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.

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

50 Years of Peace Corps

* I wrote this blog before I heard the news today. I did a 50th Anniversary celebration that you will read about below, sadly earlier today 4 of the kids drowned in the same river we played in earlier, I don’t know which ones, but spending time with them, playing with them in that same water, its just so tragic. Please pray for their families.

swimming in the water with the kids, this is the water a few later drowned in just yesterday

50 Years of Peace Corps

At a young age I took an interest in politics, thus I ran for many student government positions. My junior year of High school I ran for Junior Class President. I modeled my speech after JFK, because I admired his words. I thought I was clever and instead of saying, “Its not what your country can do for you—but what you can do for country,” I said, “Its not what your school can do for you—but what you can do for your school.” I remember the auditorium bursting into laughter, except I wasn’t trying to be funny. I really believe in those words, I really believe that in life we should do things for others.

Committing to something for two years is huge. Before I came to Peace Corps I took my LSAT and was ready to go to Law School, but before I went, I wanted to do something for world; I wanted to be a part of something bigger than me.

Jaron playing with kids in the Rice Terraces

I wanted to understand what it means to be poor, hungry, and tired from working too hard. I wanted to invest myself into someone else’s future, as so many have invested into mine. I wanted to be exposed to a different lifestyle, so that no matter what job I do in the future I always can remember what it means to live with little. I don’t think I have shed much light on the lifestyle I live here. Let me paint a picture:

In America I spent more on gas in two weeks getting back and forth to work than I live off for everything, rent, food, transportation, basic needs, etc., in a month.

Imagine the difference.
Gas for 2 weeks =my entire life here

My Peace Corps experience has been all that I wanted, because it has been exactly that, what can I do for my community? As many of you know from blogs, I have had a intense journey, but every time it all feels like too much, I think about the big picture. Two years of my life, to infiltrate a community and do nothing but give yourself to your community in hopes that one day the things you do for them they will be able to do for each other is worth putting my other goals and ambitions on pause.

Being a member of Peace Corps this year in the Philippines has truly been something to celebrate.

Really becoming part of the culture, being measured in native clothes

Peace Corps is celebrating not only 50 years of service, but 50 years of service in the Philippines. Through these celebrations I have thought a lot about what other PCVs have been like. I watched a video with the first set of PCVs leaving America, and I wondered about what it was like for them. 50 years later we have medical support, materials, resources, phones, emails, trainings, systems, security, an ways to communicate needs. I can’t imagine joining 50 years ago, and to those people, I have the utmost respect.

Learning a native dance

 

 

 

Due to this milestone, Peace Corps allowed us to throw 50th Anniversary Celebrations. My first 50th celebration took place in May, very far from my site in a place called Banaue. For those of you reading this not from the Philippines, Banaue is one of the most widely famous areas of the Philippines, known as the rice terraces.

My months have been so busy I feared I would never have a chance to share with you one of my best experiences in Peace Corps, my trip to Banaue.

However, two weeks ago we had a celebration of 50 years of Peace Corps in my own area. The celebrations and activities were so different, that waiting to share my experience is actually a blessing because now I have a chance to shed light on the differences of two extreme differences in the Philippines, and what Peace Corps has done in the last 50 years.

50 Years of Peace Corps Ifuego

After being called up to Manila for medical, I was able to join the 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Ifuego. The trip was long and exhausting. The bus ride from Manila to Ifuego was 14 hours, because wait for it… our bus caught on fire. This is the second time in my life I have been on a bus that has caught on fire—not really good odds. By the time we made it to Ifuego we were exhausted, but amazed at how different the climate was. We took a jeep to the rice terraces and I was amazed at its beauty. It was one of the most peaceful moments I have ever had in my life. In this case, you don’t need my words, see for yourself:

The Rice Terraces, Banaue

The levels of the rice terraces, and the variations of green where breathtaking

1-2 hours of picking was one handle worth of rice, that makes about one bowl

We spend the weekend in a farm house, where we had the opportunity to actually harvest rice and do activities at the local school. My biggest fear was that I would find a leech on me, as they warned us that leeches often attach to you when you step in the mud.

Picking rice!!

The only dismay I found after harvesting rice was that my legs and arms were itchy, like blades for grass that cause microscopic cuts that somehow itch like crazy. The work overall gave me a huge respect for the rice I eat.

 

Besides the weather being much cooler, a huge difference from Iloilo to Banaue was the students ability to read and speak Engish at their grade level or higher. A group of PCVs planned on reading to the students at the local elementary school, but instead they read to us.

After our weekend in the Rice Terraces, we ventured back to Ifuego for one of my favorite experiences of Peace Corps. We did a native Ifuego dance, in native clothes. It was an amazing opportunity to really feel a part of another culture.

All the single ladies, all the single ladies

Another event was the HIV/AIDS Fun Run with an educational seminar after the run. I had been to the HIV/AIDS training in Manila a few months prior and it was the first time I was able to help lead HIV/AIDS related activities. It made me nervous to address a large group, in a language different than the one I am familiar with, but the students were able to understand and enjoyed the activities.

