Thunderstorms

We arrived during the rainy season in the Philippines. Surprisingly, though, it has not really rained much since we've arrived. A sprinkle here and a sprinkle there, and that has been it. That all changed last night when a giant storm rolled through our area (although in Cebuano, there is no word for "storm"...they just call it "rain"). I awoke to rain pounding on our metal roof and thunder cracking outside, which resulted in a brown-out. This was really no problem, until I heard the squeaking under my bed. The squeaking actually began the night before, but I was unable to locate the source of the noise. Since another volunteer had recently been bitten by a rat in his sleep, of course I think worst-case scenario. It must be a rat. This is at 1:30 in the morning. I sat up cross-legged in my bed and turned my headlamp on. I flashed the light all over the room, attempting to locate the squeaking. Is it inside or outside? I really can't tell. And then...the sound of my flip-flop moving across the floor. I really want to find out what this animal is, although if it's a rat, I know I will not be able to sleep. I flash the light but the squeaking animal is too quick for me to see. Finally, I corner it by shining my light through the mosquito net...onto a CAT! More to come later...duh duh duhhhh.