The Most Inspirational Moments of Peace Corps

When I arrived at the park I didn't realize my sunglasses where broken until someone pointed it out-- haha it was a good laugh

General Douglas MacArthur Park, Leyte, Philippines

Today I received a snapfish book I ordered filled with my entire journey of Peace Corps from my goodbye party at the very beginning to my last trip at  Sabarro with Jaron. My mom asked what my favorite memory was from all of Peace Corps. Two pictures stand out, two experiences could sum up a 15 month journey.

The Blind Man

Look at how he uses his arms to play music

The first is a lesson I learned. While at General Douglas MacArthur Park, Leyte was that there is no excuse not to do whatever you put your mind to.

This man proved to be one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. While thinking about him I still get goose bumps. His song was pure, his ability to move what was left of his hands up and down the guitar, how he had to tilt his hand at exactly the right angle to pull the strings without being able to see what he was doing was doing. His young grandson stood next to him telling him when to play for people. I’m sad to say that my battery was about to die, but I was able to caputre about 30 seconds of him playing.

inspiration

Whether you glance at the pictures or watch the entire clip I hope it reminds you that you can make anything possible and find it as inspirational as I do.

 

My Last Speech

Lysette Davis, Peace Corps Volunteer Philippines last speech with staff and students in San Miguel, Iloilo, Philippines

It is well known in the Philippines that when someone is making a presentation its okay to talk, text, even get up, turn your back to the speaker, listen to your own music etc. When I first arrived to the Philippines I started intently at the speaker, even after a year  I still felt disrespectful when others would talk to me during a speech, but I came to understand it as the culture and eventually became a part of the culture.

I would say that I gave a speech at least 2xs a month, sometimes more with presentations, and of course there was teaching everyday. I was used to people speaking when I spoke and being busy with other things. I would say that people on average tend to listen to me more intently then others mostly because it took a lot of effort to hear and understand my English.

Then it was time for my last speech. And when I spoke, you could hear a pin drop. With the whole school and staff watching, everyone was quiet. When I finished my speech they were still quiet. They wanted more, they weren’t finished with me. We all knew that when I stopped speaking that I was the end of my journey.

I felt robbed by my health to end my service early. There are many more things I wanted to do, and relationships I was not ready to end.

In that moment, that quiet still moment, I felt closure, i felt respected, that my work had value and that value was the moment of silence everyone honored me with. Hanging on my every word, I worried my words would not have enough meaning, but all the meaning was felt when I looked out into the crowd and saw my work.

Teachers and students waving goodbye to their Peace Corps Volunteer

My last speech was an announcement, a summary and a goodbye. The students and teachers have asked that I write it out for them to have and read again. I know that I finished my speech and then it was quiet so I just kept speaking, so this isn’t exactly all of it, but here is what I have written down:

“Mayad nga Aga– (I finally said something in kinaray-a, so everyone cheered and then laughed– as did I) 

To the students and teachers of Lenora S. Salapantan National High School, no words can express my sorrow in making this announcement, today will be my last day as  a teacher in San Miguel, as I will be returning to America.

This departure comes as a shock both to you and to me. You might not know this, but in the last year I have been in the hospital trhee times. As a 24 year old adult, Peace Corps Washington D.C. decided that its time for me to go home due to my last hospital visit only a few weeks ago. I didn’t expect to go home and I will miss you all very much.

However, I am happy to leave on  a day that represents a day for sharing the world with each other (it was international day) as I have shared America with you for the last year. As I walk around campus and see the door decorations representing different cultures I am proud of you (my final project was a door decorating contest that I will share in my next blog). I am proud that you were willing to accept a culture different than your own. I have enjoyed teaching you random facts about the United States and myself.,a s you have shared with me your life. 

When strangers find that I actually live in San Miguel, they often ask how I find the place. I easily tell them, I find the students friendly, polite and eager to learn and you really can’t ask for anything more than that. 

Peace Corps has 3 main goals and I believe that despite my time with you being shortened, together we have achieved all three. 

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.

Together we created a computer class, training all of last years 4th year students how to use computers. We have worked together as a staff, sharing new educational tools inside of the classroom. We have trained outside of the classroom, learning about HIV/AIDS, playing sports, being active, student government, drug and safety, and many other activities that will train you for your own futures.

2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.

