March Madness

Yesterday a friend I used to do Model UN with said she is applying to the Peace Corp and asked if I had a blog. I gave her my link, and then looked at my blog myself. I realized a. I haven’t written in a long time, and b. I sound really sad! So I’m here to rectify my blog, and tell you about my life. I used to write blogs a few time a month, and now I’m down to a monthly update so here it is:

My Grandpa- Praise the Lord he is doing much better. Thank you for all your prayers, support and friendship.

Technology- As you know my computer broke, but now so did my hard drive. I lost a story I had been working on and all my pictures, tv shows and movies. Sadly I had already written out a long blog to describe this month, so now I have an hour of computer time and I’m going to give this update as quick as possible. When I re-read posts I often see mistakes, I apologize in advance for these mistakes, I’m always in a hurry to post and don’t have time to edit. Thanks for reading anyways.

Health- I’m not sick, although I have been sick this month I am well now. Instead of going to school and pushing through it I decided to stay home in bed. I missed two days of school, and I felt guilty the entire time, but I’m better now so it was worth it. I’m still hearing a weird crackling in my ear that is really irritating, but I saw a specialist and he said nothing was wrong.

Exercise- Sadly it’s been raining almost every morning, but if it doesn’t rain I ride my bike. As my bike traces the road mixed of asphalts, gravel and grasses I gaze upon acres of rice patti fields and farm land, it’s a surreal experience. Listening to my ipod and the sound of my bike climbing up hills and speeding down valleys I try to take in all that I see. It’s so beautiful and pure, serene really, that I always tell myself to bring a camera so you can see where I live, but it seems impossible to capture. Riding my bike and being a part of the community is one of the experiences from Peace Corp that I had hoped for, riding my bike and being exposed to this completely different way of life is exactly what I wanted. I am so grateful to Peace Corp that they provided the stipend for the bike, its definitely something I plan to use as much as possible over the next 2 years

Language- I am awful. So I stopped trying. However I have been reading a few very depressing books lately about war and persecution that caused me to move towards a new realization. This is the easiest time in my life from here on out, or at least it very well could be, one day all my opportunities could be take away, but right now I have the opportunity to learn another language, so I’m going to learn it. Although language is a huge challenge for me, I’m sure that my life will incur additional and more difficult challenges and therefore I have decided this week that I will become a speaker by the time I leave. Although I didn’t make the pledge aloud, my attitude must have changed because so many people this week have been helping me with words and sentences. I learned 5 words this week and can put them in a sentence. That might not sound like a lot, but for as frustrated as I am with trying to learn I’m happy and inspired with these small improvements.

Packages- This month I received two packages, one from Rosaura that included dumdums. The ants sadly are so small they can crawl through zip block baggies and under wrappers, so I decided to share the dumdums she sent before the ants got to them. The teachers LOVED them, I watched them eat it and they couldn’t decide why they loved them but they did. It was a great experience to share some American candy. My family also sent me a HUGE box, that had gifts inside for both Jaron and myself (have to have a quick shout out—Jaron and I have been together 6 months now<3). I was so overwhelmed with everything they sent. I’m not proud to say that I ate an entire bag of goldfish in one day, I just missed American food. They also sent me clothes. The clothes here are hand washed and they wear out quickly, I’m so grateful to have new things to wear. My sister sent perfume, so I put on some DKNY Green Apple perfume closed my eyes and I just enjoy how good I smell and all the memories that come with it. I just wanted to write in my blog how grateful I am to all of you for giving me Christmas in March.

Community- I’m happy to say that I think I have a good idea about my community. I went to the Mayors office and talked with secretaries about projects that I want to do. We came up with so many ideas, I will be very busy. I definitely feel like I can do great things for this area. Here is a small idea of what I will be working towards

Projects:

-Library for the High School- this will take a lot of my time, we are in need of books, and sets of books—so many things can come out of a good library

-Computer trainings for Municipality Staff and Health Clinic

-Aiding checks and giving vaccines for babies in the town -Creating a sport program for young kids

-Working at the pre-school

-Work out and exercise activities for the community

-There are some more, but I didn’t bring my notebook with me

On a big scale:

-I will be working with other PCVs on a camp called GLOW- a girls empowerment camp hopefully by September -

A teacher training for Iloilo

Prom-

Sadly school is ending. These wonderful students that I have come to love and know will be leaving, and it feel so weird to say goodbye. One of the events of course that marks the end of the year is prom. I had so much fun with the students, dancing, and celebrating with them this very special time of year. Prom is completely different then that of America. For example, Prom started at 2:30 in the afternoon, with a Mass. Then the students line up by sections and have a parade through the school in their dresses. Their family and friends like the halls of the school and the students walk with their partner. You do not have a date to the dance in the sense of Americans where a boy asks a girl. A 4th year students (seniors) are assigned to 3rd year students(juniors). Then they have a ceremony, a passing of the torch of knowledge and the key of leadership from the 4th year to the 3rd year.

