I will admit getting up at 3:30am was much harder this morning. I saw another rat today on my way to the office, much smaller than yesterday, and although this one was alive (and scurrying away from a stray dog coming its way) it was on the other side of the street, and I had my can of mace just in case one attacked me. The guard did not wake up when I called “kuya” (brother) this morning for him to let me into the building, so I pulled open the garage myself, got on the elevator, to wave at the guard as he started stirring when he saw the bright lights from inside the elevator.
The client this morning did incredible, and I could tell the law students were very interested in what she had to say. I am so grateful Gary Haugen is teaching a class like this, as it will give lawyers who need some direction (hopefully) a passion they can live for and work towards in their career.
Sorry mom and dad , no I don’t want to wake up early tomorrow to Skype…I want the extra 30 minutes of sleep. But I still love you. J
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26
This morning the day finally came for us to do the Skype interaction with one of IJM's STAR clients. Gary Haugen, president and CEO of IJM, is teaching a law school class at the University of Chicago Law School on fixing broken public justice systems, and wanted to have a question and answer time for his class so they can put a face with all the experiences he will be describing in class. I had mentioned this before, the client and I came up with a script of questions she is prepared to answer, just to make sure she is comfortable and ready to answer some of these very personal questions about her life and what she's been through. This client is a light when you meet her...she really glows with joy and gratitude for her new found hope and strength, so I've been so touched to have been able to work with her.
Anyways, his class is at 4:00pm in Chicago, meaning 5:00am our time. So we set up the Skype interaction (after several reschedules) for Monday at 5:00am....meaning we would get here at 4:00am for a practice run. So I woke up at 3:30am (thank goodness I am so fortunate to live so close to the office) and walked over in the dark with my can of mace given to me at training week. I have yet to use it, but I must admit I feel much safer holding my finger on the trigger when I walk around in the dark. On my way to the office, mace in hand, I saw a dead cat in the middle of the road. I was so sad and it was so close to me I was a little grossed out. As I looked closer I started wondering why it's tail had been shaved off until I realized I was looking at the largest dead rat (or alive rat for that matter) I have ever seen in my life. It was amazing and terrifying all at the same time. I'm not sure what I would have done if it was alive, but I squealed a little before quickly walking off. The squealing didn't help with the "draw no attention to myself at 4am" plan. However I got to the office safely.
After waiting about 30 minutes for our practice call, we started getting a little antsy since no one had called us yet. I emailed HQ just to let them know we were ready for them, only to get the email in return stating it was Sunday evening for them, not Monday (right....the time difference). So we came at 4am on the wrong day. It was no one’s fault by any means, but I’m surprised no one caught that, though. I think we all felt a little silly. I asked the client what she wanted to do. I offered to record me asking her the questions with her responses, and then we could e-mail the class, and she said "but then they won't have an opportunity to ask me any questions." She knew this was important, so we will be back tomorrow bright and early for round 2.
Anyways, his class is at 4:00pm in Chicago, meaning 5:00am our time. So we set up the Skype interaction (after several reschedules) for Monday at 5:00am....meaning we would get here at 4:00am for a practice run. So I woke up at 3:30am (thank goodness I am so fortunate to live so close to the office) and walked over in the dark with my can of mace given to me at training week. I have yet to use it, but I must admit I feel much safer holding my finger on the trigger when I walk around in the dark. On my way to the office, mace in hand, I saw a dead cat in the middle of the road. I was so sad and it was so close to me I was a little grossed out. As I looked closer I started wondering why it's tail had been shaved off until I realized I was looking at the largest dead rat (or alive rat for that matter) I have ever seen in my life. It was amazing and terrifying all at the same time. I'm not sure what I would have done if it was alive, but I squealed a little before quickly walking off. The squealing didn't help with the "draw no attention to myself at 4am" plan. However I got to the office safely.
After waiting about 30 minutes for our practice call, we started getting a little antsy since no one had called us yet. I emailed HQ just to let them know we were ready for them, only to get the email in return stating it was Sunday evening for them, not Monday (right....the time difference). So we came at 4am on the wrong day. It was no one’s fault by any means, but I’m surprised no one caught that, though. I think we all felt a little silly. I asked the client what she wanted to do. I offered to record me asking her the questions with her responses, and then we could e-mail the class, and she said "but then they won't have an opportunity to ask me any questions." She knew this was important, so we will be back tomorrow bright and early for round 2.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23
Had to wake up at 5am this morning to get to the office and head out for the relaxation training I would be conducting later for the social workers and house parents of one of the shelters a number of our clients our housed. They had planned a day at the pool in Laguna, and my supervisor/boss offered me to be there for them to do a training on relaxation. In true Filipino style, we got there expecting to have a conference room to use for my PowerPoint presentation, when really they were going to charge us an extra 20,000 pesos to use it for 2 hours (which is too much money). So we had to imporvise and I did my training standing amongst a group of picnic tables, children screaming as they swam through the pool. I was suprisingly calm, and not too stressed about it...maybe I've grown since last week? And the training turned out really well. They were very receptive to the information and so grateful we were there. They cooked a delicious Filipino meal, Camayan style (eating with your hands)...rice, fish, this green vegetable cooked in coconut milk, eggplant, chicken adobo, mango, watermelon....it was glorious. Flash forward to me leaving in the middle of dinner with the other interns, running home, and getting sick immediately. As I was hugging the toilet, I couldn't help but remember the moment I told the hostess of that day that "this is the best Filipino food I've had since I got here."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19th
Saturday was fabulous. I went with the Hope, Leah, and Ziwei to high tea...which I kept calling high noon because I had never heard of it before...and had no idea drinking tea was a well known established activity. I just thought it was called "let's go drink some tea and be classy" when you wanted to drink tea with someone. Afterwards we visited a hotel where they had a bridal fashion show with the famous Manila fashion designers. I had a hard time refraining from squealing a lot, as is what is natural for me during these kinds of situations. I think I kept it under control. I think.
