A few interesting things

Mt. Pinatubo erupted many years ago and the area where I am now was greatly affected. The river that runs close by used to be deep, clear, full of shrimp and tilapia. After the eruption, ash fell and now the river is very shallow with numerous sandbars and no fish or shrimp. After the tremendous rains Wed. and Thurs. of this past week, I walked down to the river just to see what it would look like and it was about 20+ feet deep, from bank to bank, roaring down the hill. What a dramatic difference the increased rain made, it is still raining, on and off, heavy and not. Ladies still do laundry on Sat. and hang it indoors. Apparently another typhoon pasted by us and is now a category 5 “super typhoon” headed for Okinawa, we are experiencing another low pressure system, still raining, a welcomed relief from the intense sun. PC sends us regular weather updates as a security measure, it is good to know.

A lot of Philipinos work overseas as OPW, many women are domestic helpers, I can think of a dozen people I have met whose spouses are in places like Saudi or Datar working and send money home. My host father worked in Saudi for 10 years. His wife told a story about having to get on the roof and sweep off the deep ash from the volcano by herself. One of the sisters of this family I am with works in Taiwan, her small son is here being raised by family. This culture values family and family in the big sense of extended family. Grandparents live with or within the same compound and help raise the grandchildren, it is really a great thing and help to everyone. Most families have compounds, fenced large areas with several houses, either metal large fences or cement walls. The compound where I live has three houses, one for the parents, one each for two of the girls.

I finally went to the closest large town to buy rain boots, courtesy of Peace Corps. We took a jeepney to Olongapo, remember the jeepneys are the main mode of transportation here – usually decorated lavishly, I will try to take more photos. Buses also run and then there are the motorcycles with side cars, I took another trike ride today to church in the side car, it is very amusing. Olongapo was crowded, we went to the large indoor market for boots, they sold everything you could think of. We had a language shopping class as we walked past all of the vegetables and fruits, what everything is called and how to identify things we have never seen before. There are quail eggs for sale and these other eggs called balut, they are duck eggs that have been incubated for about 17 days and then eaten as embryos. No, I am not trying them. I have tried a lot of the interesting vegetables and the pineapple here is incredible.

My host mother’s mother is in the hospital and everyone who is hospitalized needs a “kasama” with them. This is a full time helper who sleeps there in the room with you and brings you food and helps take care of you. PC told us that we will need one if we ever get hospitalized, I already asked another volunteer and we agreed to help each other. My host mom is the kasama today for her mother.

The PC medical staff reminded us to put on mosquito repellant, we have 30% DEET strong stuff. After all of this rain it is expected that there will be an outbreak of Dengue Fever, not something anyone would want at all.

I actually co-teach a bit this coming Wed. – I have included some photos of my class.

I learned about cockfighting here, it is a big business and entertainment, several trainees have attended the fights. Apparently there is a huge arena with bleachers, everyone bets on the cocks, they strap long sharp blades to one of their legs and then they let them go in the arena, they fight to the death – the owner of the winning cock gets to eat the dead one. Cockfighting occurs in so many cultures, I will have to research the history of it. I honestly don’t know if I could go and watch one, everyone says I should just to learn about the culture.

I did go to Subic bay yesterday, that is where the US had a huge military base. It is now shopping and businesses. We shopped at the duty free shop just for a few things, it took about an hour one way to get there and so shopping has not been convenient at all, I am glad I brought everything I would need. They have used and “seconds” clothing stores here called ukay-ukays, I found two shirts there – most ladies here look like size 00, so finding American sized clothes, especially larger sizes is very hard, but the ukay-ukays look promising. Monday we go on a field trip to Pakalaklakin, a forest area that has indigenous people living there. I am not sure, but I heard something about how they used to train the marines in survival techniques.

I have a very busy week with the all day field trip, language, teaching, my final site placement interview, medical and shots and we conduct a 4 hour training at school on Thursday about strengths and need of the community in preparation for a community project we have to do. That’s all for now. Photo of my grade 6 class.

Earthquakes, Typhoons oh my!

