Culinary delights

I mentioned last time that I'd like to expand on some of the nuances of life here in the Philippines. So what better way to begin than by examining one of staples of Filipino culture: food.

Always around. Always plentiful. Sometimes expensive (fruits and vegetables depending on the season). Sometimes extremely cheap (breads and local snacks). 5 meals a day. That's right...5. Breakfast, morning merienda (snack), lunch, afternoon merienda, and dinner. And always on time...when home cooked. "Filipino time" usually causes activities and events to be pushed back. If a meeting is set to start at 8 AM, it likely won't begin til 9 or 10 when participants show up. This is NOT the case with eating. If it's noon it's lunchtime. 7 PM usually marks dinnertime at my house. I have tried toying with these (i.e. working til 1 PM before heading home for lunch), but that usually results in colder food since it probably has been sitting on the table waiting for me.

Bicol is known for its spicy food. Most dishes have "sili" chili peppers with them. Mmmmm masarap ("delicious" in tagalog; trademark phrase from PCV Russ). I've found, at least with home cooking, that there are really only 6-8 traditional dishes, all with interchangeable parts. Change in vegetables. Fish vs. pork vs. chicken. Different sauces. Fried vs. boiled vs. sauteed. This varies throughout the Philippines though and I'm sure some volunteers would disagree with me.

Another culinary term that I'll elaborate more on in a future post is palutan. These are snacks served while consuming alcohol. It could be anything from a bag of chips to sisig (see below) to a whole fried fish. Many restaurants or bars will even serve complimentary palutan when a bucket of beer is purchased.

Rice, or kanin, is served with every meal. And often meals cannot be eaten without rice being present. I've cut down on my rice intake (hence why my waistline has shrunk), but still find it necessary to have a small amount with every meal. Weird but I can't really eat ulam (the main dish besides the rice) without it.

Now for some specifics...

Other staple foods: fish, pork, chicken, beef (rarity), squash, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, mung beans, okra, carrots, mangos, bananas, pineapples, apples, papayas, and coconuts.

Native Philippine items: kamote (similar to a sweet potato), petchay (chinese cabbage), kangkong (water spinach), sili (hot chili peppers), ampalaya (bitter gourd), rambutan (sweet, "spiky" fruit), langka (jackfruit), durian (extremely smelly!), balimbing (star fruit), guyabano (soursops), kalamansi (philippine lime; MUCH better than regular limes and can be put with virtually anything; also goes very well with tequila), dalandan (green orange), bayabas (guava), lansones, and yellow watermelon.

And finally, some local delicacies that I have had the "privilege" of trying (I have made it a goal to try everything at least once here):
- balut = fertilized duck embryo eating in the egg shell (I recommend eating this with the lights off)
- dinuguan = pig intestines, lungs, kidneys, etc. in a sauce of pig blood, chili, and vinegar (very grainy texture; consume after slightly inebriated)
- sisig = parts of pig face mixed with chili, kalamansi, and sometimes egg (often a palutan; one of my favorites!)
- calabao = water buffalo (extremely fatty)
- bicol express = very spicy stew made with some type of meat (usually pork), lots of sili, and coconut milk
- lechon = roasted suckling pig

Still haven't had dog and don't plan to unless I'm tricked into it or it's placed in front on me...

I'm planning on experimenting more with these ingredients when I move to my new apartment next month. If you're interested, see if you can find any of these items in your local supermarket's (Wegmans) international section.

Progress

Veterinarian. Architect. Photographer. Optometrist. Growing up, all of these crossed my mind at some point as potential career paths. I received my first veterinary book and look-a-like nutcracker as a Christmas gift way back in Penfield, probably when I was 9 or 10. I took a summer architecture course during high school, and I was locked into becoming an eye doctor up until Junior year of college. My own path, or, as this blog is appropriately titled, camino (a reference to the walk my Dad took almost 12 years ago), continually finds its way to add a new turn. I am no longer surprised, when I reflect back, to see the interesting situations I've gotten myself into here in the Philippines. They now seem like daily occurrences.

