Sunday, July 31, 2011

July 31, 2011 Anticipating PACA (Participatory Analysis for Community Action)

Incidentally, I did present some of the lesson on Wednesday and it seemed to go well. This week we have a type of seminar with community members to assertain what we might do here that would further sustainable development. There is a whole process for doing this and it is fascinating and effective and fun. Our entire El Ed team presents and facilitates and I am looking forward to it.

July 31, 2011 Fresh coconut milk, hanging out at home.


Jersen on his cousin's tree,  getting us fresh coconuts. 
Here they are! We have had pitchers full of fresh coconut milk with ice and long shreds of coconut in it  this week. 

At the same farm they have the cleanest pig-pen I've ever seen/smelled.



Here we are back at home. My room is the front half of the second floor. You are looking at my window.  Street level enters into "Quincy's Upholstery and Tailoring Shop", run by Apple and Jersen. They do a lot of reupholstering motor-cycle and Jeep seat covers and then when basketball season starts, they will be up all night to get jersy orders done. They look just like store-bought.
Bedette (Bernadette) and Apple, holding Noah.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

July 27, 2011 Peaceful sleep!

So last night's sleep was my first in a typhoon. I slept better because the rain drumming on the corrugated tin roof drowned out the sounds of the busy road.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

July 26, 2011 Poor sleep.

Ants and an earthquake.
I didn't sleep well last night.

I went down to use the "comfort room" and my host father was up, watching out for us all. It lasted about a minute and if it had been any longer he would have called us all down and outside. Apparently it was 5.9 and was in the ocean.

July 26, 2011 Courtesy Calls.

In which we complete our courtesy calls.

Today we return to the Elementary School so we can be formally welcomed. This is the last of three days of “Courtesy Calls”. We have had audiences with the Governor, the Mayor, the regional head of Education, the Principals, Librarians, College Deans, etc. This must be done if we expect to be accepted and find collaboration. When we get our permanent assignments, we will all need to seek out all these community shakers and movers and set up our own Courtesy Calls.
I'm hoping today's ceremony  will be done early  because I have plans with my ate (big sister) to hop a Jeepney and go shopping.

PS Well that fun afternoon plan was unrealistic, as the Courtesy Call went quite late. It was actually pleasant. The principal and teachers had created a big back-drop of welcome for us and had a program prepared. Each teacher stood and introduced his/herself and said a brief statement about his/her class.
This is the first year of compulsory Kindergarten and there is great hope in that. Also, within two years the Philippines are slated to add eleventh and twelfth grades, putting them on a par with more other countries. It is an interesting time to be here and involved in education. The Filipino Government is committing precious resources to alleviate poor school conditions.  Teacher student ratio is often 60 or more students per teacher. The PC Trainees going into the High School said that there were 80 students per class. That is a single teacher, a single class.

July 23, 2011     Finally! It's Saturday! I'm telling you, we are working hard on the taxpayer dollars. I'm really glad, though, because it feels good to be very busy. I'm also having a blast working on this Tagalog. I have classes four hours in the AM and then go home for lunch, then return to class again. When I get home after classes, I usually just hang out with the family and talk, or the children sing or count with me. They are  greatly amused by my Tagalog.


July 24, 2011
Ate Lillian and I went to Olongopo yesterday. Sensory overload. The heat, the sights, the smells- fascinating and exhausting.  After the long, hot bus ride, I was adding to the heat, smells and sights.  For 2 hours we hunted through markets and stores for all I needed, like more soap and deodorant!  
On my list, just for a fun indulgence, was an ice cream cone. We didn't find any, so I resorted to …..McDonald's!  I've got to hand it to McDonald's, they had the same cleanliness and quality here as in the states. I had  toilet seat, toilet paper, soap and running water, all in the same bathroom break. Refreshing. Here, McDonald's offers spaghetti, maybe because spaghetti is served here for merienda when it is someones minor birthday.
Major party birthdays are 1 year, 7 years, 18 (girls) and 21 (boys). You only get presents and cake on a major bday and there will be a big fiesta, involving many animals butchered for the occasion and served to all the friends and extended family who will come. I am happy that I will be here for 2 1 year parties. They have already extended the invitation to my entire Peace Corps here in Colo.
  


July 25, 2011
This morning was our first time in the classroom with our Counterpart Teachers. My Counterpart is Grace Ellamil. I observed her and will have to evaluate, according to the training provided by PC US and PC Philippines. She and I were both nervous, but we are enjoying each other, too. She just earnestly wants to find methods to increase her students' English comprehension. We agreed that I will present a 5 minute Motivator on Wednesday.