Sometimes when I get to school you know more about me then I think, you have found articles on the internet, asked about my family, my lifestyle in America, and about the challenges Americans face. I have constantly been impressed that you have not only been willing to ask questions , but listen to the answers. I enjoyed our times in between classes and after school where we would hang out and learn about each other.

3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

I will never forget when some of you helped make a video to send home for my family when I was away last Christmas. I have already shared thousands of pictures, told hundreds of stories, and lived differently because I met each of you. 

If I have one wish to make before I leave, Its that you feel inspired. I believe in each of you, in your talents, in your will power. I know that with hard work  you can do anything. Remember to never settle and to push harder than you think you can push. 

Good things don’t come easy, but when you want something with your whole heart its worth the effort. Dream big, dream bigger than your parents or friends think you can dream. Never limit yourself to what you think you can can, because if I had limited myself I would have never had the opportunity to meet each of you. 

Here is a little bit of my story. I was born in a lower income area in a suburb of Los Angeles. The schools and education systems were not challenging, so everyday my mom gave me extra assignments. Over each summer, I never stopped learning, my mom prepared workbooks and had me read whatever I could find. From the beginning of my schooling I have attended 9 schools. Every time I moved I tried to learn from the people around me, not just educationally, but morally. At each school I tried to challenge myself, joining every club and exposing myself to things I didn’t even know I would like. I never said no to an opportunity, I found myself trying things that I thought I would hate, things that I thought I wasn’t going to be smart enough for, things that challenged me. But it turns out, I was smart enough, and that trying different clubs, sports, friends, and activities made me who I am.

My message to you it just to try. Give life nothing short of your best. Try your best in everything in what you do and what you say. Trust God to lead your decisions and pray He blesses you with the kindness you show to others. YOU can be anyone you want to be, you just have to try. 

Thank you. Thank you for greeting me at the school with smiles on your faces. For saying good night even when you meant good morning, because you weren’t afraid to try to speak Engish and I admire that. Thank you for listening in my classes. Thank you for challenging me. Thank you for letting me give you a nosebleed everyday (meaning I spoke too much English).  Thank you for teaching me words like “gwapa, namit and salamat (beautiful, delicious and thank you).” Thank you for loving me, and welcoming me, for dancing with me, singing with me, playing with me, talking with me, for being my friend and making me feel at home. 

Palangga ako ikaw( I love you), I will miss you, and I will will never forget you.”

Thank you San Miguel and the Philippines or teaching me and inspiring me. Thank you for the honor you gave me by the way you treated me in my last speech. You did so much for me that day that it will have to be another blog, but I thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts.

The students who listened to my final speech

I love you all.

Thank you for reading and sharing my life,

Lysette

International Day in the Philippines, making my debut speaking Kinaray-a Publicly

Telling My family I was medically Separated from Peace Corps:

After a night of not sleeping and staring at the clock waiting for a reasonable time to call my parents, the 6 o’clock hour of California the US finally came. This was a common problem for me as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) anyways, the Philippines is a ½ day ahead.  My family is from California, and my nights were their days and vice versa.

When I heard my mothers voice, I only heard that of a cry, I couldn’t understand her words. I can’t imagine how it feels to hear that your daughter is medically separated, they knew I had already been in the hospital several times but had not been sent home, so in their minds they thought I was dying. I didn’t have answers for them, as Peace Corps Medical Office (PCMO) said they would answer my questions when I arrived in their Manila office.

My dad took the phone away from my mom and was able to speak. I found comfort in their desire to have me home and safe. That morning I was about to disappoint my community, so to find some joy knowing returning home would give my parents a bit of peace and happiness was what I needed before I went to school. I don’t think I will ever stop needing the encouragement of my family, my family is my heart. Finding the courage to go to the school for my morning meeting took all my energy. I repeated words over and over in my head of what exactly I was going to say.

When I arrived in the principals office I had prepared a speech in my mind to give to the staff, but my principal explained to me that she needed to explain the situation and that I should go home and pack.

Before the meeting where I planned to tell my staff that I was medically separated from Peace Corps

My first attempt at saying goodbye to some students

With all the teachers in meetings, I decided to roam the school. I decided to start with the 1^st year students and tell them goodbye. The first classroom I had was Year 1 Section 6. Explaining that I was sick and had to go back to America was something that was not communicated. They all said, “It’s okay Ma’am Davis, you will just come back when you are better,” its hard to tell someone you are never going to see them again. Many of the other classes didn’t have a reaction, they didn’t understand. Other students cried. Many feared taking a picture with me, and others couldn’t wait for our last picture together.

