Tiring of Inspiring

It’s self-imposed, but the feeling is there: I’ve been avoiding writing in this blog because I’m tired of being inspiring. By signing up for two years of service, I recognize that I agreed in many ways to carry the weight of other people’s deferred dreams of service and international travel. When I decided to join Peace Corps, I often heard “Oh yeah, I thought of doing that, but then life took its course and here I am.”

What I want to say to these well-intentioned people is: we all make choices that lead us to unknown destinations. I chose to join Peace Corps and ended up in the Philippines, but–more than a year into my two year contract–I feel hemmed in by a narrative that insists that I present my experience as a highlight reel of personal successes. Although I may live halfway around the world, the same trope rings true: life takes its course and here I am.

And that’s what this experience is: my life. Not an Instagram post, not an effort to ‘save the world’, and not (in my case!) a two year beach vacation. My world here is as three dimensional as life in the United States–simultaneously joyful and frustrating and filled with lovely and complicated characters (including myself!).

To present this experience in any other way feels insulting to my Filipino friends and coworkers–the TRUE heavy hitters. As a white American woman, I am lucky to observe every day the unwavering commitment of Filipinos to bettering their country. I help out where I can, but my main role here is as a friend and a cheerleader. I am welcomed, but I am not needed. This is exactly as it should be.

So once and for all, I want to set the story straight: if there is anyone deserving of your praise and awe, it’s the people of the Philippines who dedicate their lives to improving their collective future in spite of centuries of colonization, brutal years of martial law, and repeated natural disasters. I recently hosted a small Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) camp at a local college and I wish that all of you could meet these intelligent and beautiful future leaders. The Philippines is truly blessed with its native daughters.  Me–I just live here and enjoy the snacks!

So what HAVE I been up to? While the scenery and cultural context may be different, many aspects of my day-to-day are similar to my life in the States. I wake up in the morning and go to the office. I drink too much coffee. On weekends, I sleep in, do my laundry, and catch up with family and friends. I watch too much TV.

I have developed some new, distinctly Filipino habits though.

I have a different colored polo shirt for each day of the week. I think this is one “life hack” that I hope to take back with me to the States because true joy=rolling out of bed and deciding if I’m feeling pepto bismol, golden sunflower, or a shade of royal blue that spurs odd feelings of patriotism. I almost never wear black and this fact alone makes me wonder if I will ever live in New York again.

I will be back though–not all the mango float and suman in the world could keep me from another autumn afternoon in Prospect Park. In less than a year, I’ll be back with the prized status of being a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), a designation that lets the world know I “did the thing”. I’m excited for this day and at the same time, I hope that I never forget that I learned and bore witness to more inspiration than I could ever impart.

That’s it for now–all the feelings and reflection you never asked for. Some things never change! Love you all and enjoyy these pictures of my world!

Collaborating with my supervisor

Honored to be the keynote speaker at a local high school’s national reading month!

Our GLOW event was a big success!

Watching cartoons with my neighbor

A Still Pond

I’ve been struggling to come up with something to say for awhile. I feel some pressure to provide an exciting narrative with delightful characters and thrilling plot twists, but the truth is–for the most part–the story has stayed the same. I wake up, go to work, relentlessly fight off vermin of every shape and size, and probably watch too much TV. However, no complaints. A still pond is as beautiful to contemplate as a raging river.

Love and miss you all!

my counterpart and i having fun at our project design training

baguio, wet and rainy

all i do when i go on vacation is eat

i ate this lemon merengue pie right before getting a massage #treatyourself

students roleplaying…i think they are pretending to be drunk here

students dancing

students pretending to be puppets

after school coloring crew.

my cute neighbors like to come down to my cave to color

omg tarsiers are so cute!

chocolate hills of bohol

ocean views

Bamboo Bridge

enjoying a concert in kiangan

Sitemates’ night out

Family Shrine

LOOK AT THIS GIANT LIZARD IN MY HOUSE

Chill Kitty

 

 

One year down, one year to go

Hi friends! July has been a hectic month. I spent the past couple of weeks away from site in Manila, Bataan, and Cavite; I was lucky enough to be chosen as a resource volunteer for the 72 new trainees who arrived in the Philippines at the beginning of July.

There is a certain privilege that accompanies serving as a resource volunteer during the Initial Orientation of the incoming batch. I was excited to be among the first few volunteers to get a look at the new trainees and at the same time–I was nervous.

I notice a lot of similarities between Peace Corps Voluteers and drunken sailors, or at least what I imagine drunken sailors to be. Veteran volunteers have a tendency to grow withered, salty, and bitter as they are pummeled by waves of disillusionment and unmet expectations. Notions of acceptable dinner conversation shift as volunteers one up each other with sentences starting: “You think your roaches (spiders, ants, etc.) are big! Wait until you see the ones at my site…”

In short, I was afraid I might not be fit to train a group of clean-cut and eager Americans. I doubted my ability to refrain from being cranky or judgemental; after all, a year of service changes you.

But all my reservations  evaporated when I met the members of Batch 275. Serendipitously, our Welcome Playlist played the song “Monster Mash” when the trainees descended from the buses that brought them to the training facility. Although an unorthodox welcome, I can’t think of a better anthem for this talented, kind, and energetic crew–a group that will undoubtedly face their own spooks and scares over the next two years (but hopefully with a sense of humor!).