The Boys in Native Clothes before the dance

Finally the best moment of all, and the main difference between Ifuego and students in Iloilo was how brave the students were. After school some students came to our Peace Corps booth. One of them came up to me and asked right away if I was American. In Iloilo you have to build up the students confidence before you can speak with them, in this case the students wanted to converse. Their English abilities were out of control good. I asked a few of them if they wanted to play a game. I was able to explain the rules just one time and they were able to understand them easily. Soon our group of 5 turned to 10, than 15, than 20. Than I needed some assistance from the other PCVs, Jaron and my friend Mary joined the group. It seemed by the end there were about 30 kids playing a game I randomly made up. It was so fun, and I hated to leave. I loved the ease of making a connection with the students. At my site, you have to work to connect with students, but once you do, its truly magical.

It was a week away from site, but it served as a lifetime of experiences.

50th Anniversary Iloilo Style

At the Ati Village

During training we had the opportunity to visit an indigenous site. In the 1980s, I PCV was assigned to the area and was able to help the people keep the land. Over 20 years later and the 5 of us from Iloilo wanted to do something for the community we first fell in love with. My favorite picture of Peace Corps so far was taken by another PCV, Amari. She was able to capture a moment that I find the essence of the Peace Corps experience. A baby exploring my face and the difference of someone from a different culture, it constantly amazes me how babies are able to see the differences in those around them. You can see them react to the tone of our voices, and shape of our teeth, but mostly the desire to grab our nose.

Baby Shark! A song PCVs like to do with the kids

Indigenous people here in the Philippines are called Ati. It is similar to that of Native Americans. The Ati were displaced all over Iloilo, they really needed a home. Ati are often found begging for money in the city. They usually have little to no clothes. My host father at my first home called them, “The ones with the Kinky hair.” The Ati are much darker in color than other Pilipinos. They also live naturally off of the land, but there is still much garbage. We decided to do a trash clean up, and a small English style camp.

 

 

Carrying this boy up and down the hills to pick up trash was more work than you can imagine

As always a few of the children stole my heart. The boy pictured to the right loved to be held, and didn’t allow me to put him down. It was very difficult to climb up rocks and down to the river and up hills carrying a baby to pick up trash. I had a new respect for the woman and how hard they had to work carrying their children.

The little girls working together to gather trash

The second child that really made an imprint was one who I had sitting on my lap. All of sudden she realized I was different and she started SCREAMING!!!! I have never scared a little girl so bad. I tried to make it up to her but she was so frightened by me. By the end of the event she was following me around, so I know she wasn’t scared anymore just curious.

Baby Shark! A song PCVs like to do with the kids

My group for picking up trash, look at the little girl in the prom dress

cleaning up trash

When we first arrived at the site, surprise surprise, they weren’t ready for us. We had a presentation and several other things planned but the majority of the people were in church. There were several children whoever, who were not in church. So I tried to teach them how to play “tag.” It didn’t really work, it was just me as a “monster” trying to tag the kids.

It was wonderful to hear so many giggles, but man was that a work out. There was a lot of little kids, a lot of hills and only one me. Still it was fun for all of us.

At the end of our activity we went down to the river to take pictures… the water was beautiful and kids were having so much fun that I had to jump in and take part of the off the beauty.

 

Just as I thought the day couldn’t get any better…. It did!

I get to check off a major item on my to-do list: PET A MONKEY!

I was so happy!!

 

There was a native monkey. And I can’t tell you how honestly scared I was to touch it. While small, it looked mean. Like the children who can tell there is something different about me. Eventually it grabbed onto my finger. WE HELD HANDS <3333 true love status.

 

 

 

 

creeping closer to him...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

making contact-- dreams come true-- petting a monkey

 

All that’s is left on my check list

- Swim with a shark
- Ride and Elephant
- Save the world (haha jk)

As always thanks for letting me share my life with you. While my experiences differ drastically from day to day, the purpose is the same. I can’t believe how much I have learned about others and how much I have been able to share about myself. I look at all the events that shaped my life to bring me to this moment, how I learned games like tag as a child, and how those games help make a connection with others. I guess what I’m saying is that the life events you have now are all experiences that can eventually be shared and valued by someone else, and that is what Peace Corps is to me, a chance to be exactly who you are and to accept others for exactly who they are.

Happy 50 years Peace Corp Philippines!

Thanks for reading,

Lysette

 

Highlight moment, the kids don't have mirrors, they don't know what they look like, so they all stopped to see their reflection, it was magical

Music of my Peace Corps Experience

My Compilation CD  that  Reflect my 1^st year in Peace Corps

InAmerica, any track I listened to was all about the beat. I rarely listened to words, I wanted music give back the energy I put out there. When I’m out for a jog or extremely tired, I still crave those beats, but the music I listen to, that makes me feel better on a bad day, gives me inspiration on a sad day, or reminds me about the worth of life has become even more important to me. So if you’re a fellow PCV, maybe these songs can make you feel better on a down day, or if you’re just a stranger, its amazing how music can really reach the core of who a person is, and I’m sure you will see me in all these songs.

