Goat, Dog, and Videoke

Goat, dog, and videoke. Go ahead, take three guesses - what do all of these have in common???

I'll give you a clue. Today is the 28th birthday of Manang Norma's son, Andy. She is having a big party at our house tonite in honor of him. The entertainment: Videoke. The food: (You guessed it) - Goat and Dog.

Yes, I must admit that it was a bit disheartening to awaken to the sound of a bleating goat. I looked outside and saw that they had the little goat tied down and were washing the neck. I couldn't watch them kill it. After that, I heard a dog squealing . . . I didn't even look. I didn't want to know. It's a whole other world. What can I say?

As far as videoke goes. It's rampant here! Filipinos LOVE to sing videoke! They rented the videoke machine yesterday, so last night we stayed outside while many of the kids and several adults sang their hearts out. Some songs were in English, some were in Tagalog. I went inside around 9pm and I think they sang until around 10. Tonite will be the big event, so no telling how late the party will go. The men like to drink gin. A few of the women drank beers last night (I had one to be social). But for the most part, the men drink and the women don't. Women who drink very much are considered "loose" - so protecting the reputation is important.

I'm sure the party will be interesting. I'll let you how it goes . . .

The meeting and merienda at the Baranguay Captain's house was a success. Thankfully, we had Paul, our instructor, to interpret for us. We were asked a few questions in Ilokano, which we were able to respond to (for the most part). And between the four of us Americans, we could understand most of the answers to our questions. They served us spaghetti and Pop cola for merienda. Living here has made me realize that spaghetti is a "universal" food. The only difference between Filipino and American spaghetti is that the sauce is meatless and much sweeter here. It's actually pretty good.

Well, that's it for today. I'll let you know how the party goes. (And how the food is! :-o) Sige, baybay!

Just a Short Report

Here's a quick update on what I did this weekend. On Saturday I had language class from 8am til noon. Then I had lunch at one of my classmates host home in San Luis. After lunch, I walked back to my host home in Osmena (about 3K). It was really hot (no surprise there). After that, I took a rest under the fan and then walked into town and went to the internet cafe. I checked my email and then went and bought a phone card. Talked to all three of my kids on the phone - which makes me SO Happy! Saturday evening I studied Ilokano and read a book.

Sunday morning I got up and got ready for 6am mass, just to find out that my host sister (Manang Norma) had overslept. She came out of her (airconditioned) room around 7am. We ate breakfast and went to 8am mass. After mass, we went to the open market and bought fruits - oranges, grapes, and mangoes. The mangoes here are to die for! The oranges are small and really sweet. The grapes are red seedless. On Sundays the farmers bring their produce to town, so everything is nice and fresh. In the afternoon, I rested, read some more, and wrote a couple letters. It was a very relaxing weekend. Probably the closest I've come to feeling boredom since I've been here. Nice though.

Today, I'm on lunch break. Just ate at Chow King. Going back to the Baranguay Hall in a few minutes. Our group (the four of us and our language instructor) will be going to the Baranguay Captain's house this afternoon. We're going to interview him for a project we are doing - developing a community history timeline of San Luis. We will be having merienda at his house (the snacks that people eat at 10am and 3pm everyday) Yum. Anyway, this man doesn't speak very much English, so it should be interesting. He's expecting us to question him in Ilokano - yeah, right. Well, we'll do our best, anyway.

Gotta run. Thanks for the comments and emails. Keep in touch - you keep me going! Sige, baybay!

Miles of Smiles

Someone told me that there was a study done which indicates that despite the poverty and hardship in which they live, Filipinos are some of the happiest, most content people on the planet. You know what? I believe it. I see people smiling everywhere. In my host family home there are people coming and going all the time and I'm always hearing laughter. I hear people talking to children using terms like "my darling" and "my love". It's great. I think it's contageous - because I gotta admit that I'm feeling happy most of the time these days. Hopefully, the Filipino complexion will be contagious too and some of these wrinkles I've accrued over the years will disappear! ;-)

Speaking of happy, I was reading about Kapangan, Benguet (where I will move to in June and live for the next two years) and it showed that the average temperature is about 18c which I believe is about 65f. Woohoo! I'm gonna get cooled down yet. God knows what I need.