As a resource volunteer, I had the opportunity to co-facilitate sessions with amazingly talented Filipinos working in the field of children, youth, and family (CYF).

In one CYF technical session, we conducted an activity where trainees had to navigate the intricacies of working with the LGU (Local Government Unit). For many trainees, this exercise was the first time they came face-to -face with some of the more challenging realities they may face in the field.

What I noticed was this: attitude makes all the difference. Trainees with high expectations of “getting things done” were often the most frustrated. The trainees who got the most out of the activity were those who remained open—open to learning and to laughing at their own mistakes.

On July 4, I celebrated my “year-iversay” here in the Philippines. There are good days, bad days, and really terrible days. I still can’t say with confidence that I understand the shrouded mystery that is the LGU. However, my experience observing the new CYF trainees reminded me of this:

The success of your Peace Corps service has very little to do with the number of projects or events you manage to pull off. Success is not PowerPoint presentations, fluency in a local language, or Facebook albums brimming with pictures of local friends. Success is showing up, trying your best, keeping a smile on your face, and making a positive connection with at least one other person.

I left the training feeling more excited than when I arrived. There is something really powerful about spending time with a group of people who are about to embark on a journey so life-changing that they can’t even begin to imagine the transformation and growth that awaits them on the other side.

The soccer mom in me didn’t want to let go; initial orientation creates a safe little bubble where resource volunteers can be relied upon to to quell all sorts of fears. But–ready or not– every wannabe volunteer has got to jump the nest sometime. Experience is the best teacher and besides, I don’t have all the answers. I’m still learning too!

Anyways, in honor of hitting my one year mark, I’ll leave you with some pictures and a lil’ poem I wrote that says a lot and also a little about my service thus far.

I named it Hugot for one of my favorite Tagalog words. Literally translated as “to draw out”, Hugot refers to an intentional or unintentional statement of honesty, emotion, and #feels. Loving and Missing you all!

Hugot

In twelve months I’ve learned:
If you want to kill termites,
fill a shallow bowl with water and
hold it to the brightest light in the room

Reflection baits a pensive insect.

Floating on the surface,
wing side down, legs in the air
there are days when no one understands me

but up on that green plastic chair
reaching out, striving for balance and
leaning towards illumination
I feel less alone
to share a secret language of suspension and submission

you can die by drowning

Or you can learn how to swim.

got to meet up with some badass youth leaders in bataan. angel taught me everything i know!

so happy to visit with alexis, one of our amazing youth leaders (as well as a talented wood carver!)

some days call for a sitemate potluck

it felt like coming home to visit with my first host family

hyped 4 guac

training=wasting paper

Views

It’s been a long, hot summer here in Ifugao. Sweaty, stinky steamy hot. At 4pm each day, dark rain clouds roll in accompanied by tremendous lightning and thunder.

In May and June, I moved into a new apartment. I painted a mural with other volunteers. I marched in a parade. I planned. I went to parties. I killed roaches.

Enjoy these recent views. Next week, I will be headed to Manila and Cavite for a month to act as a resource volunteer for the incoming trainees of Batch 275. Hard to believe it’s almost been one year since I arrived here in the Philippines!

Jeeps are my main mode of transportation to nearby towns. There is always room for one more–making it a very sweaty and cramped ride

Silly girls at a party

one of our youth leaders!

oof.

chelsea, my sitemate, and her puppy, sascha

my kitchen

my closet

my living room

kitchen

dining area

Meet Me In The Mall (It’s Going Down)

I like the malls of Asia.

I recognize that my opinion may be controversial. Why travel halfway around the world to buy the same cheaply made jeans that you could purchase at home? Malls have long been perceived as palatial outposts of capitalism, devoid of culture and class. And I hear that. I will always be amused by the fact that my early teenage years were spent buying glittery nail polish at the Walt Whitman Mall. Sometimes the poetry of real life beats anything I could make up…

But the thing is, here in the Philippines, malls represent much more than a place to shop.

Kate’s Top 5 Reasons Malls are Not The Worst

•  Malls offer public space in communities marred by pollution, crime, and overcrowding.

•  Although parks and plazas would be preferable to the sterile, tiered hallways of yet another SM or Robinsons (two popular mall chains), the heat and humidity in this country limit the appeal of the outdoors.

• Malls provide aircon and everybody loves aircon! Seriously, sometimes too much. It’s not uncommon that you find yourself wearing a fleece while shopping in the middle of summer. 

• Malls provide jobs for thousands of Filipinos and taxes collected from purchases bolster the country’s economy.

• Visiting a mall in the Philippines offers a prime opportunity to gain insight into Filipino culture. Malls serve as a communal gathering place where visitors can engage in the country’s favorite pastimes: eating, spending time with friends and family, looking good, shopping, and more eating!

If you want to do anything in the Philippines—go to the dentist, stock up at an American style supermarket, work out at the gym, watch a movie—chances are that you will have to enter a mall. I recognize that the joy that I derive from strolling the malls of the Philippines rests on a simple factor: I can get in the door. 

