Planes, Trains, and Automobiles---Spring Break 2007

Last week was March Break for Faith Academy. I always refer to it as Spring Break, but that's not right since we have no Spring and the summer is beginning. During the break, we took a trip with 2 other families to the Island of Boracay, about halfway down the chain of islands of the Philippines. This blog should actually be called Planes, Trikes, Boats, and Automobiles because those are the modes of transportation we took to reach our destination. After driving to the domestic airport we had a 35 minute flight from Manila to Kalibo on the island of Panay. We then hired a van to drive us 1 1/2 hours to the Jetty port in Caticlan. This was a gorgeous drive along the rural coastline of Panay. The most common comment was--"Why do so many people move to Manila? This is beautiful!" The scenery was everything you would expect an island in the tropics to look like. After reaching Caticlan, we took a banka, which is a type of boat over to the small island of Boracay. Once there it was a short Jeepney ride to near our hotel. The roads in Boracay don't go all the way down to the beaches or the resorts. The road ends about 200-300 yards before the beach. This being the Philippines, we had porters to take care of our luggage as we walked down the path to the beach and then along the beachfront path to our hotel.

The lack of roads makes you feel like you are truly in a tropical paradise. The beach is wonderful, filled with Coconut trees that provide shade during the morning and crystal clear water. The evenings were my favorite time though. We faced west and every night about 5:30 we would all gather to watch the sunset over the ocean. Truly spectacular! It was a great week filled with swimming, snorkling, sailing, sand castles, and soccer. Our friend Matt likes to use the phrase-"only Millionaires and Missionaries get to visit exotic destinations like this." Great thing is we didn't need to be millionaires to afford to go here. If you want to see more pictures of our trip you can check them out on our web page at: http://philippinemission.com/boracay.html

Emily and Megan enjoy the cool water

Emily and Allan Snorkling

Sailing at Sunset

Cost:$12

Emily took this sunset picture!

Help

If we have veternarians among our readers, I would greatly appreciate the chance to consult with you about our dog. Email me using:
http://philippinemission.com/contactus.html

Scooterin'

Here are a few pics of the family that I took on Saturday. The kids were on their scooters in front of our house. We have a nice hill there and they enjoyed trying to make skid marks. Maggie also got into the action. She liked racing the kids up and down the street---she won!

Peace, baby

Will checks out his skid mark

Run Maggie run

"Look what I found!"Sitting in front of our house

Tennis anyone?

There are some definite advantages to living overseas. One of them is that certain things are cheaper here. Sports and music lessons fall into this category. Emily decided last fall that she wanted to learn how to play tennis. So for Christmas my parents gave her a tennis racket and some tennis lessons. We have a friend (and em's PE teacher) who knew a great coach and so in February after outdoor ed, Emily began tennis lessons. Em's friend (and our former neighbor) Megan also wanted to learn how to play. Since lessons are an hour, we were told it was good to have a buddy or it would be exhausting. Now 2 afternoons a week Emily and Megan go to the covered courts in a neighborhood near the school for lessons. We chose these courts for 2 reasons, we didn't have to wait until the tennis team at school is finished at 4, it's cooler and no sun burn!

Their coach, Jhun, is a former Philippine National Tennis Champ who won his first title at age 14. He is now about 70, but don't let his age fool you--he's active and tough. He's a great teacher and is really working with them to get their form perfect. He also is a great encourager, although Em will tell you he wants things perfect. We keep telling her that's good because she won't to have to correct things later. She loves tennis and is getting good. We are almost to the end of the grandparents lessons, but will probably continue on. Where else can you learn to play tennis for $7 an hour (and that's for 2 so we only pay $3.50)

The pictures in this blog were all taken on Tuesday of this week. The girls were learning how to serve--a much anticipated event. By the end of class Thursday, Em served 6 out of 10 balls correctly- meaning they were legal serves. She was so proud of herself! Wimbledon here we come!

