Saturday, December 14, 2013

Random thoughts


We have a few minutes of downtime while we travel, so let me share a few random thoughts:

Thanks to contributions from our group, our leader, Ryan, was able to secure materials and hire contractors to make repairs on the roof of the school where we are staying. Work began earlier in the week. We were able to help by pulling out nails from the old framing boards. They reuse both the boards and the nails. 



From the North Star to the Southern Cross, no electricity on the island makes the night sky phenomenal. Most of us chose to put our mats outside where the breeze makes sleeping slightly cooler.  

Our cooks have been wonderful. Every meal is served with white rice, including breakfast. Breakfast is usually eggs and fried Spam-type meat. Lunch and dinner we've had a variety, including fried chicken, pork and fish. They've also prepared some nice green bean dishes and something similar to sweet and sour. The sanitation leaves much to be desired (no refrigeration, lots of flies and limited access to water) but none of us have gotten sick...yet. 



I know I've already written a lot about the people, but we really are all very impressed with the Filipino openness, gratitude and sense of community. We're greeted by big smiles and waves everywhere we go. It doesn't matter if we have stuff to give them, if they are adults or children. They are perfectly happy with a high five, a chat in English or just a "hello."



We have agreed it will be very difficult to leave this little village. 

No comments:

Post a Comment