yummy pancit (pan-seat)

so what did i do this past weekend? well i didn't venture to any exotic site but instead stayed holed up in my lovely apartment all weekend and it was just what the doctor ordered. don't get me wrong i am enjoying the adventures to beaches and rice terraces and all that jazz but i also enjoy being alone reading or better yet sleeping and that is exactly what i did ALL weekend.

however on saturday evening a friend of jen, kate a filipina, came over and taught us to how to cook some excellent filipino cuisine. now i don't want to brag or anything but by the end of our lesson i was almost an expert in rolling egg rolls. yep that talent is going straight to the resume. :) so we made egg rolls (so good!!) and a noodle and vegetable dish called pancit. mmmm... it was by far the best food that has been produced on our two burner stove since our arrival. i was even a nerd and took some pictures. they are located under the random philippines album if you all are interested.

hmmm... so that is me. nothing too exciting but it sure entertains me!!

oh and shout out to the moms... A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. MAY YOU FEEL JESUS NEAR EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR. A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU AND THE BEST YEAR YOU EVER HAD!! (yeah that song from childhood is seared into my mind.)

blessings.

a bit of perspective, please

so the half-way mark of my work in the philippines has officially been reached. some days it feels as though i just arrived last night other times it feels as though i have been in manila for months. this week has been a time of reflection in the attempt to gain more perspective in life.

i am a firm believer that every person should spend more than the length of a vacation in a new culture, spend time physically detached from your support system, spend time depending and discovering who you truly are when forced to face the unfamiliar on a daily basis. however, when does something become familiar? is it when you feel comfortable in the situation? is it when you build a threshold of tolerance? i mean i ride on a train to work and would say i am familiar with process of utilizing the transportation. i know that when i get to the top of the steps a security guard will "check" my bag for something i am not suppose to have, i will enter through the turn styles and wait for the next train to come. however, i do not understand what is being proclaimed through the overhead speakers, i do not understand why people do not shift to let a new wave of people onto the train and i definitely do not understand the concept of personal space or lack thereof inside the train. so yes i am familiar with aspects of my filipina life but have i become accustomed to it?

during my perspective seeking this past week i have come to realize some of my expectations for myself and for other are completely ridiculous. i expect everyone to be online ready to chat with me whenever i am ready to chat with them, i expect 100 emails daily and i expect EVERYONE to be sitting around just waiting with bated breath for my next blog. (a bit of sarcasm for those who miss it) i know ridiculous, right? as for myself... i expect myself to function as an independent entity in a foreign country that speaks a language i do not know a lick of, i expect never to suffer from any let downs bet it communication failures, cultural shock or professional challenges and i expect myself to love and appreciate all aspects of this experience. once again, unrealistic and ridiculous!

so as i get frustrated and irritated with the fact that once again my internet service blinks out at the exact moment i just HAVE to talk with someone i must force myself to gain perspective. can i really get upset about a less than consistent internet service when there are people literally immediately outside my office door that don't have a place to rest their head, wonder where and when their next meal will be and most definitely do not have the privileges i possess being a educated, white woman from the U. S. of A.? the grand conclusion of this perspective seeking is NO I DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT. i don't have a right to complain, to whine to get upset over the non-necessities of life when there are people in pasay city, manila, philippines that don't even possess a hook-up for water. geez... get your priorities straight, jeanette.

can i predict how this experience will alter my perspective in life? absofreakin'lutely not but i am positive it will and i am positive it will be for the positive.

pensive blessings...

the sweet workout

so last night i worked out causing me to sweat on purpose. it was splendid and lovely.

and that's all she wrote.

blessings....

"let's thank the french for the kiss"- dan adan

well folks another fantastic weekend. on friday evening around 10 pm we (being my housemates and i as well as our co-worker dan adan) boarded a bus for the 8 hour journey to the 8th wonder of the world the banaue rice terraces. and they were a wonder.

due to some mechanical difficulties we arrive in banaue about 10 hours later. we didn't smell too great but we arrived!! at the bus station we joined forces with 5 french students and off we went in our rented jeepney for the weekend. of course given our expertise in jeepney riding we opted for the roof top seats. so up, up , up we went to the top of the jeepney and up, up and up the jeepney creeped into the mountains.

it was about an hour trek up to mountains to the saddle of the batad terraces. the saddle is the farthest point motorized vehicles. from that point on the only mode of transportation is by foot. we left our jeepney chariot at the top of the mountain and descended down to the town of batad, an approximate hour hike all down hill. we were sweaty, really smelly but happy to arrive.

