Sam's Adventures

2 years down, 2 months to go.

2011-09-16T01:08:00.000-07:00

It’s been a whirlwind experience and I am determined to make the most of my last 2 months here! The previous couple months were dragged down with illness and endless grad school essays. I managed to squeeze in some good times…

American/Filipino Friendship Day – had a cookout with the girls, decorated cookies and painted their faces.

Hiking adventure with Baguio friends.

Friend from home! We toured around Manila, camped in Mindoro and hit up Northern Luzon.

Sometime during the trip I came down with dengue fever. I guess I wasn’t a “real” Peace Corps volunteer until I caught a tropical illness. Spent some time in the hospital and tons of time in bed. I’m feeling much better now and back in action.

Week 95 (CRAZY)!

2011-06-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

My mom recently informed me that I am slacking hardcore on updates so here goes…

The “Freedom Room” at my center is now complete!

Butanding

During Holy Week this year I decided to leave the bloody crucifixion event of last year behind and take a more relaxing vacation to the province of Bicol to swim with whale sharks or “Butanding.” Our boat captain told us he would spot the giant fish and we should be prepared to jump into the water at anytime. After waiting on the boat’s edge for more than an hour, doubt began to sweep over me. I had lost hope in seeing the world’s largest fish. Suddenly, the captain told us to jump in. My buddies and I scrambled into the water, flipping our fins as fast as we could, swimming into a mound of other spectators chasing after the same thing. No luck, we missed it. Round two. The captain again told us to jump in. This time my mask flew off as I jumped into the water. I quickly re-adjusted my mask and put my face in the water just in time to see a HUGE mouth swimming right towards me. I panicked for about 2 seconds before realizing how beautiful and gentile the creature swimming below me was. I started swimming alongside it thinking it would be an easy swim. Wrong. They look like they move slowly because they are so massive, but the truth is that swimming with them is the best workout I’ve ever had!

Padayon

In one of the local dialects here in the Philippines, “padayon” means to continue or persist. A PC volunteer 2 batches before mine created a youth leadership training called Padayon, teaching the importance of continual volunteerism. This year, one of my buddies Dan planned a Padayon camp with 30 youth leaders from Calauan, Laguna. The community we worked with is a resettlement project for families displaced from Manila after typhoon Pepeng hit. I was able to bring 2 of the girls from the center to participate in the training as youth leaders. During the beginning of the week, 5 other PC volunteers and I trained the leaders on how to facilitate activities, communicate with others, and advocate for the rights of children. The second half of the week was practical implementation for them. The leaders then facilitated their own camp with over 400 younger youth. It was incredible seeing the kids in action, teaching and mentoring their peers. Seeing the increase in self-confidence from the two girls I brought from my center brought tears to my eyes. I’ve realized here that working with youth is the most fulfilling job I could ever have.

Soccer Camp

I headed to the poorest province in the Philippines, Samar, to help a fellow volunteer with a soccer camp he planned. Getting there was an adventure in itself. After taking a 7-hour bus ride to Manila, plane to Leyte, and 3-hour van ride along an unpaved road… I was in Guiuan. It was well worth the trip. We spent the days playing soccer with high school students and the afternoons playing in swimming holes created by WWII soldiers who used to be based there.

Thresher Sharks

After the camp, I decided to check out the island of Malapascua off the northern coast of Cebu. There is only one way to describe to the place … paradise. The island is famous for it’s diving; the Thresher shark can be found off the coast. Thresher sharks are known for their elongated tail fin, which is almost the same length as their bodies. The dive trip to see them headed out at 4:30am. I was bummed to wake up so early, but as the boat sailed into the sunrise my sleepy eyes immediately shot open. I was able to see 3 sharks during the dive!! I spend the rest of my time on the island relaxing, reading, and eating delicious food.

Colorado Falls

It’s always bittersweet leaving vacation, but I was excited to get back to Baguio. Knowing I only have a few months left, I want to try and spend as much time as I can with the girls and wrap-up all my projects. When I got back a photographer came and took some shots of the girls and staff at the center….

I recently went on a hike about 30-minutes outside of Baguio to some beautiful waterfalls. After watching a friend jump off the falls, I decided I had to do it as well. Of course my clumsy nature took over and instead of gracefully jumping in, I landed back first. I currently have some crazy looking burses all over my back and legs. It was worth it!!

Gintong Kalasag

The PC grant I sent out was fully funded. Thanks so much to everyone who donated; it means the world to the kids and me! We had a camp this past week with some of the money from the grant. The kids are currently practicing a traditional cultural dance and skit about the life of a child laborer from a broken family. Their plan is to perform at local schools in order to advocate for the rights of children.

Happy Father’s Day!

Pops, love you! Hope you had a good Father’s Day. Thanks for always encouraging me to choose my own path. You are one of a kind J

Week 87

2011-04-20T00:46:00.000-07:00

The past month and a half have flown by at warp speed, as I’m sure the rest of my journey here will. The week I got back from the states I went to Palawan to host a play and art therapy training. During the beginning of the week, I gave lectures to social workers, teachers, parents, and caregivers in the community who work with at-risk children. At the end of the week I shadowed another volunteer at her site where she works with special needs children. The school she works at has limited financial resources, yet does everything they can to help educate the children in the community who are turned away from public schools because of their severe special needs. Here in the Philippines, resources for children with special needs are extremely limited. Most special needs children stay at home and never receive formalized education. I helped the staff at the school begin to develop a rubric for implementing play and art therapy with the kids there, to help with development and personal growth.

As a side trip during my time in Palawan I did some snorkeling and decided to go to the underground river, which is nominated to become one of the new 7 wonders of the world. After taking a 2-hour jeepney trip from the city I was staying in, two boat rides, and waiting in massive lines, I arrived at the breathtakingly beautiful Subterranean River. Fitted with a headlamp, life vest, and construction worker’s hardhat (I was looking good!), our boat slowly made its way along the crystal green river into a cave. Inside the cave are stalagmite formations and of course bats!

Getting back to Baguio after over a month away from site felt great. I got back just in time for the wedding of two friends. A former Aussie volunteer (who was my savior when I first arrive in Baguio) and Filipino friend got married at the country club here. Over 20 of her relatives flew here from Australia to attend the party. The ceremony was short and sweet followed by a night of good food and dancing. The wedding truly symbolizes the merging of two cultures.

Congrats guys… I wish you the best.

Right after the wedding I celebrated my 24^th birthday. I slept in late, got to see my family on skype (during which my dad was wearing my mom’s wig…classy dad), and had a grill out with some friends. In true Filipino style I bought all the food for and cooked the birthday dinner. The night continued with some videoke and dancing to the latest pop hits! It was a great day.

For the last couple weeks at my center we’ve been remodeling the basement into an art space that the kids named their “Freedom Room.” I sketched out a mural on one of the walls in the room for the kids to paint.

20 kids + non-washable paint = good times!

For the past two weeks the kids and I have been covered head to toe in paint. I love it. On another one of the walls we’re using spray paint to graffiti their own designs. I mistakenly gave one of the 7-year-olds a can so she could try it out…the spray paint ended up getting pointed at me and sprayed all over my face. She looked horrified at first; probably scared I would yell at her. Then the uncontrollable laughter kicked in as all the other girls looked at my face and we all had a good laugh. The room is really coming along! I will post some pictures soon once I upload them.

Peace, Love, and Spray Paint

Golden Shields Theater Crew

2011-03-28T19:51:00.001-07:00

I've posted on here a couple times about the theater group I am working with. It has been one of the most rewarding things about my Peace Corps experience so far. The kids in the group are extremely dedicated, working together to advocate for change in the community. Unfortunately, our funding has been cut and we're reaching out to request more funds... that's where you guys come in :)

If you would like to learn more about the group and make a donation, please use the following link...

Speak Up! Advocating for Change through Performing Arts

and here's a quick video about the group...

America, F Yeah!