This is not always true for people living in poverty. Every mall entrance is manned by a phalanx of armed guards. The guards are there ostensibly to search your bags, but I have a feeling that they also serve as crowd control. Malls are filled with shiny, clean looking people, people like me who get waved through security with a “Hi ma’am” and a kind smile. It is only on the fringes of malls—in the parking lot or on the waiting line for the jeep—that you catch glimpses of the Philippines that I am more familiar with. Here, you will see kuyas (men, but literally translated as older brother) with their shirts pulled up to expose brown beer bellies, street kids in tattered rags begging for change. 

There is also nowhere to sit in the mall, unless you pay to enter a restaurant or coffee shop. The lack of benches sends a message: this is not a place for the old and poor. This is a place for those who can pay.

So malls aren’t perfect. But for many Filipinos and Peace Corps volunteers alike, this is where we end up. No shame: about once a month, I will travel almost four hours in each direction just to sit in a dark movie theater and eat stale cheese flavored popcorn. This is not exactly what I envisioned when I pictured Peace Corps in the Philippines, but I guess the best way to integrate into a culture is to patronize its sacred spaces—wherever they may be!

Random Facts About Malls in the Philippines that I didn’t Validate (But they sound pretty true!)

• Twenty four of the world’s 100 largest malls can be found in the Philippines

• Four malls in the Philippines rank among the world’s top 15 largest malls

• There are more than 15,000 tenants and 50,000 parking slots in SM Supermalls across the country (SM, or ShoeMart, is one of the Philippines’ major mall chains)

• Retail accounts for roughly 15% of the Philippines’ total Gross National Product (GNP)

• Roughly 5.25 million people, or 18% of the Philippines’ work force, work in retail jobs

(Source: Typing “Philippines mall facts” into Google)

I really struggled to find quality pictures for this post, so enjoy some blurry mall shots and/or just come visit to see the real thing! Love and miss you all!

What to pack?!

Given that the Philippines is a nation comprised of over 7,000 islands, it is challenging to provide a standardized packing list for incoming Peace Corps volunteers. Climate, culture, and the volunteer’s role—variables that might give some insight into what to pack—vary so widely among the different site placements in the Philippines that what is ok lang, or acceptable, in one area may be bawal (forbidden) or taboo in another region

The following list details what has worked for me–a big footed female living in the mountains and serving as a Children, Youth, and Families volunteer. I did my best to touch on what I am happy to have, what I could have left at home, and what I wish I brought along. In addition, I’ve included some tips related to getting yourself ready for Peace Corps service

Members of Batch 275, the incoming group of volunteers arriving in the Philippines in just a few months—we are so excited for you to get here! I remember how scary it felt to cram my life into just two suitcases. I was so worried about forgetting something and agonized over whether or not I had acquired the perfect gear for my impending adventure.

Almost a year in, I still feel unprepared most days. But all of the stuff that I did or didn’t bring with me in my suitcase has nothing to do with that. One of my favorite quotes reads, “To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.” Peace Corps service is exactly that—being thrown out of the nest. Continually. Four or five times a day.

So take a deep breath. Shove some stuff in a bag, forget about it, and spend time with your family, your pets, and your best friends. Worst case scenario, there is NOTHING you can’t buy here at one of the Philippines’ many malls (P.S.: keep your eyes peeled for an impending post on mall culture in the Philippines…)

For incoming volunteers: if you have any questions or concerns about what to pack/what to expect etc.—please don’t hesitate to reach out by email (katejordan6@gmail.com) or on Facebook

Things I Brought That I Use Every Day

• IPhone

 My phone is the primary means through which I access the internet, listen to music, jot down notes, and take pictures. Smart phones are commonplace in the Philippines, so using an IPhone or an Android won’t necessarily make you stand out (more than you already will). Some volunteers choose to use their smartphone as their primary phone by having a local sim card cut and inserted into their unlocked cellphone from home. I continue to use my Peace Corps provided phone (just a regular old Nokia…with Snake!) but I carry my IPhone with me most of the time for music/taking pictures.

• Apps

It’s best to download apps before coming to the Philippines, as slow internet can be a real hindrance. Here is a short list of apps I use often:

Instagram: Got the keep the followers happy with pics of your awesome site and community. Instagram loads about 50% of the time, but it’s a nice way to keep up with what’s going on with friends from home, other volunteers, and Beyoncé. 

 WhatsApp: I had to register with my U.S. number, so it was absolutely essential to download this before leaving home. WhatsApp is how I communicate with family and friends. The calls are super clear AND the messaging service works even when the internet is slow. Encourage your family and friends to sign up!

Pinterest: Like Instagram, getting on Pinterest is very internet dependent. However, if the internet gods work in your favor, it’s great to have the app downloaded so you can search easily for activities, recipes, and care package ideas. Or you can do like I do, which is to stay up until 3am, when the internet is at its best, to pin pictures of houses I will never live in. Whatever keeps you sane!

 WordPress: If you plan on keeping a blog, I’d recommend WordPress. The app is user friendly and you can upload pictures right from your phone. By following all blogs tagged as ‘Peace Corps’, you can easily keep up with the blogs of Peace Corps volunteers serving around the world. 