And speaking of God. It never fails to crack me up that what a sense of humor he has. When the PC regional manager was telling me about my site assignment, she was telling me all about the high school and the principal and how excited they were to be getting a volunteer, etc. Then she informed me that there was one small thing that she needed to disclose to me. My little town has been in the news lately due to one of their crops. It seems that Kapangan is also known as the "marijuana capital" of the Philippines. Too funny. But not to fear, the mayor (who is the husband of the high school principal who will be my supervisor) has launched a "Don't Do Drugs" campaign in the community. Sure glad that I don't smoke marijuana! :-)

I'm out of here for today. Hope you're all enjoying life in America. And don't forget to *smile* at the red lights! :-)

My New Normal

It's amazing that I've only been in this country a little over three weeks and already so many things that are truly "foreign" seem so "normal" to me.

In this short post I thought I'd share just a few.

1) Cold bucket baths. No bathtubs. No showers. Just a bucket of cold water and a small handheld bucket (the size of a one-quart saucepan) and a bar of soap. I would never dream of showering without wearing flip-flops. It's amazing just how little water it actually takes to clean one's body!

2) Constant cock-a-doodle-doing of roosters. Yes, even in the residential areas of town like where I live the roosters crow all the time. Not just at the break of dawn (that's just a myth). It's a constant - and amazingly, I don't even notice them most of the time.

3) Dogs, dogs, and more dogs. Not just dogs, but skinny rice-eating dogs. They're everywhere (except for inside my host family home - Thank God!!!!) They have fleas and lice and all sorts of critters climbing on them, I'm sure. People don't really pet them much, but they do eat them from time to time (I've yet to get offered any "aso" yet, but other PCTs have!)

4) No traffic signals. Really, it's just a free-for-all on the roadways that seems to work out miraculously! And to cross the street you simply walk out into the traffic and they will slow down and let you pass. And really, the side of the street you drive on depends on what is most convenient at the time to get to where you're going. No traffic cops. No speed limits. Just lots and lots of honking going on!

5) Very little ice. Those of you that know me well know how very much I love to crunch ice. So, if you can figure out how to send me a bag of Sonic ice without it melting . . . I'll be your best friend :-) Ha! But really, it hasn't been a problem. They do have something called HaloHalo, which is a shaved ice drink mixed with lots of fruit and condensed milk and sugar. It's a yummy satisfying treat in the hot afternoons.

6) Blaring television and American music (mostly soft rock from the 80s). It seems that the belief is that the llouder you play your radios and televisions, the more money you must have. So . . . usually, the crowing roosters and barking dogs are accompanied by American music blaring from someone's house. (Remember, very few windows have screens or glass and the houses are pretty close together). Aaah, what a sweet cacophony . . .

7) The smell of smoke. People burn their trash here. Not in burn barrels out back like we did when I was a kid growing up in Oklahoma. They burn it in small piles by the street, every morning, every afternoon. The smoky smell of burning trash is just part of the ambiance, what can I say?

8) Fumes, fumes, and more fumes. And, if the smell of smoke doesn't burn your throat hairs - the smell of vehicle fumes will! There are SO MANY tricycles here and they each put off an amazing amount of smoke. The jeepneys also emit lots and lots of fumes. And then there are the MotorCoach buses that pass through - let's hear it for deisel fumes!! Many people (including me) carry handkerchiefs and cover their noses when walking on the streets.

Well, I guess that's enough for now. My compadres are leaving, so I'll go too. One last thing, just because I've noted all these seemingly negative points - I really do love it here and it is absolutely amazing to me just how all of these little things are beginning to seem so "normal". Love to all.

My Site Assignment - Yippee!

Today was the big day that all the trainees have been waiting for. We were told where we would be stationed permanently and I am SO excited! I'm going to a community called Kapangan, in Benguet Province. It is located in the mountains just north of Baguio (the summer capital of the Philippines). I just came from the hubsite where we were given our packets with the information regarding our sites, so I haven't had time to read through it all yet, but I do know that it's good. Right now, I'm probably most excited because it's going to be cool! Oh yeah. Not to feel the drip, drip, drip of my upper lip - aaaah.