 

Song 1: Heavens Eyes- Featured In the Motion Picture Prince of Egypt

Favorite Lyric: “A single thread in a tapestry, though its color brightly shines, can never see its purpose in the pattern of the grand design”

PCV Mood: WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING??? What sustainability??

 

Song 2: Perfect Day by Hoku

Favorite Lyric: “Im in the race but I already won, and getting there can be half the fun, so don’t stop me until I’m good and done,  it’s the perfect day. Nothing is going to bring me down.”

PCV Mood: I worked really hard on this project, it is going to work.

 

Song 3: Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine

Favorite Lyric: “Run fast for your mother run fast for your father, Run for your children for your sisters and brothers, Leave all your love and your longing behind you, Can’t carry it with you if you want to survive.”

PCV Mood: There is no turning back, no where to hide, but the worst is over, only 15 more months!

 

Song 4: High School Never Ends- Bowling for Soup

Lyrics: “The Whole Damn World is just as obsessed, With who‘s the best dressed and (who’s having sex), Who‘s got the money. Who (gets the honeys), Who‘s kinda cute and who‘s just a mess”

PCV Mood: Am I in high school still (in regards to how PCV’s interact, gossip, and exclude/include others)?? But really the whole world is.

 

Song 5: Mulan- “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”

Lyric: Tranquil as a forest, But on fire within, Once you find your center, You are sure to win, You’re a spineless, pale pathetic lot, And you haven’t got a clue, Somehow I’ll make

a man out of you

PCV Mood: Sometimes you don’t think you are ready for it… but in the end it will work out.

 

Song 6:  Don’t you – Simple Minds

Don’t you forget about me  (don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t) , Don’t you forget about me , Would you recognize me? Call my name, or walk on by? Rain keeps falling – rain keeps falling down, down, down, down”

PCV Mood: My friends wont forget me will they?

 

Song 8: Fat Bottom Girls- Queen

Lyrics: “Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin’ world go round”

PCV Mood: I just was called, fat, big, chubby or large, but really I like what I got.

 

Song 9:Island in the Sun by Weezer

Favorite Lyric: On an island in the sun, We’ll be playing and having fun, And it makes me feel so fine, I can’t control my brain.”

PCV Mood: I forgot I live on anIsland because all I ever do is hang out in my school, room or plaza.

 

Song 10: It’s My Life- Bon Jovi

Lyric: “Better stand tall when they are calling you out, don’t’ bend don’t break, don’t back down. I’m not going to live forever, I just want to live while I’m alive.”

PCV Mood: After pooping your pants, throwing up your breakfast, itching from mosquitoes, stuck in bed with a fever even though it’s a million degrees, and people ask you, “Why are you still doing Peace Corp again?”

 

Song 11: When Love Takes Over by David Guetta

Favorite Lyric: “Look out for you to hold my hand. It feels like I could fall. Now love me right, like I know you can, we could loose it all. When love takes over, you know you can’t deny.

PCV Mood: I’m in a relationship in peace corps, I am more vulnerable, cried more tears, felt more defeated, more empty, but still there is someone to grab your hand. (And for me, that person is Jaron, thank you Jaron.)

 

Bonus Track: WAKA WAKA- Shakira

Favorite Lyric: Well the lyrics don’t really matter on this song

PCV Mood: I have heard this way way way too many times, but I will include it on my playlist anyways

 

Shout out Track: Tarzan- You’ll be in my heart

Favorite Lyric: My arms will hold you, Keep you safe and warm, This bond between us, Can’t be broken, I will be here , Don’t you cry

PCV Mood: I miss my mom.

My Year in Numbers

My Year In Numbers

My Year In Numbers

0 Number of Vacation Days Taken—soon to be rectified!

1 Year in Peace Corps (in 6 days)

1.5 Number of liters of water I drink per meal on a hot day

2 Number of Languages I am trying to learn

3 Number of Houses I have lived in

4 Number of Cockroaches that have crawled on me…that I’m aware of…

4.5 Number of inches my hair has grown…aka the longest roots I have ever had before

5 Number of times I have eaten Taco Bell while in thePhilippines, also that amount of schools I have done Teacher Trainings at with other PCV’s

6 Number of days spent in the hospital

My sister is Over 7 months pregnant….looking forward to that one

8 Number of English Teachers I work with

9 Amount of days I have gone without shaving (not as bad as I thought it would be)

10.5 Number of Months I have been dating Jaron, and I feel so blessed, thanks Jaron.

11 Amount of people I consider my immediate family in the Philippines, My first host family, Sir Seth, Ma’am Sol, Grace and Suseth, and my second host family, Nanay Atett, Tatay Nong, Rhea Joy, Merlin, Joleynda, Mary Jane and baby Nikki

12Number of purses given to me since arriving in thePhilippines

14 Number of places I have visited in thePhilippines, Cebu, Leyte, Boracay, Banaue, Sagada,Manila,Bacolod, Antique,Iloilo, Gumerias, Alklan, Bagiao, Ifuego, Sagay, Kabankalan

24 My new age!

26 hours spent playing Bejeweled…sadly that’s the truth

51 Books in my room, 41 to read, 10 read

50 Years of Peace Corps in the Philippines Events took place, for mine, I got to go native

150 pesos, the amount it cost for my favorite meal, a spinach calzone at Sabarro

320 Number of pesos I spend minimum per month on my cell phone

443 emails currently in my inbox from my mother

358 Days since I have missed my family and friends inAmerica

465 gb of Movies, Music and TV shows to keep me entertained at all times (Thanks other PCV’s)

1,939 number of friends on Facebook—most of them being new friends in thePhilippines!

