Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Questions Anyone?

I'm pretty sure I drank tea in the exact spot the photo on my blog was taken. It is paradise here.

      Filipinos are very curious about us, naturally. They point and stare (which is not considered rude here). They also run in front of us to take our pictures (which is really weird). I now know how the stars feel about the paparazzi. I have no idea how many times my picture has been taken or how many times people have stood outside the gate at my host family's home just to get a glance of me, but it happens. A lot.

    I had my first class yesterday and I was only there to observe. I thought I would walk around and familiarize myself with the school I will be teaching in for the next 9 weeks. (Junob National High School). My presence didn't go unnoticed. Students (11-16) ran out of their rooms to stare and giggle. They were to shy to speak to me, which is another culture gap. I, however, was not shy. I smiled at the students, said hello (in English always at school), and tried to get them to open up. They laughed some more and covered their faces with their hands. A teacher I met last week approached me and asked me to visit her class. The students I have previously been trying to talk with all followed me to the classroom and hung outside the windows (no screens, just bars) to listen to what I had to say. When I entered the classroom all the students stood up and clapped. The teacher introduced me and as if on cue all of the students turned to me and said "Good Afternoon Miss Jessica!" I was a little taken aback and my response was lame. All I said was good afternoon, students. I walked up to the front of the class and told them a little about myself. I was nervous at first but, as you all know, I wasn't shy. I smiled and encouraged questions, teased the kids.... they are all so sweet. They were so worried about messing up their grammar that they wrote down their questions first and double checked to make sure they had it correct. This made me want to laugh-out-loud, but I reigned it in. Now, in the Filipino culture, personal questions and privacy does not exist. They want to get to know you as fast as they can and it is considered a privilege to be friends with "the American." The first question, of course, was "how tall are you?" I told them I was 6 ft. and love to play basketball. I assured them all I would play a game with them whenever they want. Moving on to questions such as "Do you have a boyfriend?", "Will you get married?", "Tell us about your family", "How much do you weigh?!!!" (No, I didn't answer) "How are the Philippines different than America?". "Would I ever eat a dog/horse/cat?", "What is my favorite Filipino dish?", "What is America like?", "What was high school like?", "Did I have a boyfriend in high school?", "Was he hot?", "Why did I come to the Philippines?", "What really is the Peace Corps?", "How long would I be in the Philippines?", "How long would I teach at Junob?", "Would I stay forever?", "What is my religion?", "Which of the boys was the hottest?" Oh my goodness.... it never ends. I gave them my email address for further questions. I expect I'll really regret that decision, but it's okay. They are all dear and I told them that the Filipino people are all warm and wonderful, which they are. When I finally made it to my class (second year, like sophomores, but they are 12-13) they were just as curious. After class they all waved and told me they were excited that I was their teacher and couldn't wait for me to return. I find myself feeling the same sentiment. :-)

More to follow...

Friday, August 22, 2008

The Americans Have Arrived

I'm in Dumaguette City (spelling?). We arrived Thursday (your wednesday) and met our host family. I'm am so spoiled, because my host family is awesome. My host mother (Mama) is a retired dentist and owns two homes. She is single but can some how afford air con (AC), a shower, flushing toilet (big deal here) TOILET PAPER!!!!, and a washing machine. We also have a houseperson (maid) that does the laundry and cleaning. Mama cooks because she's a very cautious woman. I have a host sister, Raylynn. She is 24 and works in Publishing. Raylynn lives at home and will not move out until she is married. My host nephew is 4 and his name is Denzel. I really love my family. They are such warm and caring people. I have adjusted well, at least into the family. Not so outside of the balay (house). Still a lot of staring and pointing. Many men declaring their love and proposing. I take it all in stride. The people here are used to foreigners because of the college, but we still draw a lot of attention.     I begin co-teaching Tuesday and can't wait to begin. I look forward to telling you all about it. Oh, and I am no longer learning Tagalog. I am learning Visayan--the language of the Visayan island region. I know my site in 3 months will be around here somewhere. I wish I could stay in Dumaguette, but that will never happen. I am so in love with the Philippians and the people. Everything and everyone are so wonderful. I am truly in paradise. No really, I am. I have a cocunut and mango tree growing in my backyard! I would love to post photos, but it may not happen. It's been hard to find internet access for my lap top. Right now I'm in an internet cafe with a few of the other education volunteers. No Wi-fi here. It is not common. I have two little Filipino boys watching me type this blog. They are very cute. But I think everyone is about ready to leave and I don't know my way around well enough to find Junob (where I live) on my own. Hope all is well with everyone back home. Miss you. Siege, ayo ayo! (okay, take care)

More to follow...