So it comes with no shock that I am now a certified SCUBA diver. Yes, this was not even on my radar screen two years ago. SCUBA diver? Andrew Wynne? You must be joking. The thought never crossed my mind...until I was assigned as a CRM volunteer in the Philippines. So here I was a month ago now observing an underwater paradise I'd only seen in dreams and the discovery channel. Couple that with one of the most pristine coral reef areas in the Philippines (Jagna, Bohol), 4 great friends, and some great Filipino food. Our last dive gave us the chance to observe a coral wall in a nearby MPA literally dropping off into an infinite abyss. After this past week, I have reached double digit dives. PC gave CRM volunteers the opportunity to become Reef Check certified, a tool that we can bring back to our communities in order to effectively manage, study and monitor the health of coral reefs. Mabini, Batangas, near the Verde Island Passage (one of the largest centers of biodiversity in the world), has been our home for the week.  On our third dive I was fortunate enough to see 2 SEA TURTLES, one green and one hawksbill!! Surreal experience. And such a relaxing activity. Unforeseen to fantasy to reality. I unfortunately do not have an underwater camera (yet...) but photos can be found on Facebook.

I checked another item off my new found bucket list in late February: swimming with whale sharks. Now, the name and the size (the whale shark is the largest living non-mammalian vertebrate) of these seemingly mythical giants is enough to discourage many from getting too close. But a bit more research with reveal them to be filter feeders, relying many on a diet of plankton. After spending 3 hours roaming the waters, our boat (myself, along with PCVs Russ, Dan, Chelsea, and Kathryn) started heading back to shore. My rash guard blew away in the breeze and our boat captain circled back to look for it...lost cause. Turned out to be a good omen though. While I lost my rash guard, our captain indicated that a whale shark had been spotted and we took off at full throttle. The experience was quite the adrenaline rush and much more intense than I anticipated. Our guide had us throw on our snorkel gear and on his signal jump in the water, throwing our faces into the deep as the "school bus" swam below. I say "school bus" because whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long! The first one we spotted was smaller, maybe 20 feet, but as we again headed back to shore, our captain and guide spotted another one. Quite a lucky day! This time was even better since we were the only boat around. Russ, Dan, and I plunged back in with our guide, revealing a full grown whale shark 30 feet long! I felt like I could reach out and touch him, but after a few seconds he commenced our viewing by descending out of sight. The thrill on our guides face as we popped out of the water was amazing. Malaking malaki (very big) he yelled . He has been taking tourists our for over 20 years, yet he still gets a rush each day from sharing his environment with others.

Really quickly, let me return to my life at site as I have had some interesting developments these past few weeks. After returning from Bohol, the materials for my aquaponics project finally arrived!!!  I had been waiting for these for months now (not a surprise..), so it was a relief to be able to move forward with our plans. Continuing to keep my expectations low though. Just happy some progress has been made!  My office has a grain center and nursery set up in an upland barangay, so we are planning to construct the system there since it will be more feasible for daily monitoring. It is also the site of the future City Agriculture Office, which we hope will be finished by Christmas. I have also received some support from the local university, Bicol University Tabaco Campus (BUTC), for monitoring and evaluating the system after construction is completed.

Additionally, ideas have been flowing for my Master's thesis/internship. I am hoping to focus my work on city river restoration and management, specifically working with BUTC and the local SKs (sangguniang kabataan, or youth councils) to provide solid waste management options and reduce nutrient overload into the nearby marine environments (mangroves, coral reefs, etc.). Preliminary stage only right now. But this coming week is IST (In Service Training) for PC, part of which will focus on grant writing. Hoping to get some external funding for these projects. Crossing my fingers!

I'll wrap up this life update for now. Going to play basketball with some locals now before venturing up to another part of Batangas tomorrow for IST. Although we have all had our frustrating "moments" here, each day is filled with a new adventure(s), whether that be indulging in a new food, learning a new word, traveling to a new place (never knowing how long it will take). Planning on expanding on these cultural intricacies in future posts.

Hope winter is wrapping up for all you folks in the states. I'd love to share with you some of our dry season heat!

"I'm so happy that I am alive, in one piece and short. I am in a world of shit, yes. But I am alive.  And I am not afraid..."