Random Thoughts to share -
Weirdest whitening products I’ve seen so far:
Whitening sunscreen…don’t you get darker being in the sun? I’ve never heard of people being able to get whiter.
And whitening deodorant. This dove commercial claims shaving causes damage leading to skin darkening, so you need to buy their whitening deodorant. Ridiculous. I wonder what kind of ridiculous tanning products I’ve bought in the past...
Confession: I ran out of face powder and went to The Body Shop hoping they would have a color that would work for me. When I sampled any of the colors darker than the whitest of whites in the store, the clerk would show me how the white white color fit me the most. And she convinved me of this....and I bought the lightest color they had....and now when I put on my makeup I look either sick or dead.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I love Joakim Noah (Thanks Mike for sharing this)
Friday, April 16
Today we finished up the training with workshops on stress management and relaxation, anger management, assertiveness training and communication. Many of the clients were so sad to leave and kept telling me how much they didn’t want to go home. Typically in a camp situation, you know kids don’t want to go home because they had been having so much fun, but I knew these comments meant more than that. Here the clients are encouraged, are celebrated, are loved…and some clients had to go back to shelters where they didn’t have families, or back to families that can’t give them the love they so desperately crave. We had a nice graduation ceremony where we provided them with certificates of participation, a group photo, and an individual photo of them standing in front of the training sign.
Thursday, April 15 Tita Megan
We started out the day today reflecting on the activities from the previous day. One of our clients, who refused to speak or participate in anything the day before, got on the microphone to share what her experience had been. Just the fact that she displayed a growth in confidence was very powerful (although I could not understand what she said). I asked the social workers to translate for me on some of the things the clients were saying during that time.
One client commented on the videos showed revealing how Photoshop affects the way women look in magazines. She said she now knows she has a purpose, that billboards are fake, but that “we have skills and talents and a lot to share with my friends when I get back home.” Another client commented on the scripture verses we went over, and she said that she learned that although her friends and family leave her, she knows God won’t and she teared up as she shared. Another client was touched by a mask activity we did, where they would draw on one side of a paper plate the way they display themselves to the world (how others see them as a person) and on the other side they drew a mask of what they really are on the inside. She expressed that she learned she should not judge others because “we don’t know what they are going through.” Lastly, client after client shared about the clay activity…where they were supposed to use the clay to express what is valuable about themselves. Many of the clients first created a wilted flower, then created a thriving one representing how IJM has given them strength and hope for their life. It was very emotional, with several clients crying as they shared. This reflection really helped me to see how it is helpful to rescue girls who may not have even wanted to be rescued originally (many of the young girls want to make money this way, and choose to enter into the sex trade or are convinced by their family…however since they are children, we consider them unable to make wise decisions for themselves…but it’s hard for me for me to think about sometimes).
The rest of the day it was just amazing to see the social workers in action. The topic covered dating and sexuality, which is always fun to do with teenagers. While I stressed over staying on schedule, they lived in the moment and truly catered to the clients needs, making sure to incorporate plenty of processing time. It was cool to know that the information being provided was used to help empower the social workers in their own work and in their own life. When discussing dating violence, one of the client’s got very emotional saying that she felt guilty for the relationship she was in, and that she felt we had planned that presentation just for her (which we obviously had no idea about her dating life). There was clearly a lot of growth through the processing of all of the information and activities participated in.
At the end of the night we did videoke (a favorite Filipino past time, which is like karaoke with videos playing in the background…and no…not music videos….just random things – people skating, monkeys, really anything you can think of) and a bonfire (which was prepared right next to the venue…thankfully nothing caught fire ) Some of these girls have some of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard. At the bonfire, each client stood in front of the fire and made a promise for change. I think I expected the clients to hate being touched since they had been traumatized and abused, but it was amazing how much they obviously craved healthy touch. Although I couldn’t fully communicate with all the clients through words, they would put my arm around their shoulders or just hold my hand.
I got to supervise a cottage of 4 young ladies who are just so sweet. They called me tita Megan which translates into to something like aunt Megan....which I obviously loved. I talked to one girl tonight who talked about wanting to eventually have a boutique of her own. Livelihood here is a major challenge which is why I think so many girls go back into the trade. It’s the only way they know to make money or were raised to make money, so we talked for a while about hopes and dreams, and how to accomplish goals (which had also been incorporated as a workshop in the training).