we all settled into a primitive yet more than adequate "hotel" with a great view then ben, our tour guide for the day, led us through the terraces, over and around another mountain to tappiyah falls. so being the ignorant tourist you look at these terraces and you think, "oh they look like steps. perhaps the height of your knee or something." well folks that is not how they roll.... these puppies are probably 7 feet tall and to "simply" walking through them takes balance and some strong leg muscles. ben waltzed through our hike with his flip-flops without breaking a bead of sweat. meanwhile the fat americans and thin frenchies were gasping for breath, sweating like it was our job and taking breaks whenever possible. it was pitiful.

but the end result of that hike was well worth it... tappiyah falls. a 100 ft or more falls with a cool swimming pond. since none of the catholic crew brought their swim suits it was underwear swimming for us. all except for losing my drawers a few times (underwater, of course) it was a delightful swim.

the hike to the falls marked the ending of our downhill hikes for the remainder of the trip. it was an uphill journey for the remainder of the weekend. so we hiked up to our hotel from the falls (okay legs getting a bit sore), then the hike up to the saddle to catch our jeepney sunday morning (alright feeling the burn). needless to say i am quite thankful for the sizable thighs inherited from the stoltzfus family and my former life playing softball.

all in all it was well worth the soreness that persists even this morning as i write this blog. such beauty and just another reminder of our great creator!!

and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, dad!! i count my blessings on a daily basis for the person you have been and continue to be to me. thanks for life, acceptance and love.

blessings.

as always my story does not do the trip justice but there are pictures!

a request

so it is friday and another week has come to an end. i feel i am doing well on my work at CFSI which i am thankful. of course there are those moments when i feel like i may be over my head but i am assuming that is normal and i am learning what it means to be a professional social worker in this type of role. good stuff, good stuff.

i had a request to share a bit about my living situation. apartment, roommates, neighborhood, etc. so i will fulfill that request and share with all who are interested.

so i mentioned quite a few blogs ago that i am living in an apartment building, josefa apartments, in malate, manila. first of all if you google josepha apartments you will discover that there was some terrorist plots uncovered there in 1995. i have been reassure that is no longer the case (but it makes for an interesting story). the building is not fancy by any means but the receptionist and doorman are warm and always have a smile. they both giggle when i attempt to speak tagala but are kind enough to respond back. the building is located on a main artery into the city. needless to say, there is quite a lot of road noise. between the honking, sirens, people yelling, cats "fighting" it is a mystery that we are able to sleep. well i guess considering i am exhausted EVERY night by the time my head touches the pillow i am out it is not much of a mystery in the fact that i can sleep.

the neighborhood is malate and would be comparable to say the adams morgan area of dc with all the night life- bars, restaurants, karaoke, what have you. however it is not in the ritzy part of town at all. directly outside of the apartment building are men, women and children who live on the street. it is a sad reality yet they are always smiling. (lessons to be learned) i think since i have been here i have seen maybe 2 other non-filipino people on the streets so we are known even if it is with the greeting of, "hey joe".

if you haven't figured it out there are 3 other students from catholic who i live, travel and work with. i share a room with my friend jen. i am thankful on a daily basis for her ear, patience and presence in this experience. the other 2, stephen and fatoumata, share the other room. the apartment is not spacious by any means but it gets the job done. after living in a closet for the past 9 months ANYTHING is the penthouse. i am sure there have been times and there will be times when we get on each other's nerves but currently relations in the apartment have been great.

so that is my living situation. i know riveting, eh?

tonight we leave for banaue which is the jumping off point of hiking and experiencing the sacred rice paddies. i am told it is magical and i do not doubt it. it is a 9 hour bus ride but i am excited. i hope all is well in you world and until next time...

blessings.

oh how i long for sabang (sah-bong)

so folks this past weekend was AMAZING!! i could attempt to describe all the sights, sounds, feelings and every minute detail of my trip but that would require an extraordinary amount of time on both of our parts. so instead i will just write and see what comes out!!!

we left manila and took an hour plane ride to puerto princesa, palawan otherwise known as paradise. with the trusty "lonely planet's guide to the philippines" in hand we ventured from the airport towards the jeepney station, via tricycle, to catch the jeepney to sabang where we were to spend two days relaxing on the beach, hiking through the jungle, exploring the underground river and eating fresh seafood.

of course like all bright eyed tourist we wanted the best seat in the house for our trip to sabang. and the best seat was the top of the jeepney with the men, market purchases of fish, chicken, goats and baskets, luggage, and grain bags upon grain bags of rice, not to mention any other random thing that needed to be transported from the city of puerto princesa to the rural town of sabang. so on the top we sat. we were probably about 10-12 feet off the ground perched on huge grain bags of rice. it was fantastic. surrounding me were 9 extremely tan filipino men and underneath me inside of the jeepney were probably around 30 people crammed into a vehicle that fits 15-20 tightly.