2,040 estimate of students taught so far….and counting

2,384 number of tagged pictures on Facebook

2,600 number of students at my school

7,226 number of hits on my blog since it started on my 23^rd birthday (thanks mom haha)

25748 messages sent on my phone sent

And the best number of all of them… 12/16/2011… the day I get to go home and visit my family!

The Too High to Count Numbers

Ants Eaten

Beads of sweat dripped

Burps witnessed publicly

Pounds of Smog inhaled

Number of days spent sick

Additional members in my family

A Quick Note

I just wanted to say thank you for your support this year. Peace Corps has truly been harder than I could have imagined with tribulations coming in ways I didn’t expect. Nevertheless, I feel extremely blessed by God to be place in the community I live in and surrounded by people far and near who are kinder than I deserve. I am positive about this year, and the projects I’m starting in my community. I’m praying this year that my energies spent will really serve my community well.

Thank you very much for being a part of my life,

And as always thanks for reading,

Lysette

(p.s. thanks mom and dad for having me )

(p.p.s I spent a lot of time lining up the pictures for each number and it didn’t work so now its just a bunch of pictures…but enjoy)

Welcome to Peace Corps

The Glorious Rare Days of eating TACO BELL in Manila!!!!!!!

Days spent in the Hospital...not prettys pregnant….looking forward to that one! Congrats!!

The English Department!

18 of us PCV's practiced together and preformed in native clothing and G-strings!

My family, Dad, Rocco, Mom, Tensie, and Sister, Amber

Sir Seth and Grace took me to ride a Carabao in my first host family!

Peace Corps Office Manila

My Second Host Family, whom I currently live with

The Big Moment, Swearing into Peace Corps

Scariest Picture Part 2

Scariest Picture of the Year Part 1

My Backyard (sideyard/frontyard) in the Philippines

My Backyard in America... as you can see a very different life

I teach at School and at Camps outside of the school

My Sister is Pregnant!! Congrats Amber and Donald!

Before Peace Corps....

Almost 1 year into Peace Corps, the After notice any differences?!?! haha

The Chronicles of Life and Death

DEATH

Death is an awful tragic thing, which no one wants to experience. We fear it, and in our American culture we move past it so quickly. When someone dies, we burry them quickly, and we try our best to move on, we fight our tears and we keep busy. Until I came here, I was okay with this, but something has really moved me here, and caused me to change my view of death.

Almost three weeks ago I was at a fiesta (a towns Philippine Party, there is one somewhere in the Philippines everyday). I was enjoying California wine (it was a really fancy party) and peanuts, (both extreme pleasures and rare) when my table suddenly all received the same text. We rushed to St. Pauls, the hospital, a place all to familiar to me, and a place that I frankly despise.

An aunt, who was about to turn 90 years old had fallen and hit her head in a place where she lost her memory and site. The week prior I went over to the Aunts house, she was an Elementary teacher and loved to practice her English with me, and she invited me to her birthday party before the family had even planned it. Many of the older people here love to touch me, and usually fight over holding my forearm. If I go to leave a house, they continue to hold it so I am unable to leave, and this aunt always had the best grip of everyone. No matter who was grabbing my arm, I could always feel her grip. She was strong and healthy, and then she fell.

Being at the hospital was on overwhelming experience, I saw family after family member arrive. I was allowed into the emergency room, and just as I came they were putting in her IV and the last thing I saw of her was blood squirting out on the bed. I cringed not because of the blood, but because of the love each child had for their mother. It was an awful experience.

I waited the rest of the evening outside and befriended a cousin who kept me company and eventually drove me home around 2am. While I slept, I thought about the family and how they wouldn’t be able to sleep, and how hard it is to think that if someone is hurt in my family I won’t be able be there. It’s a scary thought. And I pray it doesn’t happen.

Sadly, two days later, she passed away.

this is where the people from the town come and pray everyday on the outside of the house

THE WAKE

A few of the many arrangements that filled the home

I have been at a funeral where there was an open casket, I remember seeing the body and being fearful. In one of my favorite movies, Home Alone, when the band member is driving the mother home he tells a story of how he left his child at a funeral parlor and it messed his kid up for a while. For these reasons, and American culture in general I have been afraid of dead bodies. Perhaps. I have watched too many scary movies, but to talk about them as I am writing this blog late at night is scaring me.