One of my favorite features is the ‘Stats’ page, which allows you to keep tabs on the demographics of your blog readers. For example, I can see that my blog has been accessed in the U.S., Philippines, Peru, Thailand, Ecuador, the U.K., Vietnam, Guatemala, Germany, Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, Moldova, Albania, India, Israel, South Korea, Norway, Argentina, Nicaragua, Singapore, Japan, Mexico, Ireland, Indonesia, Australia, Bolivia, Russia, Estonia, Canada, Cambodia, Colombia, and Sweden. AKA I’m on my way to world domination. Pretty cool!

 Stitcher: This is the app that I use to listen to podcasts and streaming news broadcasts. I like Stitcher because it has a wide selection of eclectic podcasts and allows you to save episodes for offline streaming. Always happy to share podcast suggestions!

Overdrive: OverDrive is an app that lets me listen to audiobooks downloaded through my public library in the States. I can download multiple audiobooks at a time and save them directly to my phone—for free! The app also lets you slow down or speed up the speaker’s voice, which I find really helpful if I don’t jive with the reader’s tone.

Spotify: I used Spotify in the States and continue to pay for my U.S. subscription ($10/month to be able to save music to my device and no ads…not bad!) because I need to have regular transactions to keep my U.S. bank account active. There are rumors that it is possible to set up Spotify using your Filipino bank account, therefore paying the going rate for the service here (129P per month), but I have yet to try to figure it out. Spotify is awesome because you can make and share playlists.

Stop, Breathe, & Think: I love this simple, straightforward, and free meditation app. You input your current emotional/physical state and it provides you with a list of short guided meditations (under 10 minutes) relevant to your current condition. No internet is needed to access these meditations! Even more, the app tracks your meditation time and incentivizes you to keep meditating by giving you stickers for each milestone you achieve. There is also a meditation timer for days that you want to sit for a bit longer without a guided meditation. 

• Kindle

Kindle=life. Peace Corps volunteers read. A LOT. Real books are great too, but they are just about as expensive here as they are in the States. With a Kindle, you can read any book you like, PLUS you can carry around hundreds of books at a time without even breaking a sweat! 

Between accessing EBooks from my public library in the States and the multitude of EBook files I have ripped off from other volunteers, I think I have paid for a total of three books since I have been in country. The IRC (Information Resource Center) at the Peace Corps office has a great selection of paperbacks to borrow if you are truly desperate to have a real book in your hands.  

•  Laptop

Peace Corps does not mandate volunteers to bring laptops to service, but I find that they are pretty essential. Important documents are distributed by USB and volunteers are expected to complete their VRFs (Volunteer Reporting Forms) on a computer. As this complex reporting form requires a special software and must be submitted online, it’s pretty unusual for a volunteer to be able to complete this mandatory task on an office computer (that is, if your office even has a computer). In addition, your office may expect you to have your own laptop in order to write proposals and submit important documents. Also, how else will you watch endless movies and TV shows on your hard drive?

 I have a Microsoft Surface, but I wouldn’t really recommend it; my computer is not compatible with the Peace Corps VRF software and only has one flash drive. I would suggest bringing a sturdy and well-functioning laptop that you are not emotionally attached to (all electronics tend to crumble here over time). Both Macs and PCs are fine, although I think it is easier to get a PC repaired if need be!

• Triple blade razors (bought in bulk in the states)

Americans are hairier than most Filipinos. Before coming, I purchased a ton of triple razor cartridges. They aren’t the best razors ever, but they are better than grating my skin with the poor quality razors found here. Also, it’s nice not to have another expense to worry about.

•  Library card

I use my New York Public Library Card to access and download free e-books directly to my Kindle. I think many libraries have this service now and it is AMAZING. I’m not going to explain the logistics here, but it’s pretty easy to figure out how to get it set up (there should be a tutorial on your library’s webpage). 

•  Pictures of family and friends/mementos from home

People are curious and you can use pictures/postcards/maps/other mementos to decorate your room.

•  Deodorant (bought in bulk in the states)

According to other lady volunteers, the deodorant here does not work as well as deodorant in the States. I have yet to encounter this issue, as I brought loads of extra deodorant from home on the suggestion of a previous volunteer.

• DivaCup

Seriously, using a DivaCup will be one of my biggest takeaways from service. It takes a little bit of finagling to figure out these menstrual cups, but once you do, I swear you will be a convert. No need to worry about having access to a bathroom/toilet paper when you can leave the DivaCup in until you find a convenient time to clean it out. Also, no risk of toxic shock! It’s important to note that tampons are more or less unavailable here (I’ve never seen them, but maybe they exist somewhere in Manila at an extremely high price…) Unless you plan to pack a lifetime supply of tampons or you feel comfortable using pads, a DivaCup may be your best option. I bought some off-brand menstrual cups off Amazon because they had a two for one deal, and they have worked just fine!

• Headlamp

I’m a nerd and like using my headlamp to read in bed.

•  External hard drive

Regardless of how involved you are in your community, you will have many hours of free time. Most volunteers spend this time reading or watching movies. An external hard drive is a handy place to store all of the media files that are shared among volunteers. Don’t worry about bringing a hard drive filled with downloaded books and movies; leave that to the more technologically inclined volunteers and then just mooch off of what they have brought. (Unless you are that technologically inclined volunteer, in which case, please download some awesome stuff!)

