So Here's the Dealio: I'm 22, and it's Flooding

Currently Reading: Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

Currently Listening to: Wet’s sophomore album “Still Run”

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Initial Orientation (IO) has come and gone, and we're about to start week three of Community Based Training (CBT). IO and CBT are part of Pre-Service Training, and my performance and growth during PST will determine whether or not I’m sworn in as a volunteer in September (scary!). CBT includes living with our first Pinoy Host Family, and I live with a family of four: Tita Florence, Tito Lowie, their high school niece Che-Che, and their five year old daughter Mutya. They also have cousins come in and out all the time, and I’m surrounded by kids all day. Call me Ate (big sister) Steph from now on, please! The constant presence of children also allows me to practice my Tagalog. They’re really patient with me, and teach me new words, games, and songs everyday. On my first day, I broke out a deck of Uno cards: a hit with the kids and an opportunity to learn colors and numbers. Baby steps, okay?

I’m well into language training - we work on Filipino for 4-8 hours a day. My technical training also includes observations at the elementary school, where I’ll be co-teaching (I’ll go into the value of co-teaching and sustainable practices in another post) second grade, but rainy season got the best of us. School was cancelled eight out of the ten school days in the last two weeks due to flooding, meaning I only observed two days of class. Though I wish I could’ve gone to school for hands on technical training, this also was a taste of what I might experience when I go to my permanent site in September. The reality for many schools in the Philippines is that school is cancelled often. It’s frustrating, but flexibility and patience will be my friend in the next few years, especially if things are unexpectedly cancelled due to natural disasters.

In other news, I’m currently working on obtaining a new laptop since my MacBook took the L a few days ago :( Also... I found out the hard way that bringing wet Birkenstocks into an unairconditioned room can... lead to... mold... but that can be fixed! And now I’ve learned my lesson. They’re just things, so it’s not a huge deal! On a more positive note, I get to see my pals in the Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) and Costal Resource Management (CRM) sectors tomorrow for Water Safety Training! Expect some SICK photos, because we're going to be on the beach.

Oh also, I'm 22 now. First birthday in the Philippines, check. Even though I'm 12 hours ahead of my family and friends in the States, I still felt so much love from my community and fellow trainees <3 My 2nd graders remembered from the first day that I met them that the 26th was my birthday, and they each made cards for me. Do you ever want to cry? Because yeah same. My host family also put together a little party for me, which included... my love... videoke! And pancit, tortang talong, and adobo. They're the sweetest, truly.

Cards Made by My 2nd Graders (little angels)

Anyways, I’ll say it, Texas-Nice had nothing on the kindness and hospitality of the Philippines. And you can quote me on that.