Yet, after my experience here, I view death so differently. I have been to 4 wakes so far, the body lays in a casket in a central location and

My first day at the wake, they let me sit with the family. Many friends and neighbors sat on the outside of the house praying and participating in mass. When I entered they sat me in the room about 2ft from the body. I tried my best not to look, but eventually I did, I prayed that it was going to be like an episode of truly and she was going to say “help me” and the day would repeat, but no such thing occurred.

The prayers when in Kinarya, my training was in Ilongo, and I really havn’t learned much kinarya so I didn’t understand a thing. It mostly sounded like soft mumbles, chanting of some sort that was in a tone I had never heard before. I fought tears. It was an unforgettable experience, they way her friends and family honored her, and loved God. Although I didn’t understand the words, I understood the love and I felt the dedication.

The wake was inside of house, people prayed around the body for weeks

THE FAMILY

Filipino families are much like Hispanic families, meaning there are a TON of people. This isn’t difficult for me because my mother is one of seven. When I was young we would get together and have sleepovers, play games and eat food. The same occurred. All the cousins stayed up together sharing secrets, playing card games and spending the ngith together.

I fit right in to the family, well except that I don’t eat meat, but besides that it was lovely. Family came from all over, places PCV’s aren’t allowed to go, and across America. One of the cousins came from San Diego, it was amazing to see how much of the culture I have learned as we compared the differences.

A highlight moment was when the whole family got together to take a group picture. I offered to take the picture because obviously I’m not real family. Then after a few pictures the cousins, aunts and uncles insisted that I join for a few pictures. It wasn’t my host family who called for me to be in the pictures, but the people I had just met, it was an overwhelming feeling of acceptance that I didn’t know I longed for but suddenly felt.

The nieces and nephews who live in San Miguel and I know well told everyone I was their sister, and to everyone else that they could be my cousins. This made me really happy, and I can’t describe to you the joy I found in the countless conversations I had.

My host parents, nanay and tatay

Playing cards with my all the relatives-- and eventually a sleep over

GHOSTS

The strangest conversation was with a cousin who is writing her thesis on Indigenous cultures and sustainability. She shared with me about traditions in San Miguel. She told me they look for animals/insects to tell when its going to rain. The geckos in the house make a noise, “toca” odd numbers mean its raining, even that its not. If the ants climb up the wall it will rain. Black ants and brown moths mean fortune. It goes on and on. Then she asked me if I have visited a healer, those are people who practice doctor like traditions of the native degree. They put herbs on you and do other things to heal you. I told the cousin I had been sick most of my visit here and she said I needed to go to one, that a volunteer was here in the early 70’s and was sick all the time until she went to the healer.

She also asked me if my host mom had brought me to the back of the house to introduce me.  I was really confused, “Introduce me to who?” She said that when visitors come the owners must take the visitor to the back of the house and say, “This is our visitor please do not touch her.” She never really answered who, but I think she meant spirits. I learned so much that evening it was really hard to take in, and I’m not sure what I’m missing. I told her I was having trouble sleeping and she said that is why.

When I got back to the house I told the helpers that I needed to be introduced to the back of the house. They asked me why. I told them I had trouble sleeping. One of them said, “in our culture if you can’t sleep it means that someone is watching you.”

OTHER TRADITIONS THAT AREN’T SO SCARY

1. the family is responsible for feeding the EVERY person who comes every meal and snack. ( so for three weeks the family has been supply every meal)
2. Prayers and mass are held throughout the day
3. The wake lasts as long as it takes for all the family members to say goodbye (it could go for longer than a month)
4. You are not to shower during the wake in the house, three days after you go to the ocean and wash
5. Gambling- the first few wakes I went to I thought it was rude that people would be playing games and gambling and I didn’t understand how that was respectful it was just explained to me that a portion of the money goes back to the host family from the winnings, so to help pay for the costs friends and neighbors gamble and then kick back some of the money
6. Gambling also helps with staying awake, someone is to stay awake with the body 24/7

THE FUNERAL

The morning of the funeral was hotter than most. Around noon my family headed over to the house of the wake. We did another prayer hour. Then the family took turns taking pictures with the open casket. Each family took a turn. I didn’t participate in the picture taking, I’m still not that comfortable with the body situation.

The teachers singing in honor of a fallen teacher

There was a full marching band, the car with the casket, and then the family. Everyone wore black and white. Just as we left the house the day turned from hot to cool, and sprinkle of rain matched the emotions of the family as though the sky was also mourning the loss of such an outstanding person.

The car that lead the parade

How did I know she was an outstanding person?? Almost as many people came to the funeral as did on Christmas. The church was beyond packed, and people brought their own chairs to sit outside. The messages and words of family and friends left me inspired to be a person as faithful and kind as a woman I barely knew, but wanted to be like.

The good news is the cousins from America were complaining how hot it was and sweating up a storm, it didn’t feel that bad to me, I think that means my body is adapting.

The Mass was from around 2pm-5pm. As people began to get up, I thought that was over, in comparison to an American service that was already very long. I was very very wrong. We then walked from the Church to the cemetery. All in all, from what I gathered we walked 3 miles. The walk was beautiful and sad. I looked behind me and saw a sea of people, the family prepared 1,500 food bags for after the service.