Things I Wish I Brought

• A hiking backpack that zips around the sides (rather than opening at the top)

The backpack I came with opened at the top, which was really frustrating when looking for an item at the bottom of my bag. I recently purchased a new backpack that zips around and it has made all of the difference in keeping myself organized while traveling.

•  More makeup

Someone said something to me recently in terms of packing for Peace Corps that I thought was rather profound: “Don’t pack for the person you think you will become in Peace Corps, pack for the person you are today.” If you wear makeup every day, chances are that you will still want to wear makeup every day when you get here. Even if it all melts off. 

Filipinos take looking good very seriously and at least in my case, this has meant continuing to wear makeup just like I would in the States, except probably with more lipstick. U.S. makeup brands can be expensive (and local brands pale in comparison), so if you have some favorite makeup—definitely bring it along.

• Perfume

Smelling good is a thing here. Inevitably someone will make a comment about how you smell (and how much you weigh, how you talk, how you walk, etc.), so make sure that the odds are in your favor and try to smell good! Also, sun, humidity, and sweat will make you stank in ways you never thought possible. Although I never did so at home, I usually carry body spray and deodorant on me at all times here. 

You can buy cheap body sprays and popular perfumes by the ounce at the mall, but if you have a signature scent and it’s not too much of a burden to put it in your bag, I’d recommend it. Even if you just wear your favorite perfume at important events like Swearing In, you will feel more like yourself.

• A real towel

Travel towels are cool, but for the most part—you won’t be travelling. You will be living somewhere for two years and a fluffy bath towel is just a joyful thing to wrap yourself up in. I had my parents send me a bath towel from home and I find that the quality is far superior to the bath towels that I see for sale here. Bring both if you are concerned about having a towel for travel!

• At least three pairs of jeans
  

I wear jeans for work every day, as do many other volunteers. It’s possible to buy jeans here, but they cost about the same as they would cost in the U.S. and they don’t tend to have longer sizes. Better to bring a few favorite pairs from home. You will wear them, I promise.

•  More clothes that feel like “me”

I feel the same way I do about clothes as I do regarding my tip about makeup. Serving in the Peace Corps does not automatically mean that you will become some type of Jungle Jane/Crocodile Dundee chick or dude. That is to say, if you don’t already wear zip off shorts/ moisture wicking shirts/Chacos, you probably won’t want to wear them during your entire service. Or maybe you will, who knows! But I do know that I brought a lot of this type of clothing and I never wear it. 

What do I wear? The same shirts and jeans that were my favorites back at home. When living day in and day out in a foreign land, you will want to wear things you remember wearing at home. Down to your underwear! If you like wearing cute underwear, bring it!!

 Although everyone has a different dress code at site, I think I can safely say that many volunteers share my same regret about bringing too much adventure gear and not enough every day wear. To back my claim, I will cite as evidence the ravenous descent of female PCVs upon the nearest H&M during one of our recent trainings. The store was decimated and we all showed up to meetings wearing the same (cute!) outfits.

• Tea and coffee
  

Coffee is available here, but instant is favored over brewed and coffee grounds tend to be expensive. Tea options are surprisingly slim and also expensive. Just thought I’d mention these because they are easy to carry and make good gifts (pasalubong) for your host families!

•  Spices
  

Cooking with limited selection of produce can get a little dull. My parents sent me some awesome Trader Joe’s spices (Lemon Pepper and some type of Italian Spice blend) and it’s really improved my bland repertoire.

•  Additional pairs of shoes

I wear a Size 11, so shoes that fit are hard to come by anywhere in the world. If you have big feet, I’d really recommend bringing extra pairs. The weather (rain and humidity) and constant walking here tends to wear shoes out pretty fast. *If you get stuck though, Payless here sells shoes for bigger sizes! So weird considering the average height of Filipina is just about 5 feet. However, their shoes are expensive for our Peace Corps salaries!*

• A good set of pens/colored pencils

I write a lot of letters here and I wish I had better tools to step up my stationary game. Coloring is also a great way to blow off stress!

• Better pasalubong (gifts to give to your two host families and to your supervisor/office)

I gave my host family some small candies, postcards, and keychains, but I wish I gave them something more substantial and potentially something with some brand recognition (ex: Nutella, Hershey/Cadbury Chocolates). Also, I assumed I would be living with kids and ended up staying with single women during both of my host family stays; if I were to do it again, I would not by gifts specifically for children before knowing my host family makeup. Coffee and tea is a great tip because it can be shared and it gives you an excuse to sit down and chat when you are first getting to know each other.  

Things I Never Use

• Biking Gear

It’s not possible to ride a bicycle at my site (so.many.mountains), so the helmet, lock, and biking gloves that I brought with me are effectively useless.

 However, given that many volunteers DO ride bikes at site, I’d still suggest bringing this type of gear if you are someone who thinks you might like to ride a bike. If you don’t end up being able to fulfill your biking dreams, I’m sure another volunteer will be more than happy to take your helmet off your hands. 

FYI: bike helmets are mandatory for all volunteers! I picked mine up at a garage sale, so it wasn’t too much of a heartbreak to give it away. 