The little things in life

The following was shared with me by a fellow CRM PCV here in the Philippines. It was written by a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer stationed in Cambodia, focusing on the ins and outs of life as a PCV. Don't think I could have said it better myself...

Dear Person Contemplating Joining Peace Corps,

I imagine that you’re at a transition point in your life. Perhaps you’ve just graduated, perhaps you’re going through a career change, perhaps you have an itch for something more that can’t be scratched. Whatever the reason, here you are: contemplating joining Peace Corps.

But should you? Is it right for you?

Honestly, you might not know that until you’ve arrived. You can research by reading books and official publications or by talking with current/returned volunteers, but everything you read and hear will probably tell you the same thing: every person’s experience is different. Your Peace Corps life will be uniquely shaped by your country, program, and site. 

I’d like to think, though, that there are a few things that are universal throughout the Peace Corps world, and those things tend all to revolve around how you yourself will change - for the better and for the worse - because of your time in Peace Corps.*

‘Sanitary’ will become an obsolete concept. You will eat on mats that you know are saturated in urine. You will prepare food on counters that also serve as chicken roosts. You will not have consistent/frequent access to soap. You will eat street food that is undoubtedly questionable. You will be dirty, dusty, and sweaty at all times. You will have mind over body battles to force yourself to bucket shower in the winter. Bugs, lizards, chickens, ducks, and mice will crap on everything. These things will be ok. You’ll adjust. The sterile environment of the States will become a distant odd memory or a constant fantasy.

Your body, though, might not adjust as quickly. You will have parasites and infections and illnesses that you had never heard of before training. You will be constantly constipated. Or go the opposite extreme. I hate to say it, but you will probably poop in your pants at least once. You will learn to vomit over a squat toilet and into a plastic bag during a bus ride. You will discuss your bodily functions openly and enthusiastically with other volunteers. No topic will be taboo.

The way you communicate will completely transform. Learning a language from scratch through immersion is a powerful experience. You will learn to have complex communications though expressions, gestures, and basic vocabulary. You will learn to bond with another human being through silence. You will answer the same basic questions over and over and over again. You may never achieve the ability to discuss ideas and concepts. You will develop a new English language which consists of pared down vocabulary and grammatical structures. You will actively think of each word before you speak. Your speech patterns will slow. You will have to define words whose meanings you had always taken for granted. You will learn to listen. 

Your concept of money will entirely alter. Paying more than $1 for anything will cause you to pause and question your purchase. You will understand value in the context of a different economic system. You will learn to barter, even on cheaper items. You will consistently feel as though you have been cheated on the price. You will be enraged by all prices upon returning to the States.

You will embrace the thrilling dichotomies of thrift versus splurge and ration versus binge. No one knows how to budget like a Peace Corps volunteer. And no one can binge like one.

You will be discontented with your work. You will wonder – and scream to the heavens – about the benefit of your presence. You will feel lost in unstructured expectations and crushed by promising ideas fallen to the side. Your expectations will fade into an unexpected reality. You will learn to celebrate small victories. You will look at mountains and see mole hills. You will try to tackle the impossible. Maybe you’ll succeed. Maybe you’ll just pick yourself up and take aim at another impossibility.

You will learn to do all of this through pure self-motivation. You will be the one to drag yourself out of bed and out the door. You won’t have anyone holding your hand or pushing your forward. Just you. You will become a stronger person for yourself, by yourself.

You will be a celebrity in your community. That status comes will hardships and benefits that will ineradicably change you. You will be the exception to the societal rules. You will be the foreigner, the one set apart. You will receive privileges and have special attention/status because of your nationality. You will always have eyes on you. You will have joined as an agent of culture exchange and understanding, but you will still find yourself falling into an ‘us versus them’ mentality. Use it. Consider it. Contemplate the value we place on people because of arbitrary characteristics. You will come away from your experience more attune to your own merits, to those that are deserved and to those that are given.

Your culture of personal space, one that maybe you have always taken for granted, will be challenged. You will wonder why you need an entire room to yourself while no one else even has a bed to himself. You still won’t want to give your room up. Privacy will be a privilege or a rarity, not a right.

