Asking Me Questions

Hi Guys,

So this is a quick message to all those who send me messages, let me know what they think about my blogs and everyone else. Thank you for being interactive. I love hearing about what you think and answering your questions. My only comment is that if you have questions and you post it on my blogs please leave your e-mail address or a way to give you a response. If you need it here is my e-mail addy: katiepentz@hotmail.com if you are concerned about someone getting your e-mail addy. Ingat (take care) and I will blog again soon :-)

This a picture of a portion of a hotel that shoots a very popular t.v show called Mari Mar. It is an amazing hotel that has 2 status next to each other that just don't fit... the grotto with the virgin Mary and a dinosaur. Only in the Philippines!!!

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.