•  Chacos

Controversial opinion! Thought they were ugly before I left home and had to hype myself up even just to wear them around the house to break them in. Still think they are ugly and never wear them.

 Lesson: Stay true to you. I wear normal, girly sandals to work every day and this is the norm at my office. In fact, most women wear wedges. Also, I have flat feet, so the arch makes my feet hurt. I feel much more comfortable wearing Tevas if for some reason I am in need of adventure sandals.

 Anyone who wants a pair of Women’s Size 11 Chacos, worn only few times—they are yours! Hit me up and we can find a way to get them to you.

General Tips Before You Go

•  If you are interested in holding onto your cellphone number in the States while you are in the Philippines, call your carrier (I use Verizon) and ask if it is possible to put your phone line on a military suspension while you are in Peace Corps. In order to keep your number reserved, I think you need to call on a yearly basis to reaffirm your service; you might also have to fax or scan in some documentation, but the person I spoke with was happy enough just to take my word for it. I didn’t have much trouble in getting permission to keep me number, most likely because I am part of a family plan and someone (my mom!) is continuing to pay the bill.

•  It’s prudent to get a Power of Attorney while you are gone. This designated person can fill out any official paperwork on your behalf and is authorized to speak with important people who you may need to be in contact with, such as loan providers, doctors, and staff at your U.S. bank. I accomplished this by downloading a PoA template online, customizing it to include my selected Power of Attorney, and getting it notarized at my bank.Pro tip: banks usually notarize things for free if you are a client! Your Power of Attorney has to be present when you get the document notarized, so make a fun day out of it. If I remember correctly, my dad and I won some kind of contest and got free Frisbees and a handful of grape flavored lollipops. Totally worth it. Take one copy of your PoA with you and leave one copy at home.

•  It can be really helpful to have copies of all of your important documents located in one place. I don’t have this (yet), but I think it’s a really good idea. Get yourself a folder and include copies of your passport, all credit/debit cards, bank account information, driver’s license, SS card, loan statements, insurance policies, résumé, etc. With internet connection being iffy at best, you’ll save yourself a lot of time having this information all in one place. For security reasons, I don’t recommend leaving this folder lying around, but just tuck it in your bag, put it under your bed, and you will be glad it’s there.  

That’s all for now! Hope this is helpful 🙂 

what it’s worth

Today, I’d like to talk about money, also known as kuwarta, pera, $$$, cold hard CASH.

The currency in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP). One U.S. dollar is roughly equivalent to 47 pesos. Both bills and coins are used. The peso bills are very colorful, which helps to ensure that you receive the right change.   
 

Each bill has a national hero on the front and a point of interest/tourist destination on the back. My favorite bills are the P100, which features a whale shark, and the P20, which highlights the Banaue Rice Terraces of Ifugao–my home province!

whale shark!

  

rice terraces!

 
Bills used in the Philippines:

PHP1,000~21.28 USD

PHP500~10.60 USD

PHP200~4.25 USD (P200 are like the equivalent of $2 bills in the States…I never see them)

PHP100~2.13 USD

PHP50~1.06 USD

PHP20~43 cents

Coins:

PHP10, 5, 1: Having coins on hand is ESSENTIAL for local transport in jeeps and tricycles. A trike ride within town usually costs P10 (or 21 cents). 

Centavos (25,10, 5): These coins are pretty useless. Occasionally, I’ll scrounge up 4 25 centavo coins to make P1. Most of the time, they live in the bottom of my purse. 

Full transparency here: as a volunteer, I make roughly $300 per month. Although I work for an organization of the U.S. Government, we get paid in Filipino Pesos and are expected to live at more or less the same socioeconomic status as our home country counterparts. There are some months where I make a little more, due to travel or medical reimbursements, but $300 is usually what I am working with.

To many Americans, I’m sure this does notsound like a lot. However, I’ve found that I have been able to live rather comfortably on this allowance. According to this Cost of Living website, the cost of living in the Philippines is 52.74% lower than in the United States (based on aggregate data from all cities). 

I am lucky because there is not much to buy in my area beyond necessities and the occasional personal pizza. I also have limited transportation costs, as I can walk to work and my office has a car that we use to travel around the province. 

Each volunteer’s financial situation is unique, but I find my living allowance to be sufficient. With careful budgeting, I have even been able to fund a few domestic trips using my Peace Corps salary. This is not to say that I haven’t dipped into my personal money. 

Although it’s not necessary, I recommend for prospective volunteers to try to save up a little spending money before service. There will be times when you want to splurge for a private hotel room or treat yourself to a nice western meal; personal cash can help fulfill these occasional indulgences. 

So what exactly do things cost in the Philippines? Here’s a list of some of my common expenditures and their cost in pesos and USD:

P67/$1.43: Transport each way to the nearest town with a big supermarket, department stores, and McDonalds (Fast food is a luxury here!)

P35-50/75 cents-1.06: Lunch every day from the canteen at work, usually some iteration of rice/chicken/vegetables. The price depends on the ulam (main dish).

P200/$4.26: Unlimited internet for 5 days; I usually spend around $15 per month on Internet–one of my biggest expenses.

