like a linebacker

so my 2nd week of work is officially done and my brain is full. for the past week i have begun the task of understanding a 40 year conflict in southern philippines between the philippine government and moro islamic groups. a conflict seeped in historical and cultural goodness. i think i could probably spend 2 months alone trying to understand the different perspectives and different solutions to this conflict. however, that is not my task.

what is my task? you are wondering... well, i have been granted the privilege of assisting in the development of a 3 year strategic plan for cfsi's mindanao program, (mindanao is the large southern island in the philippines), composing a project proposal and also assisting or providing input into the organization's 5 year plan. whew... if i get all of this done in 2 months i will be a very happy lady.

that's enough work talk... what's up with the title. so everyday i walk to and from work and are confront with filipinos. beautiful filipinos. however they are for the most part TINY in stature. so everyday i feel like i am a beast compared to every man and woman in this gorgeous country. the other day my housemate jen and i were sitting at lunch. i was eating some fruit (mangoes, pineapple, bananas) and one of my favorite coworkers ask... why are you (meaning white people) so big, yet you eat so little? so yes, why is that? why are we as a race so beefy? is it innate or are we just nutritionally gifted in holding on to fat!! i would say we are all storing up for the winter but that only works in alaska and the ice age. ah well... there is just more of me to love and i like it!! (in actuality i am not bigger than EVERYONE but some days i do develop a bit of a linebacker complex)

still happy, still jolly and still enjoying life.

blessings...