Festivals, Feasting and Fraternity

Today is the festival day of the patron saint of our barangay, Old Cabalan - St. Vincent, the hope of the poor. We have had several days of beauty pageants: Friday night was young beauties who a couple of our guys paid money to dance with (I didn't attend since my family took me to Subic to walk on the boardwalk, listen to live music and buy 'ube' -sweet potato- ice cream). Last night, however, after the gay parade, complete with fire breathers, I did attend the barangay's Ms. Gay Fiesta which was something to behold.











There were 14 contestants, who first showed in costume, then talent, then swimsuits and answered questions - just like the Ms. Universe contest...and how they tied their 'talong' was beyond me - the front of their very skimpy bikinis were absolutely flat...and we had front row seats and really checked it out.

The 'she-man'- as they say here - who won the contest (we stayed until 11:30pm) was gorgeous and man could she dance - other contestants moved like men trying to be girls, but this girl danced fluidly like a woman - the guys in our group were hard pressed to see any masculine qualities. It was entertaining in one respect but heartbreaking in another: the community seemed to come to laugh at these souls, who had the courage to show themselves as they felt on the inside. Although the Filipino culture is very accepting on one hand, these people really don't fit into society. My family says that the only way that they have partners is if they have money, because survival is such an issue here that poor men can be bought.



Today, each Catholic home (mine is Mormon and doesn't participate) cooked a feast and opened to anyone who visited. We all attended the lunch of Bas Palo - the barangay captain - wow, what a home he has - they say it cost more than 5M pesos and is considered a mansion by my family. We then visited two more families and ate at each one. And, as I write, I hear the xylophones and drums from yet another marching band. At 3:30pm we watched as students we had tutored marched up the street in their red and white uniforms. And earlier, another high school marching band serenaded us - I have no idea who is marching now!


Last weekend we did make it to the beach - we caught a bus at 5:30am in order to get the surfers in our crowd to the waves early....after a 1/5 hour ride on a standing room only bus (I was on the last step of the back door with the door wide open as we drove!)we arrived at the Crystal Beach Resort in San Narciso - to utterly flat waves - actually, there were no swells.
Even at 7am, it was HOT in the sun...but I was sooo jazzed to finally find a clean-ish ocean that I raced into the water (here, one is fully clothed in a t-shirt and shorts when one swims. I have never swum in water that was so hot - my body overheated if I swam a few strokes!! And, it seems typical that resorts dynamite out the beach so that the sand is smooth to the feet...which meant that there was no life - animal, plant, or even rocks. But - we all had a blast - played volleyball at 7:30am, sweating so profusely that Matt served the ball and his wedding ring flew off...we sifted through the sand, finding several buried pesos, but no wedding ring. Lots of great camaraderie though...perhaps a little too much as we discovered the following day that Christian had contracted "pink eye" from one of the children we worked with on Saturday - by Monday 5 of the 10 of us had severe cases of conjunctivitis. Now, over a week later, two still have blood in their eyes - scary (I escaped).

Ah - I'm over an hour on the internet and need to retrieve my clothes and hang them with hopes that they dry in a couple days!!

My First Parasol and Hike

For someone who almost never sweats - except when sunning outside for hours, or hiking Pulgas Ridge at midday - this is quite an experience. Today I returned home literally dripping from head to toe after tutoring 20 high school students in English (in a small room without a fan and only one small window). I actually used my umbrella as a parasol for the first time in my life - it's that hot (and summer doesn't begin until March!!) I'm hoping that it works like a sauna and that I lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks...I've definitely dropped weight, but am still working on "sexy" which my host family thinks I'll get to soon.

I've been sick the last week or so with a bad 'ubo' (cough) that apparently has turned into bronchitis. The medical officer was here yesterday and handed me Cipro and another medication, so I'm hoping that I'm on the mend. Must admit, I probably aggravated things on Sunday - but I couldn't pass up the chance to go hiking to waterfalls...just didn't understand what 'hiking' here meant.

13 of us (trainees and our teachers) piled into a flatbed truck with the barangay captain, Bas Palo, and his rescue team. We drove far outside the paved roads of Old Cabalan and forded the local river several times until we came to the end of the road at Purok 14...finding this slightly skinnier version of our village dog.The Purok manager met us and led us on our trek....I was rather dizzy from my two days of being sick and really pooped out fast. The 24 year olds didn't tire out quite so quickly and for the first time I felt old, sigh...I've deluded myself so long!!

We traipsed through a jungle of rainforest, but didn't see any snakes or lethal bugs. A few of us slipped and fell a few times, but no major mishaps. After 2 hours, we arrived at the lower falls and I watched, utterly chagrined, as our guides set ropes up the cliff, preparing us for the climb to the upper falls. I said forlornly to my teacher - "I can't do it." So, they had a teenager from the village be my yaya and babysit me while everyone pulled themselves up the hill using the rope.










