second time around

December 8, 2011

How did it get to be one full week into December already? It is weird to me that from here on out most things I do I’ve probably done before. So my actions and thoughts so far.

I’ve been super busy helping to plan an HIV/Aids training that didn’t happen. At first it was suppose to be last Monday and Tuesday but DepEd didn’t approve it. Then it was suppose to be today, tomorrow, and Saturday, but the caterers bailed yesterday so we are postponing. It’s been a lot of work and I’m very grateful for all the volunteers who’ve helped. I was asked by D’s old counterpart to help, and I couldn’t say no to the sustainability that was going on. We are hoping for January now.

I’m glad I’d had this to focus on coming back from break, because school has been a bit less than school like. Last week was a Pres Conf that they were prepping for like crazy. This week (today actually) was English Month culmination so we prepped for that. I got in some great bonus lessons with my kids, one I posted about already. We also wrote amazing stories and played hilarious charades. These kids are amazing. Also, I got some pen pal letters all the way from New Mexico that all my kids were so stoked for.

Friday we lighted the trees in the Plaza. They will be judged three times and the winning tree gets some sort of major reward, but I don’t know what. It was a nice activity, formal like things tend to be here, but not quite boring. We even got to light those floating lanterns. I’m excited for Christmas in the Philippines again.

Sunday a volunteer in Tacloban and I ran a 5k. Philippines Red Cross was having a Million Volunteer Run. It was a great event and I’m glad I didn’t have to do it alone. There were maybe 500 hundred of us and M and I were the only foreigners that participated.

The English competion today was a great event. The kids really love events like this. They kept saying, “You will picture me?” Meaning I should take their pictures. It was like last year, but with less events.

Tomorrow is the LGU sponsored teacher day. Last year it was food, rewards, and free mugs. I let you know if it is any different this year.

Just like last year December is packed full of activities but not much is getting done. This really bugs the American in me; the Filipino in me (I feel like I can start to say that now) is really embracing it.

racing around bohol

July 27, 2011

I’m going to have to go back to Bohol. My trip was amazing, but I didn’t get to do any of those things that you do when you go to Bohol. I was too busy doing other amazing things.

I met L at the airport on Thursday and we flew on over to Cebu, checked into the pension, went to the mall and had dinner at this amazing Thai restaurant. I love Thai food! Friday morning we woke up, wandered and got on a slow ferry to Bohol, then took a trike to Panglao, an island that is a tourist destination and known for amazing diving. The timing was off with the other group so L and I went and found another Thai restaurant to eat at. Then we met up with the rest just in time to go eat Italian.

Saturday I woke up early and went on a run with L and C (it may or may not have been my first run this month). Then the rest of the day was eating and doing nothing. It was super windy and rain threatened all day long.

Sunday morning we woke up all early to go to our trail race. The race was to help get bathrooms at this high school on a little island in the area. It was something else. Straight up the first part on slick coral lined paths. Intense. It was one of those two-step forwards one-step back wards endeavors, but at the top it turned awesome. Other than the fact that my shoes are bald and flat I really got to loving my run. Just the motivation I needed to finish strong. The race rocked all of us, but I had so much fun.

After we slept the day away and then ate at this amazing bee farm. I had a real salad. I had all I can eat real salad. The whole meal was amazing all you can eat food: squash bread with spreads, a type of chips with a caprese dip, sea food soup, native red rice, sea food lasagna, marlin, sesame chicken, fall off the bone ribs, lemon grass tea. All so amazing but really just ate and ate the salad and bread, and finished with some tasty ice cream. Well worth the splurge.

Monday L and I took the SuperCat back to Cebu and went to Harry Potter for her birthday. I treated her to amazing gelato then we went on a hard-core search for shoes. Both of us decided that race was the last miles our shoes could do. Then we had one more dinner at yet another Thai restaurant.

Tuesday we wandered around the same mall before going to the airport and heading on back to site.