It sounds creepy, but tonight before I fell asleep I just watched the clients as they were sleeping and couldn’t help but be so grateful that they were safe that night. That nothing was going to happen to them, that they got to go swimming today…that they got to play with clay…that they got to sing and dance for fun….that they got to be kids.
One client commented on the videos showed revealing how Photoshop affects the way women look in magazines. She said she now knows she has a purpose, that billboards are fake, but that “we have skills and talents and a lot to share with my friends when I get back home.” Another client commented on the scripture verses we went over, and she said that she learned that although her friends and family leave her, she knows God won’t and she teared up as she shared. Another client was touched by a mask activity we did, where they would draw on one side of a paper plate the way they display themselves to the world (how others see them as a person) and on the other side they drew a mask of what they really are on the inside. She expressed that she learned she should not judge others because “we don’t know what they are going through.” Lastly, client after client shared about the clay activity…where they were supposed to use the clay to express what is valuable about themselves. Many of the clients first created a wilted flower, then created a thriving one representing how IJM has given them strength and hope for their life. It was very emotional, with several clients crying as they shared. This reflection really helped me to see how it is helpful to rescue girls who may not have even wanted to be rescued originally (many of the young girls want to make money this way, and choose to enter into the sex trade or are convinced by their family…however since they are children, we consider them unable to make wise decisions for themselves…but it’s hard for me for me to think about sometimes).
The rest of the day it was just amazing to see the social workers in action. The topic covered dating and sexuality, which is always fun to do with teenagers. While I stressed over staying on schedule, they lived in the moment and truly catered to the clients needs, making sure to incorporate plenty of processing time. It was cool to know that the information being provided was used to help empower the social workers in their own work and in their own life. When discussing dating violence, one of the client’s got very emotional saying that she felt guilty for the relationship she was in, and that she felt we had planned that presentation just for her (which we obviously had no idea about her dating life). There was clearly a lot of growth through the processing of all of the information and activities participated in.
At the end of the night we did videoke (a favorite Filipino past time, which is like karaoke with videos playing in the background…and no…not music videos….just random things – people skating, monkeys, really anything you can think of) and a bonfire (which was prepared right next to the venue…thankfully nothing caught fire ) Some of these girls have some of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard. At the bonfire, each client stood in front of the fire and made a promise for change. I think I expected the clients to hate being touched since they had been traumatized and abused, but it was amazing how much they obviously craved healthy touch. Although I couldn’t fully communicate with all the clients through words, they would put my arm around their shoulders or just hold my hand.
I got to supervise a cottage of 4 young ladies who are just so sweet. They called me tita Megan which translates into to something like aunt Megan....which I obviously loved. I talked to one girl tonight who talked about wanting to eventually have a boutique of her own. Livelihood here is a major challenge which is why I think so many girls go back into the trade. It’s the only way they know to make money or were raised to make money, so we talked for a while about hopes and dreams, and how to accomplish goals (which had also been incorporated as a workshop in the training).
It sounds creepy, but tonight before I fell asleep I just watched the clients as they were sleeping and couldn’t help but be so grateful that they were safe that night. That nothing was going to happen to them, that they got to go swimming today…that they got to play with clay…that they got to sing and dance for fun….that they got to be kids.
Wednesday, April 14 Becoming Your Own Superstar
So finally weeks of preparation have all come together (for the most part) for the STAR Training to happen. We titled it “Becoming Your Own SuperSTAR.” IJM STARS are clients who are dedicated to use their story to advocate for victim’s rights (STAR stands for Standing Together to Advocate Rights). STAR qualities that we look for in clients include Strong interpersonal skills and sustained positive attitude, a Teachable heart, Abilty to develop a genuine passion for IJM, and a Responsible member of the community.
Honestly, preparing for this training has been really stressful. There was so much to do, and as usual, not enough time to get it all done. I’m always amazed at how well the IJM Manila office works as a team. People in the office are so selfless and were so willing to help out in whatever way was needed. They never made me feel bad about asking for assistance, and never acted put upon even for the most minor of projects (which I really needed). It’s been so hard also because my supervisor has been sick and out of town, and she has usually the one guiding me on preparations. When I did the training for Samar, I planned it a week after I got here, for the following week…so it was all a blur and I had a hard time remembering all I needed to do.
Additionally, I just cared so much about it’s success. The reason I’m here, and the reason IJM exists is for these clients…and I got 3 days (now cut down to 2 to include travel time to the venue) to teach them whatever I wanted or thought was important. I knew going into this that we would constantly be off schedule and that I needed to prepare myself to not get super irritated when the training was delayed or we would have to cut things out. Even before the training began, I could tell I’m continually learning about patience here…and having to let things happen versus preparing for every single second of an event. I need to better develop the ability to just be in the moment versus focusing on what is next or what is not happening. I kept reminding myself that it was better to over prepare, than not have enough…and I knew that I had included too much information, so I needed to give up the fact that we would be able to include everything in the training. I just so desperately wanted to provide as much information as possible and to help these clients however I could. When we would get off schedule I would have to continually remind myself….is it about me and the work I had prepared? Or about them? Obviously about the clients...and in these situations quality is much more important than quantity. I kept thinking It would be kind of nice if I could just relax since the power points are prepared and just let the training happen…although my personality had difficulty just kicking back and doing that. Every time I would calm myself down and think I was finally ok to just go with the flow during this training…something would happen and I would freak out (internally) about the schedule again (combo of me being American and type A….and a control freak). The Philippines is good for me…if it doesn’t give me a heart attack first.
