February 20, 2007
Talking to the receptionist at the pediatrician's office yesterday she said, "It seems in United States people are always racing against time. Here we do not."
That is one of many things I am really enjoying about the Philippines; everything moves at a slower pace. People take more time to talk with each other. I have enjoyed having coffee with friends on a once or twice weekly basis, the helpfulness of merchants, not feeling rushed.
I guess I'm learning to step off the race track and stop racing against time!!!!
February 20, 2007
Our children seem to be doing well here...enjoying school, friends, packages sent to them!!!!...
Mikayla recently went on a week long field trip with the Middle School to Corrigador. I will have her blog soon about her experiences but she sure did enjoy it!
Mikayla sailing Davao Bay
Mikayla with friend on Corrigador trip
At the mall on a rainy day
Kirsten is playing soccer, enjoying school, the beach, and being creative in art and play.
Stacking animals
Kirsten enjoying her boa
Helping each other off the boat
Benjamin's stomach issues still trouble him but not as frequently as they had been. He is able to play soccer and enjoy play time with friends and family.
Playing with a friend at the mall on a rainy day
Capitan Ben
Playing with Mom
Continue to keep them in your prayers! I am thankful for God's grace in their lives as they make this major transition to the Philippines.
February 16, 2007
We have finally located a house to rent. The house is located about a 5 minute walk from the office where I am working and the school that the kids are attending. The house is situated on a double lot so there is some yard for the kids to play in. There are three bedrooms upstairs and another downstairs. There is plenty of space of visitors (that is a hint for our relatives and friends).
We will be moving in around April 1 so we have a little bit to wait yet. In the meantime, we have started to purchase some bigger ticket items for the house like a fridge, washer, desks, beds, etc. Most of what we have purchased so far we bought from another couple who are leaving to go back to the States so they had to sell everything in their whole house. That saved us a lot of time going store to store. Fortunately, the office where I work has an bodega (storage shed) which has enough room for us to store everything until we move in.
February 13, 2007
Valentine's Day is the second biggest holiday in the Philippines. Some schools even cancel classes for the day. Schools that are open have valentine programs and parties all day!
(The school our girls go to is just having a normal day!!!)
February 7, 2007
In this environment, all 'puti' (white skinned people) are viewed as 'dato' (rich).
Many times while shopping I have sales clerks take me to the higher priced items in the store only to look at me in disbelief if I walk away and don't buy the expensive item! Most recently I was looking for a gift for Ben to take to a birthday party. The sales clerk in the toy department kept pointing out the higher end remote control cars as an option. (In US dollars they would've been $40 - $80). I told him, "no, I can't afford that" a couple times. The look on his face was one of incredulousness - as if I was the biggest lier of all times!
Another time, while checking out at a grocery store, after the sales clerk rang up my order, the filipino lady standing behind me turned the cash register screen towards her so she could see how much I was spending!
Once, while traveling to Nasuli, our driver (a filipino) stopped at a rest area. Merchants were there and I heard the hat sales man offer a hat to our driver for 150 pesos. Then he came to Kurt and offered him the same hat for 300 pesos! "Puti Dato" in action!!!!!!!