At my high school we had something called a senior alphabet in the year book, and awards at the end of the year given by the other classmates. For example, for the senior alphabet I was letter B for bodacious bigwig and for the class “awards” (i forget what they are called) I was most likely to become president. Here, they have similar ideas or “awards” except I like what they do much better. They have a passing down ceremony. So the person who is most likely to be president from the 4th year would pass it down to the most likely to be president in the 3rd year. Rhea Joy, a student at the high school and a helper in my house had to pass down best eyes! And truly, she has beautiful eyes. It was really fun to see how the same idea is translated differently.

Overall prom was just as fun as it could be, mostly because my friend Claire called me during the dinner and told me there was a Promo to go to Singapore! So for thanksgiving I will be going to Singapore and Malaysia for under 100 US dollars. Also because I barrowed my host moms shoes, and I wore high heels for the first time in 6 months.

With some of the teachers kids

The teachers let me be "queen" haha and hold the flowers

So I have been here for over 7 months now, and I can hardly believe it, mostly because I feel like I have already been here for years and also because time is starting to fly.

MANILA- The highlight of my month was surely Warden Training in Manila because of TACO BELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha! You might not be as impressed as I was, but it was definitely a win. Many PCV’s travelled to a far away mall just to eat Taco Bell. I stayed at the mall for many hours so I could eat it twice.

The training was for emergencies, and was just a one day training. At night I was reunited with my long lost peace corp bff Emily and she got us in to this extremely posh club and danced the night away. I borrowed clothes from my host mom, and had so much fun with the PCV’s and Jaron. Definitely a highlight, it was a mini American vacation.

 

At the posh club!

EMILY!!!! SO HAPPY WE GOT TO SEE EACHOTHER AGAIN!

borrowed clothes and a hat for swagga I didn't feel like I was in peace corp

Aren't we cute <3

In manila we had to splurge, Riding in a TAXI

Speaking of American vacations– I have bad news. I won’t be going to Hawaii anymore to see my family. Instead I have to wait 9 more months for CHRISTMAS!! SO mark your calendars friends!!! And prepare to take me to Taco Bell! haha!

Summer is coming and I have a very busy schedule. I hope to have better communication and write more about my life.

I really just wanted to thank those of you who prayed for my Grandpa, which was a REALLY hard time for me because I am very close to him.

Sorry for the fluidity of this blog. Its not as heart felt as I typically like to write, but I just wanted to give a quick update

Thanks for reading, Lysette

New School Website

Mr. Salapantan, the computer and math teacher that I work with created this website over the weekend. Here is a little idea of what my school looks like.

 

http://lssnhssanmiguel.weebly.com/index.html

 

Thanks for viewing,

Lysette

The Distance

Dear friends,

One of my biggest fears as seemed to come true. My grandpa is sick, and there is nothing I can do about it.

Yesterday I went to the mall to meet other peace corp members to discuss creating a girl power/self esteem camp (the girls here are made to be home makers and or nurses/teachers, and rarely move into other fields). Parents here choose what field the girl will go into, and the self-esteem of the child is very low. Its really hard to make things like this happen because of lack of funding, and the corruption/political issues in the departments, but I’m trying to make my time here as productive as possible.

Anyways, my friends were coming from 2hrs away, and their bus was late. I got there on time and I brought my itouch. For the first time ever my itouch worked without a password ( my computer is broken and won’t connect to the internet) and a few emails loaded, including one from my sister that said I needed to call my grandpa. She included the phone number as well, as it was very important that he called because he was very sick with heart failure. I went home from the mall (where I never have bought anything for myself- no joke—in 50+ visits), let me describe that journey to you.