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Dumaguete City

Wow, I just read the previous post and I saw all the errors. Sorry about that. I was very distracted while typing that one.

Just wanted to let you all know that I know where I'll be for the next 3 months...until November 9. I will be in Dumaguete City located on the island of Negros. It is the most beautiful city in all the Philippines, so I'm told. It is a college town, so they have everything...all amenities, beautiful beaches, wealthy families (yay host family!) and indoor flushing toilets. YES! The city is nicknamed The City of Gentle People. I'm so excited. Apparently I got the deluxe site because of my knee surgery three years ago. I had no idea that day would guarantee me the best placement available. But it did!     I meet my host family tomorrow about 11 am. We'll eat together at a host potluck and then go to our individual homes. I'm excited but also very nervous. I hope they like me! :-)

Facts: The island of Negros is approximately located down south, but not where the terrorists are. I'd tell you more but everyone is standing next to me yelling "Jess, Jess" because I'm just so damn popular here.  Gotta go. Don't know when I'll be back again. But when I am, oh man. It's gunna be interesting. Later bloggers.

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A Day in the Life...

i didn't think it was possible to find each day better than the last, but I do. Yesterday, Monday, has been the best so far. I'm just going to walk you through each moment because I loved yesterday.     My roomates, Lynn and Angela, and I were up with the rooster at 4 am. Its been that way every day. The guys named his Harold, I named him dinner. :-) We're all plotting to get him.   After breakfast we began session at 8:30 and asked many questions about the Philippines and culture. Church and State are not seperate here and the Catholic Chruch, according to the panalists, owns much of the land and govern much of the country politics. In fact, they excommunicate any politician who opposses them and then that politicians approual rate goes down so low they lose all power.     We broke into our projects-mine is Education. We also have Costal Resource Managements and Child, Youth and Family coordinatiors. Discussed our goals and learned we heed to create lesson plans for we will be teaching on our own. High School (secondary) by the way. I'm excited to begin, but freaked all the same about curriculum. I may need to call on you friends at the CCE! :-)      Session ended at 4 and children from the Children Abuse Center had prepared several dances for us. They were so cute! Afterwords they came up to us and played with our hair, giggled each time we spoke, and laughed at our attempt at Tagalog. They taught us a dance and a new game. The boys brought some of us girls, me included, yellow flowers. They made me bend down so they could put the flowers in my hair. I felt so accepted at that moment. The kids are great, they accept you immedietly and try to teach you as much Tagalog as they can. Like our numbers... isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat, lima, anim, pito, walo, sigam, sampu... There is no sense of privacy here. We're on display and free entertainment for the next 27 months. I wish I oculd say more but I do not wish to offend my new host country. Fun questions for when I return. I will tell you that having white skin here is ideal. It's considered beautiful. On the way to the hotel Saturday night I saw a "Skin Whitening Boutique", a lot like our tanning salons, which they consider very strange. Love to explain more, like the Mall of Asia (the largest mall in Asia) and the fact that Jason and Garrett are freaking me out about eating cats, but it's time to party. Gotta go do Videokee. Later! Peace.

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Saturday, August 16, 2008

I'm HEEEERRREE!

Kumusta from the Philippines! I'm just outside of Manila in a beautiful "resort" where the water is one temperature: cold, the cockroaches are your friends and fish is whats for breakfast. It's perfect. I love it here. I'm sitting under a shady tree with my fellow PCT (trainies), who are all wonderful by the way, listening to the waterfall and the exotic birds. Friday was the longest day of my life. We were in the lobby at 3:45 and left LA at 8:30 am. We landed in Honalulu for a very short time and then made the 10 hour flight to Manila. We landed at 4:45 pm, made it to the "hotel" around 7ish and made it to bed by 10. Now it is 8 am and we begin our day in about a half an hour. Everything is so beautiful, you guys. I can't even begin to tell you how great it is here. I will post pictures as soon as I can. Just wanted to let you all know that I'm here safely and having the time of my life. Oh, one thing I need to write for legal reasons: ehm... "The views represented in this blog do not reflect that of the US Peace Corps." Alright, off to work. Later all! Babay!

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