Blogging, BDay, and Etc.

Lately I have had very limited time at the internet and when I have been there, I have been rushed and felt uninspired, so no new blogs. I’m writing from home this week because I really do want to keep sharing this experience.

Last Wednesday was my birthday. Some highlights were . . .
*Opening packages from my girls on birthday morning. What fun! Lots of pics! Lots of goodies!
*Then, at school during the morning flag ceremony, the entire student body sang Happy Birthday to me :-)
*Later, I made three pans of brownies using the oven in the HomeEc room and shared with staff and host family (thank you, Melissa!)
*Around 11am the teachers cooked lunch for me, we ate, and they sang another song.
*And finally, the icing on the brownies was getting to talk to all of my kids and two dear friends! Thanks guys!

Turns out that turning 45 in a far-off place doesn’t have to be traumatic. Kind and caring people make all the difference. Big love to all.

Another cultural experience . . .
A couple weeks ago I went to church with host family for St. Michael’s Feast day, a special celebration. Everything was held outside. I estimate attendance at 500+. Lines with hundreds of colored plastic bags tied to them criss-crossed above our heads. Quite festive! First, mass was held. Merienda followed. (Vendors had booths set up for people to purchase all sorts of goodies). Then it was time for the program to start, but it didn’t. We waited – and waited –and waited. Finally, word spread that the power was off - no sound system. Soon it came back on, so . . . on with the show. In true Filipino style, the program was teachers, students, and community members performing songs, dances, and karate exhibitions. In between the “intermissions” people spoke. The keynote speaker was the governor of Benguet, but his Ilokano speech was wasted on me.

After the program we all lined up for food. Students in one line, adults in another. At the front of the line we each received a paper plate covered with a plastic bag. On top of the bag were two cups of cooked rice and a cup of pancit (noodles) on top of the rice with three bites of pork on the side. We all sat around the churchyard and ate our rice and noodles with our hands. The plastic bag made a perfect doggie bag. I felt so Filipino.

Americans in Baguio . . .
Last Saturday some other PCVers came to Baguio to celebrate October bdays. We ate good food, saw a movie (traveling pants chick flick), sang videoke, and went Duck Pin Bowling. Ever heard of DPB? It's pretty cool. Was like stepping in a time machine and stepping out in 1963. The bowling lanes were wooden and warped (each about 3-4 ft wide). The pins were shorter and fatter than regulation pins. And the balls were botche balls (no holes - softball size - heavy). No automatic pin-setting machine. Guys sat behind the lanes and reset the pins and returned the balls manually. It was cool because you could watch their feet and hands - sometimes they came close to getting shattered bones! The smell in the place was musty and sort of foreign (but not fishy!) I think a good time was had by all. I know I enjoyed it :-)

Working at the school . . .
Finally started teaching the remedial reading class that I've been writing modules for. We started on Monday. The class will meet every Mon and Tues from 4-5. We have 30 students. One of the biggest challenges is getting them to talk - and then hearing what they say when they do talk. They speak SO softly - and with their filipino accents, I really struggle with hearing and understanding them. I hate to always be in their faces asking them to please repeat. Maybe as they get use to having the "American" teacher, they will feel less shy and will speak a little louder. We'll see. So far, though, it's fun and I'm enjoying it.

Well, guess I'll close for now. I'm actually at the internet place now. I added to this partially written blog when I got here. So, life is good this week. Hope all is bright and happy with you!