4-1 trying to "jump" haha! fail.

the computer lab where I taught 4th year students how to use computers!

Goodbye year 3 section 1 students!

I went around to about 8 classrooms and decided that it was too depressing. Instead I went to my International Day speaking engagement in the Plaza. In honor of International Month, the local pre-school had a day to honor other cultures. They paraded their costumes around the plaza, and it gave me a chance to take some final goodbye pictures of the place I called home.

 International Day in the Plaza

San Miguel, Iloilo, the plaza, i love this picture because it captures the essence of my home

Finally the event started. It was on Philipino time which means about an 1hr late!  It will be hard to forget the students in their costumes, their costumes were made with heavy materials and in the unbearable heat their mothers had to fan them in order to keep the kids from fainting. I was the “keynote” speaker, and I didn’t know what to say to a group of 3-5 year olds and their parents.

International Day- Lysette Davis

Representing America on International Day with Peace Corps Volunteer, Lysette Davis

Celebrating different Cultures

If it hadn’t been my last speech in the plaza, I would have just done it all in English, but because it was my last chance to try the language I had worked so hard at (and still didn’t ever fully grasp it) publicly. I had overcome a huge battle of mine, I have always been afraid to speak Kina-raya publicly, but I had no choice, it was now or never.

I started with Kina-raya and spoke for about 1.5 minutes off the top of my head. Who knows if I was coherent, but that 1.5 minutes seemed like 5 minutes of conversation! Then I switched to English, and that was a lot easier.

I then had made a poster and taught the students a Jack Johnson/ Ben Harper song, with my terrible singing voice I lead in song and made small hand gestures. Its not the first time I have used that song at a Speaking event, I always find it inspiring, that each of us can change the world with our own two hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRjDBd6tBBY&feature=related

Softball players Practicing at the Plaza

After the International Day event, I saw some familiar faces resting under the small amount of shade I had been helping coach the girls softball team and had really become close to a few of the girls. While waiting for the event to start I found a few of them lounging on the grass. I told them that I would be going home, and they all requested that I send them new equipment. Saying goodbye to them was difficult, many of them wanted to be my favorite, and they would always ask me who it was, thus they didn’t want me to leave until I answered! Haha! Not something I expected, I told them, “Being on a team is like being in a family, you can’t love your mom more than your dad, or your anything sister less than you, you are like my family so I love each of you the same, and thus you are each my favorite.” They laughed because they probably didn’t understand what I had  said and then hugged me.

Softball team in the Philippines

Typically they play in the mud, in the rain and in the heat with no shoes or equipment. They have one broken helmet, but its too hot to wear it anyways. Their softballs are repaired with tape, and their bases with rice sacks. Spending time with these girls was a true highlight of my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I had played softball since age 5 through high school and never expected that one day I would get to act as a coach. I just want to throw out a quick thanks to all the coaches in my life you were able to catch a ball, throw it, and bat it and make it look easy—because I never could! Haha! Really I just would throw up fly balls or have to throw down grounders. The biggest lesson that these girls showed me is love for a game. Even when the weather was a monsoon, or so hot you could taste the heat, they never complained, they never asked to stop playing, the game was theirs to play, and that’s all that mattered.

A decent softball

In life I feel like its easy to make excuses not to do something because everything in life has an obstacle, but these girls not only taught me to enjoy the additional challenges, but to embrace them. Standing out in a mud “field” holding an umbrella during the pouring Philippine rain deep into the “outfield” and watching those girls light up will truly be something that I will never forget.

How do you repair a softball in the Philippines? Add tape.

The Peace Corps has been something on my bucket list and was kind of the last tangible thing that I really ever wanted to do in life. Saying goodbye to the softball girls helped me create a new goal, to one day be a coach of some sort, in order to teach the lessons I have learned through sports, and to be reminded that you never stop learning from those younger than you.

this green space is on our campus, and our "field"

My next blog will be about one of the most amazing moments in time that I have ever experienced. I don’t think the world or people could have been any kinder, or a person could have felt more honored. It has taken me so long to write it because I don’t know really how to capture it all in words.

