the bell tolls for thee

So, there is a tradition at the office of the Peace Corps in the Philippines.  Whenever a volunteer is ready to leave the building for the last time, the guard rings a bell over and over.  The bell announces to all staff that they should convene in the lobby to say goodbye.  Once gathered, obligatory photos are taken. And then, the moment of truth: the Volunteer speech.

With heart in my throat, I told the team how much I appreciated my service in the Philippines and also of the service of the assembled team to me.

To those of you who do not know, for the past 53 years, all volunteers heading into service are asked to work to achieve three goals:

1)  To bring needed skills and abilities to the host agency they are serving,
2)  Through positive example, teach the host culture a little about what it means to be an American,
3)  Through whatever means, teach fellow americans a little bit more about the culture you have embraced.

I told the group that in my mind there was a fourth goal I worked to honor, namely

4)  Through my experience, I wanted to learn more about myself, and in doing so, make myself a better person.

They were pleased, having never heard of the 4th goal before today!

I feel that through my actions, I achieved the first three goals.  I am a poor judge of the fourth and  understand that it will be my actions in the future that demonstrate the final proof of this achievement.  I'm ready to take that challenge.

some random last thoughts as I move on

• when all you have for dinner is a can of sardines and cabbage salad, a can of sardines and cabbage salad can taste pretty darned good.
• Solitude must be embraced to be enjoyed.  Otherwise it can cause madness.
• Love is the most important thing that there is in the world.
• I'm not the first to come up with this, but I have learned that poverty is only a state of mind.
• The filipino culture is, beyond doubt, the most beautiful culture I have yet to come across in my world travels. 
• Filipino’s are flawed.
• I am powerful beyond measure because God lives in me! (I’m still working on this, but it deserves mention!)
• There are certain things I will not eat, no matter what.
• There is no glamour in prostitution.  It is a horrible, deplorable and ugly business indeed.
• Waiting doesn't have to be painful if you open your eyes, look around you and speak to your neighbor.  That being said, those long bus rides were brutal.
• The satisfaction of cultural immersion, without the knowledge of local tongue, is frustratingly incomplete.
• As far as Im concerned, here in the Philippines, country living beats city living in nearly every possible way.
• Hot water and toilet paper are over-rated.  That being said, it will be nice to take hot showers again!
• I can now say that I have seen and felt the jungle.  I prefer the desert.
• In the scheme of things, six months is a drop in the bucket.
• I’ve been reminded once again in my life that the best way to remain young at heart is to hang around children.
• As much as I will miss Lagonoy, I will surely NOT miss the following:
• dogs barking incessantly outside my window
• sleeping with the “no see um” ant critters in my bed
• not so much the bite, but the deafening whine of the mosquito above my head, screaming irritation in oh so many many ways
• humidity and rain, mold and mildew
• unknown animals who have a nightly square dance on the flip side of my ceiling tile
• intermittent internet access

What will I miss the most?  Easy picking

 I will miss the sincerity, the authentic smiles and the joy that I’ve been privileged to participate in every single day I’ve lived in the Philippines!  

I will miss my friends

Door to Door

My last day in Lagonoy was just so great!  I had a chance to see all my co-workers during the day, I had the opportunity to share some beautiful conversation to say some things I needed to say, and then at 6p, they threw a giant party for me on the rooftop under the light of a full moon!  Carlos "cooked"my favorite dish...  kini law (a filipino sushi) and some other wonderful things as well... My good friend Margie made this delicious fried pepper dish that was utterly delicious!  It wouldn't be a party without singing, so of course they lugged a videoke machine up there and I got to sing all of my favorites...  Wonderful Tonight, The Boxer, Zombie, and some Beatles songs.  But then of course, a special request...  "Daniel" by Elton John.  I tell you, I was a lark!  And then the dancing started!  Yeah...  a good wrap up to a most excellent experience.

Packed all my stuff beforehand so I'd be ready for a quick departure.  Choy was pleased to receive his bounty!  Then, I awoke at 4:30 and dragged my belongings to the bus station.  And here I am tonight... at my favorite Pension in Manila!  Oh, you were wondering how long the trip took, eh?  Well, lets see if you can guess....  roughly 280 miles...  by bus....   hmmmm....    would you believe that door to door it took just about 15 hours?!  Very close to unbearable, no way to sugarcoat it folks....  15 hours.... 3 stops for food, a breakdown (again belt replacements on the side of the road, yes mechanic and supplies on board), 5 (!) full length movies...  I shouldn't complain though... at least the bus had air con and my seat wasn't right on top of the engine like in Palawan!

Anyway, Im exhausted.  as Im typing this I am eating a gourmet tuna salad sandwich (yeah, a little hungry I am because there was no way I was going to risk that roadside "food").   It will be no trouble finding slumber tonight along with the other 9 men in my bunk dorm room.  Tomorrow its off to the Peace Corps office to begin the mountain of paperwork required for proper exit.  In all fairness, I am looking forward to it... I like these people a lot... these Peace Corps folk... them and the friends they serve here in the Philippines!

the barkada

Yesterday was just another day in a most exceptional adventure.  It began with a text from a friend.  By the end, I had been hosted by a father and son playing native tagalog songs on violin and guitar and I had laughed with my best friends.  And I had cried.