2011-03-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

I am currently on my second unplanned trip to the homeland. I’m in the states because of the Big C. When I found out my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer I couldn’t stop thinking about it, worrying about how she was doing. It’s difficult being so far away when you hear news like that. I decided to take a trip home so I could see for myself how she was doing. Thankfully, they caught the cancer early. She’s doing well. She’s being treated by some of the best doctors and nurses in the nation.

So while I am home, I’m soaking up all things American…and loving every minute of it. Just a few reasons why I love America…

Friends & family, cheese!, vegging on my parent’s couch, Yuengling, draft beer, lame reality TV, Sunday brunch, playing Loaded Questions, salad bars, paved sidewalks, pubs, Publix … grocery shopping in general, the public library, NPR, driving, good music, okay I think ya’ll get the point.

I love America, but I am missing my life back in the ‘pines. I head back tomorrow and am actually exited to get back to peace corps living. As crazy as it sounds I kinda miss bucket baths and roosters crowing in the early morning. Most of all I miss the kids and staff I work with… AND it’s mango season! See you soon Philippines.

Week 73

2011-01-09T17:40:00.001-08:00

Hello 2011, nice to see you here.

I ended 2010 with a bang. Family in the Philippines! I've been communicating a lot with people back home, but words and pictures only go so far. For them to actually come here and see the work I've been doing and experience the culture felt amazing.

I waited for their arrival in the packed waiting area at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. I was surrounded by Filipino families welcoming home their loved ones who are working abroad. 11 percent of the Filipino population works abroad. Of course Dani and Adrienne's flight got delayed so I sat there for 6 hours, watching family reunions. I was anxious for my reunion! Finally, the intercom announced the arrival of their flight from South Korea. Reunited!!

We traveled straight to my site in Baguio so they could see where I've been living for the past year. We made it just in time to see the theater crew I've been directing perform their first play. I was backstage with the kids so I didn't get to see how they did. Based on the cheers from the crowd, they nailed it! The kids were so nervous before the performance, but each time they stepped backstage after their scene ended, huge smiles appeared on their faces. Instant confidence gained!

The next day after touring around the city a bit, we went to the center and baked cookies with the girls. The girls were just as excited about the icing Dani and Adrienne brought from the states as they were to meet my family. I took my eyes off the girls for a minute and when I turned back around they were spooning globs of icing into their mouths. I couldn't help by just laugh. Kids being kids.

at Baguio Botanical Gardens

For the rest of their trip, we flew to Bohol which is an island provience in the southern part of the Philippines. We toured the chocolate hills, mounds of limestone formation. Saw the Philippine tarsier, the 2nd smallest primate in the world. Got stuck in the pouring rain during a hike. Went diving, it was Adrienne's first time! The diving in Bohol was breathtakingly beautiful. My favorite diving in the Philippines so far. The rest of the week was devoted to relaxing and catching up on lost time.

They flew out on New Years Eve. It was tough saying bye to family after such a wonderful vacation together. Thankfully there were other volunteers around who I could ring in the new year with. Welcome to 2011!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

2010-12-18T00:21:00.001-08:00

Sorry I haven’t updated in a while, I’ve been crazy busy lately. My batch just had our Mid-Service Training during which I got to catch up with fellow volunteers I haven’t seen in a while and see some freaky mustaches (the guys in my batch competed in a mustache bash). I can’t fathom the fact that I have less than a year left here. I feel as though I’ve accomplished so much in the last year, yet I’ve only just begun on some of the goals I have for my Peace Corps service.

Since it’s been a while, I’ll try and highlight my latest adventures…

I got to take a vacation to a mystical island called Siquijor. I say mystical because the island is know for withes and tons of folk tales. My travel buddies and I decided to get a “cleanse” from a local healer there. After asking around town and traveling quite a ways to find the healer, I was shocked that in front of her house there were people singing videoke. I imagined she would be living by herself, sans technology. We sat down on a bench outside the house as she prepared her cleansing tools. She filled a clear jar with water and swirled some herbs around in her mouth. Sitting in front of her, she blew bubbles into the jar as she moved it around our bodies. The clear water began to turn brown, then black. She released the toxins from our bodies. I didn’t feel any different after, but it sure was an experience!

Siquijor was beautiful. We jumped off waterfalls, relaxed on the beach, drank with locals during the town fiesta, got massages and ate candlelight dinners on the beach. Before getting to Siquijor, I went diving off Apo Island. It was amazing. I saw sea turtles, eels, beautiful corals and Nemo.

After the trip I flew back into Manila just in time for the Children’s Rights Fest, a daylong festival celebrating the rights of the child. A fellow volunteer from my batch helped to organize the event. The day started out with an advocacy walk, which was a powerful sight to see. Tons of kids walking in the middle of the street, carrying signs like, “I want to play, not work!” I spent the rest of the day face-painting so many cute kids.

I then celebrated Thanksgiving in Sagada with friends and three random Israelis. It was such a comical day. Some of the highlights were apple pie falling out of the oven onto the floor, a busted oven, and charred chicken. It all worked out though and we had a great weekend. Thanksgiving is about coming together and enjoying the company of the people you love. I have truly come to love my fellow volunteers!

I got back from Sagada and had a week to prepare for International Volunteer Day. I received funding from the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) to create an event that promotes the spirit of volunteerism. I decided to host a youth sports camp facilitated by foreign volunteers and youth leaders. The day was full of fun and left me wiped-out. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped out with the day!

This week, my fellow Baguio volunteers and I got to have lunch with the US Ambassador, Henry Thomas. He was really interested to hear about the work we’ve been doing and why we decided to join Peace Corps. He is a chill man who was easy to chat with.

I’m looking forward to this Christmas because my sister and cousin are headed to the Philippines to visit me. There’s a rumor that they’re bringing me some queso! I can’t wait to share my experiences here with them. I hope you all have a happy holiday season!

Week 62

2010-10-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

Sitting, waiting for Typhoon Juan to hit sent a wave of flashbacks through my mind. Remembering the devastating effects of last year’s typhoon season, I couldn’t help but feel fearful. Power was cut off at around 10am the day the typhoon was expected to make landfall. The day was spent reading by candlelight, listening to the howling wind, constant heavy rainfall, and non-stop worry about how the kids I work with were doing. Being alone in the dark is no fun. I decided to brave the weather conditions and commissioned my neighbor to drive me to the center so I could ride out the storm with the girls.

Seeing the girls and my fellow staff at the center made the worry disappear. I spent the next three days playing board games and cards with them during the day and telling stories by candlelight at night. There are currently 18 girls living at the center and we had a total of three candles… it made for an interesting couple of days. The typhoon slowly passed and life got back to normal again. There’s been no severe damage in Baguio; some loss of crops, fallen trees, power outages. The most devastating impact of Juan is loss of agricultural crops that many Filipinos relay on for livelihood.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20101022-299142/Juan-death-toll-up-losses-pegged-at-P76-B

Getting back in the groove, tutorial sessions with center residents who are out-of-school began again. Teaching can be extremely frustrating and rewarding at the same time. Some of the girls at the center have had not formal schooling so their knowledge of English is obsolete. Mixing that with the broken Tagalog I’m able to speak, sessions end up being a bit comical. I’ve taken to acting out instructions in dramatic fashion or getting one of the older girls at the center to help me translate. The ideas I’m trying to get across to them often get lost in translation. The kids often look at me with extremely confused faces, yet they stick it out and try to understand the concepts I’m teaching them.

I was teaching a lesson and the concept finally stuck! I read the girls a poem written by a survivor of abuse and it hit home. They became inspired. The words were no longer combinations of random letters forced together, but had meaning for them. Two of the girls were able to create their own poems reflecting their experiences trying to heal from abuse. SUCCESS!

Week 60

2010-10-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Spending time with the new trainees this past week at their supervisor’s conference and talking with the pervious batch who are ending their journey, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to reflect upon my past year here. The ride has brought a myriad of emotions. Worry and frustration have turned into feelings of accomplishment based on the projects I’ve been able to initiate. Excitement for what the next year may bring. Proud of the personal growth I’ve seen within myself. Of course there will still be crazy dips in the process, in many ways the ride has only just begun. Each day brings new challenges along with possibilities.

some of the newbies!