At the funeral over 1,500 people came

We then got to the cemetery and prayed again, they cemented the body into the tomb after friends and family dropped flowers in and said their last goodbyes.

They then dispersed the food, and we were at the cemetery well into the darkness. A gecko ran over my foot, and my legs were eaten up. I had no idea the day would go like that and didn’t put on bug spray. So fellow PCVers in case you are reading this, bring your repellents if you attend a funeral . Inside of the bag was a very special treat….A RECEES PIECES CUP!! I’m still saving it for a really bad day, but it was a really good end to the day despite everything.

SAYING GOODBYE

Even now, it’s difficult to explain the impact that this experience had on my life. The way I will honor the dead, respect the dead and love the dead will be forever changed. I have never seen a group of people mourn in such a beautiful way.  I have slept better knowing that “one of the people starring at me” could be mama opum. I don’t feel afraid, because I feel that the people who live here really love each other and while death is inevitable, life isn’t. It has really helped me focus on making the most of my life because I saw how many people were affected by one tiny woman. She died only a few weeks before her 90^th birthday. I can only hope that I can follow in her footsteps and make a fragment of the difference she made into every life she touched.

Thank you mama opum for teaching me about life, and the love that you have shared with so many will forever be reflected through your family and friends.

Thanks for reading,

Lysette

VOLUNTEER, TEACHER AND …MAGICIAN

VOLUNTEER, TEACHER AND …….MAGICIAN

NORMALCY OR SOMETHING LIKE IT…

In my life prior to Peace Corp I would say that my calendar was extremely overbooked, and that is exactly how I like to live. Adjusting to my life here means adjusting to free-time; a concept that I have never made the time to explore. I tried really hard to like it, but I am happiest when I am busy, and I have to find a way to stay busy if I’m going to be true to who I am.

MY FIRST PROJECT

I really took time to assess what was needed at my school. I want to help as many students as possible, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it exactly. For the last quarter I have been co-teaching in all 4 grade levels, in order to expose both the students and myself to each other. I worked with the highest, lowest and even the middle sections. I enjoyed the diversity that each day had to offer, being exposed to all the grade levels gave me great perspective as what it would be like to both be a teacher and a student.

One day I needed to print something out for Peace Corp. I thought I thoroughly examined the campus, and understood that the upstairs building was only offices. I was wrong. There was a computer lab of 24 computers, and a Math teacher who taught one computer class to the first years who ran the lab. 24 computers and only 1 computer class!?!

Margot, the name of the teacher, is brilliant with computers; he set up the entire lab, and spends a great deal of time fixing computer and other components that are constantly breaking. After many visits and conversations I started to work on a proposal. I wrote out a syllabus of things I wanted to teach, and made my first three lesson plans. I sat down with the principle and proposed a computer class. Upon discussion with the other teachers, we decided that the 4th year students could use the class the most, as they may go to College and need to type a paper, or maybe a future job will include some prior knowledge of computers.

They then asked me, “Which sections do you want to teach,” and I of course replied, “All of them.” I didn’t want to be unfair, and just pick the highest sections, I wanted to make sure each child had the chance to learn. What does teaching all the 4th year students mean exactly?? It means the return of the overly booked Lysette Davis, which of course for me means happiness.

The timing of all of this meant that I have one quarter to teach the students all the basics of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. There are 9 sections of year four, and due to the fact that the lab won’t contain all 60 students per section, I have to divide the class into 2, meaning 18 computer classes. On top of my Computer classes I will continue with the English program. I will teach: Year 1 section, 5,8, and 9. Year 2 section 1 and 10. Year 4 section 1. The way the schedule works, I can’t obviously teach that many students at once so I switch classrooms. I adore the 2-1 kids, and bonded with them really well, but the 4-1 class is at the same time. The teachers really want 4-1 to get as much exposure to me as possible, so every other week I will switch classes, the same for the 1-8 and 1-9. Nevertheless, it means that I get to work with over 15 different sections. Each section has about 55-60 kids (however that does not mean they come to school), but that gives me the potential to work with almost 900 students. To type that number I suddenly feel overwhelmed, but excited at the opportunity.

I will never forget how I felt the first time the students walked through the class. Since the class isn’t in the curriculum, it can’t be graded, its not mandatory to come. I was so nervous that they students wouldn’t come, or they wouldn’t like the class, and a million other things. But they came, and they liked it. If you could see my smile as I typed this, I think you would be pleased as well.

ABOUT THE COMUTER CLASS

I thought teaching computers would be easy. Since I’m only teaching the basics, I thoroughly planned lessons, and by now I thought we would be wrapping up Word, and moving on to Excel. That I fear may not happen.

For the majority of the classes, they have never touched a computer. I started the classes by explaining the most used keys on the computer, like backspace and spacebar, and then move into the components. You would think that part of the lesson would be easy, but try explaining backspace when the student has never seen the ‘space’ or understand why you would need to delete something or even what it means to delete. It is much more difficult that I ever could have imagined.