A picture of the inside court

Service with a Smile

Each year America moves toward more and more self service. When we left the states I was not only bagging my own groceries, but scanning them and checking myself out too. At fast food restaurants, I fixed the drinks and ketchup for our family. As for the gas station, well I have never had my gas pumped by someone that wasn't also riding in the car. Things work a little differently here. It is like stepping back to a different era. The era of customer service, bag boys, and gas station attendants. Not just the grocery store has bag boys. Almost every store has someone to carry out your packages. We have had young men carry things from the hardware store at the mall to our car parked down the street in a parking garage. Not only is there help to carry things, but purchases have to be bagged and wrapped just right. Boxes, large items and packages, including pizza boxes, are tied with ribbons (red seems to be the most common color) for easy carrying before you leave the store. As for the gas station, I have never even touched the gas cap on our car or a gas pump here. Never even gotten out of the car at the gas station. The windows are even washed and squeegeed clean.

Yesterday when I went to the grocery store, there was a employee there to help put my groceries up on the conveyor belt. I then was expected to sit on a stool while my groceries were being rung up and bagged. This can sometimes be an awkward moment if I don't want to sit. I am never sure if it is ok just to stand. Sometimes they will keep telling me to "sit down ma'm" until I do. It is one of those cultural moments where I don't want to be offensive by standing. Do I really look that tired from grocery shopping?

Usually, after paying, a bag boy takes our groceries to the car. This service costs me a tip of about 10-20 cents. Yesterday, the store was very crowded so I told the bag boy I would take them out myself. I do this sometimes just to touch base with my past life and feel a little normal. Typical though, as I left the building, the sercurity guard guided the buggy down the inclined entry way. He then proceeded to help me to my car and unload the buggy. This, by the way, is not his job. If it is raining, the security guards carry an umbrella for those who got caught in the store with out one.

The Filipino people love to help. They are generally very friendly and patient. I am not sure that I have ever had an employee, walking in to start their shift at Walmart, ask to take my buggy for me? It just rarely happens there, but it often happens here. Even the guy who hails the trikes for those without cars, will come out to meet you and take your cart as you push it back across the parking lot.

What are you thinking?

A few months back a friend sent us the above video. Allan and I find it hysterical. It is very indicative of some of our communication here, not only in Tagalog but often in English as well. Allan always feels a little sheepish when asking Ling to translate a word, only to find out it was an English one.

In the above case, Germans often replace the "th" sound with an "s" sound. In a similar way, in Tagalog v and b are interchangeable. One example-- Allan sees many patients with "TV". Also there are many American movies on "DBD" here. Just outside Valley Golf where the kids school is located is a restaurant called the "Balley Gulp Restaurant and Bar". On the way to school, I pass a subdivision called the "Igorot Bilig" It took me forever to catch on to the fact that "Bilig" is actually Village.

Just in case you think I am not aware of Americans mispronunciations, I am quite aware that a Frenchman would cringe to hear Atlantans talk about driving on Ponce De Leon Ave. If you aren't familiar with the Atlanta area just try dragging it out with a Southern accent and you'll see what I mean. And we won't even touch Al's and my mistakes with Tagalog. We've mentioned those before.

How did that happen?

Since my parents came and we took so many great pictures, I try to keep the camera with me in my purse for interesting pictures. Last Sunday while driving home from church, we came upon the following scene at the top of the hill about 200 yards before the turn to our street. You have to wonder what happened.

In case you are wondering what type of truck this is, it is a water truck. It delivers water to homes and squatter areas. In previous posts I have talked about water tanks on our roof. When we were without water for so long last fall, this type of truck came to fill up our tanks when they ran dry. In the squatter areas, sometimes people build or dig wells to fill with water.

***After posting the above blog, one of our faithful readers sent us the following email. It was too good not to share:

"I loved the photo of the water truck this AM.
I could not resist a few puns.

Perhaps the driver was “tipsy”?
Maybe he was “sloshed”?
Maybe he was “barreling” down the road?
I think he was “tanked up” on something.
Maybe he was “rolling” in the profits from his water business?
I know this accident will cause a “flood” of concerns about safety.

Sorry…….my cup runneth over with puns.

Rob"

Thanks Rob- you made me laugh!

Kung Hei Fat Choi

Today was a day of celebrations for us in the Philippines. First and formost, it is Allan's birthday! After church we had lunch at a local Italian retaurant, Italiannis. Instead of a cake, Allan wanted Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The kids were all for that so we stopped by and picked some up after lunch.

