I have spent 2+ months of Thursdays meeting, interacting with and handing our warm food to the streetkids here. Some of them I see every week and know them by name, some I haven't seen since the night we handed out Christmas bags. Many of these kids faces will remain in the forefront of my brain - even if I don't know all of their stories or can't remember their names.
I sat in an upstairs restaurant yesterday with a perfect view of one of the main intersections of town. While we were waiting for our food, I watched the truck with the pig in the back pull up to the feed store; the little boy walk out of the store (and his mother's sight) so he could relieve himself on the curb front. I also saw a group of 9-10 year old "rugby boys" that we see most Thursday evenings. They were standing in broad daylight sniffing away - getting high. I saw the storekeeper shoo them away, then as their "high" sunk in, I watched them playing a russian roulette of sorts in the middle of traffic. They ended by jumping on the back of a jeepney - another game to see how far they could get before the driver noticed them.
I've seen Gilbert numerous times during trips into town running errands or having my staff dates. He always recognized me and greeted me with a "hello my good friend". He never smelled of rugby and always appeared to be working.
Last night, Gilbert (possibly a nick name or name he's decided to call himself) gave me his smile as he said "hello my good friend". For some reason - maybe because it was my last opportunity - I decided to engage him in conversation and with the help of a translator - listened to him share his story. His mother and father are separated; they used to chop wood and sell it for money, but one day he returned with wood to find them gone. His mother now lives 7 hours away and his father - he thinks - is in Manila. Gilbert got teary as he told my translator "I don't understand why they left me". Without much thought, I touched his arm and said "I don't know if you'll ever make sense of it or if you'll ever figure out why they left. Sometimes our parents make bad decisions or decisions that don't make any sense to us as kids. And it may not seem like it, but I am sure your parents still love you".
Gilbert is 18 (so he says) and comes across in a typical quiet, cool demeanor. But as we continued our conversation, that facade changed. He told me he does not do rugby and works hard - trying to save money. He has an aunt in Carmen (less than 2 hours away) and I encouraged him to try to get there. He also mentioned a sister who is a Nun. This woman sees him on occasion and apparently has given him a bible (I had not mentioned anything yet about a bible or jesus for that matter). He almost chuckled as he mentioned a verse he had read that "said something about do not be lazy".
He looked at me with tears and said "if only someone could give me money for my education". I told him that I would pray about that and he should do the same. I told Gilbert that we have a god who does crazy things - like sending a white woman to Butuan to find him and look him in the eye to tell him that HE MATTERS; even if his parents have left him, the god he read about in the bible has not left him and in fact has a purpose for his life. He let me hug him before we all left the plaza and I whispered in his ear again - "you matter".
I always think that I am drawn to the little girls and get so excited when I get a chance to talk to or play with them. Interestingly enough, these encounters keep happening with teenage boys. As I've said before, our god has a sense of humor as well...
Now that my life fits into an 8x10 storage box, I can leave my HR job for 3 months to volunteer with Project Destiny Kids in Butuan City. Come join me on a journey to the Philippines...
Friday, February 17, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
shoe shopping in the Philippines
So, I was really excited for my staff date today. I was taking Sonia (she's my age - lots of fun to be around)out for lunch, but she was taking me to a couple specific places to buy gifts to take back home with me. Sonia is THE person to take shopping not only because she loves to shop, but she knows the good places to go, and knows shopkeepers well enough to get wholesale prices. She is also the best bargain/negotatior around.
For some reason I decided to ask her if she had a favorite shoe store. Ok, honestly, Sonia loves shoes - as much as my Mara does, and I was hoping I might just luck out and find something. Well, I knew the shoes would be cheap, just not sure they would have anything in my size.
Oh.My.Goodness. It was shoe heaven - so many shoes for under $5 US! I was so excited I had to sit down, then started texting Mara to see if she wanted Tom's and oh my if I don't stop I'll end up having to pay for a 2nd suitcase just for all the shoes I would buy!
The excitement turned to wonder when I followed the girl back to the counter to show her another pair to look for in my size. it turns out, there is no 'back room" where the shoes are warehoused. The shoes are kept in an upstairs room - accessible by a hole in the ceiling of the shore store. There are ropes hanging down from this hole, but instead of using the ropes to tie around some kind of contraption that would hold shoe boxes, they are thrown down onto the floor. Literally - I saw shoe boxes coming down from this square shaped hole in the ceiling. I would have laughed, but was too surprised to speak...
