Well I survived my 10 K run. It was very exciting. When I was at the start line I realized that I would be running with very fast people and I figured it would take me likely an hour to finish. I was worried I would be last and that the finish line would be on the way down. When the start gun sounded I was in the middle of a sprint. I couldn't believe how fast the start was and it just confirmed even more that I would struggle. Well with all the excited I think I ended up finishing 5 th for women (the top 4 were tiny little teenage girls. You can see me on the stage beside these other girls. I think I have a foot and about 50 pounds on them!!) I was very impressed to see how fast they were. Without an official clock, they didn't announce times but I was about 40 to 45 minutes and these girls were well well out of my vision. Anyways I didn't end up last and I got respectable first for my age even if I was likely the only over 40 lady running. I think there were just over 10 women in total. I have to say that it was one of my most exciting runs. There was a 3 K and a 5 K at the same time. (even got a t-shirt for the run) It was really neat to see all the children in the 3 K many of them already new my name. In some of the pictures you will see Fernando. He finished the 5K in his own (personaly designed and constructed) wheel chair. He has good function in only one arm and he gets around very well. He helps out at Bahatala doing wheelchair construction and repair for other patients. It is much more of a challenge for wheelchair dependent people to get around, I have trouble just walking to work, let along using a wheelchair. He is definitely a inspiration and pioneer in Puerto for wheelchair dependent people.
In the pictures you will see much of the staff I work with. They came to cheer me on and we were able to promote Bahatala in our very nice t-shirts. I added a picture of a symbol use for Bahatala (it is on the back of the t-shirts). It is not the official symbol but it on the teaching center. I like the picture and the diversity depicted in the actions of the people. The teaching center is new and already has beautiful landscape that is put together and managed by Dr. Soc and Cecilia. I am amazed how fast things are growing so I have taken a few pictures of the landscape to see how much it will changes in the year. It is amazing that all the rocks are hand picked from a river and put in place by Dr. Soc and the pictures do not even show it all.
Some of the other pictures are from after the race. We had a pancake breakfast and then went to an annual celebration of the forest. Everyone gets to plant a seedling. I'm not sure if the picture of the crowd really shows one of my observations but overall there were many teens and young adults. (They certainly don't have the baby boomer, aging problem we have in western world.) Well there was big crowds of people, loud music, and a festive feeling. It was very nice to walk into the forest area and see some of the native plants. My employer Cecilia is in one picture with a very original flower (sorry no name for the flower) She is an excellent photographer (if I ever need more pictures of my time here her pictures are much better than mine).
I also included a picture from the airplane. It is flying over the north west coast of Palawan, and it was just before that picture that I deleted all my conference pictures.

HI, sorry no pictures

HI, well I am still doing well. I am a bit nervous tonight because I am entered in a fun run tomorrow. I know it is a fun run and I shouldn't be nervous but I haven't ran for quite some time and I only trained the last 2 weeks. (and I just get nervous/excited for anything that is even a bit competative).
It is quite interesting how the run came my way. I had decided one morning to run to a little board walk by the bay (and it has only been 1 morning that I have actually ran) . While stretching an organizer of the run noticed that I had been running and gave me the information. He was quite encouraging to say that I would have no trouble doing well in my age category and being female (he's thinking I'll likely be the only over 40 lady). I was just amazed that an organized run with t-shirts and all just fell at my feet. I will share some pictures next week. It is 10 kilometers and it has been some time since I have done distance running. Luckily the run starts early in the morning. I'm sure it will still be 30 degree weather no matter how early. The rains have also started and it can come down very hard. I am excited to see how the race goes. My coworkers have been very encouraging and plan to catch me (at the finish line anyways).
Work has been good with lots of variety and some projects to start working on. I have been very blessed with great coworkers and employers.
So my biggest challenge; ants not so bad, only one cockroach so far, a few centipedes its OK but the rodents I'm not doing so well with. One night it was a small mouse and it seemed to just cruese through but when the darker, when a more rat looking rodent came through it was a bit much for me. I ended up sleeping with the lights on. I am sure there is a parade of all kinds of things at night but I like to live oblivious to all that. It's when I have to get up and come across things, that the sleeplessness happens.
(I am pretty lucky, many volunteers are in much more remote and snake/rodent infested area.)
Anyways, I am sure my over reacting is very entertaining to the locals, and by the end I am sure I will come to love rodents!!
Take care
Pictures to come

some great things, some not so great

Hello I am happy to be settling into my place and look forward to cooking and sleeping in one set place. I had my first rodent visit this morning. Happily I was sitting on the tramp (really that was the other motive to buying a mini tram was I felt it would be safe from calling things!). So I am out to find ways to control those visits. My neighbor is helpful with advise and I am sure he is wondering if his new foreigner neighbor is going to continue to be high maintenance!
I was away on a conference and took some wonderful pictures of the island called Camiguin, then I proceeded to delete them all by accident. (I will just have to go back some day and take them again!!).
The visit to the island was for conference so I was able to meet so great people from all over the world that are here in the Philippines. I went to hot springs one evening, did some amazing snorkeling in the ocean. Ate, drank, and got dance lessons from some very talented Africans (I think I will need many more lessons but at least I got some secrets to there dancing).
Back at home for the weekend I had a great opportunity to go sailing and I plan to take some lessons to learn how to work a small vessel. I am also hoping to try wind surfing but that is a little less common in this area. Well better finish my shopping. Don't forget to add comments!! (Just sign up as anonymous and then sign or initial at the end of your note)

home continued, the pictures

Home!