Thanks for reading,

Lysette

Medical Separation in Peace Corps– What does it mean?? And how does it work?

Be afraid....very afraid.. haha. Medical Separation and Peace Corps, no I didn't get sent home for becoming a zombie

Medical Separation

My first hospital visit with Jaron-- the nurse made an extra tag so to make me feel better Jaron wore a hospital bracelet too.

For my parents, community and friends in Peace Corps, being Medically Separated from Peace Corps came as a large surprise, as my symptoms the day PCMO called where really no different than they had been since the 3^rd day I arrived in the Philippines. Many people have asked and emailed about the process of exactly what is Medical Separation and how it is determined, and how much control you have over it. I don’t have all the answers, but I can only share my case, Peace Corps Medical Office Washington DC looked over my Medical File in the Philippines, upon looking at my file and seeing that I had been the hospital several times and that my symptoms had not improved they decided it was in my best interest to return to America.

From the time i turned purple and almost drowned during water safety because my "safety vest" inflated and suffocated me

Medical Separation happens very quickly, I could have been back in American about 4 days from packing my room to the plane; however I had two events I had planned in my town so the Peace Corps let me stay longer. I’m not sure this is normal, but I only spent one day in the Philippines Headquarters office to get my paperwork done and then flew back.

When I found out I was medically separated,  I didn’t even know what day I would be flying back to America. When they called, I didn’t know specifically what I was being sent home for, and my imagination went wild with worry about the possibilities they might have found during my last hospital visit; a visit I had kept from my family. My sister was about to have a baby and I didn’t want to stress my family out knowing I was in the hospital. (Shout out to Jaron—we spent our 1year anniversary in the hospital—the same place we were almost a year ago when I was in the hospital the first time, funny that we ended up in the same place, a true anniversary).

At that time the doctors told me they didn’t really know what was wrong, that I have/had extreme exhaustion. They told me to take a break from my work, but at that time I was really busy with my HIV/AIDS Grant and some projects at the school I was working on; it’s really hard on my nature to take a break, but I rested in my room for about 5 days after the hospital.

I waited a week more and then I texted PCMO and asked them if they can give me anymore vitamins that I’m not already taking, because two weeks after my hospital visit I am still feeling awful. Apparently this text message was the tipping point. PCMO realized that there was nothing more they could do for me, and they sent my files to Washington causing Washington D.C. to make their final decision.

It is sad to say, but staying in the Philippineswas a battle of heart against my body. From the 3^rd day I was in thePhilippines my symptoms never really disappeared. I had my own complex about not being a good volunteer because I had never been camping or was much of an outdoor person. I thought the reason I was sick and everyone else was healthy was because of my lack of outdoor training. I was fearful of being labelled as high maintenance because I was in my own opinion very different from the other volunteers. I didn’t complain to PCMO about my symptoms and tried to function without medical help.  My Peace Corps Language Trainer was the one who first recommended for me to go the doctor in October of last year, upon going to the doctor I was immediately admitted to the hospital, this was the same case that happened a few weeks ago. However, no one could ever really figure out what was wrong with me.

During my 14 1/2 months I had to endure other severe medical dilemmas, I had a case of sore eyes where I went blind in one eye, and the doctor told me that it was going to be for 3 weeks, luckily that didn’t happen and recovered fully after 11 days. I also developed a heart condition in which my heart was beating at an extremely low number of 30-40 beats instead of normal healthy heart beat of 60-100. I thought I could be sent home for each of those, and was prepared to be medically separated in June, however I tried my best to stick it out.

Hospital time-- I hated that contraption on my face, you have to wake up every 3 hours to breathe properly, not a lot of sleep

In truth I am extremely grateful to PCMO for making the decision to send me home, I didn’t really know how sick I was or what I was doing to my body until I returned home. Although I am still exhausted, I feel 100% better in ways I didn’t even know I was sick. Now that I am away from the Philippines, and not dedicated to my work I realize how much sickness I was suppressing. It’s nice to be honest about how I really feel, because before I was trying to cover it up so I could do my job.

For those of you who are Peace Corps Volunteers and are worried about Medical Separation, it took many illnesses and the ultimate realization that staying in the Philippines and being sick every single day was too much for my body to handle. You can also reapply in 45 days if you are better, however I think in cases like mine that would be really difficult as I have many tests to run and doctors to see and I am only on appointment #1.

