Well these 4 pictures took 1/2 hour to download and seeing that the other few are just a few more corners of duct tape and close ups of baskets I think I will cut short my pictures!!
This is my letter from a week ago.
A day in my life here, and some extras
Well I thought I would share with you my saturday. It actually feels like I am settled. I can cook and this week I have a few added personal touches that I acquired at the festival that features crafts from all of Palawan (the Baragatan). I didn't get any photos at the festival but imagine lots of people, food booths, and little craft booths done up a very nice authentic look. (I did take a picture of some of the crafts I got. I really like my bamboo bead curtain. I'm bring that home!) Tonight I had to step out because of this popping noise. (I thought the neighbor was making popcorn at first but it was fireworks!! for 5 to 10 minutes) Well I was already set up for bed so I just stood out front by my apartment and I could see them quite well. I did miss the crowd reaction. I wonder if they say aagh like we do back home anyways fireworks on june 30 is pretty close to being at home. So this is how my day is ending writing this note on my computer at home. (Tomorrow I will hopefully find wifi to send this note ).
So I started today at 4:50; early rise so I could meet my coworkers at the running track. I had homemade sweet potato pancakes that I cook the night before and fruit. It's about a 30 minute ride to the sports complex and even though it is early, once I'm up it's very refreshing to be up for the sunrise. At the track I also met the running coach of those fast girls from the weekend before. My exciting week of being as fast as I thought I was ended. I ask if he had the actual times and the girl that got second finished in 47 minutes which puts me at 52 minutes (in retrospect maybe my first estimation was a bit too fast to be realistic but I enjoyed thinking I ran that fast for the week)
Well I did my laps and realized again how fast these young girls are compared to me. I also found out that there is a 5 K race tomorrow morning that I will try to make. I really like the small town feeling of just doing things I like to do and meeting people in the activity. It always seems like there is something new, or interesting that comes from just doing.
I then biked to the sailing club. It is right on the way home so that works well. After a few more tips on sailing I was out on the little one man sail boats. Well the wind had gone from perfect (before I got on the water) to very still when I got on. I didn't mind because it really is great to be out on the water, enjoying the scenery and trying to somehow work out how to sail without wind. I actually maneuvered out to a predetermined spot and made it back without wind. There were a few times that I was going backwards, and just kind of drifting but overall I did manage a semi controlled drift in the bits of wind and current I happened upon. Sailing without wind is kind of like fishing. Your out on the water, using whatever skill, knowledge, and mostly silently praying to make a catch (fish or wind).
Well if sailing was not that thrilling with speed or danger my bike ride home has some elements of extreme sport to it. avoiding being hit, crossing busy streets, paying attention to all the possible obstacles (dogs, cats, children, motorbikes, tricycles, ...)
Home for lunch I used my earth pot to make my first homemade soup. The pot is made like a pottery pot (see picture) and after soaking it for 5 minutes it can be placed on gas stove. It is much better than soup made in some tin, or aluminum pot. I was very pleased with how easy it was to use and clean after.
During lunch I also went on a duct tape mission. I had a little "good one" race up the wall and into a little hole. (it is superstition that if you call the rodents the R word and speak badly of them they will come and eat your clothes so I will use the help of superstition to keep peace of mind and call the visitors the good ones). So I think I've got the Red Green guy on a very creative use of duct tape (like the pictures show, I'm on a mission to cover up any hole that seems inviting for the visitors) . I'm not sure how well the tape will hold up but when I run out of the nice subtle white stuff (that I actually brought from home), I'm sure I can find some more here. I added a few pictures in case there is a duct tape contest I can always refer back.
After lunch I wandered down the street to catch the street dance. Groups from the different areas in palawan, in authentic dress, dance down a very long stretch of main street to the festival and there they take turns dancing for the judges. The costumes were great but I actually did more waiting than actually seeing any dancing. I had to leave before it really got going because I headed back to the sports complex to meet some students that don't have a soccer coach (see picture)
Well I don't know how much I can help this team. They are fast and skilled. I will only be able to make some of their practices. They only have one ball so I know they will be happy to see me coming even if it just for the extra balls.
Because of the dance in town only 3 guys showed up. We played a bit of pig in the middle and that gave me a very good workout. (It was very fun to touch the ball and the kids were very polite to make it look like I wasn't completely out of my league.)
Well when they say volunteering is very much about learning and developing yourself, I have to say I am definitely on a very steep learning journey. Tagalog, sailing, running faster, soccer with 17 and under skilled boys, and then all the stuff at work. I will have to work hard to feel like I've left some stuff behind as well.
After my good workout I was happy to go home and relax with a home cooked meal again. I like to experiment with fresh vegetables. (I had tofu with eggplant stir fry for supper, I don't think it will make Companies Coming). I was going to go to the festival again and try the seafood taco?? but better rest up for tomorrow.