Well I am getting closer to actually settling in to have a space of my own and unpack my bags. It has been a long time coming. It is interesting what things become important when starting with basically nothing. After getting a mattress, my next big buy was a mini trampoline, and an exercise ball. Hopefully I can get into a routine to use it too; otherwise I will have sacrificed a couch for unused exercise equipment. With the blank walls I feel there is a lot of potential for some sort of artistic expression. If I create anything exciting I will send pictures. So far the tie dyed sheets are it for artistic expression. In the picture you see the open space from 3 sides. behind the walls with tie dy is my room. It was meant to be 2 small rooms but I was able to rent the place before they finished the renoes so it is one bigger room. By the kitchen is the bathroom and laundry place (not machine just sink and one of my purchases is a wash board. It's also mu goal for my abs!!)
Other than the cabinets in the kitchen there are no closets (good thing I don't have much!). The best storage is Tupperware and other plastic containers so I am slowly acquiring different sizes and colors. The place is quite open and I feel very much at home in the space (I can even do some regular exercise like skip, jog on the tram, and stretch on the ball).
Although there is only one window, there is good air flow and the place seems relatively cool. I was in the place when it started to pour rain as well and so far it also seems dry. The open ceiling seems to work to let in light and air but not the rain!
So far I have carried most things home bit at a time so it is nice to have time to gradually get settled. There are many children on this street and they are very welcoming. I have heard many times "What's your name", and they have remembered mine while I am just figuring out how I will ever remember theirs. (maybe by the end of the year or maybe I will give them name tags). My walk to work is very pleasant, I feel like I am in a city with many conveniences but also enjoy the country feel when I go by open fields, and farm animals. The walk home is a little busier on the streets with traffic (so I have given up my unrealistic fear of snakes for the very real potential of getting run over.)
I have found a good weekly activity, some of my coworkers go regularly to the sports comlex. I haven't got a close up picture of the soccer nets or the grass but I'll just say that I wont have anything to complain about when I get home. I think the field is not used that often for soccer but it is a good place to hang out and My coworkers are already becoming wise to the joy of kicking the soccer ball. The picture did not turn up that well. I will try again.
The track is also really cool. I can run without fear of dogs and traffic and there is a bit of spring in the track. My new fitness passion for the next year is track running. Well I better go.
Thinking of back home and all of you.

at work

Hi
I am having a bit of a break at work today. In the picture you can see I am wearing my scrub tops. It helps the patients know I am a PT and I am there to work. On occations when I don't wear them, and forget to introduce who I am, the patient will sometimes ask if I am a doctor. I guess I get pretty descriptive in the treatments. (Other times they probably just wonder - who is this person?)
I am also sipping at my ice coffee. Yes my drink of choice at work. I haven't given up the coffee but I had to give up the hot. You may notice I've been sweating and look a bit haggared. It is hard work especially with the children but even more it's just hot today. I was sweating before the day started.
Well I have asked Ati Bing if I could take her picture while she was making our merienda (snack) for the afternoon. It will take time to adjust to what NO merienda when I come home, I especially enjoy the home made snack. Today is apple pancakes.
Many of the pictures above are from my weekend trip with a friend I met here. We were able to enjoy this privot resort with everything from a morning swim in the pool, relaxing time, fun company, and great food (that's me making a special dish that requires pounding with the stick, actually I stepped in for the final pound or two!). On the saturday we were out on the ocean fishing. Across the world fishing stories all the same. Yes the big one got away. The next day we spent time at the falls; the drive was very nice and I thought of banff as we were approaching the montains. It was very interesting to see the rice fields at different stages of harvesting and to see the small farms at the side of the roads. At the falls the water is actually cool (I mean cool like a good thing) You could swim in different parts of the river and the sound of the falls was very relaxing while wild monkeys on the other side of the bank were entertained.
This week is busy, I am gathering the few essentials to get my place set up. Never thought I would get so stressed buying plates!
It's a bit overwhelling to know what I need or don't need and where to shop. I think I will start with a mini trampoline and cushions to sit on. I also had my first sleep in a hammock this weekend (that may also have to go on the must have list). I'm thinking there will be a lot of potential with the blank white walls and the red cements floors.

random thoughts

Time is definitely going fast. Between language studying (which I have to admit is not going great for my brain right now, I'm blaming a bit of a flue and foggy brain on that), work projects (working with the other staff to come up with formalized programs), preparing for a conference workshop in June and then just doing life stuff, the days go quick.
I am trying to get a routine to my life (yes after 8 weeks of no routine even I am wanting some structure). I think I need something to keep me active. Surprise, there is no over 35 womens' soccer league out here! So far my main activity is walking. I walk most places and in the midday I use my umbrella but this still has me working up a sweat. For Mothers day, although she does not know it, Michelle has treated me to a coffee and cake at the local coffee shop (it's a bit like our starbucks). I am surprised that I have not had Tim Horton cravings; has anyone rolled up a good rim? any cars? TVs? I seem to get "play again" most often so someone else is getting all my dud cups.
Work has started and is going well. I am enjoying the staff and patients and I realize how much I enjoy work as a physio. I'm not sure if I have bragged about the small special differences that I have found at work here. First No socks (every day!!), merianda's (snack time at work a lady comes by with a variety of snacks at about 10:30), the clinic also has parallel bars outside and inside, and there is a nice busy but easy flow to the days.
I am still thinking of home often. Yesterday I had to buy ice cream cone from the vendor because he was wearing a Molson Canadian hat. I should have taken a picture with him. (maybe I will run into him again. He was probably wondering why this strange lady was so excited to buy ice cream from him because of his hat!)
My picture taking is slowing down but maybe next time I will have a collection that is not just trees, plants and my feet.
ingat!!
magisip ako sayo (thinking of you all)