Jeepneys are the way we travel. You know the ride Indiana Jones at Disneyland, how it jerks you around and stops and goes and we think its fun?! Well, its not fun. Its awful and annoying. The jeeps jerk, as you are sweating, and the sweat of the person next to you drips on you. It gross. Additionally if you comb your hair in anyway but a pony tail your hair will look like you just sky dived. And finally, if you sit next to someone who has their hair down, their hair will fly across your face as the jeep speeds, and other peoples hair in your face is just really gross to me.

Yesterday was a bad trip because the person sitting next to me had a really itchy shirt on, we are stuffed on the jeeps so tightly, and all I could feel was the itch and his sweat. Anyways, I made it home. I don’t have to tell the jeeps where I live anymore, they just take me which is really nice.

For dinner my family made mix veggies, mushrooms (not like the ones in America) some sort of pea, and some philipino vegetable. With a piece of wheat bread with sweet red sauce and fake cheese. (it looks like a type of pizza from a distance). I am getting used to the sweet sauces, but I don’t like them. Im used to the fake cheese, but the whole time I am aware how bad it is for you. Its not like kraft fake cheese, its way worse. You don’t even need to refrigerate (we call a fridge they call it a ref) it. Its spongy kind of. Also, no one here believes in hot food, so all the meals are terribly cold. All of which I have mostly adapted to.

Anyways, I couldn’t call because my itouch doesn’t make phone calls, and my host family just told me about this amazing calling card!! Its only 1.5 pesos a minute. So I had to wait until 5am California time (11pm here) and I tried calling my grandpa. Patti, my grandma, answered the phone. She didn’t recognize my voice, which obviously hurt a lot. Then she did, and was so happy t hear from me and that made me a lot better. In the background was my grandpa crying from the pain, begging for patti. She had to put the phone down and I heard the whole thing and it was really one of the most awful experiences that I have ever had/heard. His screams of agony will scar me for sometime.

When patti got on the phone I broke down and was unable to support her. Instead she cried to. I love patti so much, and I know she cares for my grandpa, and she related how she felt to how I felt when my dad was in the hospital. There is no worse feeling then when you see someone who love suffer. She handed my grandpa the phone, but he was unable to speak. It sounded to me like he would die moments later. I didn’t even get to say goodbye or that I love him. I waited another hour to call my sister, I know she wouldn’t be up at 5, but I still woke her up at 6:00. I feel bad, but I needed to talk to someone. I cried, and then we comforted each other.

Eventually I counted how many lizards were on my ceiling and we ended on a positive note in the sense that we will be there for each other. (which by the way last night one fell from the ceiling and refused to leave the bed. I pulled the sheets shook the bed, but the lizard would not move from my bed). I didn’t sleep the whole night, thinking that I was going to get a call, the call.

My mom called me in the morning and told me that grandpa was really bad. They called me a few times that morning and we were all really upset. When the ambulance was called for my grandpa, a miracle happened. His heart is pumping a little better, although he is still not well. His lungs are filling with liquid. I love my grandpa, I have spent every summer with him. He is the most stubborn person I know, but we have this amazing bond, that is unexplainable.

I always knew it was a possibility that my grandpa would die, he turns 90 later this month, but the realization of it happening is really more than I can handle. Its awful to be away from him, and my family.

As much effort as my host family puts forth, the more alone I feel, the more I realize I’m away from my family. Jaron is as sweet as he can be, but doesn’t have reception at his site so most of our phone calls break up or don’t go through. He offered to meet me in the city to use his computer  since mine is broken, but with this phone card I am able to check in. It was another miracle because he gets no reception at his site and I was so upset and for the first time the phone call went through and we were able to talk for 5-10 minutes which is a lot (how I’m going to feel when I have a real phone again I’m just not quite sure)!

I don’t have internet access at my site very often, so by the time I email this out he could be better, and all my worries could be pointless, or I might be on a flight back to America. I hope that, whatever the situation, is you can pray for my grandpa, my family, and for me.

I’m not ready to loose my grandpa, I’m not ready to loose anyone being so far from home. I’m very very sad. Overwhelmed, and unable to sleep. Please pray for my work here, that its all worth it, that I’m really helping people and that its worth being away from my family at this difficult time.

Thank you for reading, for your prayers and for being my friend,

Lysette

* I had a phone call with my mom last night and it seems that my grandpa is getting better, but I decided to post this still because my emotions share with you the real scare of being away from loved ones when they are sick. I would still appreciate your prayers for Grandpa as he is doing better, but still not well. Thank you