I still have several more weeks here in the Solano area, but that's okay at least I know that I'll have a beautiful area to be stationed in for the next two years. I am also glad to know that another volunteer (who I really like) will be stationed about an hour (or less, depending on the road conditions - all dirt) away. She'll be stationed in La Trinidad. She is about 23 years old and is actually 6'2" tall (and I always thought Sommer was tall!) I'm pleased that I'll have her nearby.
The only slightly negative news that I got about my sight is that there is no internet access, so I have to go to Baguio to use the computer. I was really hoping for a place that had an internet cafe - and I requested that several times, but that's not what I got. Other than that, it actually sounds perfect for me though. I'll just make a trip to Baguio once a week (at least) and post on here, read and return emails. You guys keep writing me now - I mean it - I need to hear from my peeps!

What little I know about my job assignment so far sounds very exciting. I'll be working in a high school that has about 600 students. I'll be working the remedial reading program, developing curriculum and doing teacher training and probably some classroom teaching. It will be a challenge and a great opportunity for growth. I'm pumped.

Well, it will be dark before too long and I still have to walk home, so I better go. Love to all. Keep the emails, letters, and posts coming. I love hearing from all of you guys - it's what keeps me going! Take care.

Life in the Compound

Wow, I can hardly believe it. I finally found a way to get to the internet two days straight! I guess the secret is to be brave and do it by myself. My friends and I had lunch and walked around town a bit after lots of meetings and language class this morning. They decided to go back to their baranguay (San Luis) and I stayed here in Solano to use the internet and I will walk home whenever I am finished. I live about 10 to 12 blocks from here. It's about 3:30pm and it feels like it's about 100 degrees outside! I'm sitting at a computer with a fan not far from me, so I'm only glistening (as opposed to sweating buckets like I will whenever I walk home).

Living at my host family home is really interesting. Like I said in my previous post, I live with a widow woman and her son, but's that just a small slice of the picture. We actually live on a property (they refer to it as a compound) where there are three other residences and a canteen out front, so there are many people around all the time - including children. Next door to the main house where I stay is Manong Norma's daughter and her husband and three children. They live in a very small house that looks rather dilapidated on the outside but is extremely clean and well furnished inside. The wife is a high school teacher and speaks very good English and her husband works in the Municiple Government offices. Her children are a son, age 11, a daughter, age 7, and another son, age 1.

Outside their front door and across the sidewalk is what appears to be a shack. Actually, it is the residence of Manong Norma's uncle who appears to be in his 70s. She told me he is a medicine man and that many people come to him for the herbal pastes that he makes and grinds with his teeth. He's a very interesting looking man, very dark skin, usually wears boxers and a fanny pack and walks around without a shirt. He is very stooped and has deep set, ancient eyes. I'm actually fascinated by him.

Over the storage building is another residence. This family live in what appears to be one room and none of the windows have screens or glass. They don't appear to have an indoor bathroom, so I think they all wash in an open washroom outside. There's a mother who is 39, who I really like even though she speaks very little English and it's tough to communicate with her. She works for Manong Norma in the canteen and she does people's laundry (by hand, of course). Her husband drives a tricycle (the main mode of public transportation here in Solano). They have three children, a daughter, age 15, a son, age 14, and a little girl, age 4.

Out front near the street is the canteen. It's a small store with a walk-up window where people in the neighborhood come to buy various items such as snacks, ice (whenever it's available), envelopes, etc. Manong Norma says that whenever my Ilokano is better she will let me work there some Sunday afternoon. I told her that I have "retail experience" so I would love to - Ha! (I knew all those years of furniture sales would come in useful ;-)

Manong Norma has a catering business and she also raises flowers in pots that she sells. The flowers all have to be watered twice a day. Last evening I went outside and saw her watering. I asked her if I could be helpful and so she handed me the water hose (she actually has a well on her property with running water, which is very rare) and told me to water flowers. I spent the next hour or so watering all the beautiful flowers. I asked one of the kids "How do I say 'I am watering the flowers' in Ilokano?" He told me and after I finally repeated it back correctly, I kept saying it over and over while I was watering. They just laughed and laughed, which made me laugh and laugh. I'm sure they're thinking "This American woman is CRAZY!!!" It was a hoot. It was the first time I actually felt like I had made a connection with the kids and I really liked that.