The venue was gorgeous…we went up north to the mountains where the air would be cooler. Of course we were hours late leaving for the venue as we attempted to pick up all the clients from their pick up points, then once we started orientation presentations (which were supposed to end around 2pm) we did not actually get started on the self esteem training until 4:30pm. Language is definitely more of an issue with the clients than it was in Samar, which is why it was good Josie recommended I pass the baton (the PowerPoint presentations and resources prepared) to the other social workers in the office.
The self esteem workshops were very effective. For one entire workshop, we read scripture verses to the clients sharing with them of their uniqueness and importance, according to how God sees them. They had a long time to discuss and pick out verses that were especially meaningful to them, and I came to find out later they wished they had more time, as they had never heard anything like this before.
As I sat in the room, I would look around at all 30 people (29 girls and 1 boy) and just wonder how much tragedy was in the room. I didn’t know most of their stories and just couldn’t imagine how these young…beautiful people could be abused, raped, sold by family members, and rejected. In the midst of these thoughts…wondering about the amount of trauma in the room, I was also reminded by the insane amount of hope that existed that overpowered those tragedies considering these children and teenagers were in the training…sitting in chairs right now…soaking everything in….desperately wanting to improve their life…searching for something better…wanting something more for their life.
It was a client’s birthday tonight, so we bought her a cake and sang to her. In the Philippines, people genuinely make birthday wishes for the birthday person, then that person says a little speech to the group. She expressed that her birthday wish for this year was that no one would go back to selling themselves for sex. It was a very powerful and precious moment…then when she saw her birthday cake she was so shocked and so obviously grateful. She had never had a cake before and had no idea how to cut it.
Honestly, preparing for this training has been really stressful. There was so much to do, and as usual, not enough time to get it all done. I’m always amazed at how well the IJM Manila office works as a team. People in the office are so selfless and were so willing to help out in whatever way was needed. They never made me feel bad about asking for assistance, and never acted put upon even for the most minor of projects (which I really needed). It’s been so hard also because my supervisor has been sick and out of town, and she has usually the one guiding me on preparations. When I did the training for Samar, I planned it a week after I got here, for the following week…so it was all a blur and I had a hard time remembering all I needed to do.
Additionally, I just cared so much about it’s success. The reason I’m here, and the reason IJM exists is for these clients…and I got 3 days (now cut down to 2 to include travel time to the venue) to teach them whatever I wanted or thought was important. I knew going into this that we would constantly be off schedule and that I needed to prepare myself to not get super irritated when the training was delayed or we would have to cut things out. Even before the training began, I could tell I’m continually learning about patience here…and having to let things happen versus preparing for every single second of an event. I need to better develop the ability to just be in the moment versus focusing on what is next or what is not happening. I kept reminding myself that it was better to over prepare, than not have enough…and I knew that I had included too much information, so I needed to give up the fact that we would be able to include everything in the training. I just so desperately wanted to provide as much information as possible and to help these clients however I could. When we would get off schedule I would have to continually remind myself….is it about me and the work I had prepared? Or about them? Obviously about the clients...and in these situations quality is much more important than quantity. I kept thinking It would be kind of nice if I could just relax since the power points are prepared and just let the training happen…although my personality had difficulty just kicking back and doing that. Every time I would calm myself down and think I was finally ok to just go with the flow during this training…something would happen and I would freak out (internally) about the schedule again (combo of me being American and type A….and a control freak). The Philippines is good for me…if it doesn’t give me a heart attack first.
The venue was gorgeous…we went up north to the mountains where the air would be cooler. Of course we were hours late leaving for the venue as we attempted to pick up all the clients from their pick up points, then once we started orientation presentations (which were supposed to end around 2pm) we did not actually get started on the self esteem training until 4:30pm. Language is definitely more of an issue with the clients than it was in Samar, which is why it was good Josie recommended I pass the baton (the PowerPoint presentations and resources prepared) to the other social workers in the office.
The self esteem workshops were very effective. For one entire workshop, we read scripture verses to the clients sharing with them of their uniqueness and importance, according to how God sees them. They had a long time to discuss and pick out verses that were especially meaningful to them, and I came to find out later they wished they had more time, as they had never heard anything like this before.
As I sat in the room, I would look around at all 30 people (29 girls and 1 boy) and just wonder how much tragedy was in the room. I didn’t know most of their stories and just couldn’t imagine how these young…beautiful people could be abused, raped, sold by family members, and rejected. In the midst of these thoughts…wondering about the amount of trauma in the room, I was also reminded by the insane amount of hope that existed that overpowered those tragedies considering these children and teenagers were in the training…sitting in chairs right now…soaking everything in….desperately wanting to improve their life…searching for something better…wanting something more for their life.
