I have said a couple of times that my 2005 trip to South Africa ultimately led me to the Peace Corps (if only I had blogged then…were there even blogs then?). One of the people I met there was Carmelita, a co-worker of my host there. When she traveled to the U.S., he suggested that I host her, and since he had hosted me for an extended period of time, I didn’t feel I could refuse, even though I didn’t know her well. Now that I have been in the Peace Corps/expat world, I realize that this is what people do. And she turned out to be a wonderful guest and sweet person, and we are still in touch. Well, she has some relatives in the Philippines and is going to introduce me to one who works in Makati City, the next city over from mine. That’ll be nice!
And speaking of introductions – I was in New York City earlier this week and I met one of the other people who is going to the Philippines with Peace Corps Response. I had sent her a photo so she could find me, and she wrote back, “I sense a kindred spirit!” She sent her pic and I sensed it too. Her name is Mary and she was an architect and she served in Eastern Europe and she seems fun and interesting. She’ll be three hours away and I hope I see her! At least we can text.... I get the sense I won’t interact much with the regular PCVs, so we PCRVs will need each other. She’s going to visit friends during her extra time here, so she’ll no longer be flying from JFK, but it was nice to make the contact.
And I just want to go on the record as saying that I didn’t see the Times special section about the 1969 moon landing until after I made the astronaut reference (nor had I seen the Endeavour liftoff). But I had already read that Casey Kacem had broadcast his last show – countdowns will never be the same.
As I was reading Culture Shock: Philippines (so far a lot of history and a lot on family relationships and gender roles – but not a lot to write about; I think I’ll keep reading and then discuss when it relates to my actual experience), I realized that I did more to prepare for Morocco than I’d mentioned. I read a book about living abroad and one called Understanding Arabs and maybe another book or two that were recommended by my Peace Corps recruiter, and I skimmed Culture Matters, the Peace Corps workbook about cultural sensitivity (while watching the Air and Water Show…).
And I had met the woman who worked on the Casablanca-Chicago Sister Cities committee – so I looked up Sister Cities. Taguig City appears not to have any; it was incorporated only in 2004. Makati City has several other sister cities in the Philippines (is that allowed?), Los Angeles, and Ramapo, New Jersey (who knew?). Manila has four designated by Sister Cities International – Sacramento, San Francisco, Maui County, and Honolulu City and County, and also Santa Barbara, Winnipeg and Taipei!
I also wanted to note that after 27 months without baseball, I didn’t think I would be here this long, but I made it to the All-Star break! The NHL (watched a lot of hockey) and NBA (watched a little) playoffs are long over. And I saw some of the French Open and Wimbledon (though I viewed a lot of tennis in Morocco, with Abdou), golf’s U.S. Open and now the British Open. Plus, the Tour de France ends on the day I leave! I’m not spending as much time or energy on sports as I did before I left, but it’s one of the ways I mark time.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Counting Down
I told someone today that I wouldn’t really begin the countdown until I get my plane ticket, but I did hear from the recruiter that she is picking up the visas on Friday and she’ll send an email next Monday. So I don’t really have much time left before I go!
When the departure date was postponed, I thought there might be an opportunity to join the Southampton Writers Conference. I’ll detail the saga in travelsintheoffseason.blogspot.com – although I thought about posting or cross-posting it here. Both of my narratives have intersected! For here, suffice it to say I’m not going. Instead, extra time enjoying the summer here is good – more time outside (walking, biking, swimming, sitting), some exploration, a little travel, and a visitor or two. And I’m working on sweptashore.blogspot.com – who knows, maybe that will develop into something; for now; it’s rewarding in and of itself.
I started putting things in the suitcase this weekend, just to see. It’s nice putting things in the suitcase that I know won’t be coming back with me – I think that’s yet another difference between then and now. These include a yoga mat, a big fluffy towel, a sheet, and the two casual suits I rescued from storage. I haven’t finalized my toiletry selection yet, but I am planning to take big sizes of everything – once I determine what I can get there and what needs to be sent, things will be more manageable, but either way, I’ll plan to lighten the toiletry load for any post-service traveling. Toiletries are heavy!
Other things I packed because I’m not using them now: raincoat, bathrobe, sweatshirt, sarong, coverup, microfiber towel, white noise machine (I had to jettison my old, heavy one in Rabat; when I returned I got a light, dual-voltage travel one. It’s actually surf noise, not white noise. A couple of weeks ago it finally warmed up enough here for me to keep the sliding door to my room open at night, so I can hear actual surf noise! Before that I was using it here). I also packed a pair of nice sandals and my flip flops.