I spent a lot of time on my first lesson, to teach the students how to move the mouse. Margot helped me set up a lesson I made on each computer. When the students filed in, of course it didn’t work, so I changed the lesson and had them practice their mouse skills through the art of Paint. I told them they had to write their name and/or a message to me. There are about 1-3 students in most of the classes who are more familiar with the computer, and I feel awful for boring them to such a degree, but for the others its as thought I’m teaching rocket science.

The first challenge is the language gap, they have no idea what I’m saying, and I don’t have any idea the terms in Kinarya. I just go to each computer one by one and show them over and over again. I have 7 classes on Fridays, you can imagine how exhausting it can get.

The students are known to be late, yet they are usually on time. More boys come to the classes than girls. They are eager to learn, as I am eager to teach.

THE MAGIC

When I show the students how to change the font, or to cut and copy using the key board controls, I feel like I’m showing them a magic trick. Whenever I change the color of something the students all get excited and simultaneously “OOOOOOO” at the changes. I never would have imagined that such simple things could have an effect, but it’s a really amazing experience.

ATTENDANCE

On Fridays I really get worn out, this last week I was teaching them how to open Word, to make bullet points, change the font, color, size, and to center their name. This meant a lot of explaining and re-explaining. Last week my 4-5 class came 30 minutes late, as it was the class after lunch and most students go home to eat and don’t make it back on time. Only 6 girls came from the section. I felt really tired after lunch, as my class before lunch ran long, I only had 20 minutes to race home, eat and return. I was secretly hoping that the class would be late, and that it would bring in small numbers again. To my surprise about 30 students were there waiting for me, on time.

I suddenly felt extremely selfish; I couldn’t believe that I wanted the kids to come late or to only have a small number. When you watch the students touch the computer for the first time it is the most beautiful experience, and I wanted to deprive them of that so I wouldn’t feel tired. My whole purpose in being here is to help as many students as possible; the experience was a great reminder of that purpose.

As the material gets harder, so does my headaches, but then I remind myself that these students are getting the opportunity to do something that they otherwise would have never had the chance, and I push through. After all, I am happiest when I’m overbooked and working hard, and I can truly say that I am. And that my friends, makes me extremely happy.

Thanks for reading,

Lysette

Bringing in the New Year

Bringing in the New Year

This year sounds like a magical fairytale when I put it on paper. I spent New Years Eve on one of the best beaches in the Philippines watching fireworks, with my boyfriend and friends, and then proceeded to dance the night away. Yet those mild descriptions really do not quite convey the life I lead. It’s ironic that I would bring in the New Year with so many American friends, yet during the year I will rarely see them. When I left Boracay we all joked with each other, ‘see you next holiday,’ but its not really funny, it’s true. It really put into perspective for me how my life has changed. Can you imagine just seeing friends for holidays?

I’m very lucky to live near some Peace Corp volunteers so it’s not as dramatic as I’m making it sound, yet at the same time, and especially for me, it made me realize how much my life has changed.

When the New Year rolls around I think most people think about things they want to change, at least when I was in America that’s what I thought about. Now that I’m here, I’m pretty content with my life, the simplicity of it all. I feel healthy, I get to exercise most everyday, I get to serve people, and newly I get time to reflect. In America I was way too busy to reflect, I moved from one activity to the next, never really concerning how my actions affected others. My challenge to you, is to take a moment and reflect. Reflect about how you effect others, because if you really want to change, you have to reflect. If that would have been my New Years Resolution years ago, who knows if I would be a better person today.

Okay well that all sounds a bit depressing, but its not meant to be. Being content with life is a good place to be. But, its time to share with you my New Year Adventure….

MY NEW YEAR ADVENTURE

It started at Sir Seths house, my old host house. I gave them Uno cards when I first moved in and we played late into the night. They gave me presents, a pair of flip flops and a Disney coffee mug. They seemed to really enjoy the presents I gave them, especially the picture frame of “our family.” It sat there in the center of the room, and I saw my reflection, a reflection that showcased an emotion I didn’t think I could experience away from my friends and family at Christmas, but it was happiness. I had the same smile on my face as I did in the picture, a reminder for my really bad days that its really not that bad at all.

The next day Jaron surprised me. He gave me Christmas. It was the nicest most wonderful generous thing that has happened to me here in the Philippines. Instead of framing a picture of me and him, he gave me one of my parents. Now to some of you that might not seem like much, but to me, it meant the world. He knows how importantl my family is to me, and it was a beautiful gift. Also he gave me more pictures of friends and family back home (with blonde hair so of course I was happy).

Later that night, Jaron and I decided to run errands to save as much money as we could in Boracay. We spent about 2 hours in the grocery store deciding what to get. The thing we want most is protein bars, but they are non existent here. We settled on a lot of peanut butter and jelly and snack foods, water, Gatorade and soda. For dinner that night we ate ice cream. It was really funs shopping, a. it was air con, and b. we went up and down every isle deciding how much we wanted to spend. I really enjoyed it.

