the greatest good you can do for another is not just
to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own
-benjamin disraeli

from sea to shining sea

I'm about to utter what may be our country's most cliche phrase, but here goes: I am proud to be an American. I know, I know...but its true. I am always asked to explain PC to the locals. They are usually incredulous as to why anyone in their right mind would leave America, especially to come here??? They can't get over it. I explain that our government pays me a small living stipend to work in a developing country for 27 months, and how exciting I think it is to be immersed in a culture so foreign from my own for that long. Can I do it?, they want to know. Can I go to another country and my governement pays me?
While they arent fully grasping the sacrifices volunteers have made to do this, I see what they're saying. In a country where the majority of its citizens live far below the poverty line, a federally-funded volunteer organization is just about the last thing on their list. Being here is an extraordinary opportunity. While it is considered "volunteering" since I dont receive a salary, I am given enough of a stipend to live comfortably, or as PC says, "the equivalent to the average person in your community". It's not a bad gig. And at the end of it, I get to come home. I will return to the land of opportunity, where I wont worry whether or not I'll be able to find employment upon my return. I wont worry whether or not my employer will provide me with health care. I wont worry that the salary I make wont afford my transportation and housing.
The people here arent going anywhere. They are in it for the long haul. Without a Visa, Filipinos are legally allowed to travel to Hong Kong and (i think) Singapore. Thats it. Anywhere else, they must have a Visa, which is hands down the most coveted document in the land. Obtaining one is no small task; you must have a connection at the embassy, you must travel to Manila at your own expense to apply for it, you must wait years to get an answer, and then, if you get it, you must pay alot of money. So while everyone dreams of getting one, in reality, it doesnt happen too often.
While I am not necessarily enthralled with our administration's decisions regarding foreign policy right now (I dont want this to get political so I will just leave it at that), everyday I am reminded what an incredible priveledge it is to be an American. If i get nothing else out of this experience, that realization will be enough.

sunset-manila bay

better late than never

Ok, so I should have started this blog when i left the states 4 months ago. I cant possibly recount all the tales and emotions that ive experienced up until now. So here it is in a nutshell: MONTH 1- training, being coddled, lots of rules, wanting to be on our own. MONTH 2 - more training, more coddling, more rules, and still wanting to be on our own; we are all eager to be sworn in as volunteers and get to site to get our projects underway. MONTH 3 - reality. Missing newly-made friends from training, feeling like you have no idea what your job description is, and realizing your Tagalog isnt as good as you thought. In fact, it sucks. (most people in my area speak Capampangan, a dialect i didnt even know existed, so obviously wasnt at all prepared for, when i arrived). Now, the Philippines has some very beautiful areas. It is, after all, comprised of over 7,000 islands in the tropics. I wasn't one of the lucky ones that ended up in, say, an island in the Visayas. I am in a landlocked provence in north luzon, and live on a farm with lots of chickens (which by the way, dont just crow first thing in the morning), water buffalo, bugs and loud kids. It's fine. Well, it was fine in June when I arrived. But now here we are, going into August. As a stubborn, independent, moody 30-year-old, I think my time to move out has come. We are required to live with host families the first 6 months for "cultural integration". I have one month left to go, and as the household appliances ive been purchasing for my apartment continue to pile up in my 8x8 bedroom and my bitterness towards this PC rule mounts, I'm fairly certain Im as "integrated" as Im going to get right now.
SITE... Things at Haven are going well. I am moving ahead with projects despite not necessarily having counterparts (another PC rule that we must do everything with a ctrprt) because they are so understaffed, which is why im there in the first place. If I wait around for a staff member to become available instead of , for example, dealing with a current crisis (suicide attempt, runaway, girls engaging in sexual activities with one another) it will never happen. I didnt come here to try to look busy all day while waiting for someone to hold my hand thru a project.
SEC PROJ... Teaching in the Philippines. Hmm. Ive been hearing horror stories from other volunteers who are in the education sector and working in the school systems. The schools here are, quite frankly...a joke. Teachers show up when they want (if they want), and teach only when they are "in the mood" ( a direct quote from a teacher), smoke in class...Unfortunately things arent taken much more seriously on a collegiate level. I teach a freshmen class of Psych 101 at Pampanga Agricultural College. Again, classes are frequently cancelled at the last minute, because "its raining", "its too hot", or, my personal favorite, "theres a dance tonight". So this semester weve missed about 30% of the scheduled classes due to weather or other inconveniencing festivities. Again, this is COLLEGE. I do enjoy teaching though. When I get to.

So i guess thats it. What do i miss the most right now? A nice big healthy salad with home-grown veggies from my dads garden. Hot showers. A juicy hamburger. The Vine in O.B.
Just 23 months to go!!! sigh...