That’s about it so far. It won’t take long to do the rest and to tape up the boxes of things I’m leaving here. It didn’t take long to do what I did so far, either – I did it more for my emotional state than for my physical one. I also finally started Culture Shock: Philippines. I don’t remember my astronaut terminology so I hope I’m putting it right when I say that I haven’t begun the countdown, but I guess I have begun the pre-launch sequence.
When the departure date was postponed, I thought there might be an opportunity to join the Southampton Writers Conference. I’ll detail the saga in travelsintheoffseason.blogspot.com – although I thought about posting or cross-posting it here. Both of my narratives have intersected! For here, suffice it to say I’m not going. Instead, extra time enjoying the summer here is good – more time outside (walking, biking, swimming, sitting), some exploration, a little travel, and a visitor or two. And I’m working on sweptashore.blogspot.com – who knows, maybe that will develop into something; for now; it’s rewarding in and of itself.
I started putting things in the suitcase this weekend, just to see. It’s nice putting things in the suitcase that I know won’t be coming back with me – I think that’s yet another difference between then and now. These include a yoga mat, a big fluffy towel, a sheet, and the two casual suits I rescued from storage. I haven’t finalized my toiletry selection yet, but I am planning to take big sizes of everything – once I determine what I can get there and what needs to be sent, things will be more manageable, but either way, I’ll plan to lighten the toiletry load for any post-service traveling. Toiletries are heavy!
Other things I packed because I’m not using them now: raincoat, bathrobe, sweatshirt, sarong, coverup, microfiber towel, white noise machine (I had to jettison my old, heavy one in Rabat; when I returned I got a light, dual-voltage travel one. It’s actually surf noise, not white noise. A couple of weeks ago it finally warmed up enough here for me to keep the sliding door to my room open at night, so I can hear actual surf noise! Before that I was using it here). I also packed a pair of nice sandals and my flip flops.
That’s about it so far. It won’t take long to do the rest and to tape up the boxes of things I’m leaving here. It didn’t take long to do what I did so far, either – I did it more for my emotional state than for my physical one. I also finally started Culture Shock: Philippines. I don’t remember my astronaut terminology so I hope I’m putting it right when I say that I haven’t begun the countdown, but I guess I have begun the pre-launch sequence.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Then and Now
So, before I left for Morocco did I do what I am doing now to prepare? Well, yes and no. Both then and now I read everything that Peace Corps sent – country-specific Welcome Book, Handbook, paperwork. For Morocco there were also.mp3 language lessons to listen to – not the case this time. Then, I also bought a short-term subscription to Rosetta Stone French so that I could have a grounding there too – here, I bought a Tagalog phrase book, but I haven’t looked at it yet. Then, I packed for two years, not six months, and for varying weather conditions, not just 80 degrees and humid, so that was more involved. Then, I also had my entire closet from which to choose! Now, I have my summertime Morocco clothes and will supplement them with a couple of extra blouses and with two lightweight casual suits that I took from the storage unit and otherwise would have donated to charity. Then, I formalized power of attorney and other arrangements for all of my financial stuff - all of that is still in place, so there are just a few phone calls to make now – and I’ll make those after I have my plane ticket. Then, I didn't search for much other info about the country or culture because I figured I would have three months of training! And I had bought several Morocco books that I brought with me. Now, I have been searching more because I won’t have as much training, because I already had a Southeast Asia book, and because I am not going to get as many tour books – just Culture Shock and Lonely Planet. Then, I didn't write as much before I left because I had never blogged before and hadn’t gotten into the rhythm of it the way I have now. Then, moving out of the Chicago apartment I had lived in for nineteen years took a lot of energy. Now, going through the storage space this spring was liberating and not nearly as traumatic – and I haven’t accumulated a lot here that has to be put away (though there are a few boxes’ worth, somehow). Then, I had a lot of farewells – this time, I feel I’ve just said hello to people and am turning right around! This echoes a recent comment I left on travelsintheoffseason.blogspot.com – I mentioned that while the Big Trip was the key celebration of a previous milestone birthday, as it was this time, I also augmented that last one by having mini-get-togethers with friends around the country. While I did see a lot of people this time on the Drive Across America, I feel I didn’t have the same level of birthday celebration, so I want to spend more time with friends and may therefore have to extend the milestone beyond this year! I do know that then I did what I could to enjoy the summer before I left – with my departure delayed, I am getting a chance to do that now as well!
