Third times a charm . . .

So this week I wrote a newsy blog at home . . . but didn't get it copied to my memory stick. Then yesterday I was here at internet, wrote yet another blog and as I was about to post it, Windows decided to shut down, so all was lost. So, here I go again - and keepin' it short . . .

Probably the best thing that's happened with me this past week is that I've had a mental shift and have amazingly began to start learning my target language. Not sure of what all the factors in my mental shift are, but I will share this one thing. I was visiting with a couple ladies in the community last week and one said to me, "Anyone who really cares to learn our language can learn it." I thought about that a lot after I left her. I asked myself, "Do I really care?" The answer that came to my mind was "Yes, I care, but that's not what I've been focusing on as I've tried to learn the language". What I have been focusing on is that I need to learn so that the people in my community will accept me. In other words, I've been feeling pressured to learn for other people. This week, I made a mental shift and have started studying language ONLY because I want to . . . because I care. I want to learn so that I can interact with more people in my community. And strangely enough, I've made real progress. That's it.

So . . . this is what I realized: My target language is Kankanaey - Kan - Kan - AEY . . . Can-Can-I. So, if I just make a little shift . . . it becomes I CAN CAN. Works for me!

As for my upcoming schedule. . . it looks like I will be involved in a seminar in Cebu the last week of May, so I am looking at coming home after it is over. Tentatively, I am looking at leaving Manila on May 28 or 29 and staying in the U.S. until June 16 or 17. If any of you know of good deals on plane tickets or websites that I should check out to find good deals . . . please let me know!

I guess that's it for now. Gotta run. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Take care.