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.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
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 :-)
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.
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.
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