The next day we left for Boracay, a treasure of the Philippines. The weather was rainy and the drive was long. We left at 5:30 am in hopes to make it by noon. Kelcey, another volunteer met up with us. There were not enough seats for us to all sit together, so Kelcey and I sat in the back while Jaron sat in the front. Kelcey and I had a great time catching up, I loved hearing about your site, her similar fear to cockroaches, and her success in defeating a large house spider (something I would not attempt to do at this point).

As people got off the bus, Jaron moved seats in order to move closer to Kelcey in I. It was really funny to watch him bounce seat to seat. Finally we were all together just in time for one of the most memorable experiences I will ever have on a bus. The bus was a lot smoother than other ones I had been on, last time I rode the bus the trip was supposed to take 4 hours, it took 2 ½. The bus driver seemed drunk and reckless, and its amazing we survived. This driver was steady, and I didn’t feel sick at all.

The bus driver put in an awful movie first, “Little Man,” please NEVER see it. When the movie was over I was excited for what was next, no way could two movies be so bad in a row. I was wrong. Very very wrong. The next selections was a series of music videos that a prisoner should have to listen to and watch on death row. Its hard to explain the absurdness of the music videos, the dancing, the costumes, the lyrics, the cheesiness. The fact that the people on the bus where somehow enjoying sounds that made me want to vomit was more than entertaining. The first two songs were funny because they were so awful, but by music video number 10, I don’t know how everyone didn’t feel suicidal. I don’t understand how that many bad music videos can exist and that someone could find them and put them on one disk, and then people would listen to it for pleasure. It was crazy, and I really can’t describe how terrible it was. You would think, “lysette put on your ipod,” the problem with the bus, they blared it, my ipod speakers were no competition for the songs on the bus.

Finally, it came to an end and we made it!! I was happy for two reasons, the first being I never had to listen to something that awful again, and second because my vacation had begun!

BORACAY

We took a tryke to the beach front and walked to our resort.  Quickly changed into our swimsuits and headed out to the beach for the day. Sadly the beach was really rainy, but we stayed in the water anyway. The day passed quickly, and suddenly it was New Years Eve!!

I changed into a dress, my first unnecessary purchased of the Philippines, 250 pesos. Buying the dress was so weird to me, I used to go shopping all the time, and I felt like I was spending so much. It wasn’t a nice dress or anything, a casual beach dress, but it made me feel like a girl and I was happy in it.

The night was as wonderful as I could have wanted it to be, the fireworks were mesmerizing. My favorite movie when I was little was this Kid Songs movie about kids going to a theme park. I remember the colors from the fireworks reflecting off of the children, their jaws dropping and the ooo’s and ahh’s that came from their lips. In life there are very few times that people act like a pure genuine child, but when fireworks go off, I can see the genuine enjoyment from everyone around, and it makes me ridiculously happy. As much as I like watching the fireworks, I like to glance around the crowd and see how nothing has really changed since I watched that movie when I was seven, fireworks are amazing to experience, like watching the sky light up through the art of an imaginary artist that uses the night as the canvas. I simply love it.

 

After the fireworks came dancing. The group split up into many directions, but I was lucky enough to get to go to the dance club. The highlight moment for me was that there was a large screen projecting these dancing robots, and Jaron and I thought it would be funny to copy them. It was really fun. The music at the place overall was too technoy for my taste, but I had so much fun dancing, I wasn’t ready to leave.

 

Of course as night became day, it was time to go back to the room. I slept until 11:00 in the afternoon, something that is completely unlike me. Its very hard for me to stay in bed past 7:00am here. I get restless, and I have to get up. That’s the summary of how much fun we had.

We spent the rest of the day at the beach and getting gifts, and playing card games with friends before going out of the evening. We heard that everyone was going to this place called “Jungle” which was on the completely other side of the island. It was stormy and rainy, scary movie style, and as we approached what appeared to be a nightclub with no music or any people around my imagination runs wild with all the scary movies I have seen.

There was a bartender, 4 Australians and a group of 8 of us. We landed playing pool under a tent that was caving in due to the rain. It actually turned out to be quite adventurous and fun, imagine 8 of us under a tent listening to the banging noises of the rain, while waiting for our friends to arrive. Eventually we just decided to meet up with our friends, and we went back to the place we had been all the other nights called “L Bar.”

It was on top of a roof that didn’t have a cover over the dance floor so everyone danced in the rain, and said our goodbyes, as we don’t know when the next time we will be able to see any of these people again.

The last morning we were there, I set my alarm for 8am, I wanted a full morning of beach. Well it rainy, and cold (cold for the Philippines). Too cold to go into the water. Instead Jaron and walked along the beach and found these cool caves, and the true beauty of Boracay. It really sucked that the weather was so awful, but I can definitely see why people come, on a summer day it really would be like a slice of paradise. I brought my underwater camera, but didn’t have the chance to use it, so we got in the water anyway and snapped a few pictures despite the coolness of the day.

We took a long bus ride back, and finally made it home. I was extremely exhausted. The next day was a school day, and it was time to get back to work.

I can’t wait to tell you all what I have been up to at the school, but this blog is getting long, so I will end here and write more soon.

 

I hope you had a wonderful New Years!!! And if you made a resolution I hope your still with it D

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Lysette