The citywide houseparent training a few weeks back was a huge success. Houseparents are the ones who are there 24/7 with the residents of shelters and centers. They are tasked with the responsibility of caring for residents as a parent would for their children. The tricky part is that instead of caring for a few kids, they are often the only one caring for 20-40 residents at a time. With shifts that last around 24-48 hours straight, they need a break. The training I hosted centered on developing their knowledge and skills of behavioral management as well as reducing stress.

This is my counterpart Annie who helped me throughout the planning process for the houseparent training. I will dedicate a future blog entry just to her. She's got an amazing spirit and her dedication to working with youth is inspiring. She's made my experience here one I will never forget.

The activity that’s brought me the most joy this past month has been interacting with the theater group. About 20 kids have attended the sessions on a regular basis. Through the help of a local partner, the director of Saint Luis University’s theater troupe, the kids have enhanced their skills and are motivated to start their own production. I’ve been working with a smaller group on developing their own script. The story is centered on a family living in poverty that falls apart when the mother suddenly dies. The father becomes absent as a figure in his children’s lives and they are forced to fend for themselves. The writers of the story have been able to insert various aspects of their lives into the story they wish to tell others. I see so much potential in this group and can’t wait to see where is goes.

It’s disheartening to constantly think about the horrible circumstances many kids in the Philippines face. It’s easy to get caught up in the political bureaucracy crap that limits children in need of special protection from receiving the help they so desperately need. Still, it’s encouraging to know that there’s many individuals who are dedicated to helping youth lead normal, happy lives. I’ve been lucky to meet some truly incredible people throughout the past year who have helped get projects off the ground and without them, this experience would not be what it is.

Week 57

2010-09-20T04:33:00.000-07:00

Some days, time just seems to drag on. Others fly by. Lately, the latter seems to be the case. Projects are coming together.

The theater advocacy project has taken flight! I met with a group of 30 determined youth this past week and started working on the logistics of creating a community theater. I was fortunate enough to find a community counterpart who is equally as ambitious about the group as I am. We took the kids to see a local play. As I was waking with the kids into the theater a feeling of pride and accomplishment came over me. Rehearsals haven’t even begun, but the fact that the group was able to meet was one of the biggest hurdles I had to cross. I’ve been dreaming about the prospect of this group for a while and it seems almost surreal that it’s happening!

The play itself was so pinoy. The plot was based on a combo of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Darna (superhero soap opera in the Philippines) and a drag show. There were more men dressed as women than I thought possible. Somehow it all worked and I found it to be entertaining. Guess I'm getting used to pinoy humor.

The week before, I traveled to southern Luzon to help a fellow volunteer with a journalism camp. I know little about journalism, but jumped at the chance to get together with fellow volunteers. Time to vent, relax and share some litros of red horse.

This week I’m gearing up for the citywide houseparent training on behavior management and stress debriefing that I’ve been planning for about 6 months. A fellow volunteer told me that after trainings there’s sometimes this sense of loss that comes over you. I’m sure this will probably be true for this training because I’ve put so much time and preparation into it.

Personally, I feel like I’m on a dip in the crazy Peace Corps rollercoaster. When talking to a friend back home about it, I discovered that it’s because I miss football season so much. No kegs, fsu warchant or tailgating found here. On the upside, lots of fun vacations planned ahead and work is going well!

One Year In

2010-08-23T18:31:00.001-07:00

Back in the ‘pines. Back in the groove.

Took the girls to an organic eco farm about 45 minutes outside Baguio. It felt like a different world. No pollution, no fried food, everything made from organic veggies. Basically heaven.

Headed to Sagada for the weekend because it’s one of my favorite places in the Philippines to get away. Spent the weekend hiking, caving and eating some delicious grub.

I’ve been in Manila this past week for PSN (Peer Support Network) training with 10 other PCVs. Essentially the network is set up as an outlet for fellow PCVs to contact us when they need to vent. A good portion of the training was spend in some serious card play. I have to say I am not the best at 500, but I did dominate in spades. During the PSN training, I was able to meet the new batch of trainees at their Initial Orientation. It helped me to reflect upon the beginning of my service. I remember the excitement, anxiousness, desire to delve into the culture of the Philippines.

While in Manila, got to tour the Embassy thanks to a Foreign Service employee who randomly met a PCV while traveling. She showed us around the compound and gave a brief history of the US presence in the Philippines (which is far from brief).

Upcoming projects I’m stoked about…

I just got a grant approval for a city-wide training on behavioral management and stress debriefing.

Journalism training in Bicol

Theater advocacy

Hey-O!

Week 49

2010-08-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

As I stepped back on American soil I couldn’t help but stare at everyone, eat tons of dairy products and catch up on the latest horrible reality TV shows. The whole medevac experience was pretty wild. Peace Corps put me up in a room with 2 other girls from other PC countries. It was neat hearing how all Peace Corps experiences are so vastly different.

Surgery was successful. I now have a 4-inch mental screw inside me. My mom met me in DC so she could help me hobble around the city. Despite my handicap, we still had a good time.

I had three weeks between doctor’s visits so PC let me go home to Florida! I’ve realized how much I love my Florida buds. The trip consisted of being carried out of a bar because I couldn’t function on my crutches due to excessive drinking, friends driving me across the state so I could reunite with loved ones, a new tattoo, meeting a beautiful new baby girl, celebration of an engagement and soaking up some sunshine!

Back in DC I was reunited with a fellow Philippines volunteer who was also on medevac. Crazy volunteers breaking bones. I wish her all the best during her recovery.

I had my final doctor’s appointment during which the doc kept saying, “I screwed you,” he finalized all my paperwork and I was on a flight back to the Philippines the next day.

I’ve been back a week now. My reunion with the girls at the center was priceless. I surprised them at school the day I got back. They all came running up, jumped on me and wouldn’t let go. Feels good to be back :)

Broken

2010-06-20T04:59:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me well know that I am a total klutz. I guess it’s no big surprise that I have a broken foot from tripping while getting off a jeepney. This happened 5 months ago, but it has yet to heal here in the Philippines. I think playing soccer and running on it has not helped the situation. The next step…medevac to the states. Peace Corps has decided that I need to have surgery and won’t let me get it done here so they’re flying me to DC on Tuesday. I’m sitting in Manila right now preparing for my flight back to the states and reflecting on all the amazing memories I’ve had so far here in the ‘pines.

Anyway… let me recap the last couple weeks.

More puppetry. Since the girls fell in love with the first puppetry activity, fellow PCV Susi came to visit and introduced some new methods of puppetry. While she was in town we checked out the BenCab museum in Baguio. He is one of the Philippine’s national artists and has worked hard to preserve native artwork of the Cordilleras.

A bunch of volunteers have been rolling through Baguio lately. Dan came to celebrate his b-day and he did it in style by downing some balut (a fertilized egg with an embryo inside), YUM!

I took a trip to Pampanga to help my buddy Phil celebrate his 25^th birthday in true Filipino style… videoke with his host family. He has a genuine connection with the members of the community where he lives. It was evident by the elaborate meal they prepared for the celebration and the many smiles and laughs that were had throughout the day.

Back in Baguio, I went swimming with the girls as a culminating summer activity before they went back to school. Since most of the girls don’t know how to swim, my job for the day was water transport. The girls took turns riding on my back as I swam back and forth across the pool.

I hosted a Play Therapy Training with the staff at my center this past week. I really love the women I work with. They are passionate about their jobs, but still know how to have fun and goof around. Perfect for play therapy!

On a side note… HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to a wonderful man, my pops! How amazing is he you ask? Just check out his sweet beard...

Week 40

2010-05-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

9 months in the Philippines, crazy! Speaking of 9 months… can’t believe Corrin and Jared and having their baby this week. Congrats guys, way to be grown-ups!

Lately I’ve been focusing on activities with the girls at my center since they are all out of school now on summer vacation. I hosted a life skills day that focused on teaching the girls proper communication with one another. They were introduced to a method of handling problems, called, steps to deliver your message clearly. The day after the lesson, two of the residents got into an argument and I overheard one of the girls saying to the other resident, “First, let’s identify our problem.” I couldn’t help but laugh as they were listing out the steps (in English, no less) in the middle of the argument. It was like a scene from a scripted informational video you watch in middle school.