This afternoon was Tagalog class and then PC Personal Safety Training. After the considerable hours of Medical and Safety Training we've been given, here's the moral of  the stories: Don't drink if you want to stay safe. We were given extended training on that the first day in LA and it has just been repeated and expanded upon since. They said that virtually all attacks have involved the Volunteers drinking and diminishing their ability to take care of themselves. Go figure.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

July 24, 2011 Aaaaahh!!!

Our wonderful respite last Sunday. After a stressful and sweltering week, Ate's son-in-law, Jersen, shown here, front right, drove us to a "resort" his cousin owns. This area is where Jersen grew up and his relatives have farms along here. From left to right, Amy DeCola, Apple holding her son, Noah, me, Bernadette, Ate Lillian, a few cousins, Jersen (Apple's husband) and their little girl, Quincy. For a few dollars we rented the Cabana for the day, overlooking this farmland and with an equally beautiful breeze. It was a delight for all the senses. We were also introduced to "balut", which is a chick in the egg, just about ready to hatch, but hard boiled. A great delicacy which Apple made a great show of enjoying for our benefit but we declined. Ate Lillian doesn't eat them either! So there!
These next two photos are our view from the Cabana:
Water buffalo in the rice paddy. 

Aaaahhhh! The water is soft and just barely cool. 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

July 23, 2011 In which I learn to do my laundry

Me, doing my laundry in the "Comfort Room", with the help of  busy little Quincy, my  Ate's grandaughter. 
Children are children the world over, and a ham's a ham anywhere!
Quincy, taking a bath in the "Comfort Room".  The toilet paper was purchased  just for me. They consider t.p. a dirty habit. You can see their point if you think about the difference between just wiping a diaper area with dry paper, or washing it each time.
Water runs twice a day for two hours each time. There is one spigot about one foot off the  floor, just high enough to clear the aluminum basin you see. From that we scoop water out and fill all the containers and one more in the left corner, which is a barrel. The scoop you see Quincy holding is used to take a bath. We all bathe at least once a day,  PC Medical Officers have informed us to take 2 or 3 when the weather is hot, as it was before the monsoons started. When we don't we live up to our reputations as sweaty, stinky Americans. Furthermore, clothes, especially tops, are never to be worn more than once. It is not only an odor issue, but a health issue, as fungus grows so readily here. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

July 17, 2011 In which we are arrive in Colo, our training site for 2 1/2 months

We pulled into another barangay, this one larger, more permanent, and it extends back into the countryside further, maybe several blocks. We are in Colo! This is where we are to serve and train for the next 2 months. We are earlier than expected, so our host families have not arrived yet, but a very nice woman greets us, explaining the situation and introducing herself as Lillian, the Barangay Captain's Secretary.
Barangay Captain: think Andy of Mayberry in the Philippines. Whenever there is a dispute, like someone steals someones fighting cock, he is called in, Lillian in tow, to work out resolution. Lillian records it: Manny stole Roni's rooster, Manny replaces the now dead cock and promises to pay 3,000 pesos in addition or his 4 dogs will be confiscated. So Lillian is in the know, here.
She says she wishes she could offer us chairs, but they are locked in the Barangay Hall, here, and the captain hasn't arrived with the key. She looks at all these hot, sweaty, tired Americans and calmly walks over to the locked door and pries the nails out of the lock and opens the door. Doesn't that seem like something I would do?
Chairs are handed out and we sit in the shade, waiting for all the host families to arrive. Eventually, we were welcomed by representatives of the community and we formally thanked them for welcoming us into their community. Representatives from our group spoke a return thank you.
I was so exhausted, at this point, that everything seemed dreamlike. We had been through so much activity and emotion and were only now at the culminating point: I was stepping into the life of a family I had never met, in developing-world conditions. I could not fathom what this would be like. I was very grateful for the chair. And my fellow Trainees, and the shade of the tree we were under. And Lillian in charge..But I really did feel a little orphaned. And to add to that the Host Families had started to gather around us, talking to each other quietly as they looked us over. What were they seeing? Well... hot, sweaty, tired and and hungry! Americans, as it was now midday and we hadn't eaten since 6.
Finally, all Host Families had gathered.
The Barangay Captain arrived and gave a brief speech of welcome. Then our side gave a couple of speeches of gratitude. We played a matching game to pair up with our host families. I'll be with Lillian, the lock hacker!
Then, thankfully, we all had merienda, which this time was a thick rice pudding you eat with your hands. It's like a very stiff pie filling without crust.  And we had water! 
PS I will load some pics as I can. It is very difficult with the equipment and internet here. Ali

July 17, 2011 In which we bid good-bye to Base Camp and the other trainees

We had the same good breakfast as usual: rice, hot-dogs, eggs fried hard, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, fresh rolls and butter that tastes homemade.
By seven we were on the bus and heading to Bataan with our Filipino Education Specialists, Sam and Christy.
Beautiful rice-paddy and water buffalo countryside in the background with occasional barangays(villages) clustered right up against the road, ramshackle style, like a sloppy clump of little Monopoly houses. Most of the houses are about the size of a one-car garage with an attached veranda about the same size with a roof over it. Sometimes the roof is thatched and sometimes it is corrugated steel. People sleep and eat in this veranda. I saw a little boy still sleeping in the curve of his hammock. A grandmother tending to a baby, a father carrying his child. Families are close and everyone helps everyone- you can easily see that even by just driving past. By the way they smiled and waved it seemed they would have welcomed us right in, too.  