These men I have come to know… come to share hours and hours of talking, singing, and laughter…  I just want to state that they are more than just convenient friends…  they have become my close friends.  I daresay, as close to a fraternity of brotherhood than I have ever been lucky enough to associate myself with.  Unquestioning in their loyalty to one another and to me, they are, to a person, good men.   They have allowed me into their lives with no reservation and have accepted who I am with generosity. and kind hearts.  They have introduced me to their families and they have fed me.  They have literally given me their shirts.  And they have taken care of me when I have fallen.  

They had the insight to know that we were going to become close friends even before I recognized it.  And last night, they understood that I will miss them, just as they will miss me. 

So, I wake today with a heavy heart indeed.  And as I walk through the next passageway in my life, I cannot close the room I have just passed through.  There is far too much value in keeping that door open. 

Onward I go!

So today is Friday, my last day in the Mayor's office

Over the past couple of days Ive had the opportunity to speak to over 1200 high schoolers about critically important disaster preparedness issues.  I am so happy to have had this opportunity!  Truly, knowledge is power, but like I told the audience... it isn't power in and of itself..   knowledge is only powerful it if is applied.

Every school we visited was so welcoming... once, we delivered the 3 hour presentation to children seated in the pouring rain. . Umbrella's over their heads, they sat attentively and listened.. with apparent interest, to what we were trying to say...   Once, we spoke before an audience of over 800!  We, the speakers spoke a variety of languages, Bicol, Tagalog and English.  The audience danced between each language with ease - I still find it amazing, this ability to jump from language to language to language!

A new group of friends and I gathered last night - we ate wild duck and native chicken with rice.  I was informed that I should be prepared next Monday for a short speech to be delivered to the workers of LGU Lagonoy at the weekly Monday flag ceremony.  I figured this was in the works, but I will need to take time to craft an appropriate departure message to my counterparts.  Then, Ive been told there will be a party to follow... I figured that was in the works as well.  And then of course there is tomorrow... big party at the radio station!  Whether or not we will be going live over the airwaves is still in question... but the show will go on no matter!

I did hear some sad news yesterday... one of my first friends here in the office is soon to become a single mother.  Her boyfriend has no job and apparently no desire for marriage.  I noticed that she seemed distraught lately, but I didnt want to ask what was the matter... Now, she has stopped coming to work at all.  It makes me sad because she is so young... with such potential!  My heart goes out to her, and her parents, who are apparently not happy about the news.  I find this happens all to often here... young girls becoming pregnant and then withdrawing to their barangay to raise children... alone, or to be more precise, with the help of their mothers.  Of course, it is a story I saw during my last PC service as well... it is the story of poverty and it is a woman's story and it is known all to well, Im sorry to say.

Anyway... 5 more sleeps until I travel away from Lagonoy onto my next adventure.  Of course, I am sad.  Friends are wishing me farewell and asking when I will be returning - because surely I must return!

and now, the end is near!

On the home front,  I've begun the process of purging things I have accumulated for no good reason over the past 6 months.  Miscellaneous paper, magazines, ticket stubs, food, simple electronics I will never need again....  I have a good sense that I will be leaving with less that I brought.  For one thing, I'm starting to get requests from friends, "before you leave, will you please give me your _________."  And, as you might well imagine, I have grown especially tired of the limited wardrobe I brought with me!  I will take what I need for Thailand and either toss the rest, or give it all to Choy.  In fact, Choy is going to be a big winner in my departure..... I've just got a feeling about this!

On another front, I have some unfortunate news to report:  The radio station has been off the air for the last week or so.  That meant no "family hour" this past Saturday over the airwaves!  Apparently, an important piece of equipment blew up and arrangements are still being made to finance a replacement.  Hopefully, there will be one last program, because I am ready to sing the big one.... the videoke GIANT!!!  I'm going to do it... Im going to sing Frank's, "My Way"!  I've been practicing...

Of course, the lack of radio did not stop the barkada from forming last Saturday.  All I can literally report is that too much ginebra was consumed, and by all accounts, the team was sidelined on Sunday to nurse wounds!  Somewhere during the fracas, I remember singing "Puff the Magic Dragon" (dear god!)...  Also, I woke up with a hair cut... still not sure how that happened!

Here is something interesting: Essentially I haven't looked in a mirror in 6 months.  In an odd way, that is a rather liberating feeling!  That said, I hope the haircut turned out ok!

This week promises to be busy from a work standpoint. Of course, there is an endless stream of Peace Corps COS (Close of Service) paperwork to begin and then, we decided just last week on one final mission.  On Wednesday and Thursday, we will travel to the Eastern Barangay's to deliver a Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness presentation to 4 local High Schools.  We are estimating each presentation to last about 3 hours.  Since I will have the bulk of that time for myself (Carlos and the Local Fire Marshall are also on the docket) I am busily working on material to both hand out and present.

I've been told that Friday will be a "day of rest" (?)  I am also told that under no circumstances will it be permissible for me to leave Lagonoy Monday night and that the earliest I will be able to leave is Tuesday morning....  something about "painting the town"....

Gotta love this place!

in other news....

Earlier this week, I was pleased to accept an offer to return to my former place of employ, beginning March 16, 2015.  The work I will do has been modified to formally account for the training function I have performed for years in the Phoenix location.  Other conditions remain essentially the same as they did when I left.  I couldn't be happier!
TYG