The crowds were out and about today, but it wasn't in celebration of Big Al's birth. Today also happens to be Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the Pig or Boar. Supposedly a lucky year in the Chinese tradition. Chinese New Year is celebrated throughout most Asian countries, but particularly in the Philippines because of the large Chinese population. Just after Christmas decorations came down, the red New Year's decorations were displayed throughout the malls and most stores. Tables filled with Buddas, lots of red fans and papers with chinese sayings and gold good luck charms have been for sale. As well as paper laterns to scare away evil spirits.

In the Philippines, this day is celebrated by lion and dragon dancing, giving of ang pao (red packets of money), and eating misua (wheat noodles) by the Chinese community. But every grocery store, market and street corner stall sells tikoy, a kind of rice cake that is a traditional fare of the celebration eaten or given as gifts by many Filipinos.

The lion dance is used as a symbolic ritual to usher in the New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Today at Mega-mall, there were 3 two person lions performing and traveling througout the mall as well as one really long dragon. The kids were quite excited and thrilled by them.

In case, like us, you are unfamiliar with Chinese New Year, below are a few facts and tradtions you might find interesting. Also all these pictures were taken (not by us) at last year's New Years celebration in Manila's Chinatown.

"According to legend, in ancient China, the nian, a man-eating beast from the mountains, could silently infiltrate houses to prey on humans. The people later learned that the nian was sensitive to loud noises and the color red, so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of the color red. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations. Guò nián, which means to celebrate the new year, literally means the passing of the nian beast." (Wikipedia)

China follows the lunar calendar, therefore Chinese New Year starts on the first day of the new year containing a new moon. So it is on a different day of our calendar every year. Traditionally, it is a 14 day celebration depending on the country, but throughout most of Asia it has been reduced to a 3 day celebration. There are many superstitions and traditions to follow in order to bring good luck to your family. I have listed them below. In case you need to know, poor Will is going to have bead luck this year because I cut his hair today. Good thing we believe in providence and grace.

Good Luck

• Opening windows and/or doors is considered to 'bring in' the good luck of the new year.


• Switching on the lights for the night is considered good luck to 'scare away' ghosts and spirits of misfortune that may compromise the luck and fortune of the new year.


• Candy is eaten to ensure the consumer a "sweet" year. (do doughnuts count?)

Bad Luck

• Buying a pair of shoes is considered bad luck. The word "shoes" is a homophone for the word for "rough" in Cantonese.


• Buying a pair of pants is considered bad luck. The word "pants" is a homophone for the word for "bitter" in Cantonese. (Although some perceive it to be positive as the word 'pants' in Cantonese could be a homophone for the word for "wealth".)


• A hair-cut is considered bad luck. The word "hair" is a homophone for the word for "prosperity". Thus "cutting hair" could be perceived as "cutting away your prosperity" in Cantonese.


• Sweeping the floor is considered bad luck, as it will sweep away the good fortune and luck for the new year; in the same way that having a bath will wash away the good fortune.


• Talking about death is inappropriate for the first few days of Chinese New Year, as it is considered inauspicious as well.


• Buying books is bad luck because the word for "book" is a homonym to the word "lose".

Each day in the New year celebration has it's own activities and traditions. The second day of the Chinese New Year is for married daughters to visit their birth parents. So Mom and Dad, I'll be there to see you tomorrow! (oh, if only)

Rat Update

For those of you interested in the on going war against rats, the campaign has been somewhat of a success. If you read about the trap that escaped below, you will be happy to know that one of our neighbors found and returned the trap. Allan killed about 5 rats in total inside the house. He found the point of entry and has since closed it off. We keep thinking their is one living behind the stove in the kitchen, but after a week of trying to trap him we no longer see any evidence of him. "Could this be the end of the rats? Tune in next time. Same rat time, same rat channel."

Filipiniana Week Part 2

After Tuesday's successful field trip, the elementary kids left the school campus again on Wednesday to participate in some ministry projects around our area of Manila. Each grade had a different project, but all ended their day by cleaning up trash on the roads leading up to school. The 4th grade planned a beautification project, which consisted of planting trees and landscaping. Will says he personally dug holes and planted 2 trees. I was not in attendance so I am not really sure how big these trees were or if he had help in digging the holes. I guess we will have to go check them out next week.

