Supervisors' Conference

(from Tuesday, September 30)

We are about to wrap up our supervisor’s conference and head to our individual sites, and I am feeling pretty good about the type of placement I am going to have. I am saying this with the idea that yes, it’s all good on paper and I need to see if it’s great in real life as well, but nevertheless, I am excited. We’ve had various getting-to-know-you sessions, which have helped a little bit to understand each other.

In Filipino culture, working relationships are of utmost importance. Spending time with co-workers outside of work is crucial to developing these relationships. In addition, much of work time is utilized towards making these relationships harmonious and agreeable. This is a bit different than the United States. For example, let’s look at a typical work meeting. What would happen in the States? Usually, participants would prefer to have an agenda and to follow that agenda. The meeting is expected to begin on time and to end on time. The participants will stay on task throughout the meeting, and socializing will be left for after. Most of the time, there is no expectation of supplied snacks or beverages, although they are sometimes a part of meetings. In the Philippines, participants will arrive (sometimes on time, sometimes not) and socializing will begin. Relationships are cultivated through chika-chika and talk of what is going on the community. Usually towards the end of the meeting, business will be conducted, and the participants will return to socializing. It’s something to get used to.

Tomorrow I’ll be heading to my site visit for four whole days and then to a week of street immersion, where we’ll be working directly with a street education program and also with a outreach program for prostitutes. It will definitely be educational, and it will be great to get a glimpse of possible secondary projects that I’ll be able to work on.

And in case you were wondering (because I know you were…), our Tinikling dance for 250 people went amazingly last Saturday night. We emceed, and besides pronouncing the governor’s name wrong three times (stuttering…I’m smooth), it all went great. It was so interesting. The program was put on in honor of Mary, Mother of the Orphans. All of the kids performed dances that they had worked hard preparing, but it makes me wonder when they are performing to dirty hip-hop songs. However, I cannot even begin to emphasize the level of cuteness when toddlers were dancing to “Low”. Amazing.