You will lose all control of your emotions and be on an unpredictable roller coaster of extreme ups and downs. You will go from happy and confident to sullen and tearful by things as simple as ants in your candy or yet another child saying ‘Hello!’ Your highs will be high, but they will be fragile. Your lows will feel inescapable. Your family and friends in the States probably won’t understand this. Your isolation will force you to become your own support system. You will become aware of yourself in the context of solely being yourself.

Your government-issued friends will be your reprieve. The love and closeness you share with people back in the States won’t change, but it will be your fellow volunteers who understand. They will be friendships forged from necessity, and they will be deep and fervent.

You will witness a whole new way of life, and you will question your notion of necessity. You will consider your personal wealth, and people will constantly remind you of it. You will discover what your ‘needs’ are to live a productive, satisfied life. I hope you will remember that when you return to a culture of plenty.

You will be the biggest product of your Peace Corps work. You will change. And you will bring that change back with you.

*I insert a disclaimer: I believe the above assertions to be true for PC Cambodia, a program in its 6th generation of volunteers; I cannot speak with authority on other countries’ programs.

Ready to join?!

PC definitely isn't for everyone. We've joked since being here that you've gotta be a little bit "crazy" to do it. But what a thrill ride Sure it's been emotionally, physically, mentally, and even a bit spiritually challenging. There are days where I question my decision to join the Peace Corps, but then there are days that fully answer that same question. The best part is the little surprises, some unnoticeable until later, that creep into my day. I just finished constructing a basketball hoop for my host family (their Christmas present from me). Plywood, paint, and a rim. It has become a fixture in the neighborhood, bringing my neighbors together and getting them off the couch and outside. I was told the other day that my neighbor's eldest child was out playing ball. I had yet to meet him in my 5 months in Tabaco because he usually spent his days inside playing computer games. His parents were thrilled just to see him outside.

The complex world that we live in links together so many different systems...cultural, economic, ecological, social, etc. At many different scales. As we are currently discussing in my independent study at C of C (which you can read more about here: http://blogs.cofc.edu/resilience/), these interactions are often invisible to us at first glance. A farmer's cultivating practices could be contributing to the declining fish catch a fisherman is seeing, which in turn affects his daily life structure and the local economy, but also could lead to further environmental degradation that leaves the area vulnerable to future storms. Every decision we make is full of responses, some positive some negative.  So how can we make the most of our time by effectively seeing "the big picture" in order to better not only our own lives but of those around us as well? There isn't a simple answer to this question, but by picking up on these "little things," we might be making a bigger long-term difference, one beneficial for further generations. I probably won't see the change, if any, my basketball hoop has on my community. But at least I know I contributed to their happiness. And sometimes that's enough. If there is one thing my PC experience has taught me thus far, it's to appreciate these little things. That and bahala na.

Photo updates

From the past few months...

 Our finished product from the fiberglass boat making training, made from scratch

 Christmas time in Tabaco City

 Medical Mission in Sorsogon City with PCVs Dan, Laurenia, and Russ. Free medical and dental services provided to ~500 locals.

 My first surfing experience in Gubat, Sorsogon

Clear view of Mount Mayon from Legaspi City

 Our Boracay beach house view.  Is this real??

 A morning spent collecting mangrove propagules in a local barangay. Trash often collects in these areas from normal river flow, which can contribute to the deterioration of mangrove forests, a vital coastal habitat. 

360 degree view from the top of Mt. Manaet     

Just a friendly calabao (water buffalo)

Magellan's Cross in Cebu City

The Grand Parade at the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City

Also, if you're interested, I've included a link to my College of Charleston Independent Study blog on the right. This semester we are discussing the concept of resilience theory and how it applies to each of our environments. The blog was orchestrated by my professor as an informal way to share thoughts and experiences.

Enjoy!

Ringing in the New Year

Look how the time has flown! I apologize in advance for my lack of updates over the past month and a half. I am currently testing my resiliency and living a 1960s Peace Corps life: without technology (aside from my office computer which I am currently using to write this). Both my computer and iPhone are broken, forcing me to occupy my time elsewhere and accomplish daily tasks primarily through pen and paper. It's certainly been frustrating at times (especially as I continue with my graduate school work), but I am fortunate to have other volunteers who have made the WorldWide Web accessible to me every now and then.