My advice, if you feel like your body is under severe stress, speak up, while I loved my work and the people around me, its hard to make the decision for yourself because you want to stay and help so badly. What I learned about myself through this experience,  I don’t want to limit my ability to serve others to 27 months in Peace Corps, but a healthy long life of loving and finding ways to serve elsewhere. While going home was not something I expected, my community, friends and all my families have been extremely supportive, because the people around you always want what best, and all of them could see that I was sick.

I have to trust God on this one. I had no idea I was going to be separated and I have no idea what to do now, but I know when doors close, windows open so I’m going to get healthy and then look for windows.

Thanks for reading,

Lysette

My favorite picture, because this is as bad as I could ever imagine looking. Day 1 of sore eyes, when it was only in one eye

P.s. I am very determined person which means when I put my mind something it consumes me. I was really determined to make the most of my time in Peace Corps even if it meant suffering, every week I thought to myself, I can make it through, just one more day or one more week. I think many of my successes in Peace Corps was due to my sickness, since I felt so bad all the time I wanted to do as much work as possible so the suffering would be worth it.  I would have never made the decision to return home on my own, although the people who knew me best were always supportive of putting my health first, and to all those people, OKAY YOU WERE RIGHT! Haha!! And now you can really say, “I told you so.’ Haha. Thank you for loving me despite my ambitions.

What happened? And Why Am I back in America?

What happened? And Why Am I back in America?

Wednesday— Day 1 of my Journey Home

Around 4:30pm on a Wednesday afternoon I received a phone call from PCMO (the Peace Corps Doctors). It was a typical phone call with an unexpected turn that went something like this:

PCMO: How are you feeling today?

Me: Same as usual, I lost my voice 3 times today during school, I’m coughing the same cough I have had for the last year, and I’m exhausted, but same as usual.

PCMO: Okay, well PCMO DC just sent us a letter and you are Medically Separated.

Me: Huh??

PCMO: You will be going back to America

Me: Me???

PCMO: You will come to Manila on  Friday

Me: What!?!?????????????????????????????

PCMO: This is a lot to process, take a deep breathe.

Click.

I didn’t understand, was that my imagination, did that just happen? I needed to say it out loud, I  need to talk to someone. I had so many questions, PCMO told me they would answer my question in the Manila office, and that once DC decides it’s final.

I went outside of my room and told my host mom, she started to cry. I had no reaction, it didn’t seem real until I said it out loud to her. “I’m medically separated from Peace Corps,” I can still hear myself saying it.

We just hugged for a really long time, then while she was still grieving, I told her I need to call Jaron.

Calling Jaron and having to tell him that I was going to go home, and not knowing if/when I was going to say goodbye was overwhelming. I was scattered brain and freaking out, I feared we would not get the chance to say goodbye. Overwhelmed I had to think of everyone around me, and I knew I needed to rush to the school.

As school ended, I was worried I wasn’t even going to get to tell my principal the news. Some teachers live far away, and they tend to leave the school as soon as its its over. Two members from my host family walked with me to school, and supported me as I told my principal. As I walked I noticed everything differently, the way the little kids wave and smile at me. How they try and talk to me in the few words of English they know. I looked at the mothers who called me over to hold their babies. I saw the brightness of the trees, and listened how the wind wrestled the leaves even though I felt no breeze at all.

Then I felt sick to my stomach, approaching the school the students greeted me as normal. All shouting my name, and saying, “good afternoon.” They had no idea, and I couldn’t imagine breaking their hearts.

My principal smiled brightly as I entered her office, but her smile turned into a worry as she could feel my emotions. Being in a foreign country, we are often unable to express ourselves with words, but we focus on each others body language, without speaking she knew something was wrong. When I told her that I was medically separated, it was a concept that didn’t make sense. When I said I would be leaving the Philippines, it seemed she didn’t understand.

Then in the middle of her silence,she began to cry. Suddenly I felt my eyes wet. It had really hit me, my host family knew, Jaron knew, and now my school knew. I just wanted to get out of there. I didn’t tell any of the teachers, I just asked the principal if I could have a meeting with the teachers in the morning and tell them myself.

As I walked home, as I do everyday, it started to rain.

My host mom said that the Philippines was crying for their loss, mirroring our emotions and crying with us.