The girls on the sales floor speak into an old fashioned michrophone, stating the style number and shoe size; then they all wait around this area behind the counter (where the hole is located) for their shoe boxes to drop onto the floor.
Like I've said before - everything here is an adventure - even shoe shopping!
ps - turns out they did have several styles in my size
For some reason I decided to ask her if she had a favorite shoe store. Ok, honestly, Sonia loves shoes - as much as my Mara does, and I was hoping I might just luck out and find something. Well, I knew the shoes would be cheap, just not sure they would have anything in my size.
Oh.My.Goodness. It was shoe heaven - so many shoes for under $5 US! I was so excited I had to sit down, then started texting Mara to see if she wanted Tom's and oh my if I don't stop I'll end up having to pay for a 2nd suitcase just for all the shoes I would buy!
The excitement turned to wonder when I followed the girl back to the counter to show her another pair to look for in my size. it turns out, there is no 'back room" where the shoes are warehoused. The shoes are kept in an upstairs room - accessible by a hole in the ceiling of the shore store. There are ropes hanging down from this hole, but instead of using the ropes to tie around some kind of contraption that would hold shoe boxes, they are thrown down onto the floor. Literally - I saw shoe boxes coming down from this square shaped hole in the ceiling. I would have laughed, but was too surprised to speak...
The girls on the sales floor speak into an old fashioned michrophone, stating the style number and shoe size; then they all wait around this area behind the counter (where the hole is located) for their shoe boxes to drop onto the floor.
Like I've said before - everything here is an adventure - even shoe shopping!
ps - turns out they did have several styles in my size
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
best love letters I could have received on Valentines Day
On my last day at school, I collected about a dozen hand written letters on yellow legal pad paper, small white notebook paper and even a spongebob squarepants note pad. I think I'll keep them together in an envelope and take them back to the office. Next time I'm stressed about something, I'll pull them out and read them out loud to myself (hearing their accents and picturing their smiling faces). Here are three of the notes verbatim:
"Dear Ms. Wendy:
Thank you for all, I have learn many things about characterstic and be a good friend, love of God. I never forget you, I hope you come back soon. Thank you thank you for all. I LOVE YOU MS. WENDY
Your pupil,
Geraldine Burdeos"
"Dear Ms. Wendy:
Thank you for the love that you give to us and thank you for teaching with us to be a good child. I hope that you come back soon and teach us. I only say to you I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Until here... Thank you"
Your pupil,
Joanna Rose
"Dear Ms. Windy:
Thank you for teaching us about Jesus, and I hope that you come back soon, and don't forget to pray every day. I LOVE U MRS. WINDY."
...there is something to be said for handwritten notes...
"Dear Ms. Wendy:
Thank you for all, I have learn many things about characterstic and be a good friend, love of God. I never forget you, I hope you come back soon. Thank you thank you for all. I LOVE YOU MS. WENDY
Your pupil,
Geraldine Burdeos"
"Dear Ms. Wendy:
Thank you for the love that you give to us and thank you for teaching with us to be a good child. I hope that you come back soon and teach us. I only say to you I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Until here... Thank you"
Your pupil,
Joanna Rose
"Dear Ms. Windy:
Thank you for teaching us about Jesus, and I hope that you come back soon, and don't forget to pray every day. I LOVE U MRS. WINDY."
...there is something to be said for handwritten notes...
Saturday, February 11, 2012
unwanted attention...
...is something I'm not sure I could ever get used to while I'm here in Butuan. I can't go ANYWHERE in this little city without getting stared at. I have seen other white people ("foreigners") here, but they've all been men over 50 and that's another story for another day probably better written by someone else.
It's not just staring, it's having people stop in their tracks to drop-jaw look at me; following me down the street asking me my name and if I'm alone; trykes and motorcycles honking and asking for a ride. It took me a few weeks to stop wondering if I had a spot somewhere I hadn't noticed, or makeup smeared or something out of place to make people stare - and to realize that my height and eye color alone was out of the ordinary...