But enough of the pity party. I will keep this post short, but will chronicle my experiences here over the past weeks. Sadly, I will be saving the pictures for later.

WORK: 2013 brought about changes in my office, starting with a reorganization of projects. Our aquaponics system is temporarily on hold due to budget issues. This is a common issue here and one that will (hopefully) be resolved soon.  The step-by-step process of the LGU is very tedious and time-consuming. In the meantime, we are currently focusing our attention on constructing a mangrove nursery on the Natunawan Spit. The layout is completed and construction of a bahay cubo, well, etc. will (hopefully) begin in the next few weeks. I also recently got approved to begin teaching/assisting with an environmental education class at one of the local high schools, and I am organizing some events with other PCVs for the annual Magayon (beautiful in Bicolano) Festival, a provincial festival that commemorates the Mayon volcano.

LEISURE: Christmas 2012 was celebrated at my host family's house. My ate's (pronounced 'ah-tay') extended family came over and the day was filled with food, games, drinking, dancing, and of course, videoke. The lead up to Xmas was much different from what I am used to. Filipinos celebrate Simbang Gabi, a 9-day stretch of morning masses (usually 3 or 4 AM) culminating on Xmas Eve, with the final mass held around 10 pm. Afterwards, families gather for Noche Buena, a midnight Christmas feast followed by the opening of presents.

New Years was spent in Boracay, one of the biggest tourist spots in the Philippines and home to some of the best (rated) beaches in the world. Myself, along with 12 other volunteers, rented a beach house for 5 days on Tambisaan Beach, a smaller, quieter beach on Boracay. We had an epic time!  Highlights: first afternoon tour of the island, snorkeling, sarong party, our very own haka, NYE fireworks, skinny dipping, spirit animal painting, beach volleyball, great food (particularly indian and greek), and for me personally, a 4 AM NYE barefoot entire island (between 5-8 km probably) walk home...painful the following morning.

Since NYE, I climbed my first Philippine mountain, Mount Manaet, about 30 minutes away from me. It is an island mountain around 300-400 meters high, offering unbelievable 360 degree views of the province of Albay and the Pacific Ocean. I also attended the Sinulog Festival in Cebu a few weeks back. It is one of the biggest festivals in the Philippines commemorating the birth of Christianity when Magellan arrived in Cebu in 1521. Millions of people descend on the city to witness the event. The Grand Parade, which occurs on the last day of the festival (Sunday), lasts the whole day and features bright colorful costumes and native dances. My hostel was located right on the parade path, making it easy for me to enjoy. Sinulog also gave me the opportunity to see other volunteers, all of whom I hadn't seem since our swearing-in ceremony. Last weekend, I attended my first Filipino wedding with a fellow volunteer. Despite being spoken in Tagalog or Bicol, the ceremony was almost identical to one you would find in the states. The reception was held at Cagsawa Ruins, a local tourist draw and historical site. It was my first wedding where no alcohol was present, and the majority of the time was taken up by eating and speeches. On the flip side, it was the first wedding that I've attended (I might be wrong) with a bouquet and garter toss. With hardly any participants, and what was probably staged, my fellow volunteer and I caught them. Filipinos are always trying to be match-makers. Upon introduction, the two most common questions are "what is your religion?" and "are you married?" If your answer is "no," it is almost always followed by "why not?"

Maraming (many) activities coming up in the next few months. I'll try and make my next post more punctual.

Ingat palagi.