I finally decided to write my entries via Microsoft word, save to flash drive and then carry to internet café since last time after I wrote a long entry the system crashed, a bucket of sweat and 15 pesos later…Since I am playing catch-up, some things may seem random but I am afraid I may forget some things.

 r

All the PCT’s (peace corps trainees) have different housing situations, mine is superb! Some only have running water for 2 hours a day, some have toilets that do not flush without dumping water into them, none of us have showers but use a bucket and dipper (tabo) that works just fine. My host sister cooks most meals for me, she uses a two burner gas top cooker in the back kitchen that is open to the backyard, she is a great cook and I doubt I will lose weight while I am here, lots of rice and vegetables. There is a fridge here in the sari-sari store for cold drinks and ice to sell. There is a small tv in the living room and one in the sari-sari, we watched Captain Barbell last night, a cute superhero show, all in Tagalog, with a little girl everyone loves called Super Tiny. The commercials are entertaining, some half-English half-Tagalog. On the way to my language classes I can pass by recently harvested rice drying in the road, people selling all sorts of things via truck, tricycle (a motorcycle with a side car, they are everywhere), numerous dogs,  cats, chickens, roosters, children, cool okra plants, lots of orchids. I rode in a tricycle for the first time on the way to church this Sunday, my host family’s son in law has one. The church was Catholic, service all in Tagalog, birds flew through the service and landed on the big crucifix, lots of incense and bells. Sunday afternoon I went with another PCT and their host family to a “resort” Pilipino-style that had a swimming pool, so picturesque right on the edge of the rice fields, coconut trees, mango trees, papaya, water buffalo!!– it was wonderful to cool off and swim in a clean nice pool. We stopped by a relatives house and saw the many ‘baboys” big pigs. Monday was my first day at the elementary school, the entire school welcomed all the trainees. I observed one class and will observe tomorrow, then co-plan and then begin to co-teach English to the 6^th grade. They are lucky to have only 33 in the class as many high school classes can 90 students in one class. The school is very clean and nice, everyone is very friendly. I continue to make progress in my Tagalog, my teacher is very understanding and challenges us, there are only 6 of us in our language group. Did I tell you about merienda? Traditional snack here at 10 and at 3pm. My house has no screens but I sleep under a mosquito net with the fan running. It is supposedly the rainy season but it has not rained much, a typhoon is heading to the east coast of this island of Luzon, I am on the west coast, it is mostly like a tropical storm, we will maybe get rain. p.s. We did, no school today due to Typhoon, not as bad as an old fashion northeaster though. The roosters wake us up at sunrise, around 5am, I don’t mind them. Saturday I learned how to do my laundry, first you pre-wash in a big tub filled with well water that you pumped up, then fortunately my family has a small electric washer, the clothes wash for a bit and then you wring out by hand and rinse in two more tubs, then soak in fabric softener, they have a little spinner that spins out a lot of water then you hang in the sun to dry. It actually was kind of fun since I got to get all wet and therefore, cooler! We continue to have afternoon safety, security and/or health updates. Reminders to keep clean and dry, keep our valuables out of sight etc., don’t go out at night alone etc. PC is very concerned for our health and safety and it is very reassuring. There is an emergency action plan for the entire country with different levels of alert, we are contacted by text via cell phone. Next Wednesday I will have my final site placement interview, we discuss possibilities of where I will spend the next two years, basically you go where they send you. I would like to think there is a little flexibility and I will share some of my hopes for a location within biking distance of the ocean. We also have to conduct a school wide interview like process and come up with a small and sustainable community project before we leave this area. Everyone says that PCTraining is the busiest you will be in the 27 months and I believe it, when I do have a few hours to myself in the evening I am too tired to do much and would choose sleep over another activity. I am sleeping better here than in the US, despite no airconditioning. I think my stress level has decreased or at least changed significantly. Instead of worrying about bills, a house, cutting the grass etc. here my time and focus is cultural assimilation and language training. None the less, I am very happy here, feel healthy and lucky to be in training to become an official volunteer. Oh, last night there was an earthquake, 5.9 on the richter scale, guess who slept through the whole thing?? This photos are of rice fields, laundry area and my language class. Keep in touch.

Sweating in an internet cafe....

Well, I just typed a long post and the internet crashed, oh life in a third world country. I told you about the roosters, mosquito net, using an umbrella even when it is not raining, my bucket bath etc. but the sweat won't stop and it has been an hour, so I will have to try another time...I learned how to post photos better. Sunday I will attend a Tagalog mass.

