Kids in the GK sites love getting their pictures taken...Wow, I've done too much to tell really. I have to say it's been an awesome past few weeks. Of course filled with ups and downs, but mostly ups...
This is a GK site. These people used to be living in shanty towns, but now they have a decent infrastructure and nice houses.So I finally have direction with my job. It's been a long time coming. A month of orienting myself, but I really think I can contribute a lot to the organization before I leave. The other interns and myself will be working on updating all of the information on all the sites at GK to better orient ourselves on the current status of different villages and to help future AIESEC interns get an idea of what they want/can do earlier than 1 month... like me (woops). But, unlike the others, I'm here for much longer. Most are here for 2 months. Mark, a new Dutch intern will be here with me for 3 though. Both of us will be able to really get things finished and organized. Then I'll be working on livelihood programs and programs for future AIESEC interns and what they can do for GK. We'll also be making recommendations for structural changes to the organization... Yeah, pretty intense stuff. I'm excited to get it really going.
The Philippines has been really good to me lately. Since the last post I've definitely lifted my spirits up. What helps me deal with the situation of the people is how well the people here can deal with it. I'm pretty inspired that people with so little can give so much. They always try to feed you and accommodate you. They're really just so hospitable. And they can be happy even though they have so little... They emphasize community and relationships over material wealth, which hinders them economically, but helps them in regard to happiness. Hell, they're a lot happier than most Canadians, I think. I'm really not sure what it is - maybe they've accepted the fact that they can't aspire to much higher? I don't know. Mind you, this is definitely not all Filipinos. But this is the general attitude of the very poor here - they just want a better life for their families. They want their kids to go to school (sometimes they can't afford it past elementary, or sometimes even elementary...), they maybe want a small business, and they want decent infrastructure.. things that we take for granted, such as adequate water supply, drainage, electricity, roads... I always think that both Westerners and Filipinos could learn a lot from each other. We need to learn to relax a little, and they need to learn to put more emphasis on economics.. but not quite so much as us of course or else they'll be just as unhappy. Oh, and efficiency... wow, line-ups are hilarious. Back home, with four people in front of you it'd take MAYBE 5 minutes.... here... hopefully less than 20. It takes a while to get used to. But, they're not in such a rush like we are back home. They don't drink coffee that much, they don't care if they're late. It's just a different culture... Very laid back.
What is that? This is called, balut (not sure about the spelling). It's a Filipino delicacy - a duck embryo. How do you eat it? Well, you crack the egg - which has been pre-heated to ensure it's not alive - and you drink the amniotic fluid (aka "the soup"), then you eat the half formed duck. Sometimes there's bones, sometimes there's feathers.... yummy!! I ate mine when I got to Manila. It's.. well... not very good. It's probably the thought of what you're eating that's the worst part. Oh, and the smell... But the fluid doesn't taste like anything I know, and the duck tastes like liver.... Lami!! (delicious)
Just doing a little bit of tree-planting at a GK site. It's to prevent the soil erosion and landslides that happen at this particular location.
Here's a collapsed house likely from soil erosion. It's one of a bunch of houses all along the side of the highway. They're actually on a cliff face and they stay up with little stilts... this one didn't do so well.
This is the livelihood of one of the GK beneficiaries. He makes little houses inside bottles. It's actually very cool. I thought there was some sort of trick where the bottle is cut in half or something then melted together or the bottom. But no, he actually assembles houses inside the bottle with a stick! So cool.
Yes, I have started scuba diving! It's absolutely incredible. The ocean is such a calm, tranquil place. It's so relaxing to be down there... Anyways, here's me and my dive instructor, Dyck. He's pretty funny and if you want to see me laugh just ask me about Dyck and the dolphin kick...Too much to say, and this is all the time I got...