P.S. Remembered another big difference – the computer! The Morocco Welcome Book said that it’s dusty and there’s no support so they recommended against bringing a computer. I didn’t have a laptop so it wasn’t a matter of leaving it home. Well, it didn’t take me long to realize a computer was a necessity for Small Business Development (if not for all of Peace Corps in the internet age!) – by the end of PST (Pre-Service Training) I had one. Instead of dust in the Philippines there’s humidity, so the Philippines Welcome Book has warnings about bringing them as well, but there is no doubt I am bringing mine!
P.S. Remembered another big difference – the computer! The Morocco Welcome Book said that it’s dusty and there’s no support so they recommended against bringing a computer. I didn’t have a laptop so it wasn’t a matter of leaving it home. Well, it didn’t take me long to realize a computer was a necessity for Small Business Development (if not for all of Peace Corps in the internet age!) – by the end of PST (Pre-Service Training) I had one. Instead of dust in the Philippines there’s humidity, so the Philippines Welcome Book has warnings about bringing them as well, but there is no doubt I am bringing mine!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Burnham and the Philippines
My friend Helen sent me a link that ultimately led me to this, from the Newberry Library site:
Burnham in the Philippines: Plans for Manila and Baguio City
June 1, 2009 to July 15, 2009
In conjunction with the Chicago-wide celebration of the 1909 Plan of Chicago, the Newberry will draw upon its extensive collection on the history of the Philippines to create a free gallery exhibition that will place Burnham's 1904-1905 trip to the new American colony, and his plans for Manila and the new summer capital of Baguio City, in historical context. The small display will include sources in Spanish and Tagalog about the Filipino nationalist and revolutionary movements before and after the United States' 1898 war with Spain; John T. McCutcheon's illustrated reports on the Filipino-American war; contemporary debate about United States' imperialism; early American photographs of Manila and the surrounding provinces; and copies of Burnham's Plans of Manila and Baguio City, as well as photographs of how his plans were implemented in the first decades of the twentieth century.
Who knew? I couldn’t find much more about it on the internet, but I’ll keep looking. I won’t be in Chicago to see the exhibit but I urge those who are there to do so – it sounds interesting. And I’ll have to put Baguio City on my list!
And I’ve been wondering about the Peace Corps Volunteers in Honduras, with the coup there. Since I joined the Peace Corps, several countries have evacuated their PCVs. I am glad I served without incident and inshallah that will be the case this time too! I read that their new stage is spending its first three weeks in the Dominican Republic, but there hasn’t been a press release about the current volunteers. I hope all is well.
And more on the new date – my original Peace Corps departure was supposed to be July 27, 2005 – this is when I was nominated for the Caribbean. So even though the Morocco date was more or less solid once I had it, I interviewed in summer 2004, was nominated for summer 2005 and left in September 2006! As my friend Joy says, “Welcome to the development business! If you don't learn to cope with endless changes of plan, you won't survive.” July 27 was my father’s birthday – that was one of the things I liked about my original original departure date. So to arrive in the Philippines on his birthday, four years to the day (I think I do that, over the date line) will be nice!
Burnham in the Philippines: Plans for Manila and Baguio City
June 1, 2009 to July 15, 2009
In conjunction with the Chicago-wide celebration of the 1909 Plan of Chicago, the Newberry will draw upon its extensive collection on the history of the Philippines to create a free gallery exhibition that will place Burnham's 1904-1905 trip to the new American colony, and his plans for Manila and the new summer capital of Baguio City, in historical context. The small display will include sources in Spanish and Tagalog about the Filipino nationalist and revolutionary movements before and after the United States' 1898 war with Spain; John T. McCutcheon's illustrated reports on the Filipino-American war; contemporary debate about United States' imperialism; early American photographs of Manila and the surrounding provinces; and copies of Burnham's Plans of Manila and Baguio City, as well as photographs of how his plans were implemented in the first decades of the twentieth century.
Who knew? I couldn’t find much more about it on the internet, but I’ll keep looking. I won’t be in Chicago to see the exhibit but I urge those who are there to do so – it sounds interesting. And I’ll have to put Baguio City on my list!
And I’ve been wondering about the Peace Corps Volunteers in Honduras, with the coup there. Since I joined the Peace Corps, several countries have evacuated their PCVs. I am glad I served without incident and inshallah that will be the case this time too! I read that their new stage is spending its first three weeks in the Dominican Republic, but there hasn’t been a press release about the current volunteers. I hope all is well.
And more on the new date – my original Peace Corps departure was supposed to be July 27, 2005 – this is when I was nominated for the Caribbean. So even though the Morocco date was more or less solid once I had it, I interviewed in summer 2004, was nominated for summer 2005 and left in September 2006! As my friend Joy says, “Welcome to the development business! If you don't learn to cope with endless changes of plan, you won't survive.” July 27 was my father’s birthday – that was one of the things I liked about my original original departure date. So to arrive in the Philippines on his birthday, four years to the day (I think I do that, over the date line) will be nice!