The week ended today with the annual Elementary Fiesta. Filipinos love to have Fiestas and of course that means lots of traditional food. I was in charge of serving food to 4th and 5th graders, the Faith Academy Filipino staff, and the school van drivers. I served bibinka which is a sticky rice dessert, hot roasted peanuts, and a cruncy corn snack. (just in case you are confused, I didn't make any of this, I only served it.) We also had typical street vendors with Popcorn and ice cream cones. The ice cream flavors this year were chocolate, mango, and ube--a purple root crop.

No Fiesta is complete with out tinikling, the traditional national folk dance of the Phillipines. Tinikling is very similar to jump rope, but instead of a rope, two bamboo poles are used. The poles are held by two people, one pole in each hand. They hit the poles on the floor and then hit the poles together. The person in the middle hops in between, outside, and over the poles as they move together and apart. The cadence of this tends to get faster as you go along. Needless to say some of the kids are much more skilled than others. Here are a couple pictures I took of Will's class dancing the tinikling, followed by a video of some professionals we taped at a cultural show. Keep watching past the first 30 seconds if you want to see some fast footwork! You can really hear the Spanish influence in the Philippines in the traditional tinikling music.

Will taking his turn

Filipiniana week

This week the elementary school is celebrating Filipiniana Week. It is a week to celebrate and embrace the Filipino people, culture and country. The kids learn to do traditional dances, eat traditional food, and learn about customs celebrated not just on the island of Luzon, but throughout the Philippines.

On Tuesday, the entire Elementary school took a field trip to a nearby town called Marikina. Marikina is known as the shoe district. (for more info check out an earlier blog at http://thegilmers.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_archive.html and scroll down to the second entry called "Happy Anniversary") The students got to visit a shoe factory and see shoes being made. Will didn't think this was very interesting though. So if you have kids interested in the shoe industry keep in mind that Will doesn't see much glamour in it.

After the shoe factory, the school went to the Avilon zoo in Marikina. This is a rather new zoo here in the PI and supposedly one of the best. Will would agree with that statement. He saw lions, and tigers, and bears...oh my. He also saw lots of birds, ducks, alligators, leopards, reptiles, lizards, and bats. The only animal he found lacking was an elephant.

The thing that has impressed him the most though, was the 7 foot long fish. For 30 pesos, you could feed chicken heads to these giant fish. For a 10 year old boy this is quite impressive. Hey, for a 30 something year old mom it would be quite impressive. We have heard lots from Will about these fish. I think we will have to take a trip back for the whole family to see.

On a funny note, one of the animals Will saw caged at the zoo was squirrels. I guess it is like seeing Baboons at the Columbia zoo in South Carolina. When we were in Africa, baboons ran around everywhere like stray dogs, being a nuisance and a pest. But there they are, on display at zoos across America. Squirrels must fall into the same category. My parents spend lots of time and energy trying to keep squirrels out of their yard and bird feeders. I guess, they can start capturing them and sending them to zoos around the world.

Outdoor Ed

Last week while I was in Thailand, Allan and Will were home alone. Emily was off on a trip with the Middle school called Outdoor Ed. Outdoor Ed gives students a chance to take a week off from classes and learn about the country in which we live. Every February, Faith Academy along with 3 other small missionary schools on other islands and homeschooled MKs take a week long trip to one of three different locations: 1.Taal Volcano in Tagaytay with an emphasis on Science 2. Subic Jungle and JEST survival camp with an emphasis on survival skills, and 3. Corregidor Island, a historical South East Asian battle site from World War II and the Bataan Peninsula, from the famous Bataan death march of WWII. Of course this trip's emphasis is history.