Approaching Manila. Gray, acid haze and high rises. Manila out the window of the bus  wasn't that interesting to me, except for one huge billboard, all green and declaring “I absorb air pollution!” It is covered with plugs of a stiff plant that stuck straight out, like hair implants.

Emerging from Manila and back into clear air and farmers in their rice-paddies and with water buffaloes lounging here and there. Every once in a while I've even seen a yoked water buffalo pulling a cart. I hope to get some experience with that. The land is pretty flat still but we are beginning to see low ridges in the far background.

Bathroom break at a modern gas station. As expected, no toilet paper, no toilet seat and no soap. But there is a little hose afixed to the wall beside the toilet. Think about that. The look on your face is probably like ours. We carry and trade toilet paper and hand sanitizers like legal tender. But I've never been cleaner. Actually, toilet paper is not nearly so clean when you get the hang of this. But secretly, I will always be fond of a toilet seat.
We coach each other through some of these processes. Kind of like explaining to someone exactly how to clean a baby's bottom and change the diaper without benefit of a demonstration. A bonding experience.

Back on the bus.
Heading south into Bataan Peninsula. Christy and Sam stand up and with sad faces tell about the WW II events here. Allied troops were abandoned with no supplies so they called themselves “The fighting Bastards of Bataan” and fought hard, but eventually fell to the Japanese. (The critical supplies were diverted to Europe.)
The Japanese were brutal and instead of using the truck convoys at their disposal, they made the sick and starving men march through the heat for weeks. Civilian Filipinos  would try to help at their great peril. It is fascinating and overwhelmingly morbid and you can google it.
New Mexico had a lot of soldiers here so many families there were touched by this. Every year, in Alamagordo, NM, “The Bataan Death March” marathon is run over White Sands Dessert. New Mexico Military Institute participates and my children had the chance to run.

We drove about ½ hour in a subdued mood, through beautiful countryside with volcanic mountains in the background, shrouded in clouds.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

July 17, 2011 Welcome to Barangay Colo, Dinalupihan, Bataan





We pulled into another barangay, this one larger, more permanent, and it extends back into the countryside further, maybe several blocks. We are in Colo! This is where we are to serve and train for the next 2 months. We are earlier than expected, so our host families have not arrived yet, but a very nice woman greets us, explaining the situation and introducing herself as Lillian, the Barangay Captain's Secretary.
Barangay Captain: think Andy of Mayberry in the Philippines. Whenever there is a dispute, like someone steals someones fighting cock, he is called in, Lillian in tow, to work out resolution. Lillian records it: Mani stole Roni's rooster, Mani replaces the cock and promises to pay 3,000 pesos in addition or his 4 dogs will be confiscated. So Lillian is in the know, here.
She says she wishes she could offer us chairs, but they are locked in the Barangay Hall, here, and the captain hasn't arrived with the key. She looks at all these hot, sweaty, tired Americans and calmly walks over to the locked door and pries the nails out of the lock and opens the door. Doesn't that seem like something I would do?
Chairs are handed out and we sit in the shade, waiting for all the host families to arrive. Eventually, we were welcomed by representatives of the community and we formally thanked them for welcoming us into their community. Representatives from our group spoke a return thank you.
I was so exhausted, at this point, that everything seemed dreamlike. We had been through so much activity and emotion and were only now at the culminating point: I was stepping into the life of a family I had never met, in developing-world conditions. I could not fathom what this would be like. I was very grateful for the chair. And my fellow Trainees, and the shade of the tree we were under. And Lillian in charge..But I really did feel a little orphaned. And to add to that the Host Families had started to gather around us, talking to each other quietly as they looked us over. What were they seeing? Well... hot, sweaty, tired and and hungry! Americans, as it was now midday and we hadn't eaten since 6.
Finally, all Host Families had gathered.
The Barangay Captain arrived and gave a brief speech of welcome. Then our side gave a couple of speeches of gratitude. We played a matching game to pair up with our host families. I'll be with Lillian, the lock hacker!
Then, thankfully, we all had merienda, which this time was a thick rice pudding you eat with your hands. It's like a very stiff pie filling without crust.  And we had water! 
PS I will load some pics as I can. It is very difficult with the equipment and internet here. Ali
PC Trainees, waiting for our Host Families to arrive for the Welcome Ceremony.
Lucky me! Lillian Dela Cruz is my "Host Mother".

