Mostly Manila . . . and a prayer request

I went to Manila last Saturday with some other PCVs and participated in a Volunteer Forum. We stayed until Wednesday. It was my first trip back to Manila since we arrived in country on April 1, so it was nice to get a little more familiar with the capital city.

Some of the highlights were:
-Reuniting with some PCVs that I hadn’t seen since early April
-Eating some really great food
-Going to the Peace Corps offices
-Seeing more of the city
-Riding the LRT
Some things I could have done without:
-Run-in with a rat
-Dishonest cabbies and such
-Supervisor’s bad news

Highlight details:
Reuniting . . . When we first arrived in country we were 80. The 80 were dispersed in groups of 20 to four different regions of the country –Northern and Southern Luzon, Eastern and Western Visayas. As you know, I’m in the North. This week I got to see seven volunteers from Southern Luzon and two from Western Visayas. Swapping stories of our training, swearing-in, and sites helped fill in the gaps. Because this is such a unique life experience and since we’ve all been through so many similar situations that are also totally different – the reunion was a sweet treat.
Eating . . . Manila is huge – like 8 million or so people. Lots of great food there. We ate Korean (with metal chopsticks-and I did surprisingly well) – Thai food twice – Mediterranean – Excellent chicken & mango sandwich – and some yummy German white chocolate and macadamia nuts. – Naimus! – Mamis! – Sarop! (Ilokano, Kenkana-ey, Tagalog) Delicious in all the Filipino languages I know.
Going . . . Visiting the PC offices was good because I was able to pick up a few books for work –and a package from my folks and a letter from Elanor . . . yippee!
Seeing . . . The city is huge so it was nice to go around with some volunteers who had been there several times. In addition to our group, there were also PCVs from batches 263 and 262 (we’re 264). So part of the time I ran around with a couple who are fluent in Tagalog and know the city. Far less frightening that way.
Riding . . . The LRT is the elevated train. Even though it was very crowded, it’s nice because there is a car just for women. And I only saw ONE male passenger among the hundred or so women in it! And yes, I watched my bag carefully.

Downer details:
Run-in . . . Well, at least I can laugh about this one, so it’s not a total downer. Saturday night I was walking down the sidewalk with other PCVs, trying to avoid stepping on the people asleep on sheets of cardboard. All of a sudden, a rat came out of the drain and ran straight towards me – and we collided. He ran up my leg and I hopped around squealing like a wild-woman! I could feel his little claws on my shin – eek! It was funny, though, because I knew he wanted to escape me just as bad as I wanted to lose him. Finally, we parted ways and were both relieved, I’m sure. Whew!
Dishonest . . . Cab drivers in Manila have a reputation for being dishonest, unlike cab drivers in Baguio who have a reputation for honesty. So far, they’ve all lived up to their reps. Didn’t get ripped off, but did get out of a couple cabs prematurely. The first one stopped to get gas when he was about six blocks from our destination and refused to turn off the meter. We just paid him and walked from there. The second cabbie wanted to charge us meter plus 50 pesos – NO! I said. Okay, meter plus 30p –NO! I said. Okay, nevermind, get out of my cab. Fine. Jerk. We got out and climbed into another cab. That guy argued about where the bus station was. Told us there wasn’t one where we told him to go. Said that it was way out in another suburb –even though we knew where it was. Finally, I said –just take us to Taft and Edsa. So he did. And let us out right in front of the bus station. Whatever. Then, when I opened the car door to get out, another fellow had squatted down by the door where I couldn’t see him so the door would hit him when I opened it. I felt it hit him, got out of the car and said, Sorry, didn’t see you there. He was rolling around acting like he was really hurt (which he wasn’t) and was screaming “One Dollar! One Dollar!” Yeah, right. Not today buddy.

Finally . . . this last one is truly a downer with no levity whatsoever. My supervisor, Dr. Aurora Leon, is a 39-year old mother of four. She is the principal of my school and married to the mayor of Kapangan. I can’t say enough about how nice and smart she is. (By education she is a chemical engineer). Her children range in ages from17 to 2 yrs. 8 mos. old. Last week, the two-year old went to the hospital to have tests for meningitis because he was having trouble walking. Apparently, he has been sickly since he was born. While I was in Manila, his test results came back and he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He has had a surgery to install a shunt already and will have the major surgery to remove the tumor next week. They don’t know what they will find, but it doesn’t look good. Simply horrifying. My host sister, Assunta, is Aurora’s sister and she isn’t handling the news well at all. The family is praying for a miracle. They are also requesting that others pray, too. The boy’s name is Lensan Leon. If you are inclined to pray, please remember little Lensan and the Leon family.

Life is so precious . . . and so uncertain. No guarantees. I’m so thankful for my loved ones.
Loving and missing you all and wishing I were there to give hugs all around. xoxo