This year the trip was to Corregidor and Bataan. Just before Christmas, the middle school was divided into squads. For weeks they have met together to learn and prepare for this trip. Emily was on a squad of 8 6th grade girls, led by her band teacher, Mrs. Johnson. The girls all seemed to bond well and had a great, as well as a cold time. Temps in the PI last 2 weeks were really cool dropping down into the high 60's each night with a stiff breeze. You know it is cold here when the guards at the gate into school have on jackets, stocking hats and gloves each morning (I know for those of you suffering through record snows and lows in the US this is like late spring temps, but this is the Philippines and after 20 months of continuous summer we did feel a little cold.) The kids broke into divisions of squads and traveled around to 3 different sights each night. They slept out under the stars on the island of Corregidor and on the beach at Bataan. One of those nights it began raining and they had to gather their stuff in the middle of the night and sleep in a little open air hut called a Bahay Kubo.

Emily loved Corregidor and exploring old tunnels and ruins from the fort. Her favorite (or at least most impressionable) part of Corregidor was a long hike through a series of dark tunnels where they saw a skeleton. Em says he still had on his dog tags, but she didn't want to get close enough to find out what country he was from. For an 11 year old girl, a real skeleton is a little scary. I think even the 8th grade boys with them were a little uncomfortable.

Emily's favorite part of the whole week was the ministry project they did near a fishing community on the beach near Bataan. Her division passed out shells and gospel tracks in Tagalog among the kids and fishermen living in the village. Em's squad had spent a good bit of time practicing how to say different things in Tagalog. She also had 2 Filipina girls in her squad which helped with communication. Emily, who has never met a stranger, was truly in her element. She met 2 girls about her age that spoke some English and she loved talking to them. Their father takes a boat out to deep water and collects large shells which he then puts a glaze on a sells to tourists. The girls responded to Em's gift with a gift of their own. They gave her a beautiful shell their father had collected. It is quite a prized possession and on prominent display in her room. Emily returned home Friday exhausted, but she had a great time and can't wait to go again next year.

One of the Perks of being a Missionary

There are times when living on the other side of the world is hard and difficult and emotionally draining. There are days when we want to throw in the towel and head home. There are also times when we are inspired and awed by what we see God doing in and through us here and by the people we meet and know. There are also little perks that come with living overseas. One of those perks is the places we get to visit and see. Last week was one of those little perks.

I spent the week in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Northern Thailand is gorgeous with its lush greenery and mountains. Although the day time temps are similar to the Philippines, the evenings and mornings were crisp and cold (low 50s) and it was nice to need long pants and a jacket once again. I was there working with kids at a family education conference for homeschoolers. Having loved homeschooling in the past, I have a passion for homeschooling and those who do it, especially those living in remote areas of Asia. I got to know 16 of the greatest 9 year olds. They were such a great group of kids. I also got to know lots of wonderful people working throughout Asia. It was a busy week, but a wonderful experience.

Besides the conference, I had a day to do a little sight seeing in Chiang Mai. 2 friends from Manila and I took a tour of some of the handicraft workshops. We saw silversmiths, silk production, jade carvings, and other native carfts. It was quite interesting.

Spinning silk from silk worms into thread

weaving silk

Silver Smith

Carving Jade

Visiting the handicrafters wasn't the best part of that day though. After spending some time on this tour, we drove 30 minutes or so out to a rural area to visit an elephant farm. Here I got to spend some time up close and personal with elephants.

We began by feeding the elephants bananas and sugar cane.

We then watched them get a bath in the river

This was followed by a performance put on by the elephants

We got to meet one of the baby elephants

and finally a ride on an elephant

I felt a little bit like an African--or actually in this case an Asia Queen as I was perched on my elephant throne. I had a trainer seated just behind the elephants ears who giuded us on a 45 minute ride through the moutains of Thailand. It was so beautiful, but at times a little scary. When we began our climb I felt uneasy being tipped backwards, but that was nothing compared to the desent down the steep path. I had to use some stong muscles to keep from sliding out. It was quite the work out. I was a little scared at times. Maggie, one of my companions actually lost her purse. It slipped right out. The elephant picked it up for her though. Unfortunately it had fallen into elephant dung--yuck! Elephant dung smells quite stinky! My elephant was named Bowang Thot and she was 37 years old--just like me. She was such a cutie!

On our ride we saw the baby nursery, the elephant feeding area and the elephant showers. Also the elephant houses. These elephants have the freedom to walk around through out the farm. They aren't in cages or even pens. It was a great day, but I was sure tired afterward.

