The REAL Peace Corps Philippines experience

Getting out of Manila was a 1.5 hour endeavor - I now understand the concept of "Metro Manila". We drove down EDSA, the main highway, which protestors flooded in the 1960's, reulting in the ousting of Marcos. It is a huge highway - 8 lanes across, so the enormity of the protest hit home.

Olangapo is close to Subic Bay, and many families speak English fairly well. Our bus was met by all of the host families and we had 1/2 of a picture to match up with (host family and volunteer). I matched mine and the woman said, "No". I was taken aback and told the PC facilitator that she didn't want me. She did take me but was surprised that I wasn't young...hmmm.

Joie (Joy) told me that I would be living with her mother-in-law, Tess, and that it was a family compound - 3 of Tess's 4 sons and families and the family of Tess's sister-in-law. Upon arrival, we discovered that Tess and I were both born on May 19th and that she is 3 years older than me. So, it was meant to be.

Her grandchildren and nieces/nephew/cousins - all the children - total 9 and there are plenty of animals - 4 dogs, 1 cat, 30 or so pigeons (two of her sons race them).
I played 3 hours of Monopoly my first night - and Angelo bankrupted me. He also taught me vocabulary and even left a post it full of words for me when I crashed.

My room is large, and has a bed and a fan in it. Tess is an excellent seamstress and made a beautiful bed cover and curtains which brightens the room. I have a box where I pile my shirts and pants and have a hanger on the back of the door where I can hang my personal care products - with my small mirror.

Unfortunately, there is no wireless here and our classes last from 8am-6pm and I am supposed to have lunch and dinner with my family (lovely lovely)...and we talk for hours...so I've had little time for studying/writing, let alone this blog and the internet. I've written great items for this blog, but they are on my own computer, so I've been unable to transfer anything to this blog!! Plus, during my training I make 85pesos/day and the internet cafe charges 20p/hr. so I can't use it much anyway!!

I assumed the weather was similar to Houston, where I lived for 10 years - HAH! American ignorance - yes, the temperature is 80-100F; yes, the humidity is 90-100%, but I've never seen such rains as these! Unbelievable - yesterday it rained buckets for 15 hours and the streets flooded. The waterways are filled with garbage - plastic and less benificent items...so, when they flood, you walk through filth.

Yesterday the medical officer of the PC schooled us on parasites which was rather scary - he said about 6-10 of our group of 140 will get them and he has seen thousands of worms be coughed up or come out the other end...although he said all orifices are possible. But there are antibiotics for the worms (hook, tape, round, etc)...the scariest was the amoeba and he said that 30% of us would get that. So, we all walked home (every day is a torrential rain and we walk through flooded streets)...and washed our feet thoroughly, searching for flukes.

The dogs and cats here are in awful condition - I've never seen such barely surviving animals - and they are plentiful, walking the streets in search of a bite to eat, scabbed over with sores...I'm an animal freak and don't want to get close to them. We got our first rabies shots yesterday as well as were vaccinated for Japanese encephalitis.

My family can't understand why I am such an infant in speaking Tagalog - they say, "But the American missionaries can speak!" The difference is that the PC didn't know where we would be posted - and we are learning 3 different languages: Hillagayong, Cebuano, and Tagalog. We won't find out for another 5 weeks exactly where we will be posted, and I only hope my Tagalog picks up!!

In any case - there are people looking over my shoulder as I write this, waiting to sit at this computer!

Mahal,
Debra

PC impressions - leaving for Training Site

Must say that it's been a fascinating process thus far and that I'm very favorably impressed with the logistical competencies of the PC Philippines in dealing with 143 new Trainees.

As everyone warned us, you land in Manila (we landed after midnight), they bus you to your IO site (initial orientation) to a hurrah welcome from PC staff and volunteers, give you a snack of bananas and apples and sweet tea, and around 2am you plop into bed (three in a room). We arrived on a Saturday midnight and began the orientation at 8:30 am, after breakfast. All three of us in our room collapsed around 7pm and woke up at 3am for a couple of days. We were kept busy every day, getting lectures from the Embassy on dangers, the Peace Corps on etiquette and the medical officers on keeping healthy (and of course getting our inoculations).

Because our group was so large (143), we stayed at a lovely resort and were treated royally...quite delusional. The last night, my two roommates and I even went to the spa and splurged ($20) for a massage...pretty intense - I still have bruises - but it certainly worked out whatever knots I had!

Announcement of our various language placements came with fanfare. I was hoping to study Waray in Lehte, Cebuano in Dumaguette, or Hiligaynon (Ilonggo)in Iloilo - all of which are in the Visayas...oh well. I'm glad to be studying Tagalog since it's the official language, but a little bummed that I won't be near a swimmable beach. I do, however, remind myself that I could be in Azerbaijan, which quickly restores my mood!!

There are two 'clusters' of CYF (Children, Youth and Family)volunteers grouped together for language study - 5 people in each cluster. And so, we boarded the bus at 7am for a 4 hour trip to Olangapo, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines!!

D Day (Detroit that is)

D Day has arrived - thought it would be LA Day, but for some reason the Californians are being flown 5 hours east in order to take a 19 hour trip west to the Philippines!

