the time the vice president came to town

July 15, 2011

This has been a strange week:

My teacher pulled an ear of steamed sweet corn out of her purse for meryenda. It was so tasty.

The desk I was sitting in fell over.

The Vice President came to town. That’s right. The Vice President. Of the Philippines. Came to town. My town. And they didn’t even cancel school, what’s up with that?

On Wednesday I got a text from D saying that her host family said that the Vice President was coming tomorrow at 10:00. To Alangalang? That is what they say. So of course we texted everyone looking for details. Supervisors, friends, volunteers (like they would know more about my site than I would), no one really knew any details, but he was coming. Or at least was invited to come. I'd noticed earlier they had been scrubbing the municipal hall and setting up tents.
On Thursday the motorcade came through as I was getting ready for school. Sure thing, he was coming. However, when I got to school nobody knew a thing about it. Then about 9:00 teachers started running around in a panic, not talking to me, shouting to kids. This could only mean one thing, they found out. They had all the students make flags to wave to Binay.

In true Filipino fashion, the flags had to be perfect.
After making the flags we marched on to the municipal hall only to discover they high schoolers had dibs on the good views. So we just hung out in the shade. Deb and I snuck to the front, because of my height all I could really see was umbrellas.

No one knew why he came, to be honest I still don't think they know. I know while here he was named an official son of Leyte and Alangalang. Yes, we have that authority. It started with a long prayer, as it always does. Then a lady yelled something into the mic that was set to too loud a volume already. Then the mayor got up and did what he does best, yell into the mic. Then the vice-mayor had her turn at yelling in the mic. She shouted out all the minutes for the meeting in which it was decided that they would name him a son of Alangalang. Then the Vice President spoke (not shouted) in Tagalog for about 20 minutes. And like that it was over.

Luckily I have long arms and could get a good picture.

My view was only slightly better than my students'.

what are my thumbs good for now?

when I left albuquerque it basically broke my heart. the goodbyes were vague. it was before medical clearance, and invitation kits, and knowing that i had a plan beyond august. so i said my fair wells and drove away.
of course through out the summer i wasn't out of communication with them. thankfully i had my texting and did it ever get me through the summer. it was sad that i had to tell all my friends my great news not face to face, but i still knew they were pumped for me. and they were there to encourage me through the stresses and worries that came with this process. and as each day goes by, those feelings have for sure heightened.
so has the reality that i've only got about a week or so of those texts and occasional phone calls left. you start to think, hey will i ever see so-and-so again. i know i'll see such-and-such, but what about whats-her-toe? and it is hard to come to this realization and have it maybe be a one sided emotion. sure so-and-so and whats-her-toe will miss you, but do they know if they will see you again. thankfully in this age of communication i'll be in contact, but will i ever hug such-and-such again?
goodbyes are awkward, well at least for me. they involve those hugs that you don't want to end and the avoiding eye contact as best as possible to not just break down. well, how are you suppose to avoid eye contact through a text? there won't be the hugs, and the parties, and good luck wishes. just texts to boost the moral one last time, and perhaps a completely avoided farewell (at least on my part).