P250/$5.32: one month of unlimited text and about two hours of call time to people who share my phone plan

P195/$4.15: one jar of Skippy peanut butter. I tear through jars of peanut butter here (and everywhere).

P180/$3.85: Movie ticket. I’ve found that movie ticket prices vary based on the movie and the theater.

P3,000/$63.83: Monthly rent

P400/$8.51: One way bus ticket to Manila. The ride takes anywhere between 8 and 20+ hours (traffic! So much traffic!) 

*Produce prices change often based on what’s in season and the weather. These are the prices as of today!

P5/11 cents: one egg

P20/43 cents: one kilo of tomatoes 

P10/21 cents: small Fuji Apple

P12/26 cents: kilo of cucumbers

P60/$1.28: kilo of mangoes   

However, there are somethings that are priceless–like having two electric fans pointed directly at your face during the height of summer. So. Good. Until next time!

 

weekend market

     

   

   
    

Now and Then

Coming to you live from sweaty Saigon! I spent this past week on vacation in Vietnam with my two site mates, Chelsea and Stephanie. We truly had an amazing time! Copious noodles were consumed, silk scarves were bargained for, and I am hoping there is time for one more milk coffee before we board our plane…

This was a sentimental visit for me. In 2010, I spent a whirlwind semester studying in Danang, Vietnam. I never quite recovered from that first trip. Those intense months nudged me towards so many of the decisions that have come to shape my life–deciding to pursue social work, applying to Peace Corps, and (trying) to feel more comfortable with letting go of control.

This vacation was the first time since 2011 that I was able to visit my adopted hometown in Vietnam. 
Five years away is a long time! But it felt completely normal to be sitting curbside on tiny chairs sharing snacks with friends who made me feel so loved and welcomed as a scared college student. We couldn’t stop saying to each other, “Same as before!” 

But we knew we were fooling ourselves. So many new high rise buildings have gone up in Danang that the skyline was nearly unrecognizable. One of my friends arrived at dinner eight months pregnant with her first child. I feel like I have been a million different people in the past five years, let alone the last five minutes.

So, no–my visit to Da Nang was not exactly the same as before and the differences are what made the trip all the more special. 

There are times in our lives when we walk through unfamiliar doors and get on planes without having any idea what will greet us on the other side. There is transformation in crossing these thresholds. Parts of yourself will be broken, irreparably, but what grows back in place ripens you. 

What a privilege it is to visit ghosts of your own past lives! Nothing will ever be exactly the same, but it’s comforting to know that there are some constants in life–like good friends and even better Vietnamese food!

Feeling a lot of love lately for friends of all kinds, from all places. You all are cool! love and miss ya!
  
  

my mother’s daughter

 

Peace Corps for Introverts

Where I’m at: sweating balls and trying my best to stuff an irresponsible amount of clothing into a backpack that suddenly seems too small. 

I’m getting ready for almost a month away from site for our In Service Training (IST) and a week-long trip to Vietnam to visit one of my best friends. IST is an opportunity for all volunteers to rehash our experiences at site and gain insight to improve our next few months of service. 

I’m looking forward to getting back together with the “big group” of 80+ volunteers from three different sectors. It’s nice to see friends and I’m so curious about what everyone is doing out there. Awesome work, I’m sure!

At the same time, there is a part of me that’s anxious at the thought of so much togetherness. The truth is, for how much I enjoy being around others, I am a deeply solitary person. I find that my willingness to be pleasant and sociable is directly linked to my ability to indulge in ‘alone time’, a hot commodity here in the Philippines.

 During our Initial Orientation (IO), I remember a veteran volunteer lamenting the challenges of serving in Peace Corps as an introvert. More than six months into service, I share many of his concerns. 

One of the major stresses I experience in the Philippines is the pressure to be “on” all the time. Sure, it’s a largely self-imposed pressure. But hey, once a people pleaser, always a people pleaser! 
There are days that I run myself ragged trying to live up to expectations. It’s EXHAUSTING to (try to) be friendly, understanding, and engaged all at the same time. 

There are many occasions when the only solution is to take a ‘Gandhi Day’ (no speaking!) and cordon myself in my room with a good book and headphones. I’m not sure if this is the most mature coping mechanism, but the peace and quiet works for me.

For all my introverts out there who are thinking about serving in the Peace Corps, here’s the truth (or at least my truth): it can be really difficult. Your notions of boundaries and privacy will be tested. People will be confused, and maybe even offended, by your insistence on doing things alone. You will crave the moment when you can go home and shut the door.

Another truth: it’s so easy to keep that door shut. 

BUT, in spite of myself, I can see that there is great benefit to keeping it open, especially to other volunteers who understand, more or less, what you are going through. There’s a certain kind of refuge that can be found in sharing an experience, in moving together through time and space as a unit bound by mutual joys and grievances. 

 So maybe the training won’t be so bad. They say you can’t teach a dog new tricks, but can you teach a cat like me to enjoy a few weeks of non-stop social interaction? We’ll see; I’ll keep you posted…
Lots of luv <333

  

Getting There

Fortunately for my bank account, I don’t use public transportation too often at site. I live 30 seconds from work and our office is lucky enough to have a vehicle to ferry us around the province for our various seminars and workshops.