When I go to the store, the clerks follow me through the store and grab co-workers for a looksie. People walk around the other side of the aisle to get a second look. Even our weekly hospital outreach turns into a stare contest and I notice people peeking into whatever room I happen to be visiting in.
Ok, this does have it's advantages. Yesterday it was pouring rain and the line outside my bank's ATM machine was almost a block long. When the bank's security guard saw me, he broke into the line, and had me cut into the next spot to use the ATM (yes, it was a little ackward).
I must admit, the attention from the kids is fun. These girls live in the neighborhood, and as soon as they saw me get off the tryke yesterday to walk down the lane to the compound, they came running after me:
They wanted to "come to my house" for the day. Now this, I could probably get used to~
It's not just staring, it's having people stop in their tracks to drop-jaw look at me; following me down the street asking me my name and if I'm alone; trykes and motorcycles honking and asking for a ride. It took me a few weeks to stop wondering if I had a spot somewhere I hadn't noticed, or makeup smeared or something out of place to make people stare - and to realize that my height and eye color alone was out of the ordinary...
When I go to the store, the clerks follow me through the store and grab co-workers for a looksie. People walk around the other side of the aisle to get a second look. Even our weekly hospital outreach turns into a stare contest and I notice people peeking into whatever room I happen to be visiting in.
Ok, this does have it's advantages. Yesterday it was pouring rain and the line outside my bank's ATM machine was almost a block long. When the bank's security guard saw me, he broke into the line, and had me cut into the next spot to use the ATM (yes, it was a little ackward).
I must admit, the attention from the kids is fun. These girls live in the neighborhood, and as soon as they saw me get off the tryke yesterday to walk down the lane to the compound, they came running after me:
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
finding satisfaction in unexpected places
Spending time in the classroom with the 3 (former street)kids who live on the compound has been challenging, fun, slightly frustrating, and admittedly - satisfying.
I spend Tuesday mornings with routine subjects like spelling, math and reading comprehension. Thursday mornings are "mine" - where I've taken the kids on an hour long "think outside the box" time. We've covered things like Communication Skills, Time Management and Conflict Resolution.
I got permission to take the kids out on weekly field trips on Wednesday mornings and decided to go to the library. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea for the kids to tackle a research project.
After an hour long conversation and pulling teeth, each of the kids chose a topic they wanted to learn more about. To be honest, the library time in and of itself was a challenge. The book selection is limited, there is no copier machine and the magazines are very outdated. I also spent most of my time helping the kids find resources since their language (and resource) skills are limited.
Three weeks later, we decided that everyone had sufficient material gathered. In typical teenage fashion, each one of these kids threw their own version of a "tantrum" yesterday when I made them spend the morning putting their materials together for their presentations - including the excuse that her eyelids hurt when she read so much. Not surpisingly, when she finished, she looked at me and said "I did it" - to which I replied "of course you did".
This morning was report time. The director came to classs and they were asked to present in english - which made them all the more nervous. The kids drew numbers to see who had to go first. I think I was a little nervous myself - or maybe just anxious to see how this whole thing was going to turn out.
I was so proud of these kids. Each one of them remembered to speak on their 3 main points, used visual aids, and answered questions when asked for more information.
Maybe they really are paying attention in class...
I spend Tuesday mornings with routine subjects like spelling, math and reading comprehension. Thursday mornings are "mine" - where I've taken the kids on an hour long "think outside the box" time. We've covered things like Communication Skills, Time Management and Conflict Resolution.
I got permission to take the kids out on weekly field trips on Wednesday mornings and decided to go to the library. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea for the kids to tackle a research project.
After an hour long conversation and pulling teeth, each of the kids chose a topic they wanted to learn more about. To be honest, the library time in and of itself was a challenge. The book selection is limited, there is no copier machine and the magazines are very outdated. I also spent most of my time helping the kids find resources since their language (and resource) skills are limited.
Three weeks later, we decided that everyone had sufficient material gathered. In typical teenage fashion, each one of these kids threw their own version of a "tantrum" yesterday when I made them spend the morning putting their materials together for their presentations - including the excuse that her eyelids hurt when she read so much. Not surpisingly, when she finished, she looked at me and said "I did it" - to which I replied "of course you did".