Saturday, July 16, 2011

July 17, 2011 In which we are extremely tired from training




In a few hours a bus will take me to the next step in my life. It is kind of fun not having to determine what I do next, while still knowing it will be an amazing adventure. Like Alice in Wonderland! Down the rabbit hole again!

July 17, 2011 Lucy, Lonnie and JFK

 Two friends I only met July 2, and now can't imagine ever not knowing, Lucy and Lonnie. They are with the program called Children, Youth and Families, which focuses on addressing social concerns. We all trained together for a week, but then they left for the city, to further train.

In the background is another friend, Pam. We're in Education together and will leave this AM for Dinalupihan, Bataan, where we will live with Filipino host families and continue training. We'll be spending Monday making "Courtesy Calls" on local officials such as the mayor, so that we will then be able to enter the schools for Practicum (sort of Student Teaching). Our time for the next while will be divided between working in the schools and language drill.
Most of the time I am either too busy or tired (or hungry!) to think of it, but all of the sudden last week I was struck with, "! I'm in the Peace Corps!"

Friday, July 15, 2011

July 15, 2011 In which we demo a lesson

We're studying exhaustively so that we will be prepared to teach English. Anxiety was really high this morning because we each had to present, in front of the group,  a lesson plan we'd written. Now that we're done with that there's a general sense of relief around here. We went swimming, ate and are just hanging out.
Sunday we leave for the next stage of our training and will begin staying with a Filipino host family.
Once there, we'll begin studying Tagalog intensively. So far we've only had "Survival Tagalog".

Monday, July 11, 2011

July 11, 2011 Ocean Safety Training

Water Safety Training!
5:00AM Breakfast
7:00AM Board bus for the ocean
(I just put the times here to impress you with our sacrifice.)

We rode about an hour, and all along the paved, 2 lane roads were impoverished villages, crammed right up against the pavement. It was Sunday, early AM, but people were out and bustling. They smiled and waved and called greetings as we went. It was like looking into peoples living rooms.
Once at the ocean, we were to demonstrate our proficiency to save ourselves in an ocean emergency, As per our instructions:
We donned my gov't issued life vest and inflated it.
We waded out into the ocean and climbed into an old, beaten-up island outrigger, along with 10 others.
We went out from shore about 20 yards.
We dropped off the boat into the foaming brine, first off one side, then the other, so as not to tip the boat. Our vests have little lights on the shoulders, which alight as soon as the vest gets wet. We looked like bobbing ETs.
We gathered and linked arms to practice awaiting rescue, then broke and swam back to the boat and climbed back into the boat, the edge of which is about 3ft above the water.  Getting back into the outrigger boats-imagine manatees climbing into a pick-up.
The beach we trained at.

I did it! Cool!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

July 9, 2011 Enjoying plants at Base Camp

 Bananas! Growing wild on a tree! The sight of this made my day!
 
Birds of Paradise
Constance and I

Love, Ali

Sunday, July 3, 2011

July 4, 2011 Leaving LA, arriving at Base Camp, Cavite, Philippines

Happy 4th of July!
Well, we left LAX on July 2nd and have traveled through many time zones and many moods and have had about 5 hours of sleep. I am sharing a room with Amy again. She's about my age, from SC. I slept well but woke often, listening to the sounds of animals outside. Something chirps and grunts and I've never heard anything like it before. If only I weren't so tired I would have been more curious.
Off to breakfast, which smells garlicy and delicious, and then we have a whole day of training sessions. We're hearing that our group of 60 was to have been 2 or more times that but got cut because of budget.
Hey! How is MN running? Are you in fact shut down?
Enjoy some John Phillips Sousa for Mama and me.

Below: Excited to be boarding at LAX to head to the Philippines. 

The view out Amy and my room.


Our residence while at Base Camp for training
Before everyone gathered for breakfast. (wifi-Peace Corps, Philippines, 2011 style!It is extremely unreliable, though and my best hope is to catch it about 4AM, which works well for me since I wake up about 3 every morning.)

Friday, July 1, 2011

July 1, 2011 In which I fly into the next two years of unknown

First day over. Flight went well from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. The meetings today taught me that all the conflicting emotions I'm feeling are common to everyone. We all have anxieties and aspirations over everything. What will I do if I don't like the food? What if my Filipino colleagues disapprove of me or my work? Will I learn the language? Will the family I live with accept me?
Finally, at 7, we finished for the day. A bunch of us walked about a mile to an In'N'Out Burger for supper and had a good, relaxing talk about what this PC process has been like so far.
I'm rooming with Amy, from SC. We set our alarm for 7 and have to be down in the lobby by 8. We fly for 12 hours to Tokyo and then 4 more to the Philippines. We're supposed to "dress comfortably but make a good impression when we land"!