Off to Bataan

We arrived in the Province of Bataan on Sunday. Our host families were waiting for us. We went home with them for lunch and to settle in. My family is very generous and welcoming. I will include pictures of my host family. They have a little store in the front of their house, called a Sari-Sari. They are feeding me very well, the rice is sticky and delicious. I have my own room and it is very nice. Other trainees are in homes close by, we walk to language class, back home for lunch and then other activities. We met the Barangay Captain, the town Mayor, the school principal where I will be teaching, visited two high schools, one college - today we went to visit the Province Governor and the Superintendent of Education. This is the first year they are having kindergarten and adding grades 11 and 12. Bataan is where many famous battles in WWII happened, I did not know this and would like to know more. If you are interested, perhaps Google Bataan and WWII and the Bataan Death March. Bataan now is very proud of the fact that they have reduced class size in the schools and is one of the very best provinces in education in the Philippines. We are very lucky to be training here. It has been hotter than when we were near Manilla but I am adjusting. Lots of rice fields everywhere. Yesterday a chicken joined me as I got dressed and I saw a tricycle with a fenced side car that was pedal powered and a huge huge pig was in the side car. One of many interesting sights. I am at an internet cafe right now, just down the street from my host family. I will try to visit as much as I can, we are very busy now and the language training is very challenging. Until next time, enjoy the photos.

PST and Water Safety training

We are in the thick of Pre Service Training for our particular sector, mine is Education. We have class every day from 8-5, an hour for lunch, it is very intense and excellent training about education practices and what will be expected from us. I found out that last year was the very first year that Peace Corps volunteers (5) were placed in elementary schools since the 50 years of PC in the Philippines. We will be the second group (7 of us) to be placed in elementary grades, I feel lucky to be doing this.

I went to the local mall last Thursday evening via the transportation called Jeepney, a jeep/bus combination that is wildly decorated, an experience unto itself. The mall was three stories high and very much like a mall in the US. Since it was my first time off campus since arriving in the Philippines, I was a bit over loaded with sights and sounds. I managed to buy a few items and will go again tonight. There was a bit of a mix up in our packing suggestions and I am in need of more skirts and fancier shoes/sandals if I can find them. I will most likely get the uniform for teachers when I am in my final site. Water safety was fun, enjoy the photos. The beach was in Manilla harbor, so not surprising that it was not the cleanest place, but it was fine. Food here at the IIRR has been wonderful, I am eating vegetarian and feeling very healthy, I have not gotten sick, many folks have from food/water or malaria meds. We continue getting our shots. When I am with my host family starting this coming Sunday, I may not have internet access but very very infrequently. Please feel free to email me via gmail, I miss all back home and want to hear what you are up to. Did I tell you that one of the Volunteers is from Summerville, about 30 min. from me in S.C. - we did not know each other until now, great co-incidence. That's all for now.

Setting the scene

 

 

The Welcome Poster for us

 

 

 

We finished our three and a half days of Initial Orientation today and began the next eight and a half days of technical training on education, we are considered PCTs, pre-service trainees. I have attended numerous all day and multiple day trainings over the years and I honestly have to say that this Peace Corps training is the absolute most thorough and informative training I have ever attended. I have not been bored for one second. We go to the beach on Sunday and do our water safety drill with life jackets that PC provides for us during our service. I may go to the local mall Saturday, I have yet to leave the training grounds. It is so lush and green here, so many plants and flowers I have never seen, I feel like I am in a tropical greenhouse or something. It has been overcast and rains on and off, I think this is the beginning of the rainy season. We were told that PC specifically picked host families for us that definitely do not flood when the rains are heavy. I will most likely be co-teaching 4th or 5th grade during the rest of pre-service training and can do a side project associated with education in the community. Official swearing in day as an official Peace Corp Volunteer is Sept. 16, we have a lot of work to do between now and then!
We received our Tagalog training manuals today, very user-friendly. We also got a massive and very comprehensive education manual today and will get our large medical kit before we leave the training site, mosquito nets will be provided at our host family sites. The Philippines is very religious and we were told to expect prayer before school and to be invited to church with our host families, most likely Catholic. Should be interesting!

Making friends

Arrived and training in the Philippines

Four planes later, I arrived in the Philippines late on July 3rd. The plane from LA to Tokyo was 12 hours by itself, I think I spent about 24 total hours in the air since leaving Charleston. There are about 60 of us in "Batch 270" as we are called. About 8 of us are "seasoned" volunteers, over 50. Everyone is very professional and it is an honor to be a fellow volunteer. We have been in very thorough training 8:30-5pm every day. Please know that PC takes our safety and security very seriously and I am very impressed with all they have in place to care for us. Current volunteers are here to answer questions and everyone is so helpful and supportive. I began malaria suppressant medication yesterday and the beginning of our series of shots that included typhoid and rabies. The weather here is so similar to summer in Charleston. We got our training sites today, I will be learning the Tagalog language and training in a rural town Northwest of Manilla. We continue training at our current site, all 60 of us, until next week and then we split up into small groups and head to our respective training sites. My trips to Brazil and Cuba have prepared me for this experience and so far, so good. I will try to get to the internet tomorrow and upload some photos. I am happy and healthy and hope you are the same.