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.

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.