To spark their creative juices, we had a puppetry day during which the girls were able to showcase some sweet artistic style. I was worried that some of the older residents would think the activity was lame, but they totally got into it. After creating a “me” puppet, the participants all taped the puppets to their bodies and had a dance party!

Thanks to some help from a fellow volunteer, we fixed up some old guitars that were lying around the center and the girls have been trying to teach each other (and me) how to play. I think with all the free time that’s going to come with rainy season, we’ll become professionals!

I recently moved into a new apartment and am loving it! At my old place the only thing I had to cook with was a hotplate so my meals were limited to ramen and popcorn, but at the new place I have a gas stove so I'm able to experiment. With all the amazing fresh veggies and fruit I've found at the market, I've been cooking all the time. I made some killer veggie burgers for a fellow volunteer and was obviously really excited about it...

Week 37

2010-05-03T21:50:00.001-07:00

I know I’ve said it before, but I have to repeat the fact that the strength of the girls I work with is astounding. I was armed with the task of accompanying two of the girls from the center to their perspective court hearings. In both instances, the person behind their abuse sat right in front of them in the courtroom. The girls sat with courage, ignoring the perpetrator and prepared to testify against the abuser. I can’t imagine at the age of 9 and 14, testifying in front of a courtroom explaining all the graphic details of my rape. After waiting in the courtroom for three hours, each case was rescheduled due to extenuating circumstances. Realizing all the emotional turmoil these girls have been going through trying to prepare for this day, I couldn’t help but get annoyed with the situation. In that moment, the girls proved to be more spirited at their young age than I am at 23.

“Okay lang Ate Sam kasi matapang ako,” (It’s okay Ate Sam because I am brave).

Activity wise, the past three weeks have been action packed. I was able to begin coaching a soccer team that consists of boys from the community who are identified as “troubled youth.” Some are not in school while others have extenuating court cases for petty theft and violence. I wouldn’t necessarily call the first attempt a real soccer game because the boys were just running around the field kicking the ball in various directions, but with some practice I see some real potential!

Silkscreen printing take 2 turned out to be much more of a success than the first attempt. It taught me a lesson as well as the girls, sometimes your plans don’t work out as well as you would have hoped the first time, so try again. If anyone wants an awesome CFSPI shirt, contact me!!

I helped to facilitate a 3-day Life Skills Camp with all the kids from CFSPI last week. My topic was on healthy lifestyles so I taught various ways to exercise, hygiene practices and nutrition. On the second night of the camp I got to play judge of “CFSPI’s Got Talent,” all the campers were asked to perform various acts and they did not disappoint. There were three boys who all performed country western songs, which you wouldn’t really expect all the way in the Philippines. They continued to call themselves Keith Urban, Kenny Rodgers and Gary Allen throughout the camp. Warning to future Philippines volunteers, if you don’t like country music you should start because it’s ALL over Northern Luzon.

The last event was Padayon 3, an 8-day youth leadership camp held near Olongapo City in Central Luzon. The camp started with 14 youth delegates who were taught what it means to be a leader. After the training, they facilitated activities with the youth of Iram, a resettlement community for individuals displaced after Mt. Pinatubo erupted. One night the youth delegates stayed with community members for immersion (kind of how Peace Corps is set up). Taking with the youth the next day, they disclosed that it was a night they will never forget.

Birthday, Scuba and Crucifixions

2010-04-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

It’s summertime now in the Philippines and all the girls from my center are out of school, which means things are super busy. Life skills activities, counseling, art and sports are all in full swing. I attempted to start silkscreen printing with the girls, but it did not turn out like I hoped it would because of the supplies we used. Sayang (oh well). Hopefully a quick trip to a Manila art supplier will remedy that problem. I seriously miss the convenience of craft stores being down the street and fully stocked with everything needed. The thing I loved most about the activity is that the girls were fine with the silkscreen output. They kept going with the activity, creating their own designs on each shirt using their hands, brushes, cardboard, whatever they could find.

For my birthday, each of the girls made me a card and left them sitting on my desk so I would see them first thing in the morning. Their cards were so sweet and thoughtful, thanking me for teaching them and listening to their problems. The connection I have with the girls at the center makes every hardship of the Peace Corps experience worth it!

Here are some pictures of activities we’ve been doing lately.

Yoga
The staff took the girls hiking at Mt. Santo Thomas, highest peak in Baguio.

Easter egg hunt thanks to supplies sent from my parents.

Art Therapy

Last week was Holy Week so I decided to celebrate by getting dive certified! It was such an amazing feeling being able to breathe underwater and feel like a fish.

After certification, I headed to a fellow volunteer’s site in Pampanga to help paint a mural and watch the world famous crucifixion reenactment. He works with an indigenous group, the Bajau, who live illegally under an old bridge and make most of their income by begging on the streets. The mural represented a project he just finished with local college volunteers who taught the community how to garden, waste segregation and basic education. The mural turned out amazing.

So back to the world famous crucifixion reenactment, oh was it an experience to remember. I had mixed feelings about attending the event because I don’t consider myself to be extremely religious and the thought of watching men torture themselves just didn’t sound very appealing, but I went because being in the Peace Corps means trying new things. Every year tons of visitors come to Pampanga to watch a reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion where an actor literally gets nailed to a cross and immediately after is rushed to the hospital. Before the actual crucifixion, flagellants walk around the town whipping themselves for repayment of their sins. It's impossible to avoid the blood splatter everywhere, I got some on my shorts and a friend I was with got whipped on his arm. More than once, we saw men pass out due to the combination of blood loss and extreme heat. While all this is going on, tons of vendors are selling ice cream, soda, etc. It had theme park persona, which I found to be extremely patronizing of the reenactment in general. Crazy times.

Ode to my Ma

2010-03-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Mom! Thanks for being such an inspiration in my life and always encouraging me to reach above and beyond.

My latest adventure led me to Nueva Vizcaya to help out a fellow volunteer with his HIV/AIDS symposium. It was a 2-day event that included reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and drug awareness. There were about 400 kids, broken into 3 different groups, who attended the seminar. At the end of the presentation with each group we played a HIV/AIDS awareness video promoting “free hugs” because HIV cannot be spread through hugs. We decided it would be amazing to hold up “free hugs” signs and hand out some loving to all the students who attended. Man, hugs are great!

For St. Pattie’s Day, I went out to a local pub with a fellow volunteer and Egyptian friend. At the bar we met a Britishman, Irishman, old dudes from the states and a guy from Denmark. It was insane how many nationalities were present to celebrate the day. I even had a Genius! After a few drinks, we decided to partake in some videoke up on the stage and jammed out to “killing me softly” and “one love.” Gotta love the Philippines!

Maraming Mangga (lots of mangos)!

2010-03-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

I’m back at site after an adventure filled 2 weeks of Peace Corps trainings with all of batch 268. It was great getting to catch up with everyone in Cavite; it’s crazy how different all of our experiences have been so far. Here are some pics from the training…

I kind of felt guilty talking about my site because most volunteers’ sites are rural and mainit na mainit (very hot). It was a hard concept for many of them to grasp that I wear jeans and sweatshirts all the time, have a gym close by and eat real cheese (an extreme rarity here). Everyone’s sites seem to have there own strengths and weaknesses. I have an emotionally challenging job, dealing with new reports of child abuse all the time. If I didn’t have all the outlets that exist here in Baguio, I think I would go insane. So my latest stress relievers have been: mangoes (I eat about 2 a day, on average), going to the gym (even though I have a fractured foot!), learning to cook all my meals on a tiny hot plate, cheap mans Baileys (vodka, coffee and condensed milk), getting a mani/pedi from the girls at my center (one of the girls is currently taking cosmetology livelihood classes) and roaming around the beautiful city! These are some pictures taken at the botanical gardens…

It’s Flower Fest in Baguio now, which means sobrang tao (too many people).

