Starry Night Surprise or Holiday Surprise

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Me and my Host Mom - Inang God the night sky was beautiful tonight. I think there are more stars in this sky than there are in Havasu if that is even possible. Not really but it seems so. Really there are minimal lights in the streets and even at points there should be there are none. Walking between the Somascan property and Mary’s place is a death trap. Pot holes are everywhere and you cannot even walk in a thin straight line. I wanted to stop in the middle of the road and just look up for a while but I was late coming home and needed to catch a bus if there was even one. Well I don’t want to get into how I got home because I’m home safe and writing this. I have experienced my first Christmas and New Years away from home and I survived. They were both great cultural opportunities and I’m so glad I got to participate in them; next year I hope to get new opportunity. My host family does not celebrate Christmas because of their faith - Iglesia Ni Christo so I was on my own to find my activity. A fellow PCV and I were spending Christmas together and we were invited to spend it with another PCV at her work site. Christmas here actually starts on Christmas Eve between 10pm and Midnight and it is called "Noche Buena." Families will get together the night before and welcome the birth of Christ. Food will be made and shared and spaghetti is definitely included in the menu. This is the start of gift giving, all could be given or some could be opened the next morning. On Christmas day neighbors will come to each others homes looking for a Christmas gift which would be a monetary gift. A coworker indicated that 20 pesos for children and 100 pesos for an adult was the standard. The family gets together which includes extended family and food is prepared and consumed. Food as you may have caught on is a huge part of the culture and any holiday, event or visitor will call for special dishes and consuming something. New Years eve was similar in preparation actually the day was restful and around 6pm the family began again preparing this time for the midnight feast welcoming in the New Year. My host cousin’s family prepared beef and broccoli, carbonara pasta, chicken wings, deep fried pork, sweet spaghetti (the classic), and a variety of deserts. Ate Nitz prepared kebabs, hotdogs on a stick, squid, chicken adobo, and deserts. By 10:30pm I was so tired and took a quick 1 hour nap. Just before midnight I was told to turn on all the lights in my house and to open my door even though I was not in my house (this is the first time I was allowed and advised to) this shows God the way to my house so he will bless it for the New Year. The family says a prayer for the New Year and by this time the whole neighborhood is alight with fireworks. Everyone has them and lights them in the yard or along the highway. Some fly into the botanical nursery across the highway and I’m concerned they will set the whole place on fire but it is not to be thank God. We then start at Inang’s house with the feast. Of course I’m told I have not eaten enough (especially since I refused rice) but I needed to save room for the other homes. We visited 3 other family members before heading home and by the time I climbed into bed it was 4am. Crazy!!! New Years day was a blur, I felt hung over but I didn’t even have a sip of any alcohol!!! I have come to the realization that if I lay my head down after 2:30am (with or without alcohol) I will be utterly useless the next day. I was discussing with a counterpart her Christmas and New Years and it was also very family orientated. I’m much more used to spending Christmas with my family but also visiting friends and New Years celebrating it with family and friends.

The Questions!!!!

Me and my Host Cousin - Diane at New Years

“Kate, is this your first Christmas (or New Years) without your family? Is it difficult for your family not to have you at home? Don’t you miss them?” These are the questions I have been repeatedly asked this holiday season. It is only because the person asking really cares but at the same time it can be difficult. When it is asked as often as I have received the questions it make me second guess why I would leave such a comfortable situation back home and come to a place so different from home.

Of course spending a major holiday like Christmas or New Years is tough but if I dwell on it I would be on a plane back home and would not be looking back. This is exactly what I want to reply with but it is too callous and would not be good. To leave your home and your family other than for monetary gain is unheard of and crazy. Why would I do such a thing??? I don’t know maybe for the adventure or knowing I could be making a small difference in the world around me. I guess the reason these 3 questions are more difficult for me is that they realize how special and wonderful my family back home is and I must be totally out of my mind to have left. I am a person who has to focus on the positive or I would fall off the wagon. The Christmas season is difficult enough with multiple people leaving this earth around this time, it is my favorite season (and I put up no decorations this year – big mistake) and my compound does not celebrate Christmas. Now that Christmas and New Years is over I figure that by the end of January any residual versions of these 3 questions will cease and I’ve just got to hold out till then. I’m tough, I can do it and still remain perky :-)

Some of the other constant and crazy questions with my responses:

How old are you? 26 and I’m still marriage material.

Are you married? Why not? No, cause I have not found my husband yet.

Would you marry a Filippino? Sure, I would marry any nationality.

Don’t you want to get married? Yes, when I find the right guy (as they chuckle).

Do you know…(a random Filippino) he lives in Arizona (or any other state) let me show you his picture? Hum, I don’t think so.

Where are you going (as you pass someone in the street)? Over there.

Will you help us build our church (the squatters asked)? I have a meeting right now but when I pass by later you can ask me again.

How much rent do you pay? Secreto!!! (Always a good response when it is nobody’s business).

Do you like it here in the Philippines? Yes, I love it!!!

Are you a missionary (the look is quizzical)? Oh no, I’m with the Peace Corps and we have no religious affiliation.

What religion are you? I was “raised” catholic but right now I’m taking a break from religion.

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.