Foreigner no more

These last few weeks haven’t provided me with too much office time, as I have been tied up with various trainings and conferences around the area. I am now a First Aid first responder here in Tabaco City after completing a four-day First Aid training with my office. The following week I was asked to take part in a Fiberglass Polyester Resin (FPR) boat making training with community members from all over the Bicol Region held at the Regional Fisheries Training Center (RFTC) here in Tabaco City. This was one of the best things I have done since being here as I was able to get down and dirty, learn something new, and observe local knowledge, etc. Our finished product was a 30-foot long fiberglass boat made from scratch, which will be used by RFTC for travel purposes to conduct future trainings on San Miguel Island. No break…two days later, I was invited to attend the 6^th international Conference on Kuroshio Science held at Bicol University Tabaco Campus. The Kuroshio Current is a warm-water current that originates here in the Bicol Region and travels up along the coast of Taiwan and Japan. I was able to meet and network with researchers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Russia, and Japan, along with others from the Philippines of course. I hope the knowledge I gained and people I met can be useful for me for my PC service, and possibly in my future career endeavors. Quick side story from the conference…the first evening concluded with a dinner and cultural presentation put on by some BUTC students. I sat at a table with a man from Taiwan, three researchers from Japan, and a girl pursuing her master’s degree in Taiwan but originally from Moscow, Russia. Up to this point, I have become so used to speaking Tagalog and/or Bicol (usually bits and pieces) that English seems somewhat foreign to me. However, since this was an international conference, all the presentations and researchers spoke in English in order to understand one another. As I sat around this smorgasbord of a table, I found myself occasionally mixing Tagalog words into my speech, only to realize that my companions didn’t understand what I was saying. For the first time, I was the native speaker again!! What a turnaround. 

One topic I haven’t elaborated on much is my work-related projects at the LGU. Despite the often irregular work pattern and the holiday season that is now upon us (or should I say has been since September here), I’ve been fairly involved these first few months lining up activities the LGU would like to accomplish, as well as my own personal plans I’d like to get involve with during my two years in Tabaco City. In October, my first project proposal was approved for a pilot aquaponics system for the LGU. Aquaponics is a sustainable food system that combines hydroponics and aquaculture in a closed system where both fish and vegetables can be grown. System construction will hopefully be starting next month.  I’ve also been beginning the preliminary steps for updating the Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Plan for Tabaco City. This involves engaging the community in socio-economic data collection, conducting local habitat assessments, and updating management strategies for the future. In addition, I’m also hoping to continue collaborating with RFTC and BUTC on their fisheries trainings and research, and I have begun discussions about starting up an environmental education class at Tabaco National High School next year. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on my progress.

This past weekend I helped fellow PCV Jeff out with a medical mission at his site, partnered with the local chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. Free dental and medical care was provided for roughly 500 people, most of whom cannot afford it on a regular basis. I primarily assisted with a first aid/hand washing station. Got to surf for the first time the following day with 3 other PCVs and 2 Australians (also volunteers). I didn’t get up (much harder than it looks!) but it was quite the experience nonetheless. More outings to come!

It seems I’ve made it a habit to conclude my posts with a story. Last Wednesday night, I was lying in bed reading a book when my ate knocked on my door and asked me if I’d like to go to the videoke bar with her and her friends. I was exhausted and was ready to call it quits for the night, but it seemed really important to her that I go so I changed clothes and headed out. I wasn’t really in the mood to sing or drink, so I sat back and watched. I was repeatedly asked if I wanted to sing or anything to drink, but I refused, indicating that I was comfortable. It seemed that my ate was more concerned with my happiness than enjoying the time with her friends. I tried to relay this to her, but soon felt obligated to have a beer and sing a few songs to appease them. Filipinos are all about the love ballads, so I chose to sing “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down, but then decided to “energize” (shout out to fellow PCVs Russ and Rachel) the group with the 90s hit “What’s My Age Again?” by Blink-182. As midnight approached, my ate and I headed home. But before I crashed into my bed, I received a text from her telling me how she will never forget this night because it was the first time in her life she got to go out with her friends and how happy she was to spend it with me. I found out the next morning that if I had chosen not to go with her, she would not have been able to stay out (my kuya’s orders). I now understood the importance of my presence that night. Independence is something that I often take for granted, whether it’s been in my social, educational, or career opportunities and experiences (even the Peace Corps). I feel incredibly privileged to be able to give a little bit of independence and freedom to someone else, even if it’s only for a night.

Maligayang pasko (Merry Christmas) everyone!