Friday, July 3, 2009
More on the New Date
I will admit I had the feeling that something might happen to change the July 12 date. I didn’t get my Morocco plane ticket until a couple of days before I left, so it wasn’t that I hadn’t gotten my ticket yet. I don’t know what it was. When I saw the email I had to laugh – and then I felt a little dissonance. Maybe I should look for something else? That feeling came and went though – I still feel committed to going and I feel that Peace Corps is committed to sending me.
I think what took me aback more was my new end date – January 23. Why, though? Because I thought I was going to start something new in the new year? Because now the resume gap seems long? Because I have work to do for Princeton’s next major reunion? Because I wanted to be vacationing for the holidays and not still working? Because I want to come back to the northern hemisphere for winter? I finally realized it was because of the possibility of people (either current Morocco PCVs who will COS in November or other friends) traveling with me. But then I realized that they still can! I have vacation days. Once I identified that, I relaxed. Inshallah, again. Besides, now my new end date means I can put “2009-2010” on my resume. So then I started thinking about what I could do with my newfound extra time.
For example, it's about time for a haircut. Should I get one before I go or leave it be, since I'm about to have Peace Corps hair anyway? Now that I have more time, I should probably get one. I haven’t started Culture Shock: Philippines yet; was waiting until my departure got closer. Maybe I will start it now. But more, now I might be able to visit some friends or do more volunteering or attend a conference that looks interesting. So far, I am just exploring options…and I’m going away for the weekend (a getaway from the getaway!), so I’ll put further thinking aside for a few days.
I think what took me aback more was my new end date – January 23. Why, though? Because I thought I was going to start something new in the new year? Because now the resume gap seems long? Because I have work to do for Princeton’s next major reunion? Because I wanted to be vacationing for the holidays and not still working? Because I want to come back to the northern hemisphere for winter? I finally realized it was because of the possibility of people (either current Morocco PCVs who will COS in November or other friends) traveling with me. But then I realized that they still can! I have vacation days. Once I identified that, I relaxed. Inshallah, again. Besides, now my new end date means I can put “2009-2010” on my resume. So then I started thinking about what I could do with my newfound extra time.
For example, it's about time for a haircut. Should I get one before I go or leave it be, since I'm about to have Peace Corps hair anyway? Now that I have more time, I should probably get one. I haven’t started Culture Shock: Philippines yet; was waiting until my departure got closer. Maybe I will start it now. But more, now I might be able to visit some friends or do more volunteering or attend a conference that looks interesting. So far, I am just exploring options…and I’m going away for the weekend (a getaway from the getaway!), so I’ll put further thinking aside for a few days.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
New New Departure Date July 26
In Morocco, the phrase was “inshallah” – God willing. Nothing is ever definite. I’ll see you tomorrow – inshallah. You just don’t know! Sometimes, inshallah is used when you don’t want to say a direct no but it’s something you don’t want to do – I’ll have tea with you next week, inshallah. But even if you want to go, have every intention of going, plan to go, think it’s definite – it may not happen.
I still find myself saying it (or, more often, thinking it). It’s true – you just don’t know. So when I told people my departure date was July 12, I always added a mental “inshallah.” I’ve done a lot to get ready, but there are things I am holding off on until I have a plane ticket – actual packing, calling the insurance, bank, credit card and cell phone companies, mailing my change-of-address postcards, buying travel books for a post-service trip (actually, that last one was kind of waiting for the packing, but now I am in the mood to get some books anyway).
So I can’t say I was surprised to get the email yesterday with the new departure date of July 26. But I still had to process it – there’s an element of Charlie Brown with the football. I get ready to kick it, and Lucy keeps taking it away. Here’s what the PCRV coordinator in the Philippines sent to the recruiter:
“We clearly understand the dilemma you are in, hoping for earlier visa cable receipts and PCRV departures to avoid possible PCRV pull-out from the assignment-position, which we hope will not happen. Much as we would like to have the PCRVs arrive earlier or as you have proposed, the period of processing security clearance at the National Intelligence Agency (NICA) and the Visa application with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is no longer within our control. We are left to only constantly coordinate with the Phil. Nat'l. Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) to somehow fast track these rigid processes. We hope for the best and shall keep you updated on the progress. Thanks much...”