It was a client’s birthday tonight, so we bought her a cake and sang to her. In the Philippines, people genuinely make birthday wishes for the birthday person, then that person says a little speech to the group. She expressed that her birthday wish for this year was that no one would go back to selling themselves for sex. It was a very powerful and precious moment…then when she saw her birthday cake she was so shocked and so obviously grateful. She had never had a cake before and had no idea how to cut it.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
So I've joined a gym. Thought it might do me some good, and you can't really run outside here unless you want to fill up your lungs with pollution and cough up black stuff later. and maybe get robbed. When you sign up at Fitness First, you automatically get 2 free personal training sessions which I thought was cool. My plan was to contact them eventually so they could show me a weight routine or something. I arrived Saturday to simply work out...maybe take a little run on the treadmill to get me started since it's been months i've been in a gym. The person I've been meeting with introduced me to the personal trainer who would start working with me. He invited me into the PT room and proceeded to weigh me, show me my BMI and many other things I was just not really wanting to hear at the moment. Aparently my training sessions started immediately. I just wasn't mentally prepared to be doing all this when all I wanted was to run on a treadmill on a casual Saturday morning. He proceeded to print out all these other statistics, including a recommendation for me to lose a little over 30 pounds. At which point I laughed. I realize I should probably lose a little weight..and would probably look pretty good if I lost all of 30 pounds...but there is no way I would be able to maintain that. I like food too much. And right now i'm not really committed to losing weight...I just want to work out cause I like it. Come to find out they also told Hope and Leah to lose 30 pounds...They are much smaller than I am and it would be insanely unhealthy if they were 30 pounds less. So that made me feel better. I keep telling myself they just want to sell me personal training sessions, right?
Anyways - I looked up a tagalog word of the day today. First time ever. And the word? ...Magaan. No, not my name (although everytime I introduce myself and say Megan...I have to resay my name as "Magaan" for people to be about to pronounce/understand what i'm saying). The meaning? Light weight. So there Fitness First.
Anyways - I looked up a tagalog word of the day today. First time ever. And the word? ...Magaan. No, not my name (although everytime I introduce myself and say Megan...I have to resay my name as "Magaan" for people to be about to pronounce/understand what i'm saying). The meaning? Light weight. So there Fitness First.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
In case you're interested...
I really miss attending services at Spring Garden Community Church in Greensboro. If you have an extra 45 minutes...the Easter sermon...and any otheres for that matter...are worth listening to.
Spring Garden
Spring Garden
Monday, April 5, 2010
Friday, April 2
We finished our trip in Baguio, which is a city people in Manila usually go to for colder weather, but because we had been further up north, it felt hotter. Maybe it was a good transition back into Manila. It is a much bigger city, like Manila, and I think it took a minute for us to get readjusted and used to doing things like catching taxis again. Things had gone so smoothly thus far, but the big city of Baguio seemed to stress us out when we first got there.
On the bus ride to get there, we rode with the windows down because there is no A/C (which I think ended up making me sick from either inhaling dust or fumes or something). Remember the pillow my landlord gave me for Valentine's Day? Well, I was sleeping with it propped up against the window area, made one small adjustment, and woke up as it was flying out of the window. I didn't really know what else to do, so I just leaned over to Hope and said "My pillow just fell out of the window." And that was that. I hope my landlord doesn't notice it's gone when she comes to collect my rent tonight.
We went to the market in Baguio, which was really overwhelming. People everywhere, meat all over the place...eels swimming in water and it splashing on my feet. We bought some fresh fruit, and other knick knacks...but shopping there was kind of hard. Women would come up to me and grab my arm to get my attention. Once I looked at them, they would push their (maybe) baby in my face while asking for money. It caught me so off guard I didn't really know what to do, and it was weird how forceful they were in getting my attention. I didn't want to dismiss them, or be mean, but I also knew I couldn't give them money. I didn't want to endorse women who "rent" babies to try to beg for money. While on the other hand, I didn't want to miss an opportunity to "feed Jesus." I was talking to Leah about what happened and was asking what I was supposed to do. She said she knew someone who would buy little packets of peanuts right when they get to the market so they would have some food to hand to beggars when approached. Looking back I wish I would have bought some fruit or something to just hand to them. I don't know...I guess I was caught off guard and will know for next time. I've never experienced beggars like that before.
On the bus ride to get there, we rode with the windows down because there is no A/C (which I think ended up making me sick from either inhaling dust or fumes or something). Remember the pillow my landlord gave me for Valentine's Day? Well, I was sleeping with it propped up against the window area, made one small adjustment, and woke up as it was flying out of the window. I didn't really know what else to do, so I just leaned over to Hope and said "My pillow just fell out of the window." And that was that. I hope my landlord doesn't notice it's gone when she comes to collect my rent tonight.
We went to the market in Baguio, which was really overwhelming. People everywhere, meat all over the place...eels swimming in water and it splashing on my feet. We bought some fresh fruit, and other knick knacks...but shopping there was kind of hard. Women would come up to me and grab my arm to get my attention. Once I looked at them, they would push their (maybe) baby in my face while asking for money. It caught me so off guard I didn't really know what to do, and it was weird how forceful they were in getting my attention. I didn't want to dismiss them, or be mean, but I also knew I couldn't give them money. I didn't want to endorse women who "rent" babies to try to beg for money. While on the other hand, I didn't want to miss an opportunity to "feed Jesus." I was talking to Leah about what happened and was asking what I was supposed to do. She said she knew someone who would buy little packets of peanuts right when they get to the market so they would have some food to hand to beggars when approached. Looking back I wish I would have bought some fruit or something to just hand to them. I don't know...I guess I was caught off guard and will know for next time. I've never experienced beggars like that before.