However, this week was Holy Week–a popular time for volunteers and Filipinos alike to get out of town. My friend, Kelly, and I made a plan to meet in Tagaytay, a popular vacation spot outside of Manila. Throughout our trip (which was relaxing and awesome and so necessary), I think I traveled on nearly every transportation option available here in the Philippines!

Over the past few days, I have travelled by:

Ambulance: My office’s car has been in the shop, so we borrowed an ambulance to get to an event in a far-flung municipality (Note: add far-flung to my list of favorite Filipino English words). One of my favorite things about the Philippines is people’s willingness to adapt and share resources. Shout out to the health office that lent us their ride!

Bus: Buses are ubiquitous in the Philippines. You can sometimes pre-purchase tickets at the bus station, but more often, I find myself hailing buses down at the side of the road. It’s easy enough to tell where the bus is going by the sign in the front window and you can buy your ticket on board. Some buses will also let you ride for a short distance–a nice alternate to stuffy jeeps if you are lucky to catch a bus as it passes!

Van: FX vans (named after the model of van) are shared taxis that travel along a specific route. Up to ten people are packed in the van and they usually drive very, VERY fast. Kelly and I were lucky to catch a ride to Tagaytay with a Japaneae tourist who had contracted an entire Van just for himself. Using her expert Tagalog skills, Kelly negotiated that we would pay only a small fraction of the total price (no shame–#integration plus the guy was willing to pay the whole price to begin with…volunteers kami at walang $pera$)

Tricycle: Trikes are the easiest way to travel short distances when a. It’s too hot or b. You are with a Filipino who insists that your destination is “too far” to walk and then it turns out that the place you wanted to go is around the corner. I resist taking trikes because I am too tall to sit comfortably in the sidecar.

Jeepney: The main form of public transportation in the Philippines is the jeepney. Like FX vans, jeeps follow pre-set routes–albeit with more character as relics of WWII. You can hop on and off the jeep any time you like. To find out the price of your bayad or pamasahe (how much it will it will cost to ride the jeep), just ask the driver and he will somehow magically know how much you owe to the piso AND will give you back the right change, even though 10 people handed him their bayad at the same time.

To get a jeep to stop for you on the side of the road, stick out your hand with your fingers indicating the number of passengers looking to ride. Each side of the jeep is lined with a bench that holds nine passengers, so if there is enough room–the driver will stop. Just kidding! The driver will almost always stop if you are willing to sit next to him in the front seat, in the “back seat” (plank of wood precariously placed at the rear exit of the jeep as needed), or up top on the roof of the jeep.

When it’s time to stop, shout “para” (okay, fine, I am the only one that shouts; the typical practice is to mumble “para” under your breath, but this trick doesn’t seem to work for foreigners) or rap a coin a few times on the roof to make a tinkling noise to signify your stop.

A last word on jeepneys–one thing that really irks me is the fact that every passenger wants service to their exact destination. This often means that the jeep will stop to let a  passenger off, only to make another stop 30 seconds later to let off another passenger. As someone who is used to a relatively efficient commute, this practice can be frustrating, but such is life in this laid back country!

Bangka: A bangka is a small pump boat that carries passengers from island to island. Living in the mountains, I obviously don’t travel by boat too much but it was nice to get out on the water during  my trip to Tagaytay.

Walking: As a ~city girl~, walking is something I sorely miss about home. The Philippines is just not well set up for pedestrians with its relentless traffic and general lack of sidewalks. However, in Tagatay, I not only walked (due to a gross underestimation of how far away our hotel was) but I also hiked Taal Volcano!

Motorbike: NOT! Motorcycles are bawal (forbidden) for volunteers.

Our car was in the shop, so we borrowed an ambulance to get to our event

  

I lay down on the stretcher and took a nap during our ambulance ride. Not a bad way to get to work!

 

enjoying the scenery!

 

so beauty!

   

tricycles (trikes) are the most common mode of transport for short distances. You can pay a steeper price to take the tricycle alone or wait for others to split the price with. At my site, trikes usually cost 10 pesos (about 20 cents)

On our first day in Tagaytay, my friend , Kelly, and I hired a trike to bring us to many of the famous tourist spots. However, given that it is Holy Week, we spent a lot of time sweating while sitting in traffic

    

rode the ferris wheel at sky ranch amusement park

  

conquering fears

 

tagaytay is beautiful!

  

can you spot the person ziplining?

  

Horses are the main means of transport at Taal Volcano, one of Tagaytay’s most famous tourist destinations. Kelly and I chose to hike, but most (sane) people choose to ride horses.

 Edit

we travelled to taal volcano by bangka

    

friends on a boat! kelly has been such a life line here in the philippines. So special to have such an easygoing supportive friend

 

view from the top

 

our guide set a relatively brisk pace (aka i was dying)

  

a lake inside a lake!

a well derserved dessert

  
     

a well deserved second dessert (not pictured: many other well deserved desserts)

 

this is just a random picture of a jeep that i found on google, but i think it gives you an idea!

 
  

i think this picture (courtesy of google images) makes it clear why volunteers are not allowed to ride motorbikes. i regularly see kids under the age of ten driving motorbikes (With no helmets!!)