and we were off. as i dodged the low branches and stayed balanced on top of my throne of rice i saw the most beautiful scenery. the view of the ocean, view of the marble mountains, the chatter of a language i don't know, the smiles, the waves, the rural setting all of it was overwhelmingly beautiful. i wonder if people that live in that area or that have grown up in such beauty really understand and appreciate their surroundings. ah well... that's another blog.

so we are moving up and down the hills and mountains then..... POP!! a tire blows out. we stop and we are told "this happens all the time. no need to worry". the tire is fixed at a rapid speed and we are off and running again. 4 hours later we arrive at our destination in sabang. a trip that according to lonely planet and the air-conditioned van ride offers should only take 2 hours max. but it was a glorious 4 hours.

we arrive, settle into our huts and head for the beach. it was sunset and the sky danced with purples, reds, oranges and the last shades of blue. the water was bath water warm and the surf was calm. the water was so crystal clear that i could see my pink toenails even when i was neck deep in the water. to float in a calm ocean at sunset is true tranquility.

we walked back to our huts to shower and prepare for bed before the 4 hour generated electricity cuts off at 10pm.

it is surreal yet it is reality. what a great day...

blessings abound.

ps- there are many more stories and eventually they will come out. but no amount of text can do the weekend justice. instead check out the new photos!!

mabuti (pronounced my booty!)

mabuti mean "good or doing well". it is the response given to kumusta (pronounced exactly like como esta) or how are you? it is the generic phrase given. you know like in english you say fine whether or not you are fine. anyways so have been mabuti in the true sense of the word this past week. giving the appearance of being good, fine, pleasant yet internally dealing with the departure of the honeymoon stage of culture shock.

what is the honeymoon stage i speak of? well for me it's the portion of time normally at the beginning of a new experience when wild horses could tear me away from where i am or what i am doing. okay maybe not wild horses but i am enjoying the experiences i am having. there are little to no annoyances, everything makes me smile. (not that that is too difficult but that is beside the point). and then time passes and little nuances to a different culture surface and irritate me a bit and i long for the familiar.

another way to think of it is like a relationship... you meet someone, infatuation follows for days, weeks or months. you think during that time there is nothing that other person can say or do that will annoy or anger you. however time passes and eventually reality sets in. you realize there are differences, annoyances and "flaws" and you make a decision whether it's worth the effort to continue.

so i have officially left the honeymoon or infatuation stage of my time in the philippines. three weeks... that's about the correct time frame...:) i no longer think it's neat to try to cram myself onto an already packed train, i find it a bit annoying to be stared at CONSTANTLY where ever i go, and i am over the novelty of changing currency. however, the mangoes are divine, the people are kind and the country is beautiful. so the philippines and i have worked things out and i think it's worth the effort to continue on this journey. wow.. i am totally stretching this metaphor to no end.

thanks for the emails this week... they were most appreciated.

also CONGRATS to jacob on graduation from THE OHIO STATE!!! yeah that's right.... go BUCKS!! i wish i could be there to celebrate. you are awesome and you should be proud of your accomplishments.

blessings....

the power of the giggle...

hymns sung in 4 part harmony... the murmur of a large crowd... laughter... what do those all have in common?? they are some of my favorite sounds. one thing i have been able to enjoy and truly treasure in the philippines is the ease of laughter; whether it is laughter from my housemate jen as a result of me doing or saying something random or dumb or the sound of giggles from my coworkers, who happen to be predominately male. the sound of happiness is music to my ears.

as i watch the commercials of the philippines or interact with my male coworkers i have noticed the ease of men giggling. heck of men smiling. the "macho" notion that real men don't smile appears to be absent. it is intriguing and yet so very refreshing. why is it in the states when men take pictures there are no smiles involved? what's with the "hard face"? if a filipino man giggles like a middle-school girl does that make him less of a man than a stone-faced american man? i find the giggles endearing. hmmmmm....cultural differences.

of course there are the american men exceptions and for that i am grateful. there is just such beauty in a person smiling or laughing so much that their eyes disappear into upside-down crescent moons.

laughing... good for the body and better for the soul.

blessings...

pamperin'

i got my hair cut... and it was GREAT. a beautiful man washed my hair, massaged my head and blew dried my hair so straight i didn't know what to think. considering i haven't "done" my hair since arrive it was a real treat. then the haircut. check it out....






lovin' it!!! (straight equals salon quality)









here is my attempt at the same thing without a blow dryer!! a little crazy but hey still pretty good.












blessings...

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...