Wednesday, March 31
In the Philippines, Easter is a huge huge deal, but not in a commercialized way like it is the United States. Earlier on our trip, someone was telling us about how people in certain cities actually crucify themselves (I dont think they end up killing themselves). Poor Leah got sick again and had to leave her vacation early. Fortunately she was able to find a driver to rent a van a take her home. She told us when she was driving through one city that traffic was stopped because people were whipping themselves in public. She saw red on their backs, at first thinking it was paint, before realizing it was blood and having to close her eyes. She said closing her eyes didn't help because she could still hear everything that was going on. How awful. Wasn't Jesus crucified so we wouldn't have to endure that kind of suffering? Here is an article about all of this:
Article
Back in peaceful Sagada, we hiked 3 hours through a cave! I'm pretty sure the U.S. wouldn't approve of people doing anything like this over there...especially since we didn't sign any waivers, or really have any equipment with us (hats with lights on them, etc.) and people have died doing this before...but that was from a flash flood during the rainy season. Plus we were only paying our guide the equivalent of about $15 including the massive tip because he was so great. If any rock had fallen, it could have maybe left us trapped, or if any one of us had fallen, that could be a disaster, as well...But it was amazing! And disaster free. I couldn't believe the little rock holes we would crawl through, or the caves we would have to climb up...or the massive amounts of bat poo we had to walk on near the end (which they didn't tell us was bat poo until someone was using their hands to hold themselves up). We all jut felt so....adventuresome. Which sounds so insanely corny. But we were! We were on an adventure. :)
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Back in peaceful Sagada, we hiked 3 hours through a cave! I'm pretty sure the U.S. wouldn't approve of people doing anything like this over there...especially since we didn't sign any waivers, or really have any equipment with us (hats with lights on them, etc.) and people have died doing this before...but that was from a flash flood during the rainy season. Plus we were only paying our guide the equivalent of about $15 including the massive tip because he was so great. If any rock had fallen, it could have maybe left us trapped, or if any one of us had fallen, that could be a disaster, as well...But it was amazing! And disaster free. I couldn't believe the little rock holes we would crawl through, or the caves we would have to climb up...or the massive amounts of bat poo we had to walk on near the end (which they didn't tell us was bat poo until someone was using their hands to hold themselves up). We all jut felt so....adventuresome. Which sounds so insanely corny. But we were! We were on an adventure. :)
Tuesday, March 30
From Batad, we took a Jeepney to Banaue, stayed the night (notice I didn't mention sleep since roosters were crowing all night long....one even sounded sick the sounds were so awful). Then we headed off to Sagada...which I can now say is one my favorite places in the world. I was very jealous of a Peace Corp Volunteer we met who has been placed there for 2 years. I don't know what it is about this place, but it just induced relaxation in me. I never felt unsafe, the weather was perfectly cool, I was breathing in fresh air, and eating all cheap, delicious organic foods. There is this one restuarant called yogurt house which had this amazing yogurt, but tasted nothing like the yogurt I'd ever tried before. We've decided we think it's caribao yogurt, the animal they use to plow all the rice terraces. It's different from the cairbou you are probably picturing in your mnd. Yeah, I thought people were pronouncing it wrong too.
Intitially we went on a hike to see the hanging coffins, a ritual from the Egorot tribes when they used to practice animism. Christianity is now the prevenlant religion there, although the practice of hanging coffins still exists. The belief is that when you're buried 6 feet under the ground, you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, but when you're body is placed higher up, you are closer to heaven. In order to determine where to hang the coffins, a spiritual leader is sent out into the woods overnight to stay near a potential place to hang the coffin. If they hear an owl or other specific sound it is considered bad luck, and they can no longer hang the coffin there. I don't know...I thought it was all super interesting.
Next we hiked to a waterfall in a nearby village in Sagada. Little kids went running past us on our way there, stripped off all their clothes and were diving in/climbing on rocks, jumping off cliffs...right before our eyes. For me, putting my toe in the water was just waaaaay too cold. When I finally fully immersed myself, I noticed my body starting to feel on fire....in this freezing cold water. Is that the first sign of hypothermia?
Sarah and Mike served as an inspiration for me because they climbed up the rocks and walked around underneath the waterfall. I eventually called on Chris, our guide, to help me climb up the side of a rock so I could jump of a mini cliff into the area the water was falling. So I climbed up in my little bikini and made it to the top! It was so envigorating. The minute I reached the top I felt a bee sting me on my belly, which I was pretty sure I wasn't allergic too. I asked Chris if I should be worried and he said they used bee stings there as antibiotics, so getting a bee sting is a good thing. That made me feel better, even though my stomach itched a little. I jumped in and immediately got out since I was freezing. Sarah later on told me that our guide had mentioned to her that fresh water eels live in the water. I'm really glad I didn't know that before jumping.