This morning was report time. The director came to classs and they were asked to present in english - which made them all the more nervous. The kids drew numbers to see who had to go first. I think I was a little nervous myself - or maybe just anxious to see how this whole thing was going to turn out.
I was so proud of these kids. Each one of them remembered to speak on their 3 main points, used visual aids, and answered questions when asked for more information.
Friday, February 3, 2012
teacher for a day
So, there I was sitting in the Principal's office. She is an older woman, quiet, stoic and seemingly serious. When she asked me where I live, I told her Utah, which she responded to by telling me that she "is a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". I smiled and nodded. I couldn't understand the conversation happening around me but I heard something about "catechism" and "6th grade classrooms".
At that moment, I only remember feeling panic. Ok, maybe it was part flashback - because I was sitting in the principal's office without knowing what the outcome would be. But clearly I am not catholic, wasn't raised catholic and don't feel trained to teach catechism classes! I calmed myself down thinking that I would be leaving soon and wouldn't have to see these people again if it was a total disaster.
I left the office after watching the Principal sign something. As soon as we got outside, Aizel explained to me that I had been asked to rotate through each of the five 6th grade classrooms for their morning catechism classes. What that really means here is "Values" class.
There is no separation of church and state in the Phillipines so even in a public school you are allowed to teach christian education. I was told that I could talk about God, speak from the bible and even pray in the classroom - in a public school!
The interesting twist is that this school is located in an area of town with a high Muslim population. About 40% of the students who attend this school are Muslim.
As soon as I got home, I sent an email off to some of my friends on staff with AC at my church. It was an SOS of sorts, asking if they could please send me some curriculum geared towards 6th graders that had to do with Values.
Of course, any of us who are parents have had practice talking to our own children about the importance of good manners, being polite and speaking truth. This gave me a little bit more confidence. As luck would have it, Gwen came through and sent me some great materials to use with the kids (including an exercise that I could have them go through).
As it turns out, the class time was very enjoyable. It was a great experience for me - watching the kids respond, watching muslim kids pray in class, and of course admitting that I had worried too much about this "assignment" that I had been given.
I'll be back in the classroom(s) again next week!
At that moment, I only remember feeling panic. Ok, maybe it was part flashback - because I was sitting in the principal's office without knowing what the outcome would be. But clearly I am not catholic, wasn't raised catholic and don't feel trained to teach catechism classes! I calmed myself down thinking that I would be leaving soon and wouldn't have to see these people again if it was a total disaster.
I left the office after watching the Principal sign something. As soon as we got outside, Aizel explained to me that I had been asked to rotate through each of the five 6th grade classrooms for their morning catechism classes. What that really means here is "Values" class.
There is no separation of church and state in the Phillipines so even in a public school you are allowed to teach christian education. I was told that I could talk about God, speak from the bible and even pray in the classroom - in a public school!
The interesting twist is that this school is located in an area of town with a high Muslim population. About 40% of the students who attend this school are Muslim.
As soon as I got home, I sent an email off to some of my friends on staff with AC at my church. It was an SOS of sorts, asking if they could please send me some curriculum geared towards 6th graders that had to do with Values.
Of course, any of us who are parents have had practice talking to our own children about the importance of good manners, being polite and speaking truth. This gave me a little bit more confidence. As luck would have it, Gwen came through and sent me some great materials to use with the kids (including an exercise that I could have them go through).
As it turns out, the class time was very enjoyable. It was a great experience for me - watching the kids respond, watching muslim kids pray in class, and of course admitting that I had worried too much about this "assignment" that I had been given.
I'll be back in the classroom(s) again next week!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Halo-Halo
What do you get when you mix shaved ice and evaporated milk with various Ingredients like boiled garbanzo beans, sugar fruit (kaong), fresh coconut, plantains caramelized in sugar, jackfruit (langkâ), gulaman, tapioca, yam, and crushed corn flakes?
I was skeptical, but in keeping with my "adventurous spirit" here and not wanting to miss out on anything, I decided to try a bite.
Needless to say, there was not a drop left and I can understand why this Filipino dessert is so popular here! Btw, in case you're wondering, "halo" is tagalog for "mix"...
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