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.