It’s essentially a month long fest that celebrates all the beauty that Baguio has. I missed out on a lot of flower fest activities due to the PC training and crowds, but did manage to catch some of the events…There was a photography exhibit featuring photos taken by children with autism. The outcomes were brilliant! I was also able to attend the “Baguio’s Got Talent” singing competition, which was set up exactly like American Idol. One of the girls from my center sang in the event, but unfortunately did not make it to the finals. Throughout the week, there were floats constructed of flowers displayed throughout the city and I was able to take a snapshot of a few events…

Back at the center, I found out this past week that one of the girls ran away while I was at the PC training. I was in shock at first, then angry, then sad. I had been working closely with this client for the past three months and never saw it coming. She was making progress and an extremely determined individual. So currently, neither her family nor the center has any idea where she is. I just hope and pray that she is safe. I was chatting with a fellow social worker who is the first respondent when the city social welfare office suspects alleged abuse. The plethora of cases is overwhelming, but the successful stories of girls who grow up to lead normal, healthy lives is what makes it all worth it. I keep telling myself to not dwell on the one negative case and look to the 10 other girls at the center who are all making incredible progress towards recovery.

I escaped to the beach this past Sunday to get some much needed ocean therapy. A two hour bus ride from my site in the mountains and I’m at the beach!

My Inspiration

2010-03-02T22:12:00.000-08:00

I am taken back by your words-
To your history and the mystery of being human
in an all-too-often robotic world.
I hear your pain
and see the pictures you paint
so cautiously and vividly.
The world you draw is a kaleidoscope
ever changing, ever new, encircling and fragile.
Moving past the time and through the shadows
you look for hope beyond the groups you knew as a child.
I want to say: "I'm here. Trust the process."
But the artwork if your own
so I withdraw and watch you work
while occasionally offering you colors
and images of the possible.
-Gladding

Week 26

2010-02-20T23:15:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of February, I traveled to the farthest point north in the Philippines; Aparii, Cagayan. There I met up with some other volunteers to help facilitate a HIV/AIDS and reproductive health workshop.

Back in Baguio, things at the center are going really well. My latest assignment has been to teach the girls a hip-hop dance for them to perform at the “Baguio’s Got Talent” competition. I’ve also been doing more counseling and facilitation of activities with the girls. The relationship I have with the 10 girls that are currently at the center is simply put: amazing. I am constantly in awe of their strength and resiliency.

I recently attended the court hearing of one of the center’s clients. We entered the courtroom and she was visibly distraught because it was the first time she was to see her abuser since the incident. While fighting to hold back tears, she reached out to me for support by leaning her head on my shoulder. It was in this moment that I realized I am making an impact here. I have 10 adings (little sisters) who view me as their mentor and truly trust me to support them in their healing process.

I’ve also moved into my own apartment and am so psyched about it. It’s a small studio apartment near my center. If you send me some love, I’ll add it to my encouragement wall…

Right now I’m at a two-week training in Cavite, which is near Manila. The training is on language enhancement and project design and management.

update

2010-01-24T22:58:00.000-08:00

The intense rollercoaster that is the Peace Corps is finally on an uphill track. I’ve been given more tasks at my center including conducting regular art therapy, counseling and literacy sessions with the girls. I’m also developing a module for an anti-child abuse seminar to be given to local schools.

I finally got around to taking some pictures of my center...

Last week I traveled to a fellow volunteer’s site in Ifugao to train 15 social workers from the provincial social welfare and development office on play therapy. The training went well, we were even able to establish a play-room at one of the centers there. The social workers knew nothing about play therapy before the training and after were so excited about the therapeutic method that they want me to conduct a 2^nd training for them to learn more about it! I met with a professor here in Baguio who has extensive experience in play therapy and he is willing to coordinate with me to help conduct more play therapy trainings with social workers around the area.

Later in the week, I went with fellow co-workers on a staff retreat to Manila. We visited the Manila Zoo, Ocean Park (which is a lot like the Atlanta aquarium) and Fort Santiago that was built during the Spanish-era as a defense against natives. It was a picture-taking extravaganza with my fellow staff members the entire day. They love their pictures! It was a great day because I truly felt like part of the team.

Refreshed and Renewed

2010-01-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

I spent the New Years vacation hiking with fellow PCVs in both Sagada and Banaue, which are both located in Northern Luzon. Sagada is a mountaintop town that is very tranquil, the complete opposite from my site. There’s an restaurant there called the Yoghurt House that serves the most delicious fresh yoghurt and granola. I think the highlight of the Sagada trip was when some fellow volunteers and I decided to sit in the graveyard where we played Yahtzee. The spirits from the graves were giving us good vibes because all 5 of us that were playing got at least one Yahtzee.

^{The second leg of our trip started in Banaue where we rang in the New Year with some rice wine. Banaue is home to the 2000 year old rice terraces that are considered to be the 8^th} wonder of the world. The group met up with our tour guide in Banaue and we hiked through the terraces to a town called Batad. The only way to get supplies into town is by hiking through the mountain trails. The next day we hiked to a large waterfall and jumped into the freezing cold water of the springs. We slowly made our way back to Banaue where we spent our last night of the trip drinking with our tour guide, listening to some great stories of all the backpackers he has met, and having an all-around great time with some good people!

It’s crazy to truly think about how much my life has changed over the past year. A year ago I was only dreaming about with my life in Peace Corps would be like and now I am living it. Although it’s quite different from what I imagined it being, the New Year brought me a renewed sense of why I am here and an optimistic outlook for the possibilities that lie ahead.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2009-12-25T21:17:00.001-08:00

Sorry it’s been quite a while since my last update…here is what’s going on in my life.

December 5^th was International Volunteer Day sponsored by the UN. The theme for this year was environmental awareness, so along with some Aussie and Korean volunteers here in Baguio; I helped facilitate an event at a local high school. My unit to help teach was on composting, something I knew very little about until researching it right before the event. The kids at the school were able to start their own compost bins by the end of the day!! The very creative and talented students of the high school made some beautiful Christmas decorations out of recycled materials that will be displayed at a local mall.

The completed compost bins!!!

I had my first night duty shift with the girls at my center. I already feel a strong bond and connection with all of the girls, it amazes me everyday how resilient they are. I started to teach them yoga; I’m hoping to facilitate weekly sessions with them.

My latest assignment at the center was choreographer and Mariah Carey, haha. I taught the girls at the center a few routines that they performed at our Christmas party. The staff also performed a dance, “All I Want for Christmas is You!” At the beginning of the song I did a little lip singing/Mariah Carey impersonation. I’m enjoying all the random roles I’ve been given here so far!

The Christmas season has been a little rough for me; I’m missing family and friends a lot. Thank God for Skype and the internet! At least there are lots of Christmas decorations and music around, which helps to ease the homesickness. There was a lantern parade one night here in Baguio, which was quite awesome. The only problem is that there was a fellow PCV visiting and she had to catch the last bus back to her site by 7pm. There were crowds everywhere, cars were NOT moving, but we were on a missing to get her to her bus terminal. We had to weave through crowds of people carrying lanterns, tried to hail a taxi for over 30 minutes, finally made it to her bus terminal just in time and as it turns out there were two more buses not leaving until 9pm. Oh well, at least she made it and we even had time to grab a few beers!

I celebrated Christmas Day with my old host family in Caba and had a few beers with fellow PCVs on the beach! It was a bit anticlimactic, but I’m looking forward to New Years because I’m going hiking with some fellow PCVs.

