Well, they say that Peace Corps is like a rollercoaster. The thing about a rollercoaster is that you never really know what’s coming, unless you’ve been on that specific coaster before. You go up, up, up and are expecting a big drop at the top, but instead they tease you with a little drop and THEN the big drop. Or you’re going around a corner and all of a sudden they throw you into a loop. Or maybe you think you’re in line for the Carousel, and come to find out you were actually waiting for The Big Monster. Whatever situation it is, I’ve been finding out that yes, indeed, Peace Corps is like a rollercoaster. Living and working in another culture is both amazing and challenging at the same time. It’s weird that all of a sudden, sometimes I’m prone to wild mood swings, cravings for chocolate binges, and the intense desire to just be alone. While this may sound like something to worry about to you, frankly it’s not. Talking to other volunteers helps a lot, since I find they’re also riding the same rollercoaster and experiencing wild mood swings. It helps also to know that there’s always support there. Anyways, this all leads up to me offering some sort of explanation for my absence from my blog. The truth is, after I emerged from the first downhill of the coaster, I was just waiting for something fun and interesting to write about again—such as the next loop or crest of the next hill. Thank goodness after a pretty rough week, I had a weekend away scheduled, just in time to prevent insanity from sinking in.
Last weekend, my friend Roxy was in the Philippines with her family (well, actually for two weeks, but because of work I was only able to meet up with them for a weekend). Roxy is a good friend from college, where we were on the same floor of the dorms at Marquette our sophomore year. We spent a lot of time reminiscing (or trying to…as I’ve found that since I’ve been to two universities since then, my memory is sort of shaky). Her parents moved to the Chicago area from the Philippines back in the 70s (or early 80s?) and have come back to visit family several times since then.
I flew into Iloilo on Saturday morning, and there it was arranged for a friend of Roxy’s uncle to pick me up, show me a bit around Iloilo, and take me to the hotel. Since Roxy and her family were coming from Boracay (tourist location with white sand beaches and apparently amazing natural beauty), they were scheduled to arrive in the afternoon. Since I was needing to process several different meetings I had had in the few days before that, this was much-needed alone time. Alone time is a commodity here, as it doesn’t happen very often and it’s just not a normal part of Filipino culture. Anyways, in that time, I did some reading, mindlessly flipped through over seventy channels and found nothing on TV, laid by the pool, ate lunch at the poolside, and did some brainstorming/planning for some of my Peace Corps projects. All in all, I think that was crucial to me being able to just fully enjoy the weekend.
Roxy and her family arrived at about three in the afternoon, and after being introduced to everyone, we grabbed some more time at the pool. By this time, though, it had gotten cold and while Roxy was still enjoying the warm weather, I could be seen shivering and covering up with a sarong. Between then and Monday morning, we were definitely kept busy. We hit the mall, got haircuts, met some friends/family for dinner, got a good night’s rest, ate an early breakfast, attended Mass, went to a friend’s for snacks and lunch, took a tour of Iloilo, visited Roxy’s grandmother’s house (Grandma’s in the US), visited her Mom’s and Aunt’s college, sat by the pool again (in the wind and cold), and met more friends for dinner and then coffee and dessert. We were exhausted! But the weekend was amazing, and Roxy’s family was particularly amazing. Even though they’ve called the US home for many years, they haven’t lost their hospitality that Filipinos are so famous for. They treated me just like a family member, and I felt not like an outsider, but rather like I had known them all for years.
One of the most interesting parts of the weekend was listening to a conversation they had about both politics in the Philippines and their appreciation of the US. While as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I have obviously formed many of my own observations about life and politics here in the Philippines, it was fascinating to hear the perspective of those who have spent about equal amounts of time in both places, and who now call America home. Indeed it was also eye-opening to hear them speak of their appreciation for Uncle Sam and all of the opportunities it had opened. Often, it is easy to forget that being born an American can be seen as a privilege and that many countries around the world do not offer its citizens the rights, opportunities, and dreams that Americans are allowed. Although times are currently dismal, America still holds an element of freedom and prospect that cannot be found elsewhere. Through listening to Roxy’s parents and family talk of their appreciation, I realized just how lucky I have been and just how much I have taken for granted. So many people come to the US in search of a new life for them and their children, and sometimes it’s tempting to take this for granted.
There is also another serious issue that comes to mind at this moment: bagels. Many Americans go through their days, and maybe they choose a bagel for breakfast or lunch, not realizing just how delicious and satisfying it actually is. Well, Americans take these for granted also. While yes, I might be able to find a bagel at an expensive hotel or maybe even a coffee shop here, they are not widely available. Well, thanks to Roxy, bagels have now become a part of my life here in the Philippines. Well, at least for the next week and a half or so. The bagels travelled with my friend from Chicago (although I think they’re originally from Wisconsin, as the brand reads Wisconsin Dutch or something like that) to LA, then to Seoul, South Korea, and then on to Manila. From there, the bagels travelled to Boracay to enjoy the white sand beaches and finally landed in Iloilo. They had yet another flight though, as they travelled with me from Iloilo back to my home island. Oh, the things those bagels have seen! There were other things too—chocolate, earrings, undies—and they all got here safely. Thanks Rox :) !
Overall, I came back to work this week with a refreshed attitude and outlook on my job. While I can’t get into details, I am just going to see how the next few weeks go and take it from there. I’m scheduled to get some more tests for the health issue previously mentioned, and we’ll see how it goes. I did do the worst thing you can possibly do when you are about to get tests—read the internet. Apparently my current condition, as diagnosed, can be a symptom of anything from “nothing really” to kidney or liver failure. Well, I’m pretty sure it’s not that. It’s somewhere in between, I’m sure.