Sunday, March 28
We woke up insanely early this morning with the hopes of being able to catch the sunrise from the highest point. It was way too foggy to see the sun, however we still hiked up to the highest point, took eleventy thousand pictures, then hiked down to the waterfall. The waterfall was gorgeous and we got to go swimming in the bottom area. Rocks were falling into the water as we swam, which was a little disturbing, but not enough to make me not want to get in the water. It was so cool and refreshing. When we got back to the hotel, I was so sore I would moan as I sat down and stood up. It was a hideous sight.
When we first arrived at the hotel yesterday, we were making fun of some of the hotel staff for wearing t-shirts that said "I survived Batad." It was so cheesy and touristy, and didn't really seem to fit the tranquil atmosphere of this place. After the first strenuous hike, we realized how much we really wanted one of those cheesy things. So we bought the tank top style tishrts (the ugliest one possible) with a serene picture of the rice terraces saying "I survived Batad", and took the most obnoxious picture we could think of while wearing them.
After we packed up our things, we met Simon the owner of the hotel and restaurant we had been staying at. He was selling handmade knives which were just beautiful. I was asking him about how the knives were made and he said they were made from the good metal of a jeepney. There was a hole in the handle and when I asked him what that was for, he told me that when I am hiking in the woods and need to catch a monkey, I can place a stick in the handle of knife to make it longer, cut off the branch the monkey is sitting on, then stab the monkey. He used a lot of hand motions when describing all this to me. I bought a knife immediately. You know, in case I need to get a monkey.
Saturday, March 27
We arrived in Banaue super early in the morning to transfer all of our stuff onto a Jeepney. The Jeepney took us into Batad...I think maybe the ride was 1-2 hours, but the view was gorgeous. Once we arrived in Batad, we had to carry our bags on a 45min-1 hour hike to find our hotel...or more so...a place to stay. I'm not sure I would call it a hotel. On the hike, Edgar asked someone "what's the most remote place you've ever been?" For me, the answer now is Batad. I had heard of the rice terraces before because Leah had said it's the one thing she wants to see before she leaves. I didn't really understand why...then I heard rumors that the rice terraces were in the running or at least really wanted to be considered the 8th wonder of the world, and now I understand why. It's just gorgeous,and absolutely amazing to see in person. After we got settled into our "hotel", we hiked down to the swinging bridge not realizing when we were hiking down that it meant we had to hike all the way back up. I think it would have been much easier if each stair wasn't so big that I was doing one lunge after another. It was the most perfect workout because I couldn't give up. If I gave up, I couldn't get home. It was funny because as I was dying, dripping of sweat, and red faced, our guide casually turns around everyone once in a while to ask if we needed a break. I wanted to be like "look at me, of course I need a break." It gave me so much respect for the people living there. This "hike" is their livelihood. That's how they survive.
I wore flip flips on this hike because I thought we were going to the waterfall (which we didn't end up doing that day), but humble pie was eaten once again today. There was a portion of the trek down to the bridge where we had to walk on top of rocks surrounded by muddy rice terraces. Hope had just fallen in while saying "this ain't my first rodeo" so Leah said she was going to film me as I walked across, feeling confident I would fall in. Proving her wrong, I walked accross most of the way beautifully. I even started prancing near the end, as my confidence grew with every successful step. As I reached the end....I lost balance and fell in. and it's all on camera. Humble pie tastes sooo good.
There was a restaurant inside (well outside...but attached to) the hotel. We noticed the server would ask for our names then write identifying descriptors so she can know who to serve when the food comes out. Hope was "cute lady", Lauren was "white girl in white shirt" and I was none other than "rosy cheeks." I've never been able to get away from that.
After dinner, I was excited about showering. At this hotel, you had to pay for boiling water. So we paid 30 pesos to get a bucket of boiling water, we would fill it up with colder water, and then use a bucket to pour over our heads to "shower with hot water." Did I mention this hotel cost less than $5 to stay at? This was the nicest place we could find in Batad. and it really was just incredible...simply by the view that surrounded us.
I had to sleep that night with a sheet over my head because moths kept flying around my face and I would irrationally squeal and run all over the place...disturbing the other ladies the moths weren't attacking.
Friday, March 26
Egdar and I had to make a last minute trip to the immigration office today to make sure our visas were renewed before heading out of town to the rice terraces. The immigration office is just chaos....and getting there took forever since it was Friday and something was happening somewhere with someone important so I ended up spending at least 2 hours in a taxi today before getting on a bus overnight. It was good to get it over with though.
I had to eat a pretty large slice of humble pie tonight once getting on the bus. In my mind/memory....I remember Leah handing me the bus tickets for everyone....all 9 people going on the trip...and when she gave them to me I immediately felt an insane amount of responsibility and tried to hand off the load of responsibility to the bus conductor man as soon as possible. I remember handing him the bus tickets.