I could go on with my stories and descriptions for pages but I will close for now and share more later. Love to all of you.

Living With a Host Family

So, I'm now living with my first host family. I live in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines in the barangay of Osmena. I live with a widow who is 58 years old and her son is 28 (but I rarely see him - he stays away). My hostess told me to call her Manong Norma (sister Norma). She is a prominent person in the community and pretty wealthy by Filipino standards. In the house there is a flushing toilet (one of only 20 or so in the community). She also has electricity and screens on the windows. No airconditioning (and boy, is it hot!) but at least I have an electric fan in my room. It's not so bad. The worst part is the heat and missing everyone.

Well, the other PCVs are leaving now, so I have to go, too. I will update more as soon as I can!!
Love to all!!!!!

You know you're in the Philippines when . . .

Today as I was walking into town so that I could use the internet, it dawned on me that I'm really here. And here are just a few things that finally convinced me that I'm not in Oklahoma anymore. . .

At our official "Welcome Dinner" I had to fish a Junebug out of my water and I flicked about 20 other bugs off the table.

In my room, I'm thankful for the lizards running up the walls because they eat the mosquitoes.

Walking into town, I passed several rice fields with people wading up to their knees in mud and water slinging seeds from a bucket because it's planting season here.

On the same walk to town, I passed two water buffalo. They're big, but not any bigger than an Oklahoma bison.

When I shower, I don't have to hurry before the water gets cold - it's always cold - I have to hurry because I'm sharing the shower with at least 10 to 15 mosquitoes (all wanting to "taste the American" I imagine!)

And last but certainly not least . . . I know that I'm in the Philippines because today I got passed by a tricycle (motorcycle with a sidecar - for hire) carrying a live pig as its passenger!

It's an adventure, for sure.

For all of you who are wondering where I am and how I'm doing . . . I am in Northern Luzon in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, in the city of Byombong. I have been here since last Thursday. I've been staying on a university campus with a group of 19 other Peace Corps Trainees and a training staff.

Tomorrow we divide into smaller groups and move to individual communities to begin our community- based training. I will be living with a host family in San Luis. It is near the city of Solano. In San Luis, four other PCTs will be staying with other families and our language teacher will be there as well. In the mornings we will have structured language classes. We will be learning Ilokano. In the afternoons we will go into the community and practice our language, meet people, organize community meetings, etc. It feels a little overwhelming, yet exciting. I'm ready to learn some of the language so that I can speak to the locals in their local language.

I do miss my family and loved ones and your thoughts and prayers are extremely important to me. They keep us very busy, however, which helps keep me going.

We have almost as many meals as meetings. At 6:30am we have breakfast. At 10am we have merienda (sizeable snack). At noon we have lunch. At 3pm we have another merienda. And at 6:30pm we have dinner. In between all those meals we have meetings. It's been exhilarating, but it will be nice to get to the host family site and experience what Filipino homelife is like.

I'll close for now. Keep those emails and letters coming (even though we haven't received any mail yet). And I'll write back and update this site everytime I have the opportunity. Love to all!

Going to Church

Today a few of the other Volunteers and a few of the Staff went to mass at the local Catholic Church. The Pope died and we thought it would be a respectful gesture and a good cross-cultural experience. It turned out to be an excellent experience. First of all, I had never seen such a beautiful alter in a Catholic Church. Behind the priest, there was a stone wall about 6 feet tall. Above the wall was the open sky with beautiful flowering trees and flowers. In front of that was a 20 foot statue of Mary. Trust me, my description doesn't do it justice. During the service birds were flying in and around the sanctuary and a kitty cat even climbed up the wall! The service was very touching. I feel so thankful to be here and to be supported by so many loved ones.

Right now, my Peace Corps friends are waiting for me to go so I have to cut it short. I will write more the very next time I have the opportunity to get on a computer.