Stayed at the plush Westin hotel and had a fabulous roommate - Elizabeth, who will be going to Coastal Management. We hit it off and bonded with a few other Detroit folks. Had a great 'staging' with about 40 of the 75 folks in Detroit (another 70 staged in Philly at the same time). Formed groups of 8 and trekked to the airport - carting our 80+ pounds of luggage - OMG, I need a sherpa. Finally got all the confusion dealt with at the check in counter and then waited and waited (first a gate change, then the landing gear needed replacement, then someone didn't get on in time and had to find his luggage and recheck in...thankfully not a PCV) and took off 2 hours late. Landed in Nagoya, Japan after 12 hours and then reboarded for the 3.5 hour trip to Manila.

Incredible logistical performance by the Philippines Peace Corps group - literally tons of luggage and busloads of folks. Arrived at the Island Cove resort - a little island in Manila Bay - around 1pm to cheers of the PC staff. Had a 'snack' and then collected luggage, posted to Facebook and went to bed around 2am. Up at 6am for a day of orientation - again pretty impressive with such a huge group: 143 Trainees who hope to become Volunteers on November 7th, after meeting all the criteria - including a 30 minute conversation in another language - at the intermediate level. It appears that there are few linguists in this group, so I have a chance!!

Great thunder at the moment - it is the rainy season now ...through December...and I'm off to walk in the cool rain to dinner. Early to bed tonight since it's up at 6am again tomorrow!

MABUHAY Debra!!

What a sendoff!!

The BEST band, the BEST food, the BEST friends and family!

I don't think I've ever felt such love as I did the night of the party - I was so honored by the folks who came - friends I've known for months and those who have been with me for decades. The party was held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City, my spiritual community. The Filipino band, Little Brown Brother, far exceeded my expectations and I can't extol them enough - if you ever have a chance to see them - to dance to their music - DO! Myrna croons ballads and love songs


My friend, Grace, tried to teach the unruly party-goers Tagalog - one table of my over-achiever friends got everyone, but several class clowns didn't even start!






There was dancing and my appreciation speech
















Old friends and new

And family

As the cake said (well, not really, unless you were Alice and stoned):
For Friends Who Will Be Missed But Not Forgotten



Salamat Po
Debra

Freneticism

Wow - has a lot of time passed! So many ups and downs of wrapping up a California life in preparation of being rather out of touch for the next 27 months.

Had a FABULOUS goodbye with Ashley and Greg in NYC - outfitting her apartment (my Craigslist expertise) and lugging the merchandise down 1st Avenue to her 76th St. apartment! Greg and I frequented lots of Starbucks for the free wireless and shared camaraderie. The three of us cheered on the Spanish team as they won the World Cup and just had easy fun together. I met Sol, who Ashley works with at the UN, retiring after 30 years - back to the Philippines! So, I'll have a friend there. Also visited the Embassy and became overwhelmed with all I didn't know about the Philippines . My friends "The Marys" came from Wilmington and Ithaca to spend a bon voyage day in NYC - totally rained upon, but we chatted (well - ate) our way around town from the Cornell Club to an intimate Spanish restaurant to the Algonquin. Great fun. Felt like a wonderful vacation.

Returned to chaos and a property manager who was AWOL - I was both worried about him and frantic since I had less than a month before I left. Things geared back up and he found me FABULOUS tenants - Mike and Hadley, who move here on Monday from Austin, TX. They've already adopted Katie, who is showing them the particulars about the house. However, the FRENETICS kept coming - when I switched the utilities, PG&E found a gas leak and shut off the gas - 2 days before my Sendoff Party! Unfortunately, the plumber found 6 gas leaks and the entire system had to be replaced - quickly. Stressful at the time, it now seems a blessing that it was successfully fixed. After investigation, there were 6 gas leaks and I had to have the gas lines completely redone. A stellar job was done, and Hadley and Mike are living in a house that is in its best condition ever!

With all the chaos and unexpected glitches, I am indebted to my friend Ellen for actually getting me packed up and out of there! She helped me pack up the last boxes and forced me to organize and throw things away - Yahoo!! And, she packed my Peace Corps crap for 2 years - under the 80 pound limit, I thought it was great - until I tried to move it all myself....80 pounds is rather heavy!!!

The last week was absolutely FRENETIC and chock-full of EMOtion - although a very different EMO from July 4th!! Katie and I had LOADS of fun - my friend Laura lent us her beautiful get-away on the Russian River and we read for 2 hours in her hot-tub, situated in the pines. We played Jenga and howled with laughter. The next weekend was spent in Half Moon Bay at a terrific B&B - The Inn at Mavericks. We visited our haunts - Happy Taco, Twice As Nice, and Katie bought me a silver Celtic ring to remind me of her - and to remind me to chill out! We also happened upon the new SF Academy of Sciences, whose premier exhibit was on the Philippines!!! I'm working with their education department to try to get my secondary project in the area of marine ecology. It's been wonderful and we will miss each other after being so close. I've tried to make sure that some of my wonderful women friends will keep in touch with my daughters and make sure that they're okay with some surrogate mothering!

What a blessing my friends and family are in my life....