I was so exhausted and hot that I enjoyed the couple hours rest and swam in the falls - blessedly cool in the 90F heat. I thought I was refreshed, but as we began the 2 hour return, I found I was beat and felt badly that I was bringing up the rear with my yaya, who really looked out for me. We met some members of the indigenous Aetes tribe on the way back who were very friendly - the height of their leader reached my elbow. Onward, back to the village and a lovely meal of crayfish, native chicken and rice - family style, eaten with fingers. The best part of the trip for me was the swim in the river at the village - complete with an 8' deep pool, into which boys were diving from a rock 20' above...crazy. The water was lukewarm and wonderful...and although the excursion probably exacerbated my sickness - it was well worth it!!

With any luck, our supervisor will approve our going to the beach this Sunday - all this time in the Philippines and we really haven't been to a swimmable beach (eg without trash). We are incredibly busy M-S and only have Sunday off - language classes M-F from 8-12 and technical training from 1-5, and special events on Saturdays. Just living is time consuming - washing clothes by hand and hoping they dry within two days and helping with dinner, playing games with the kids and doing my homework - I fall into bed around 10pm to the hum of my ever-needed fan.

Family Ties

Based on the host families of our group of 10 trainees, family life in the Philippines is full of variety.

One girl lives in a family whose daughter is in Saudi Arabia, but whose granddaughter is living with them going to college here. They are very serious, and don't interact much with the volunteer, although their upper middle class standard of living is wonderful.

Another girl lives with a doctor and his family - he has a wealth of rules that she must follow and she also says that she is in a serious household.

One of the boys lives with a woman who performs witch doctor services for the locals for 20 pesos a visit. She suffers from arthritis and gets drunk on wine every evening to still the pain. Another volunteer lives next door in her daughter's house - the daughter of the witch doctor is a college trained nurse.

Our only married couple lives with a member of the NBI - the Philippine equivalent of the FBI. The mother is British and is working in Canada while the family is here awaiting visa approval. The father has a girlfriend here and says that both the girlfriend and the wife are aware of each other. The eldest son is 24 and has a very pregnant girlfriend who is to deliver in October. In preparation of their move to Canada, none of the younger children go to school - the family did not want to pay for a semester of private school with their imminent departure.

Another girl lives with a family who has a blatantly gay son...on her 2nd day here, the son asked her if he could wear her clothes - and they had a fashion show.

My family is Mormon and doesn't drink or smoke (lucky for me!) and all live in a family sort of compound with 4 houses. It seems matriarchal, with Tess (61 years old) as its head. Her son Joseph, lives with his wife and son in the back house (we can pass dishes between the houses), while another son, Oliver, lives in a front house with his wife, three daughters and his wife's sister's son.






Family ties seem strong, although overpopulation is terrible here, and Catholics do not believe in birth control - in fact, while there is "sex-ed" in the high school, they never discuss how condoms are to be used...thus, even if one wished to cross the Pope, he/she wouldn't know how to use a contraceptive. Today we visited several social welfare agencies - one was started by a woman who had been approached by a man with 5 children - one an infant. He asked if she would purchase his infant for 1000 pesos so that he could feed the rest of his children. Such is the condition here.

On Friday, Tess purchased her first refrigerator - probably with the money the Peace Corps gives her for housing me. It was a great day for all of us...especially me. I didn't really notice the refrigerator because I saw the box. The refrigerator is 7 cubic feet and the box stood about 5 feet high. My eyes lighted up as I grabbed the box and stashed it in my bedroom - a closet!!! Think I've said that I have a lovely bed in my room, which is large...but nothing else. I went to a Peace Corps party that night contemplating how I was going to paint it and where I would find a dowel to put in it. To show you what a wonderful family I have: I arrived home a little early from the party and opened the door...my squeal of delight scared Tess and Joie away from their task. They had taken the opportunity of my absence to drive to the palengke (market) and buy wrapping paper (in my favorite color), and I surprised them trying to surprise me with my new closet of pink and purple roses. I will post a picture of it as soon as I can. A more loving family I couldn't imagine.

Tomorrow is Joseph's 40th birthday and I'm taking the jeepney tonight to the bakery to order a chocolate cake to surprise him.

What a wonderful human experience I'm having in this amazing place!

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....

Freaking away in EMOville

Yikes - it's happened. 1st major flip out of this adventure. Am exhausted from repairing, painting and cleaning my 4BR house to get it ready to rent. Have been up at 5:30am and go to bed at 1am. Finally caught up with me - unprepared for something for 4th of July (Katie's 2st Birthday - Hooray!!) and just flipped out...EMOville. Took me a while to get a grip and realize that it all had to do with Leaving it All Behind for 2 years with the Peace Corps. Yes - my dream... Have recovered some semblance of sanity, but will recount the crazies:


Matt and Michele returned to help me - installed smoke alarms, loaded lots of furniture for them to take, along with bicycles and mini stereos. The garage is being reclaimed!

Had told property manager that I was ready for photographer, but hadn't heard anything. Katie stopped by to help me through EMOville - lunch and jeans shopping - and, when we returned, there were the property dude and the photographer! This was 4:30 and I was to go to the movies with Katie and Dave at 6pm...

