language training

Well this is a challenge. I have had 2 weeks (Dalawang linggo) of lessons and feel very much like I will come home speaking English. I find it much easier to write and read. It is all the new sounds and the number of sounds that are packed into one phrace needless to say my days of lessons are busy with resting my brain, and practicing, and making up sentences. There are guards around the neighborhood were the office and language lessons are and I think they are quite amazed by my attempts of good morning!! (magandang umaga!) Well this week I have moved to a house a little further out with another volunteer that works in Manila. I will only need to stay for the 2 weeks of language and then I am off to Puerto Princesa to really get settled in for the year. It has been very nice to have a home to stay in the last few days. I cooked my first meal in 4 weeks! It is so easy to get supper planned because on the way home you pass all the little street venders with tons of vegies and fruit to pick from. I'm loving the food. I haven't been brave enough to buy meat in the street so I may be quite the vegetarian cook when I get home. There will be lots of fresh fish and sea food in Puerto Princesa but I'm not sure if I'll be brave enough to buy it. Did I say it's hot!! yes! Hot in the morning, afternoon, middle of the night!! There is technically no hot water for showers but it heats up an it's own in the piping I think and even trying to take a cold shower is a challenge at this moment. (this is the hotter of the season, yes the seasons are hot and hotter) I also here it will be slightly cooler in Puerto Princesa because of the sea breeze. Well other than being hot and polluted. (I've given up worrying about my lungs). It is an amazing place. I quite enjoy my little jeepney ride in the morning. Packing in the back of this little bus. It has it's general route and they continually come by. Just have to wave it down, pay 7-8 pesos (about 20 cents?) and off you go. there are some set stops but if you call Para it will stop right were it is and off you jump. I got a bit lost in the new neighborhood this afternoon but people are so friendly there is no problem finding help (even men ask for directions in this country. I noted this my first few hours in the Philippines because the taxi driver stopped about 6 times to get directions when I first arrived. It was one of my first obvious culture differences. Men ask for directions!!) Well you may be wondering what the pictures are about. some of you may have heard about the Easter Friday tradition that occurs in one of the provinces of the Philipinnes. (this tradition is not encouraged or condoned by the church -disclaimer) To give penance or to show appreciation for a good year, or to ask for healing, some men in this region go through a ritual of flagellation. They have their backs cut (the bald man in the white t-shirt) and then with there face covered, they walk down the street to their church flinging a whip onto the wounds to cause more bleeding. well just see the pictures, the van is covered with blood spatters. Overall it seems hard to understand but it has been going on for about 50-60 years. Since the church has been more vocal about discouraging it participation has gone up. Hard to say maybe hundreds of men do this. Some just carry a cross. There is also a picture showing the real Crucifixions. This year there were about 8. Some people, mostly local but some foreigner, choose to undergo the reenactment of caring the cross and then being nailed to the cross. (for you rehab people, yes I checked and they place the nail strategically to avoid damage to ligaments and such). It is hard to really describe the day. For those that do it, they feel they have had healings and obviously some benefit. Some do it yearly. Well just check the pictures and you can read about it more if you want to if you check out web for Philipinnes, Crucifixion, flagellation? The dutch network is there yearly to report it.

other pictures:

There are also 2 pictures from my visit to Makati; which is upscale Manila.

I had a very nice home made meal and got this nice view. I met a dutch couple who had questions about malaria drugs (by the way the doctor in Puerto Princesa say I only need the anti Malaria if I an going out of the city. All that talk about dreams and depression!!). I also met this other dutch volunteer in the picture with me. We are out at an outdoor community event having a cold one. My big night out (till 9:30 I think it was).

Take care (ingat)

P.S. sorry about the sideways picture