On a side note, I am not threatened by the Mayon Volcano… it is located south of me in a region called Bicol. No worries. Miss you all and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

week 14 and 15

2009-12-03T21:04:00.000-08:00

I’ve learned to celebrate all the small victories since arriving here in the Philippines. I had this grand vision of joining the Peace Corps, changing the world, and constantly engaging in new and exciting projects. Things have not worked out that way so far. During the application process, Peace Corps kept talking about the virtue of patience and I really think by the end of my service, I will master it! Things just move slower here in the Philippines. It takes time to establish relationships with co-workers and community members. Projects don’t get started until those relationships are strong. I’ve been spending my time trying to orient myself with the city and my agency. I get really excited when I learn a new route/jeepney line for getting someplace or when I spend quality time with my new host family. I am a very goal oriented person, which is not a trait that fits well into the culture here. Last night my host mom told me to relax and enjoy the experience for what it is… so I am! Some highlights from the past two weeks…my camera is acting up so my pictures are limited:(

The US Ambassador hosted a garden party in Baguio and all the volunteers from the area were invited. It felt like entering a new world when going to the Ambassador's residence... American food, fireplace, and giant Christmas tree!!

Beth and I got to meet with the mayor of Baguio, who shared with us the story of the 300 pound wood carving he has behind his desk

Staff meeting with everyone that works at my agency

week 13

2009-11-23T19:31:00.000-08:00

Here are more pictures from the workshop on sexual abuse prevention in Mindoro…
Left the beautiful paradise of Mindoro on Wednesday and stopped back in Caba for a few nights to pick up some luggage and celebrate two birthdays before heading to my permanent site.
So this is it, the beginning of my two years of service. I just moved into my new host family’s home located in central Baguio. I’m living with an older, retired couple who are very relaxed, chill people. I have a huge room and my own bathroom with running water! Moving to Baguio was a bit like moving to a completely different country than what I’ve experienced in the Philippines so far. The climate is cool, veggies plentiful, streets busy, and access to pretty much anything I could possibly need. When I used to think about what my Peace Corps experience would be like, I never imagined I would be living down the street from a mall, with access to Starbucks anytime. Like many volunteers I’ve talked to recently tell me, this is not the 1960s Peace Corps. I can still contribute to this community even though there are a lot of amenities already here.
I started work on Saturday by shadowing my counterpart on a home visit. The client’s home is about 40 minutes outside of the city located in the middle of sunflower fields.
I walked around the city a bit on Sunday with a fellow volunteer that is also placed in Baguio. We spent time trying to get acquainted with the city. During our exploration we found some uki-uki shops, which are thrift stores with relatively inexpensive, cute clothes if you have the patience to dig through the tons of stock available. I bought some sweaters because when packing to come to the Philippines I never imagined I would be placed somewhere cold.
On Monday I spent the morning baking cookies with my host mom. I have not seen an oven since arriving in the Philippines, so I jumped at the chance to bake when I saw that my host family has once. In the afternoon, I met up with my counterpart and another volunteer who will be working at my center for a courtesy call. The other volunteer is a missionary from Slovakia who is also a social worker. It will be interesting to see how our three cultures influence one another in the workplace.
I want to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING, please eat lots of turkey and pumpkin pie for me :)

week 11 and 12

2009-11-16T15:48:00.001-08:00

I spent my final week in Caba celebrating Amaze and Aj’s 9th and 5th birthdays. Here are a couple pictures of the big event…

The end of training in Caba was a bitter sweet time, I was SO excited to complete the three months of intensive language and technical training, but am also sad to leave the community I have come to love. It’s also going to be a challenge going from having 14 other volunteers within an hour from me to being the only volunteer at my site, but thankfully there is another PCV in the same city as me! In honor of the end of our service, a few host families in town threw the trainees a despida (going-away party) and of course there was a videoke present and I had to sing “Leaving on a Jet-plane!”

I left Caba for Cavite last Sunday bright and early at 4:30am for counterparts conference, which was a weeklong training on how to form a good working relationship with our co-workers at site. I immediately formed a great relationship with my counterpart. She is friendly, ambitious, and easy to talk to. The week was also party time because it was the first time all the 698 batch was able to get together since our first week here in the Philippines.
Training is officially OVER and I can finally call myself a real Peace Corps Volunteer because on Friday the Secretary of the State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton swore my batch of volunteers in! We went to the US Embassy and pledged the same oath that the president has to say in order to serve. I mean, I don’t know if yall know this but I am pretty much a big deal now! If you don’t believe me, I have proof…

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1504

All the CYF volunteers are now in Mindoro, an island south of mainland Luzon, for a 3-day training on sexual abuse and neglect. The site of our training event is simply put, breathtaking. The content of the training is pretty intensive and heavy, but after sessions are over we have the opportunity to walk across the street and jump in the crystal clear ocean.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to watch a play about child abuse, staring 3 survivors of sexual abuse. I was overwhelmed with insight and compassion. The actors were able to truly express themselves and all the intense emotions they’ve gone through on their path to self-discovery. The therapeutic power of artistic expression is amazing.

Week 10

2009-11-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday our cluster presented our community project to the boys of the RRCY. Our project is called the MRU (mobile reading unit), which is a roll-able library for the boys at the center. To invoke a sense of ownership for the library, the boys were asked to decorate the MRU with drawings depicting how “reading is macho.” The boys got really creative and drew pictures of muscle men with book barbells, a picture of a pretty girl with a t-shirt that says reading is macho, and one kid even drew a picture of Scott teaching the boys of the center how to read. All in all I would have to say that our project was really successful because the boys all seem really interested in the books we gave them.

Since our training time here in Caba is coming to an end, we threw a party for the host families of our community on Thursday. The event is called a “handog” which is a Filipino custom of thanking those who have hosted guests. For some reason, I was elected to MC the event so I had my 15 minutes of fame here in the Philippines! It was a really emotional day with my host family because I have come to care for them so much, it’s crazy to think that in the few months we have been together that we have really come to understand and love one another. It’s going to be really hard to leave them when I go to my permanent site.

There was a surf competition/beach party this weekend in San Juan, so a couple of us spend the day there on Friday. It was a relaxing day of Frisbee, surf, and lots of dreadlocks!

Scott, Jessi, and I helped out the Bauang crew with their community project on Saturday morning. The project was a clean up of a school that was devastated by the last typhoon that hit. They kids have not had class since the typhoon hit because the classrooms are filled with mud and all their books/materials were destroyed. Equipped with mud-boots and shovels, we got to work trying to clear the rooms of mud and dirt. The most effective way to clear the mud was by hosing it down with water and loosening it up with boots, which I like to refer to as “the mud dance!” My calves are feeling the effects of those dance moves now!

To celebrate Halloween, my amazing parents send a blow-up pumpkin and trick-or-treat bags for my host family! They really enjoyed it.

At night, we got together at the beach and had a bonfire! It was a prefect way to spend Halloween!

Week 9

2009-10-26T20:31:00.001-07:00

This week was full of highs for me! I got to judge the mister DSWD (department of social welfare and development) pageant. The contest consisted of a modern dance routine, videoake, ballroom dance, best causal wear, and question and answer section. The boys that partook in the event were all from the RRCY where my cluster has our practicum. The boys were so into the event; they prepared some amazing dance routines and costumes. During the ballroom dancing part of the presentation, some of the boys from the center came out decked out in dresses, wigs, and high-heels. I tried to keep my serious “judge face” on, but couldn’t stop cracking up at all the boys.

The La Union crew all got together Friday night at our usual hangout on the beach. It’s crazy to think that in two weeks we’re all going to be separated, dispersed all over Northern and Central Luzon to our respective permanent sites.

Saturday was our Youth Camp with all the boys from the RRCY and it went SO WELL! I have to say that it was my favorite day in the Philippines so far! The boys don’t ever get to leave their center so they were so excited to spend the day at the beach. As soon as they all got to our venue, they stripped down to their “tightie whities” and ran into the beach! The theme of the day was “color wars” so we dispersed the boys into five color groups, one with each volunteer from our cluster. My team was blue! We started the morning with yoga on the beach; seeing 66 boys in their boxers practicing yoga moves on the beach was such a sight to see! At the end of the day, everyone started dancing as we had a giant beach dance party with all the boys and staff of the RRCY!

On Sunday a bunch of trainees went to San Juan for a relaxing day at the beach. It was a beautiful day, but unfortunately the sun fried me! After 22 years of constant sunburns, I should realize that I need to apply sunscreen more than once a day, (sorry mom, I promise one day I’ll learn!)