The house looked pretty good, except for my packing piles (a bag for visiting Ashley in NYC this week; a bag for the Philippines, a box for storage and a box for Goodwill). I crazily moved crap from one room while he shot the photos, and then moved them back so he could take the other room. When I got to my room, I just threw (literally) everything into the closets and closed the door - beautiful shots of the house (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/apa/1823596382.html), but I was a wreck - and it was after 6pm. More EMOville with Katie and Dave (but saw a great 3D movie of Toy Story 3).

The following day I was a basket case - especially when the agent called to say he was showing the place in 2 hours (wait - didn't the pictures just get taken?).
OH NO! That meant I had to take everything out of the closets where I had thrown them and at least make neat piles. Whew!

The flip out: 4th of July at Ro and Judy's (25 years worth) had always been our family party for Katie as well as our neighbor's celebration, and my flip out was finding out 2 days before the party that Dave's girlfriend was coming. Most days could have talked myself through it, but felt sabotaged - and especially vulnerable now that I was leaving...too many emotions...EMOville big time. Lots of hurt feelings, but Roland's 80th (and Katie's 21st) was wonderful. I gave a loving speech about Roland's impact on our lives.

Woke up tired emotionally today, but have resumed packing up into the 4 piles. Have to go get a PO Box in San Mateo so that Alexis and Judy can get any mail that is important while I'm gone. Also have to get the last of my Hep B shots and probably a Shingles shot - and the 3 months of medications that you have to take with you while you're in training. After the 3 months, the Peace Corps takes care of you.
Still need to get a knife (Swiss Army type) and sandals, but have most everything else. Actually want to buy a couple pair of the new wicking-underwear that are supposedly perfect for the tropics.

More goodbye lunches and dinners this week...and planning my Send Off Party on August 14th at the UUFRC...did get Little Brown Brother - a Filipino band to play that night, and Grace Furci, who taught with me in SSF, will teach us Tagalog and Ilocano. Hope that it will be a fun night,!

Overwhelmed

Thanks to Ashley's April attempts to jump start my packing and Judy and Ellen actually arranging boxes in the garage. I now have a container within the garage in which I will store my furniture for 2 years. Thanks to Liz and Matt and Michele for spending several days with me to repair and seal the deck, wash the carpets, get my HP mini (a heaven-sent loan from Julia) ready for the trip and download books onto my new Nook! With any luck I can have the place clean and ready for a photographer to take pictures to post online next week. Once I get it rented, I can start packing up everything for real. Ugh.

Think I have a stomachache - nostalgia saying goodbye, so many loose ends to tie up, so much of my life to leave. Wish I was better at leaping into things, but I'm scared a bit...more than I anticipated. I'm making one dream come true, but leaving so many others that I always hoped would evolve into something different than they have. Ah well...life doesn't seem to be a menu to order from, so I'll need to focus on my adventurous side and LEAP!

I'm off to REI to try on waterproof sandals - Peace Corps does get some discounts and I'm hoping to find some acceptable Chacos at 50% off! Dress code: No shorts, no sleeveless, higher necklines and longer skirtlines. Also will check out tshirts with wicking capability at REI.

My days are starting to be filled with goodbye lunches - in between the patching and painting and packing. Rather fun, except for the minor dread of being away from these wonderful friends for so long. Really hoping that they will come visit me in the Philippines. I'm saving up my timeshare points so that I can meet them in luxurious surroundings!

PC volunteers say not to learn Tagalog because it's likely that you'll be posted where they don't speak it (85 dialects)! I checked out a kid's book at the library and am astounded at how impossible it looks - very Polynesian and I have no Latin-roots to anchor my understanding. The Filipino people are reputedly kind...I can only hope they will forgive my gruesome attempts at communication!

TTFN

OMG - it's for real!

Got the call on June 8th and my dreams from my teenage years with JFK are going to be realized!

The Dream:
Debbie to Liz in 7th grade: "When I grow up I want to go into the Peace Corps"
Deb to Dave in 1984: "When we retire, let's go into the Peace Corps"
Mom to Ashley and Katie in 2004: "I've always wanted to go into the Peace Corps"

The Reality:
August, 2009 - Application and interview with request for a warm climate ("No problem")
December, 2009 - Nominated to train teachers - WTF?? in Azerbaijan?? (FREEZING)
Christmas, 2009 - Liz gives Deb silk underwear for Azerbaijan.
February, 2010 - Completed 40 pages of medical forms after 2 months of doctor visits
May, 2010 - Notified that am medically cleared
June, 2010 - Phone call tells me that I cannot go to Azerbaijan due to medical history and asks if I would accept a different job and different region (at this point I'm actively sending telepathic visualizations of palm trees and hot sands).

I may have overdone the heat telepathy a bit - I'm scheduled to depart August 19th for the Philippines as a Youth Teacher and Advisor to disadvantaged youth!!


For those of my friends who are freaking out...please go to this information that the Peace Corps publishes for you: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.faf


OMG - after all of the waiting - I'm in high gear and high anxiety mode!