a bit from work

There are pictures of disability week parade. The picture in the pick up show some of the staff and Sam (the skeleton) as we drove about. When we went past a school; Sam and I (the white lady with a camera) created excitement for the kids.
Unfortunately even with awareness and policies there are many limit for those with disabilities. The focus this year was with access there is success. It sounds great only the phrase itself wont make a difference. It's an area of real frustration for me because it's difficult to know were the solution needs to start from. I have challenges walking to work and couldn't imagine getting anywhere with mobility issues. (when there is a sidewalk it may have a big hole in it, vehicles park on the sidewalk, if there are ramps, they are often too steep, well the list goes on).
The pictures carry on to show a few regular patients and the space we work in (including outside, my favorite). I have some great patients that are regulars and they agreed to be models for my blog. Take note, I will be looking at changing the dress code for work to include flip flops and tie dy pants. It's my favorite work outfit. (There is a high degree of playing close attention what is going on when helping patients on the wobble board and wearing flip flops!!).
The stroke patients come in the morning and children with CP in the afternoon. Right now there is a trend of teens with scoliosis, and like back home, there is always a regular flow of folks with back pain. Posture education is a very big part of my day.
With the number of young men riding motor bikes all day I'm surprised any of them can walk. (A very common career is to be a tricycle driver and they can work many hours sitting on the bike, I often notice them sitting a bit sideways, mixing it up I guess). As a pedestrian I am often frustrated by the fact they don't seem to notice me or care when they cut me off or drive right at me (on the sidewalk). I try to keep in mind that there job in not easy.
Some PT thing I find interesting (I'm sure some of you won't care) is rarity of planterfascitis. We spend a lot of time and effort getting our feet support and orthotics and still have planterfascitis. Flip flops, cheap sandal definitely no orthotics and no planterfascitis here(even the foot pains I had last year are good in Flip flops, cheap sandal and no orthotics.)
The guys that play soccer don't seem to get the knee injuries, ankle sprains, and other common injuries (they didn't care I was a PT and could help them with injuries, I got a kind of what for look when I offered). Well, always something new to learn. Take care.

written June 30

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 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.