Monday was the implementation of our staff training with 10 house parents and social workers of the RRCY. My cluster prepared a presentation on life skills training for them. The staff was very receptive to the ideas we presented and I think that overall it went really well. The venue for our training was in a tiki-hut facing the beach, in the afternoon when the sun was setting. You seriously can’t beat that type of working environment!

week 7 and 8

2009-10-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

So much has happed in the last two weeks that it’s hard to begin this entry. I’m going to try and remember everything so here goes…

The CFY volunteers all met up in Malate, Manila for our street immersion. When I told my host mom that’s where I would be going, the first things she said was BE SAFE. It’s an area know for it’s prostitution and street life. We left our host families last Wednesday, equipped with tons of homemade sandwiches, rice, some chicken legs, and icees… it was an awesome combination of foods to eat on the 7-hour bus ride to Manila. That night we met up with some fellow Peace Corps trainees and went out to a bar to relax and talk about our different experiences in the Philippines so far. The next few days we toured a couple agencies in Metro Manila that cater to street children through education and rehabilitation. It was extremely empowering to see the passion of the street educators who were resourceful enough to make use of random materials such as plastic bottles and some construction paper, to teach the kids.

The other aspect of street immersion was to understand the prostitution culture of Manila. We saw this through two extremes, the subtitle form that happens at the malls and the outright blatant prostitutes that are lined-up waiting for customers in bars.

I also had a blast in Manila because I got to go out with fellow trainees and some batch 267 volunteers who we bumped into during our stay in Manila. It’s funny how much the Peace Corps is like a fraternity, it’s instant bonding and friendship when you meet a fellow member! We all went out together and to see the Pilipino version of “A Street Car Named Desire” and saw a couple great local musicians.

While in Manila I got my first care package from home… thanks for the love mom, dad, and dani!!!

From Manila we all traveled to Cavite (about an hour away) for the supervisor’s conference. I found out that my placement is in Baguio City at the Children and Family Services of the Philippines Islands (CFSPI). Unfortunately because of the landslides in Baguio, my supervisor was unable to make the conference, but I was still able to travel there on Wednesday for site visit. I learned that I will be working with sexually abused girls, helping with social work activities ranging from artistic therapeutic approaches to staff trainings. The social workers and house parents at my center are extremely friendly and accommodating, they love to eat and told me that work does not get done unless there is food! This is a picture of one of the meeting rooms at the main office of the organization.

On a sad note, I was also unable to stay with my future host family during my visit because they lost three family members in one of the mudslides from typhoon Pepeng. I’m going to put a few pictures up from some of the damage because words can’t really describe what pictures can. It was a really heavy experience for me, seeing all the devastation and loss was a bit hard to swallow.

On a lighter note, I traveled back to my training site on Saturday and was welcomed with the warm greeting of my host family, which felt like “coming home.” It is really going to be hard leaving them in three weeks :( On Sunday all the host families and trainees in my region got together to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of Scott and Jessie (congrats guys!!)

Their host parents prepared a full spread of delicious foods, complete with pig head! It was a great way to decompress and spend time with people I have come to truly love!

week 6

2009-10-05T21:14:00.001-07:00

Quick update… things are fine here. Lots of rain, but the town I live in was not directly hit by any of the typhoons. The best memory I have of this past week is walking through a huge rice field with all the peace corps trainees and their respective host families, after a community dinner when it was pitch back dark and storming pretty bad. We were all decked out in rain jackets and headlamps, slashing through the mud and rice paddies to get back to our houses. The rain/storms don’t stop the people of my town from having fun!

On Friday night, the trainees in my region all got together at a local resort. We were worried that it would get canceled because the “supertyphoon” was about the hit and there was no power in our town, but the resort still let us come and relax. They were even able to get a bonfire started in between bands of rain.

Yesterday there was a community parade put on by the elementary school. My host sister was part of the marching band and I was glad I got to see her perform. While my cluster-mates and I were watching the parade, a couple of the kids kept screaming, “HELLO PEACE CORPS!” A lot of the kids knew our names even though we’ve never met them. Peace Corps volunteers have a celebrity status here in the Philippines, haha.

Things I’m Looking Forward To:

I’ll be traveling to Manila tomorrow for a “street immersion” where all children, youth, and families (CYF) volunteers will learn about the street culture of the Philippines. Next Sunday in the supervisor’s conference where I’ll find out my permanent site and meet my future supervisor. From there, I’ll travel with my supervisor to the permanent site for a quick visit of the center and community where I’ll be living for the next two years!!

Week 5

2009-09-28T01:03:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am living in fast-forward! The days are flying by and beginning to all mesh into one, especially this past week because language training is beginning to get pretty intense. I have a basic understanding of the Ilocano language and know that I just need to develop my vocabulary more.

I had my site placement interview this past Monday and learned that I will be in an urban setting, working with sexually abused girls, and teaching the staff art, music, group, and play therapy techniques for counseling…SCORE! I get to meet my supervisor and learn more specifics about my placement next Sunday. My cluster-mates and I also found out this week that we are going to run a full-day camp for the boys at the RRCY. I’m excited to put my camp counselor experience to use!! The boys are psyched about the event because it will be the first time they are all allowed off-site.

To break-up the monotony of training, the La Union crew all got together Friday night at one of the local beach resorts. It was the perfect night of laughing, dancing, and catching-up. Before we got to the resort, Scott and Jessie’s host father stopped by to let them know we were coming. When we got there, they had a one-woman band set up for us! The owner told us that we have to come bask every Friday, haha. I seriously love how much the community has embraced us here.

Sunday Funday!! The host families of Caba all got together and planned a fish fry for all the volunteers. The baranggay officials in the community made fishing poles for all the peace corps volunteers out of bamboo! The deal for the day was that you catch your own lunch, or you don’t eat. I caught the first fish of the day and was so proud. Then my 8-year-old host sister borrowed my fishing pole and totally showed me up by catching 8 fish in a row… I’m still proud on my one catch. Lunch was served on banana stock and utensils were not allowed…simply put it was an amazing day. Well, until the wind blew a plate full of vinegar into my face that stung my eyes like crazy. Thanks to the quick action of Tom, who was ready with a jug full of water to flush out my eyes!

After the fish fry, I came home with my host family and we all took a nap in the bamboo, Nipa hut in our backyard. As I was laying with my host family all around me, I couldn’t help but realize that this is the experience I have been craving and am so thankful for every moment of it! My lola (grandmother) cooked me frog legs for dinner because she said it was a Filipino delicacy that I had to try... it was my favorite dish so far!

Week 4

2009-09-20T21:00:00.001-07:00

I seriously can’t believe that I’ve been here for a month already. Time has flown by. Some highlights from this week….My two host sisters found my Pilaties resistance bands and decided that they want to exercise too…

We got to tour an alternative learning center that caters to out of school youth by teaching both literacy and social skills. They have a number of sustainability projects that help fund their center including soap and craft making.

On Friday, Leah and Tom’s host parents had a party to celebrate their 10^th anniversary. We saw a goat slaughtered and then ate it for dinner. I have to say, I’m not such a fan of goat meat.

After dinner we partook in some intense videoake… Beth and I sang jingle bells and joy to the world and I sang Sexy Back with Delicia. (which was a bit awkward with all the baranggay officials watching us, haha)!

Saturday was our weekly practicum at the RRCY. I played basketball with the boys at the center! It was pretty sweet because they always passed the ball to me and gave me lots of free shots! Our objective for the session was to teach literacy, so my cluster-mates decided to teach them adjectives by asking the boys to describe Americans. Some of their responses were: helpful, beautiful, diligent, smokers, fat, tall, Obamas…it was pretty comical. After the practicum a group of us went back to San Juan to surf. I went out this week and with the help of our surfing masters Tom and Leah, I was able to get up on some waves. The group then played a game of volleyball that was hysterical because my team could not manage to get the ball over the net at all, but we had a blast trying.

I spent Sunday relaxing with my host family. They taught me how to hand wash my clothes, which took two hours! My host sisters and I then went outside to play volleyball and before I knew it, there were a ton of neighborhood kids crowding around us watching. A neighbor then invited me into her house to videoake and I couldn't refuse. They made me sing six songs in a row and as most of you know, I can't sing! I love all these random moments that happen here in the Philippines!