If you ever get a chance to visit Thailand I highly recommend it, especially the elephants. Chiang Mai is beautiful and the people are nice and friendly. My only disappointment in the week was that Will wasn't there to share the elephants with me. He has loved elephants since he was a tiny little boy. He would have had a blast. Maybe one day he can join me.

Happy 10th Birthday Will!

On January 17th our baby turned 10! We no longer have any kids in the single digits. To celebrate Will invited a couple of his fellow Star Wars crazed friends over to spend the night. They spent the afternoon having squirt gun fights and light saber duals in the back yard.

It was a great time.

Dueling in the backyard!

Will builds Lego Boba Fett's Slave 1


Just as a bonus: Here's our Maggie this week at 5 months old.
We've been having a "cold" snap and she has enjoyed curling up in Will's bean bag chair

Our friend, Larry came to visit us last week from the US
and brought Allan and Scott each a high quality Rat Trap
to try and help tackle our recurring rat infestation .

Here are the great hunters the morning after their first try.
Allan caught this one in our office--Yuck!
So far they have caught 2 or 3, but only one inside the house.

****Addendum to rat info: Last night after posting this blog and going to bed, I was awakened by a strange noise outside our window. I went to the window thinking someone might be in our yard. It wasn't a someone, but a something. A cat was absconding with a rat caught in Scott's trap. When I spotted him he was trying to get through the gate. Allan and I jumped up and ran downstairs after him. Unfortunately he got under the gate before we could arrive. Allan tried to chase him down but there was no sight of cat, rat, nor trap.
I hate to lose such a valuable tool in our war on rats.
Isn't this how you always envisioned the exciting life of missionaries?

We're still here!

Some of you were probably thinking that I must have had my hands stitched as well as my foot, since it has been so long since our last blog. Actually, we have just begun the year with a bang along with internet trouble. This trouble stems beyond the borders of the Philippines though. In late December, there was a massive earthquake off the coast of Taiwan. This earthquake damaged two undersea cables. These lines route calls and process Internet traffic for several Asian countries, including the Philippines. Our connections to the rest of the world have had to be re-routed and has led to very slow connections. One of the problems I have had is connecting with this blogger site. So the silence from here is not all my fault.

Besides the slow internet, life has been busy with travel, friends, visitors, school programs, Will's talent night debut, and teaching. We spent the first week of 2007 at a conference for another mission agency. This is our second year to attend. Last year, I was in charge of the elementary kids program and Allan did some medical consulting on the side. This year we returned in strictly a medical capacity. Allan was available for answering medical questions, looking at medical problems and even stitching up a leg torn open in a tough volleyball match. He also taught some medical classes. This group of missionaries lives on the edge of missions. They serve in remote unreached tribal areas of the Philippines, many only accessible by hiking in. Because of this, they often become the medical expert in the tribe as people show up with all manner of problems. Allan taught some classes to help them to be better able to handle some of the things they see, and they see it all. We have gotten many texts, calls, and emails in the last year asking things like... a man showed up today with an arm that was severed 7 days ago, what should I do? Unfortuately some of those are things Allan didn't really learn in med school. What American waits 7 days with an arm half off before going to the doctor? Allan gives great advice though and we enjoy our contact with those living on the missions frontier. We hope to go and visit and work with some of them in the tribe during the next year.

We returned home to welcome back our ministry partners- the Nelsens. It has been good to have them back! Shortly after their arrival, we had 2 other visitors- Steven, who is the son of the doctor we replaced along with a girl from a small town near Greenwood. She is here to help out in the clinic and at a nearby birthing home until March. Steven graduated early so he could spend the final semester of high school with his graduating class.

I have also spent the last few weeks teaching 7th grade English. I filled in until their new teacher arrived from the states and got settled in. While I loved getting back in the classroom, teaching, and "my" students, I decided I really don't like teaching English. I loved the literature part of it, but not reading and grading all the short stories I had them write.

Monday, life will return somewhat back to normal again, but just for a week. Then I am off to Thailand to work in the children's program at a homeschool conference. Hopefully I will get a few pictures of what we have been up to and some more info on the blog before I leave.