It was a great weekend, but not the way you are suppose to do Bohol. Next time I’ll do the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers and maybe the sun will even shine. 

impromptu 5k

June 12, 2011

Here is the best way to run a 5k race in the Philippines: have a duffle bag, it doesn’t have to be heavy but make sure it is awkward, in the bag you can bring stuff like a camera, water, cell phone, umbrella, snacks; shorts that chafe, not a lot just enough to irritate; 2 shirts on; and a stomach full of bread and hot chocolate, the race will provide these; oh, and don’t bring an iPod or anything like that. Then just go for it.

Last Wednesday, not even a full week into school (post on school later) I was told there wasn’t going to be school on Thursday because of the parade to kick off fiesta (post on that later), and we would be participants in the parade (post on this much later).

I showed up bright and early and the teachers took me under wing and off we walked. During the parade I was asked if I would do the Walk for the Cause on Sunday (that is this post, today). It was from the farthest barangay to the municipal hall. A very long way they stressed. I said sure, why not. They said it started at 6 and I’d need to bring 150 pesos for the fee and shirt.

Saturday night I found out that 6 was a joke and I should leave around 5:30. I showed up at the municipal hall, paid my fee and found out that the mayor had the shirts. When he showed up the shirts he had didn’t have a print on them, which was fine with me. Especially since everybody’s shirt ran during the event. Then in true Filipino event style we waited and waited, then about 6:15 we piled into a vehicle and drove to the start site.

There they shoved pan de sol in my hands and Milo--chocolate powder drink served hot, think of Swiss Miss without the flavor. I started to look around and people were decked out for this walk. Which is surprising because, to be honest, Filipinos don’t do much walking. So we lined up just around 7, the mayor said something, and then started us. Everyone started running! Nobody told me about the running! Luckily I’d been doing a pretty good job of running (post on that later), so I got into stride and went with it.

Apparently the running was just something you do at the start, because everyone started walking very shortly after. However I was feeling good and thought why not. I quickly passed the whole police unit and any girls that had been in front of me, and there were just a few people in front of me.

One of the things I was most excited about this walk was the chance to really see what I always fly through on the jeep, so I had brought my camera with me. I stopped to walk and take lots of pictures (hopefully I’ll post them here, internet allowing). I said good morning to everyone and trotted along. I was glad I’d brought a water bottle because it was hot.  After it was said and done I ended up finishing with the running-old-man contingent, which was fine with me. They talked to me and kept tabs on me, then when it was over all introduced me to their wives and told about all their children living in the US. 

The main memory of this “walk” was how hot it was. It started almost a full hour after I’m usually coming home from my run. I sweated and sweated. Several people told me how beautiful I looked with my rosy cheeks and sat me down in a chair in the shade. I just wanted to go home and bucket shower, but no one would let me. Because, of course, there was a program. It was something to do with the Independence Day. There was a character talking slow-grandma Filipino, and then three adults pretending to be grandkids, talking in slow-baby talk Filipino, turns out baby talk is annoying in all languages. I tried to pay attention, but it was soo hot, and I was kind of in a glaze. Then I noticed everyone was staring and me and laughing and the Grandma was saying something about America. Then she was saying something about Abraham Lincoln. Then there was this girl in a shirt skirt, and tiny little top, wearing a paper hat with stars and stripes on it. Then New York, New York started playing (but not a good version) and she started dancing a burlesque-ish dance to it.  It was embarrassing, and hot, and I was so sweaty, and apparently my cheeks were still beautiful and rosy. The rest of the program wasn’t that bad, they had some traditional native dances and other things.

After the program, they still wouldn’t let me go home. We went to someone’s house and ate. Luckily the food was good, but it was hot. So very hot. We stayed for a couple hours then took a trike back to town. Luckily on the way home it rained and we all got pretty wet, and it cooled things off a great deal.

What a weird day.

why i didn't take first place.

Here are some pictures from the 5k. Sorry they are all over the place, I couldn't organize them in any order that made sense to me, but I'm sure you won't even notice and just be glad for pictures for a change. This is what it looks like where I live.

Some of my fellow runners a long the high way.

Some caribous in a rice field.

Add caption

Caribou on the highway.

Kids watching the race.

A teacher at my school. Note the bag I ran the race with as well as the multiple shirts. It was so hot!