Week 3

2009-09-13T20:25:00.001-07:00

Another fun-filled week in the Philippines! On Tuesday, the region 1 Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in San Fernando held a panel discussion for my cluster. Members of various non-government organizations (NGOs) in the area came to discuss how they function and their roles in the community. I’m hoping that my final site placement is with an NGO! The rest of the week was spent doing basic language and technical training, as always. After full days of training I’m usually pretty shot and pass out around 9. On Friday we toured around the community to identify resources for youth. During our walk there were these kids who kept running and hiding from us. They finally got up the nerve to talk to us, and called us Chinese. We tried to explain to them that we are American, but they insisted that we are Chinese haha. Here’s a picture of the kids and some more random pictures of my community...

On Saturday we had another practicum at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY). We broke the boys up into groups and had them draw us a map of their facility. After the activity, I got a chance to play some volleyball and other sports games with them. I feel like we are beginning to establish a great rapport with them. That night, some of the trainees in my city got together for our weekly “high school drinking party” as we call it, because we have to get permission from our host families to go. My host mom came and hung out with us all!! I was able to drink coconut milk for the first time as well as try seaweed.

On Sunday a group of us traveled to San Juan to try and surf. A couple trainees managed to surf, but I was scared to because the ways were really choppy and it was pouring down rain. I wimped out and rented a body board instead. It was an extremely relaxing and chill day!

Hiking and Baguio!

2009-09-07T02:53:00.000-07:00

Last week I caught up with most of the volunteers from the La Union region in Agoo (a town about 20 minutes from me) and we all had dinner together.

I've been spending some quality with my host family, who love to take crazy pictures on my photobooth! It's comforting having them around because they've made it easy for me to practice the local language as well as integrate into the community. I spend a lot of nights with my two host sisters painting, singing, and most of all laughing!

Last Thursday night I went to a party for a fellow peace corps volunteer's host father's birthday (hope you followed all that!) It was my first glimpse into how Filipinos drink! During the party, all the males and females talked in separate circles which in apparently common here. The woman that is second from the right in the picture below is my host mom! She is 31, although she looks like she is the same age as me.

Friday was my first practicum. My cluster-mates and I went to a center for males in conflict with the law and practiced some of the activities we've been learning in training. The boys at the center were referred based on court orders for various crimes they committed ranging from theft to rape. I was a bit nervous to work with them at first, but once we started talking to them they began to open up. The language barrier is a bit difficult because the boys at the center come from ALL over the Philippines and speak different dialects. Saturday night all the Volunteers in my city got together to relax!

On Sunday a bunch of volunteers got together to hike a mountain in Agoo. It was about a 3 hour hike through tons of mud, to a cross that is supposed to heal those who touch it!

The before versus after shot of the gang (notice the muddy legs and exhausted faces in the second picture)!

Today my cluster-mates and I traveled to Baguio, known as the Summer city because it's the mountain region of the Philippines and everyone travels there in the summer to cool down. We visited four centers that are possible permanent site placements for us.

We had to take a picture with Jollibee, the Ronald McDonald of the Philippines!

These are my cluster-mates and pre-service trainers. From left to right: Scott, me, Leah, Beth, Amalyn, and Paul.... Delicia is the only one missing from the picture :(

week 2

2009-09-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in the last week…where to begin? I moved in with my host family, the Villasecas. I live with my host mother Lyn, two Adings (younger siblings) AJ and Amaze, and a caretaker Tita Mertz. I felt at home as soon as I moved into the house. Everyone is extremely welcoming and hospitable. On my first night, my host family took me to see the sunset at the baybay (beach).

These are some pictures of the house I am staying in as well as my room…

On Saturday I walked around the town I live in, Caba, and met with the other volunteers’ host families. These pictures were taken at a fellow volunteer’s house…they live in the middle of rice fields where local boys catch frogs to eat and sell.

That afternoon I went to a birthday party for my host mother’s co-worker’s son…everyone at the party wanted me to take lots of pictures of the food and one man made sure I got Pepsi in the picture because he said no Filipino party is complete without soft drinks, haha.

On Sunday morning I went with my host mom and Tita to Agoo, a town about 15 minutes away, to go to the market. I wish I had my camera with me to take pictures because it was unreal. Vendors were selling all body part from any meat imaginable. It was a bit disturbing because there were livers, intestines, pig faces, dried fish, and slabs of meat hanging out in the open with flies all over them…just another Filipino cultural experience! To make matters worst I was experiencing killer stomach pains all morning. After making it back to my host families’ house the pains continued to get worst and I could not stop throwing up, so the peace corps medical doctor advised me to go to the hospital…what peace corps experience is complete without a trip to the hospital? After staying overnight, I learned that I had some sort of infection in my bladder that was easily cleared up with antibiotics and lots of fluids. I got some much-needed rest and am now back in full Peace Corps training mode! My cluster-mates (Scott, Leah, Delicia, Beth, and I) had a courtesy call with the Mayor of Caba and the director of the Philippine National Police on Tuesday. The community is very appreciative to have volunteers here.

Week 1

2009-08-27T02:59:00.000-07:00

I finally made it to the Philippines! I am part of the 268th batch of PCVs (peace corps volunteers) to serve in the Philippines. I spent the week staying in Antipolo, a city right outside of Manila. The week was full of constant training sessions, including a water safety session where all 69 volunteers in my batch had to go into the ocean with life vests on and practice basic water safety skills. It was a site to see! I learned today that I will be living in La Union in Northern Luzon for the next three months, learning a dialect called Ilocano. I'm psyched because it is the surfing capital of the Philippines! I meet my host family tomorrow.... I'm anxious, nervous, and excited all at the same time.

Staging

2009-08-18T19:17:00.001-07:00

I leave for peace corps staging Thursday morning and I can't wait! My flight out of Naples leaves at 6am and I arrive in San Francisco at 10:30. I'll spend the day meeting fellow volunteers and learning basic info about what the next two years will be like. From there I'll fly to the Philippines on Friday afternoon. Thanks to all my family and friends for your love and support. I promise to keep everyone updated as often as possible.

The End of an Era

2009-05-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

I am now officially alumni of the Florida State University. I was hesitant to attend the graduation ceremony because they are so long, but am glad I did because I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment when walking across the stage. I loved attending Florida State. I met so many amazing people, learned about social service, and discovered my passion for international travel. It was very bittersweet leaving Tallahassee. I am ready to start a new chapter, but will never forget the great experiences I’ve had over the past four years.

To further emphasize the end of an era, last week was Corrin and Jared’s wedding; I was the maid of honor. It was held on a dinner cruise out of Destin and everything was absolutely beautiful.

I'll be living in Naples for the summer, preparing for my trip to the Philippines. I'm hoping to spend time with my mom and dad, save up money, and enhance my photography skills.

22 and A-Town!

2009-04-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

For Corrin's bachelorette party, we headed to Atlanta for the weekend. Our trip consisted of reuniting with an old friend we met in London, drag queens, new tattoos, spending quality time with my cousin, and lots of drinks for the bride to be!

I also recently celebrated my 22nd birthday! I am so thankful to have amazing friends who spent time with me on the big day.

Philippines!

2009-03-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

After months of waiting, I finally received my invitation to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer. I will be spending the next two years as a Youth Services Teacher and Advisor in the Philippines. I am feeling a mixture of anxiety and anticipation, but most of all excitement! Below is a timeline of my application process with the Peace Corps.

September 23, 2008- application submitted

October 2, 2008- application received by Peace Corps

October 13, 2008- meeting with campus recruiter for interview

October 20, 2008- nominated

November and December 2008- medical and dental appointments, mailed in medical forms

January 2-9, 2009- wisdom teeth removed, mailed in dental forms, dental clearance

January 16, 2009- additional medical information faxed to Peace Corps headquarters

February 2009- medically cleared

March 15, 2009- invitation kit mailed

March 19, 2009- received and accepted invitation!!