 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
July 3, 2004 - Its santol season here in the Philippnies. Kids (and adults) love this fruit that makes your face look like like Jessica Nina (picture left). I usually accept whatever a child might offer me, but with santol, I let the kids eat it themselves. It looks like a lychee on the inside, you might think its sweet, but it is sour! The kids eat it with salt and they love it. Sour fruits are quite popular. Green mangoes are another favorite. May through June is mango season, so I've been eating a lot of them. The mangoes here are the best I've ever had, even compared to Pirie mangoes in Hawaii. Unfortunately, there is some trade sanction against Philippine mangoes exported to the US. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Its a new school year and a chance to make new friends. I'm have 39 new friends in Section 6A (picture below). My hope is to do projects like epals and other computer activities. I also hope to play soccer, football and frisbee as long as the kids are interested. We have new epals from Japan and I've been teaching the students some Japanese. They are eager learners and greet me in Japanese whenever they see me.
Over the last year, I have been studying the waray-waray dialect, which is what is spoken here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This year, I'm studying Filipino. Pictured below are a few of my new classmates in Section 3A (grade 3). I take Filipino (Tagalog) and Makabayan (Social Studies, "to build a country"). I struggle to understand what's being said in class. I have heard amazing stories of children who are able to learn new languages quickly. This is true and I believe it from what I see. Kids can imitate songs and words quite easily. I hope some of their magic will rub off on me. My classmates are helpful and would like me to learn. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
In my grade 3 class, I recognize many students because they are brothers and sisters of students that I already know. I probably know a cousin/brother/sister of half my grade 3 class.
The most enjoyable part of being here is learning about my students. Each of them has an interesting story and it is fascinating for me to learn about them. I learn a lot becuase sharing our lives is what the epals program is all about.
|
|
|
|
|
|
For boys, I am one of a few males at school. I showed them my pictures and they know I was in the military. A few of them would like to be soldiers. This gives me great credibility. That I beat the boys in a footrace also helps tremendously. They were surprised, but they are little kids, I should be faster than them. It means a lot. I am also bigger than them and I push them around when they make trouble. Its like dealing with young soldiers, same things apply to get respect and have them listen to you. In our school, teachers are responsible for socialization of their students. They teach the students to take a bath, be clean and keep their hair short. I have noticed this, so I try to be a good example. Its the same things as being in the military. I had hoped to grow my hair here and with F4 (4 guys with long hair) as a hit, it was perfect timing. I told my 6th grade girls (my fashion consultants) that I would grow my hair like Dao Ming Szu. "No Kuya Lane, they look like they need haircuts!" Ha ha. In our place, it is better (more prestigious) to have a haircut. It means you can afford a haircut. So my hair is short.
For girls, I guess they seem me differently. I look a regular person, but I do things like buy fruits at the market, wash clothes and hang them out to dry and play with kids. Not the kind of things a real "pagkalalake" man should be doing. They are always curious about these habits of mine. |
|
|
|
Home
Next |
|