November 16, 2010
Ahh, so much has happened since my last blog! I have been so incredibly busy, finishing training, completing (and passing!) my language proficiency interview, and attending a conference in Bacolod before permanently moving to Dao, Capiz. I will try to touch on the highlights of the past few weeks.
My despidida party at the school
The students planned a going-away program for me (without my knowledge) and performed several songs, including a song in Filipino and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”. We took lots of pictures and they all gave me small gifts with notes. I really do not enjoy crying in public settings, but something about the shy gratitude of the students, and the sincerity of their notes, had me shedding tears along with the students who I had only worked with for a few weeks. One student of mine, John Carl, when I looked over at him, had tears rolling down his face. He had always been an enthusiastic participant in class, willing to be the first one to raise his hand, and was a great example to the other pupils. His personality made him one of my favorites. Chris John, the classic “bad boy” of the class, who tried at the beginning to act very cool, had tears in his eyes when he said goodbye. His note on my poster was straight to the point: “I love you.”
On days I am exhausted, or when I am missing people at home, these memories keep me going.
English Camp
During pre-service training, each training cluster is given Php 2,000 (the equivalent of about $47) and required to create and implement a community project. We do this for 2 reasons: the first is so that we learn how to create secondary projects (through talking to community members, creating a budget, training teachers and/or students) while we are at our permanent sites; the second is so we can give something back to the community that has welcomed, hosted, and befriended us during our 3 month stay. My cluster met with teachers, students, and community members, and after asking them what they felt would be a beneficial and manageable project, we decided to put on a 2-day English camp for 80 students selected from grades 4, 5, and 6. The theme was “One Ocean, One World”, and we discussed ocean habitat, since Banate is a coastal town and pollution and trash is a prevalent problem in the area. Under the theme, we addressed the four “macroskills” or goals addressed in English education in the Philippines: listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and writing. We also had one session entitled, “Teaching English through Art”, during which the students painted a mural related to the ocean theme. We were also able to include our teaching counterparts in the camp, as well as English coordinators from other schools, in the hopes that they will be able to hold a similar type of camp at their school for the students. Our primary goal was to demonstrate that learning English can be fun, and that creative lessons and exciting games can provide students with a non-threatening environment in which to learn and practice their English. We had a scavenger hunt for the entire camp (and if you have never been serenaded by large groups of Filipino students, you really are missing out), as well as other camp types of games, many of which I learned during my summers working as a counselor at Camp Rivercrest. We also taught the entire camp “Baby Shark”, (Rivercrest attendees, you know what I’m talking about), and it has officially become a movement. In my session, Reading Comprehension, there was an obstacle course where the students had to “navigate” with a partner through the “dangerous waters” (one student was blindfolded, and the other had to give directions in English), and students created “fish” graphic organizers, comic strips, and story maps to help them better understand the various passages they had read. By the end of the two days I was exhausted, but when some students drew a picture of me with chalk and wrote, “We love you Miss Mindi!” beneath it, I knew our efforts had been worthwhile.
Our Despidida with Our Families
This was our chance to thank the families that hosted us during our 3 months in Banate. There were 12 Coastal Resource Management volunteers, and 4 Education, so quite a few people (including the mayor!) were in attendance. A few weeks prior I had volunteered myself and my niece for the intermission number (you cannot have a despidida without some type of song and dance, it just is not done) and AK and I performed Shakira’s wakawaka dance, that AK herself choreographed. If you are unfamiliar with this song, look it up on Youtube-it seriously is taking over the Philippines. Honestly. The teachers at my school in Dao performed it during my welcome ceremony. After a very successful performance of the wakawaka dance (everyone loved us, mostly, I am sure, because AK looked adorable), I also had the pleasure of teaching everyone the Hokey Pokey, which I had already taught to my students in Banate. Let me assure you, having people between the ages of 2 and 92 dancing the Hokey Pokey is unforgettable. Afterwards, we ate lunch and my family gave me a parting gift with a card that, again, had me crying. It feels strange that these people have come to mean so much to me in such a short amount of time, but it is nevertheless true, and I look forward to visiting everyone in Banate.
Swearing-In in Bacolod
On November 12, 2010, I was sworn in by the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines as an official Peace Corps volunteer. As we were reciting the oath, I could not help thinking of how many years had passed, how many things had happened, since I had first told people I wanted to be a Peace Corps volunteer. I thought about my family and their support in my coming to the Philippines. I thought about my friends who had encouraged me to apply, and then to leave. I thought about the 3 long months of training, and all I could think was, “Thank you God.” There are no words to express how I felt with my hands raised, repeating the words with 70 other trainees, and when everyone began applauding the new volunteers, I found myself crying for a third time. Nothing-not finishing college, graduate school, or passing my thesis defense-has ever given me such a sense of accomplishment. It is the single proudest moment of my life.
My experience thus far in the Philippines is difficult to express in words. I am alternately excited and terrified, happy and lonely, energized and exhausted, motivated and discouraged. It truly is a rollercoaster, being a volunteer, but it is also wonderful, as no two days are the same. When I walk outside now, I am surrounded by trees and flowers, and beyond that, the greenest mountains I have ever seen. I walk by the sari-sari stores and greet people in the local dialect. I sit down to meals and eat with my hands instead of silverware. My life in America feels so far away, and sometimes I wonder if that was really me, living that life. It is strange to think of time passing there for other people, and sometimes I wonder how I am going to fit when I return. But for now, for today, I will not worry about two years from now; instead, I will eat fried catfish with the head and tail still attached, and simply pray that I am able to live up to the expectations I now carry as a Peace Corps volunteer.
Send me emails! I love hearing from everyone-it helps me feel grounded J
I miss you all so much (Nahidlaw gid ako sa inyo),
~Mindi
