Slow Week

This week was a slow, rainy week with not much excitement. Friday was Cordillera Day, so we didn't have classes. I came into Baguio City to get mail and do internet. Ended up going to a movie with my friend, Jody. She is posted in La Trinidad, the neighboring city to Baguio. We went and saw "War of the Worlds" - woohoo. The funny thing about going to the movies here is that you can enter the movie theater 30-40 minutes before the movie begins and they are already playing previews of upcoming movies. What's even funnier is that we watch them - and are entertained! Guess that's what happens when you live without television for a few months.

My big mission for today is to find a new umbrella. I found out this week that the umbrella that I bought in Nueva Vizcaya isn't really for the rain - it's only meant to be used to keep the sun off. Apparently, all Filipinos know that the small umbrellas are for sun and the large umbrellas are for rain. It's the little things that I find out as I go that keep me shaking my head. Just makes me wonder how many other things I am unaware of doing that entertain my Filipino counterparts. I'm beginning to think that I'm not paranoid . . . they really ARE laughing at me most of the time! :-)

My host sister and I had a conversation this week that was pretty amusing to me. I was asking her how to say things in Kenkane-ey and I asked her how to say "How was your day?" She said, "We really don't ask that."
You don't? Why not?
Mostly because we really don't care.
You don't care?
No, not really. Only if someone did something special like go to a wedding.
But don't you ask just to make small talk and to connect with your husband when he gets home?
No.
No?
Oh, then what do you think when I ask you how your day was?
Why is she asking me that?
I guess I ask because it's what I do in America. It's a way of making a connection with someone I care about when we come together at the end of the day.
Oh, we just say, let's eat.

So everyday I am discovering more cultural differences - and discovering just how truly American I am. And that's been pretty interesting. Okay, enough for now. Have a great week! Later.