Sidenote: if you haven’t yet read The Audacity of Hope, I’d recommend it, no matter what your political views. Much love.
Last weekend, my friend Roxy was in the Philippines with her family (well, actually for two weeks, but because of work I was only able to meet up with them for a weekend). Roxy is a good friend from college, where we were on the same floor of the dorms at Marquette our sophomore year. We spent a lot of time reminiscing (or trying to…as I’ve found that since I’ve been to two universities since then, my memory is sort of shaky). Her parents moved to the Chicago area from the Philippines back in the 70s (or early 80s?) and have come back to visit family several times since then.
I flew into Iloilo on Saturday morning, and there it was arranged for a friend of Roxy’s uncle to pick me up, show me a bit around Iloilo, and take me to the hotel. Since Roxy and her family were coming from Boracay (tourist location with white sand beaches and apparently amazing natural beauty), they were scheduled to arrive in the afternoon. Since I was needing to process several different meetings I had had in the few days before that, this was much-needed alone time. Alone time is a commodity here, as it doesn’t happen very often and it’s just not a normal part of Filipino culture. Anyways, in that time, I did some reading, mindlessly flipped through over seventy channels and found nothing on TV, laid by the pool, ate lunch at the poolside, and did some brainstorming/planning for some of my Peace Corps projects. All in all, I think that was crucial to me being able to just fully enjoy the weekend.
Roxy and her family arrived at about three in the afternoon, and after being introduced to everyone, we grabbed some more time at the pool. By this time, though, it had gotten cold and while Roxy was still enjoying the warm weather, I could be seen shivering and covering up with a sarong. Between then and Monday morning, we were definitely kept busy. We hit the mall, got haircuts, met some friends/family for dinner, got a good night’s rest, ate an early breakfast, attended Mass, went to a friend’s for snacks and lunch, took a tour of Iloilo, visited Roxy’s grandmother’s house (Grandma’s in the US), visited her Mom’s and Aunt’s college, sat by the pool again (in the wind and cold), and met more friends for dinner and then coffee and dessert. We were exhausted! But the weekend was amazing, and Roxy’s family was particularly amazing. Even though they’ve called the US home for many years, they haven’t lost their hospitality that Filipinos are so famous for. They treated me just like a family member, and I felt not like an outsider, but rather like I had known them all for years.
One of the most interesting parts of the weekend was listening to a conversation they had about both politics in the Philippines and their appreciation of the US. While as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I have obviously formed many of my own observations about life and politics here in the Philippines, it was fascinating to hear the perspective of those who have spent about equal amounts of time in both places, and who now call America home. Indeed it was also eye-opening to hear them speak of their appreciation for Uncle Sam and all of the opportunities it had opened. Often, it is easy to forget that being born an American can be seen as a privilege and that many countries around the world do not offer its citizens the rights, opportunities, and dreams that Americans are allowed. Although times are currently dismal, America still holds an element of freedom and prospect that cannot be found elsewhere. Through listening to Roxy’s parents and family talk of their appreciation, I realized just how lucky I have been and just how much I have taken for granted. So many people come to the US in search of a new life for them and their children, and sometimes it’s tempting to take this for granted.
There is also another serious issue that comes to mind at this moment: bagels. Many Americans go through their days, and maybe they choose a bagel for breakfast or lunch, not realizing just how delicious and satisfying it actually is. Well, Americans take these for granted also. While yes, I might be able to find a bagel at an expensive hotel or maybe even a coffee shop here, they are not widely available. Well, thanks to Roxy, bagels have now become a part of my life here in the Philippines. Well, at least for the next week and a half or so. The bagels travelled with my friend from Chicago (although I think they’re originally from Wisconsin, as the brand reads Wisconsin Dutch or something like that) to LA, then to Seoul, South Korea, and then on to Manila. From there, the bagels travelled to Boracay to enjoy the white sand beaches and finally landed in Iloilo. They had yet another flight though, as they travelled with me from Iloilo back to my home island. Oh, the things those bagels have seen! There were other things too—chocolate, earrings, undies—and they all got here safely. Thanks Rox :) !
Overall, I came back to work this week with a refreshed attitude and outlook on my job. While I can’t get into details, I am just going to see how the next few weeks go and take it from there. I’m scheduled to get some more tests for the health issue previously mentioned, and we’ll see how it goes. I did do the worst thing you can possibly do when you are about to get tests—read the internet. Apparently my current condition, as diagnosed, can be a symptom of anything from “nothing really” to kidney or liver failure. Well, I’m pretty sure it’s not that. It’s somewhere in between, I’m sure.
Sidenote: if you haven’t yet read The Audacity of Hope, I’d recommend it, no matter what your political views. Much love.
We both ordered a single scoop of ice cream, just different cones. There was a tiny bit of size difference.
Out to dinner with family and friends.
Us at Central Philippines University, where Roxy's mom and aunt went to school. From R to L: Uncle Russel, Roxy's mom, Mama Auntie, Roxy, Me, and Roxy's Dad.
Enjoying mango shakes by the pool.
The beauty of the Philippines...
Puppies!
I bet you thought I'd never say it...but I wish I had a place like this to meditate in my own house...
1 comment:
Oh, Lynn, such fun to read of your adventures!!
Can't wait for the likes from Becca!
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