guess I was also just so funny because I was sweating profusely. It was disgusting! At times during the process I wanted to cut corners by only rinsing twice but Lisa kept popping into my head reminding me I will itch if all the soap is not out of the clothing. Periodically my hands would cramp which I did not think was possible however it did happen. I was discussing the washing of clothes with some other PCV's (Peace Corps Volunteers) and we have decided that doing laundry is a form of working out and it would be counted. My biceps got a great workout and my hands are definitely stronger for doing laundry.

I have a new appreciation for the washing machine. Once I get home I will never abuse this wonderful privilege (I would do a load and then forget about it having to rewash it because it stank). I think I would not wish washing laundry on a consistent basis on an enemy.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Public Transportation

Okay so I wrote this on 5-20-07 and thought I had posted it but obviously I did not. So here it is using the public transportation system. There are photo's in my photo's section.

Yesterday I rode my first trike and boy was it an experience! Rekah and I were in the little cab attached to the motorcycle and our language facilitator, Laura was on the back of the bike. Lisa and Rachel rode in another trike. We all went to the next town, Luacan over for a language lesson.

The trikes ride in the road with all the other traffic. The traffic beats to their own drum and vehicles will pass even on double yellow lines and even when there is on coming traffic. A larger or faster vehicle will honk at the slower vehicle to let them know that they need to move over or at least inform the trike he is being passed. Trikes are used for short distances and run about 30 pesos a ride. We use them to take us to Luacan or even Dinulupihan which is on the other side of Luacan and has the market.

The trike's cab is like a little egg that you have to bend into and has a bench seat. I have seen a mother and up to 4 children take a trike. One child sits on the back of the motorcycle and the mother and three children in the cab. But the craziest site was two men on the back of the bike behind the driver and three men in the cab with one looking like he might fall out yet the trike just kept going. Filipino people are small but not that small. Actually, today myself, Ati Melody (ati is said before the elders name as a sign of respect), her daughter Nicole (who was on my lap) and my two host brothers Noey and Ram all went to the market in/on 1 trike. It was crazy. I don't think the trikes go more than 35 mph but with a load like ours they probably topped out at 25 mph. Other vehicles zoom around us and all we collect is their exhaust. I have started wearing my sunglasses even though I have always been inside the cab that is covered stuff still flies in your face and into your eyes.

There is no road rage here like in the States but people are purposeful about their destination. But as I backtrack on what I said there is a problem with public transportation workers or lorry drivers driving drunk or tired (falling asleep at the wheel).

On our way from the drop off point on 5-18-07 to our host family we rode in a jeepney and the lorry in front made a sharp stop and our driver had to slam on his breaks and even drive on the side of the road in order to avoid a collision. I do believe our driver was driving to close but he was intending to pass the lorry. While he drove off the main road he almost hit a pedestrian.

Jeepney's have the jeep look from the front but they are wider than the average jeep. They extend much further than a jeep, they are public transportation for longer distances and in and around the town. In Manila they are used in the city as a commuter vehicle like a bus and in the provinces they transport people between people at further distances. The trikes take care of the short commute in the rural areas. Jeepney's are highly decorated with a variety of styles and many colors. Many have some catholic symbol intertwined in the motif. I saw one with Batman and his crew decorated on the side. Many have caribou horns on the front attached to the hood of the vehicle. Inside the back each side of the Jeepney is lined with a bench seat and people will sit next to each other. In Manila someone will hold onto the back and collect the fair from those getting on and off the Jeepney.

The US Embasy has recommendation and the Peace Corps has standards regarding the use of public transportation. We should only use taxi's (ones that say they have air conditioning) but realistically they are only in the bigger towns or cities and far to expensive for our Peace Corps monthly allowance. What I have done to come to terms with this situation is to believe nothing is going to happen to me while in a vehicle and if the driver appears to be shady pick another driver. It is very exciting to use the public transportation because every trip is so different and you never know what is going to happen.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Arriving in the Philippines

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to check in. I am currently residing with a host family in Barangay Saging, Dinalupihan in a province in the Philippines. It has a population of about 3000. It is a rural community and a bunch of friendly folk.

Right now we are in clusters of 4 Peace Corps workers and we all live on the same street. The weather here is just so hot and yesterday we had our first bout of rain which increased the humidity but decreased the temperature. I am not sure which I am having the most difficulty with: humidity or heat. Our classes are held outside with an electric fan blowing at us in full force. Rachel's family has a great porch so we are doing our lessons at her house this week. We do language class for 4 hours a day in the morning and by lunch time our brains are fried. Technical and cultural sessions are held in the afternoon which teaches us about the Filipino culture and the philosophies our job will entail. There is some hands on experience through developing and implementing a few community projects. On Saturday's we take a trike to the next Barangay where we hook up with another cluster for a link site training which focuses on technical training.

My host family is awesome!!!! They are so nice and really helpful. The mother owns a shop in the Market and her two sons are 10 and 8. The boys are really cool and are helping me with my tagalog. They have a cousin who visits often and she is 5. Our language instructor has deemed her the cluster's assistant and she is also my friend. My host mom and her family speak great english and the majority of her family live in the neighborhood too. My host dad is an overseas worker and I will not have the opportunity to meet him. I also live in a family compound (multiple houses with cousins and siblings about 20-25 people) and Lisa one of the other Peace Corps volunteers lives in the compound too.

Overall I am adjusting well. The fan in my room is my best friend and I have finally figured out how to strategically place it so I get the most cool air during the nights. The food is really good and the housekeeper is a great cook. Here, generally speaking they eat 5 times a day, three meals and 2 marienda's (midmorning and afternoon snack) For all those who thought I would get thin on my travels I don't think thats going to happen.

I did post some new photo's of the Philippines, as you all know I am not that great about taking photo's so there are not many. However, some are really fun and taking public transportation is really cool. Trikes are my favorite but I think Jeepney's are the most decorative. The one I rode on (in the photo album) was not that decorated but still an awesome vehicle.

I also wanted to post my new cell number because some people are having a tough time getting through. You dial out of the U.S with: 011 Then dial the Philippines country code of 63 then my cell number with area code: 910-705-3113 so all together is 011-63-910-705-3113. Also for a frame of reference I am 15 hours ahead.

Anyway, till the next time :-)

Thursday, May 17, 2007

My Addy

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to give you the updated address. I was told that the one I just sent out worked but it was not the primary according to those here in the Philippines Peace Corps office.

Kate Pentz, PCT
U.S Peace Corps
P.O Box 7013
Airmail Distribution Center
N.A.I.A 1300
Pasay City, Philippines

you can still use this addy too:

Kate Pentz, PCT
c/o the Peace Corps Office
6/F PNB Financial Center
Macapagal Avenue 1308
Pasay City, Philippines

I was also told that if you send anything (ie. my birthday :-) the best way is to send it in a padded envelope or a box no bigger than a shoe box because then there will be no problem with duty taxes or anything like that. But you can still send me big stuff. Also if you wrap anything it will be unwrapped because the U.S Embasy goes through all mail.