**CHECK BACK LATER FOR PHOTOS

Weekend adventures

Since my last post was a bit depressing, I decided to focus on a more upbeat topic this time: my weekend excursions in Bicol. Each weekend here has provided something different. My host family has been great about taking me around (thanks to their kotse, or car) various hot spots in the region. I visited the Mayon volcano and San Miguel Island early on, and had a Bicol volunteer party in Naga with other PCVs as well as volunteers from other countries (Australia, Spain, etc.). We hit up Busay Falls in Malilipot a few weeks back, a series of waterfalls culminating with a 100 footer emptying into a pool. We lucked out and a local barangay official offered to take us further up to a more secluded spot. The hike was treacherous, and seeing my kuya carrying a case of Red Horse, I was praying I’d make it back down. It was worth it though…another breathtaking waterfall flowing into 3 tiered pools. Brought back pool time memories horsing around with my fam.

Busay Falls in Malilipot

My fam and Ali at the upper falls

The following weekend PCVs Russ and Dan came to visit from Camarines Sur, the province to the north of me. My barkada had invited me to a Halloween costume party at a local mansion in Tabaco, requiring me to go to an ukay-ukay (similar to a Salvation Army) to pick up some needed wardrobe items. The 3 of us went as 80s aerobics instructors, while Ali joined us as a cowgirl. The party turned out to be quite different from what we were expecting, since we were the only “funny” outfits there. Filipinos go all out on the horror costumes, and most had some form of blood on them. We attempted to win the best costume contest, which included a “model-like” performance down a runway. Didn't come away with the W but put forth a valiant effort. Once again, my family provided another Sunday excursion by taking us to the cold springs of Amater in Malinao, just north of Tabaco. The place was beautiful and featured numerous huts around the spring along with a few water slides. The spring itself provides water for over 500 hectares of land!

We look good (L-R: Dan, Me, Russ)

One of the slides at the Amater cold springs

My work week was shortened the next week due to the national holidays of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Thursday night we headed to the cemeteries to pay tribute to the deceased, something that I am not accustomed to doing in America. Both my kuya and ate have lost one of their parents, so we visited both of their graves. Hundreds of people roamed the streets and packed into the cemeteries, along with dozens of food vendors. Most of the graves here are above ground, often stacked on top of each other. During All Souls Day, it’s common for people to sit on top of them and eat and drink.  Although it seemed a little disrespectful to me, I actually engaged in this myself at the second cemetery we visited. I guess Filipinos see it more as celebrating and thanking those that have passed.  Just another cultural difference. Certainly a memorable experience.

Last weekend I made the trek down to Sorsogon City to help 271 PCV CYF Jeff out with a community service project his family was involved with. Mangrove planting!! Despite the rain, I was ecstatic about doing some hands-on CRM work. The day ended up being very cross-sectoral with CYF as we engaged Jeff's family and other members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity in team building activities. Also got to participate in my first budo fight (a buffet style feast eating only with your hands)!! One of my new favorite activities   

 Hard at work planting some mangrove propagules

 Healthy mangrove forest in Gubat

 Budo Fight!! Before...

  ...and after

Tomorrow marks 23 years for me and my first birthday outside the US! I won't be completely removed from American society though as some other PCVs are coming down to help celebrate. The rest of you will be here in spirit though!

I’ll wrap up this edition by touching on two American current events: Hurricane Sandy and the presidential election. Both of these were unique for me because of my disconnect to them. I was happy to have my wifi capabilities at work to stay on top of the latest news, but looking at photos is a completely surreal experience compared to witnessing things firsthand. To those reading back on the East Coast, you have been in my prayers and will continue to be as Sandy’s aftermath unfolds. Although destructive, Hurricane Sandy is also an opportunity for Americans to show their resiliency and come together as one. That could not be more important than around election time as political issues tend to create rifts among many. It seems “the times they are a-changin’” in America (the beginning of Obama’s second term, the first openly gay senator, the CIA scandal, and the first two states to legalize marijuana) and I will say it’s kind of nice to be “looking from afar” sometimes…no false political advertisements, etc.  Although there is plenty of action going on here as well. Christmas season is now in fully swing and as of last week, it seems the rainy season has begun…just hope a typhoon Sandy doesn't come sneaking round the corner.