Thanks for coming to My Time Away!
I think of you all back home many times a day
Well I thought I would share with you my saturday. It actually feels like I am settled. I can cook and this week I have a few added personal touches that I acquired at the festival that features crafts from all of Palawan (the Baragatan). I didn't get any photos at the festival but imagine lots of people, food booths, and little craft booths done up a very nice authentic look. (I did take a picture of some of the crafts I got. I really like my bamboo bead curtain. I'm bring that home!) Tonight I had to step out because of this popping noise. (I thought the neighbor was making popcorn at first but it was fireworks!! for 5 to 10 minutes) Well I was already set up for bed so I just stood out front by my apartment and I could see them quite well. I did miss the crowd reaction. I wonder if they say aagh like we do back home anyways fireworks on june 30 is pretty close to being at home. So this is how my day is ending writing this note on my computer at home. (Tomorrow I will hopefully find wifi to send this note ).
So I started today at 4:50; early rise so I could meet my coworkers at the running track. I had homemade sweet potato pancakes that I cook the night before and fruit. It's about a 30 minute ride to the sports complex and even though it is early, once I'm up it's very refreshing to be up for the sunrise. At the track I also met the running coach of those fast girls from the weekend before. My exciting week of being as fast as I thought I was ended. I ask if he had the actual times and the girl that got second finished in 47 minutes which puts me at 52 minutes (in retrospect maybe my first estimation was a bit too fast to be realistic but I enjoyed thinking I ran that fast for the week)
Well I did my laps and realized again how fast these young girls are compared to me. I also found out that there is a 5 K race tomorrow morning that I will try to make. I really like the small town feeling of just doing things I like to do and meeting people in the activity. It always seems like there is something new, or interesting that comes from just doing.
I then biked to the sailing club. It is right on the way home so that works well. After a few more tips on sailing I was out on the little one man sail boats. Well the wind had gone from perfect (before I got on the water) to very still when I got on. I didn't mind because it really is great to be out on the water, enjoying the scenery and trying to somehow work out how to sail without wind. I actually maneuvered out to a predetermined spot and made it back without wind. There were a few times that I was going backwards, and just kind of drifting but overall I did manage a semi controlled drift in the bits of wind and current I happened upon. Sailing without wind is kind of like fishing. Your out on the water, using whatever skill, knowledge, and mostly silently praying to make a catch (fish or wind).
Well if sailing was not that thrilling with speed or danger my bike ride home has some elements of extreme sport to it. avoiding being hit, crossing busy streets, paying attention to all the possible obstacles (dogs, cats, children, motorbikes, tricycles, ...)
Home for lunch I used my earth pot to make my first homemade soup. The pot is made like a pottery pot (see picture) and after soaking it for 5 minutes it can be placed on gas stove. It is much better than soup made in some tin, or aluminum pot. I was very pleased with how easy it was to use and clean after.
During lunch I also went on a duct tape mission. I had a little "good one" race up the wall and into a little hole. (it is superstition that if you call the rodents the R word and speak badly of them they will come and eat your clothes so I will use the help of superstition to keep peace of mind and call the visitors the good ones). So I think I've got the Red Green guy on a very creative use of duct tape (like the pictures show, I'm on a mission to cover up any hole that seems inviting for the visitors) . I'm not sure how well the tape will hold up but when I run out of the nice subtle white stuff (that I actually brought from home), I'm sure I can find some more here. I added a few pictures in case there is a duct tape contest I can always refer back.
After lunch I wandered down the street to catch the street dance. Groups from the different areas in palawan, in authentic dress, dance down a very long stretch of main street to the festival and there they take turns dancing for the judges. The costumes were great but I actually did more waiting than actually seeing any dancing. I had to leave before it really got going because I headed back to the sports complex to meet some students that don't have a soccer coach (see picture)
Well I don't know how much I can help this team. They are fast and skilled. I will only be able to make some of their practices. They only have one ball so I know they will be happy to see me coming even if it just for the extra balls.
Because of the dance in town only 3 guys showed up. We played a bit of pig in the middle and that gave me a very good workout. (It was very fun to touch the ball and the kids were very polite to make it look like I wasn't completely out of my league.)
Well when they say volunteering is very much about learning and developing yourself, I have to say I am definitely on a very steep learning journey. Tagalog, sailing, running faster, soccer with 17 and under skilled boys, and then all the stuff at work. I will have to work hard to feel like I've left some stuff behind as well.
After my good workout I was happy to go home and relax with a home cooked meal again. I like to experiment with fresh vegetables. (I had tofu with eggplant stir fry for supper, I don't think it will make Companies Coming). I was going to go to the festival again and try the seafood taco?? but better rest up for tomorrow.
Thanks for coming to My Time Away!
I think of you all back home many times a day