The recruiter sent to six of us – does that mean one person already dropped out? She also sent us each other’s contact info, and I wrote a quick hello to everyone. One of the New Yorkers proposed a get-together – we’ll see if we can make that happen (inshallah). Otherwise, we’ll see each other soon enough (inshallah!).
I still find myself saying it (or, more often, thinking it). It’s true – you just don’t know. So when I told people my departure date was July 12, I always added a mental “inshallah.” I’ve done a lot to get ready, but there are things I am holding off on until I have a plane ticket – actual packing, calling the insurance, bank, credit card and cell phone companies, mailing my change-of-address postcards, buying travel books for a post-service trip (actually, that last one was kind of waiting for the packing, but now I am in the mood to get some books anyway).
So I can’t say I was surprised to get the email yesterday with the new departure date of July 26. But I still had to process it – there’s an element of Charlie Brown with the football. I get ready to kick it, and Lucy keeps taking it away. Here’s what the PCRV coordinator in the Philippines sent to the recruiter:
“We clearly understand the dilemma you are in, hoping for earlier visa cable receipts and PCRV departures to avoid possible PCRV pull-out from the assignment-position, which we hope will not happen. Much as we would like to have the PCRVs arrive earlier or as you have proposed, the period of processing security clearance at the National Intelligence Agency (NICA) and the Visa application with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is no longer within our control. We are left to only constantly coordinate with the Phil. Nat'l. Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) to somehow fast track these rigid processes. We hope for the best and shall keep you updated on the progress. Thanks much...”
The recruiter sent to six of us – does that mean one person already dropped out? She also sent us each other’s contact info, and I wrote a quick hello to everyone. One of the New Yorkers proposed a get-together – we’ll see if we can make that happen (inshallah). Otherwise, we’ll see each other soon enough (inshallah!).
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Well, I thought about it when I wrote about UNESCO World Heritage sites in travelsintheoffseason.blogspot.com, and then I mentioned it a couple of posts ago, so here is the list of World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. The state- and ballpark-visitor in me wants to see all of them, but we’ll see. More if and when I do, of course, but for now, just the list, with some explanation excerpted from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre web site:
Baroque Churches of the Philippines – one of these is in Manila, the other three elsewhere (I need to learn my Philippine geography!) - their unique architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine craftsmen. There are five more Baroque churches on the tentative list (along with more than 25 other places – those I won’t list unless I visit, but they include marine, mountain, archeological, other churches and colonial sites, and mummy burial caves!).
Historic Town of Vigan - Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia. This is on the same island as Manila, so it’s within reach.
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park - This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. Not especially near where I will be but this sounds interesting (I just can’t go in the fresh water!).
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras - The Ifugao Rice Terraces are the priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity. Built 2000 years ago, reaching a higher altitude and being built on steeper slopes than many other terraces, the Ifugao complex of stone or mud walls and the careful carving of the natural contours of hills and mountains to make terraced pond fields, coupled with the development of intricate irrigation systems, harvesting water from the forests of the mountain tops, and an elaborate farming system, reflect a mastery of engineering that is appreciated to the present [sic]. Also on the same island as Manila; I loved seeing the rice terraces in Indonesia so I think I would like this too!
Tubbataha Reef Marine Park - It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species, with a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. An excellent example of a pristine coral reef. This one I may not be able to get to, unless I take up diving – and right now I feel more inclined to pursue a yoga class.
Baroque Churches of the Philippines – one of these is in Manila, the other three elsewhere (I need to learn my Philippine geography!) - their unique architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine craftsmen. There are five more Baroque churches on the tentative list (along with more than 25 other places – those I won’t list unless I visit, but they include marine, mountain, archeological, other churches and colonial sites, and mummy burial caves!).
Historic Town of Vigan - Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia. This is on the same island as Manila, so it’s within reach.
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park - This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. Not especially near where I will be but this sounds interesting (I just can’t go in the fresh water!).
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras - The Ifugao Rice Terraces are the priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity. Built 2000 years ago, reaching a higher altitude and being built on steeper slopes than many other terraces, the Ifugao complex of stone or mud walls and the careful carving of the natural contours of hills and mountains to make terraced pond fields, coupled with the development of intricate irrigation systems, harvesting water from the forests of the mountain tops, and an elaborate farming system, reflect a mastery of engineering that is appreciated to the present [sic]. Also on the same island as Manila; I loved seeing the rice terraces in Indonesia so I think I would like this too!
Tubbataha Reef Marine Park - It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species, with a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. An excellent example of a pristine coral reef. This one I may not be able to get to, unless I take up diving – and right now I feel more inclined to pursue a yoga class.
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