When he came to the back of the bus where we were sitting and asked for the bus tickets, I firmly told him how I had already given him the bus tickets...which he didn't have. I was very adament, and Dior who had planned the trip for us and speaks Tagalog, stood up for me and told the man how we had already given him the tickets. Edgar looked through all the tickets he had, and ours were not there. I truly rememberered handing him these tickets. After a while, and feeling so frustrated, and potentially almost getting kicked off the bus, I lifted my pink backpack up off my lap to find all 9 tickets....in my lap. I'm not quite sure how to say "my b" in Tagalog, but it would have been a good time to know.
Later on in the middle of the night, one of our friends woke up desperately needing to use the bathroom. At first I willingly offered to go to the front to ask the man if the bus could stop for my friend, then realized how much he would probably hate me if I did so. Fortunately, the bus stopped soon after and I continued to gravel until I finally got a smile out of him. I think he forgave me.
The bus ride there was pretty entertaining. I'm not sure how to explain it if you weren't there, but I'll try. 2 people sat in lawn chairs in the middle of the isle because I guess they bought tickets at the last minute when the bus was full. Somehow, amazingly, they were able to sleep in these lawn chairs.
Some bathrooms we stopped at charged money...very small amounts...but for toilets that didn't flush or have any toilet paper.
The roads were super windy, so sleeping was pretty difficult since we were rocking back and forth all night long. Plus, since it's a 2 lane highway, the bus was passing people all night long which was terifying. I woke up several times hearing the horn honking and then seeing oncoming traffic. Don't worry mom and dad, I'm safe and sound at home now :)
I had to eat a pretty large slice of humble pie tonight once getting on the bus. In my mind/memory....I remember Leah handing me the bus tickets for everyone....all 9 people going on the trip...and when she gave them to me I immediately felt an insane amount of responsibility and tried to hand off the load of responsibility to the bus conductor man as soon as possible. I remember handing him the bus tickets.
When he came to the back of the bus where we were sitting and asked for the bus tickets, I firmly told him how I had already given him the bus tickets...which he didn't have. I was very adament, and Dior who had planned the trip for us and speaks Tagalog, stood up for me and told the man how we had already given him the tickets. Edgar looked through all the tickets he had, and ours were not there. I truly rememberered handing him these tickets. After a while, and feeling so frustrated, and potentially almost getting kicked off the bus, I lifted my pink backpack up off my lap to find all 9 tickets....in my lap. I'm not quite sure how to say "my b" in Tagalog, but it would have been a good time to know.
Later on in the middle of the night, one of our friends woke up desperately needing to use the bathroom. At first I willingly offered to go to the front to ask the man if the bus could stop for my friend, then realized how much he would probably hate me if I did so. Fortunately, the bus stopped soon after and I continued to gravel until I finally got a smile out of him. I think he forgave me.
The bus ride there was pretty entertaining. I'm not sure how to explain it if you weren't there, but I'll try. 2 people sat in lawn chairs in the middle of the isle because I guess they bought tickets at the last minute when the bus was full. Somehow, amazingly, they were able to sleep in these lawn chairs.
Some bathrooms we stopped at charged money...very small amounts...but for toilets that didn't flush or have any toilet paper.
The roads were super windy, so sleeping was pretty difficult since we were rocking back and forth all night long. Plus, since it's a 2 lane highway, the bus was passing people all night long which was terifying. I woke up several times hearing the horn honking and then seeing oncoming traffic. Don't worry mom and dad, I'm safe and sound at home now :)
Thursday, March 25
For Holy Week, we had some time off, so it was fitting that one of our friends planned a trip to see the rice terraces in the north of the Philippines. I felt as though I needed to get a backpack for the trip coming up. No...I just really wanted one. A pink one.
I must say shopping in Manila is SO FUN. The workers don't really work on commission, I don't think, and they are so insanely helpful! They pull everything down for you, show you all of the features....and tonight one worker even threw in an extra bag for me if I bought....the pink backpack. Yes. It was fate. At first I felt a little girly....not really outdoorsy...and really foreigner...y buying a pink hiking backpack....but I felt better when Corey said getting a pink backpack would be good because when I get lost and seperated from the group, I will be much easier to find. I felt better until I realized what he was really saying in that statement. He started telling me all the things I needed to pack in my new pink backpack to be a successful hiker, so just to frustrate him, I told him I didn't need a swiss army knife or a flashlight because my backpack was just big enough to fit all my makeup to make sure I looked good in all the pictures we would be taking.
Good thing I got a hiking backpack, but little did I know how much hiking I would actually be doing over the next week...
I must say shopping in Manila is SO FUN. The workers don't really work on commission, I don't think, and they are so insanely helpful! They pull everything down for you, show you all of the features....and tonight one worker even threw in an extra bag for me if I bought....the pink backpack. Yes. It was fate. At first I felt a little girly....not really outdoorsy...and really foreigner...y buying a pink hiking backpack....but I felt better when Corey said getting a pink backpack would be good because when I get lost and seperated from the group, I will be much easier to find. I felt better until I realized what he was really saying in that statement. He started telling me all the things I needed to pack in my new pink backpack to be a successful hiker, so just to frustrate him, I told him I didn't need a swiss army knife or a flashlight because my backpack was just big enough to fit all my makeup to make sure I looked good in all the pictures we would be taking.
Good thing I got a hiking backpack, but little did I know how much hiking I would actually be doing over the next week...
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