The worst part was that due to the time difference I had to wait for hours to tell my parents. Day one of no sleep. I was so mixed with emotions I didn’t know what to do, I was dying to wake them up, but there were so many questions that I didn’t have the answers to myself.

I had a scheduled speaking event for International Day in my town Plaza on that Thursday, and I had planned an Around the World day at my school for that Friday. I am very close to my host family, my first host family and of course I had my boyfriend Jaron, during the phone call I couldn’t’ really talk, my mind was full of all the people I was worried I wouldn’t have time to say goodbye to, let alone the students and teachers I considered my family.

I asked Peace Corps if I could please stay for my events and to say goodbye. They let me stay until Monday. At least it was some answer.

The journey of coming back to America has been long and full of emotions. I decided to break up my 4 day goodbye into parts, so part one is Wednesday. I think the best day was Friday.

Thanks for your support and for those of you who have welcomed me home, I am happy, much healthier, and have my first doctor’s appointment tomorrow.

Thanks for reading,

Lysette

The food I missed and can’t wait to taste again…..

Top Ten Places I need to go out eat still….

1. TacoBell—For those of you who know me… can you believe I haven’t done that yet?!?

2. Margaritas and Happy Hour at Chevys

3. Movie Theatre Popcorn

4. Coldstone Ice cream

5. Jamba Juice

6. Chipotle

7. Subway

8. Fresh Choice

9. Baja Fresh

10. Any Chinese Food—which is weird that I crave that because I didn’t really like Chinese Food too much.

Any takers?!??! Any recommendations!??!

Haha…now I’m going to go to bed hungry!

 

Also with all that food– who wants to join me at the gym!! haha

Thanks for reading,

Lysette

Top 10 Things About Living in America

Hello Friends,

Today makes 1 week back inAmerica, I have a lot to explain and a lot to share, but I don’t want to forget what it feels like to back inAmerica—so here are my top 10s.

Thanks for welcoming me home!!!

First 10 things I did when I arrived:

1. First vending machine I saw after getting through customs, I purchased a diet dr. pepper. Yum.
2. Was greeted with balloons and welcome signs by my mom and dad, we hugged, kissed, and didn’t block people as they passed (in thePhilippinesyou just stop wherever you want, I was happy not to block people)
3. Felt the cool, fresh, and very cold Sacramento Delta breeze and liked it.
4. Sat VERY comfortably in my dads SUV— WOAH so much space!
5. Appreciated the clear streets, flow of traffic and overall organization of the roads
6. Went to my sisters house with the smell of  homemade cupcakes baking in the oven— wore a mask(because I was sick)—so I could hold Baby Rockwell!! My 3 week old nephew.
7. Distributed presents…. Because I couldn’t wait to give them to my family
8. Cried, because I was overwhelmed with how rich my sisters house was in comparison to where I had just lived. I was not ready to go to my own house.
9. Went to my house, walked up to my room…..and am still in severe reverse culture shock.
10. Went into the fridge and ate exactly 1 bite of everything. Double yum—because my moms leftovers are the best!!!

Top 10 Things I LOVE LOVE LOVE Doing in America!

1. Going on walks with my family and not sweating before I even leave the house
2. Being Cold: I haven’t had a blanket over me in 14 months and needed it, also I’m wearing extra warm pants and have two blankets over me right now
3. Sleeping in my own bed without ants crawling all over me. I haven’t awoken to cockroaches, roosters, dogs, or pigs being slaughtered.
4. Fooooddddddddddd, everything tastes good. Better than I imagined.
5. Driving, even as a passenger, its so easy to get where I want, you can get so much done in one day.
   

   before walking into my house---- after being away from home it was a surreal feeling

6. Hot showers, smooth legs, and styled hair
7. Talking and seeing people I love
8. Realizing that I have so much more things than I need, and being willing to get   rid of some of those thing

9. Being able to pick up conversations with friends and family and feeling that our friendships are the same, and that however I’m different, or their different the people who really care about you will stay in your life.

10. The BEST THING— CLEAN AIRRRRRRRRRRRR– my coughing, and loosing of my voice everyday has already stopped!!

Feeding Rockwell!! Highlight moments of life!

 

Most asked question: What is the thing I miss most about thePhilippines?

Being tall!!!

I’m back in the land of giants, but it really feels like home.

More pictures and stories to come,

Thanks for reading,

Lysette