Filipino Time

Wow, I'm the worst, right?  The absolutely worst.  Can I use the excuse that I'm posting on Filipino time?  Haha...

It's a terrible, ridiculous excuse because "Filipino time" is probably one of my biggest frustrations here, even after nearly 5 full months of "getting used to it"/cultural immersion.  And I know what some of you are thinking...you're thinking, "Kelly--Kelly Keegan, the notoriously late friend, being frustrated about lateness?  How ironic!" And to that I say...touché.  But let me explain myself.  

I'm actually totally okay with "Filipino time," aka showing up anywhere from 15 minutes to hours late, when it involves a social activity happening during my free time with patient and understanding friends whom I dearly love (shout out to all my friends whom I dearly love and miss!).  My frustration lies in this kind of "schedule" at school or professional events.  Nothing grinds my gears more than my grad students (consistently) walking into my class 15 minutes or more late with big smiles on their faces and fried, caramelized bananas-on-a-stick in their hands.  Just sauntering back from their lunch break to, ya know, catch some of that graduate level class they have enrolled in.  

I'm going to be honest.  I've lost my cool about it a few times (much to my students' surprise and even my own) which scares them enough for a week, maybe weeks max after which the same situation replays and replays.  

Or, let's take another example: seminars that I'm invited to speak at.  I'm told I'll be speaking from 1:30 to 3:00.  Ok, great.  I clear my schedule, prepare enough materials for 2 and a half hours, and I'm ready to rock.  

I arrive 15 minutes early and, huh? No one is there and nothing is even set up for the seminar.  The doors may even be locked still.  Hmm...am I in the wrong location?  Nope, I confirm the seminar is being held in this venue.  If I rally enough people and appear visually frustrated enough, maybe by 2:00 things are ready to go and at least some people have arrived.  

Now I have 2 choices.  Rush through my prepared lecture/workshop to finish by 3:00 like the "schedule," or do my hard work and preparation justice by presenting all I had planned and finish by 3:30.  It makes no difference to the participants (or so it seems), so often out of my hard-headed, American defiance, I rush to finish on-time.  Well, thank goodness I did because there's another 30+ minutes of picture taking and certificate giving.  By this time, it's well after 4, I'm exhausted, and that stack of journals I had been planning to grade following the seminar is just going to have to wait for another day. 

Sigh.

End rant.  

Hello!  Hi!  

In other news, I've been really busy these last 4 months as the semester got into full swing just in time for a 3-week Christmas break (shout-out to my visitor, Dan), a week-long conference in China (Fellows mid-year conference), and then right back into the semester again.  There's only a few more weeks before finals, and I, honestly, don't know where the time has gone.  

To summarize, I truly enjoy my students (minus the late ones), I'm learning a lot, I'm working a lot (teaching 6 days a week is not ideal), and I'm loving any and all opportunities I get to explore this beautiful country during my free time.

There's so much more to tell you all, so I promise more regular updates in the coming weeks.  It's also funny because as I post this, I'm supposed to be at my friends' basketball game cheering. But that game was scheduled to start at 4 and it's only 4:10.  I have plenty of time...in fact, I might even grab a caramelized banana-on-a-stick on my way.  :)

Beautiful Baguio

Puppies!

Adventuring at the hotel in Guangzhou, China

Enjoying Christmas break with Dan

Sagada

My fav class

Pagudpud

What most of my days look like

xoxo,

Kelly   

It's more fun in the Philippines!

Oh, hey everyone!

Sorry I've been slacking on the blog posts...I wish I had a good excuse to offer, but I have none! Ahhhh and there's so much to update you all on!

Singapore was amazing despite the haze (illegal fires from Indonesia and Malaysia).  I ate a ton of ridiculously yummy food and was completely blown away by the harmonious fusion of cultures which makes Singapore such a unique experience.  I also went to my first cat cafe which was, of course, hilarious.  Two thumbs up for Singapore!

Garden by the Bay light show

From Singapore I flew into Manila for a week long orientation.  It started off a little rough when I discovered that all my jewelry was missing from my backpack upon arrival (I had stupidly put it in the top pouch of my bag), but thankfully it only took the daylight and a short ride around town to snap out of my pity party and realize that I have a million blessings in my life.

Manila is a frustrating city of contrasts.  Around one corner you have these beautiful, modern buildings and shopping centers that rival Hong Kong or Singapore and around another you have massive slums like I've never seen before.  Jewelry is a silly luxury and small loss compared to how a lot of people live in this world.  Hello, major wake up call for this girl!

The week of orientation was packed with information sessions, an embassy tour, visits to PNU and a national high school, a museum tour, and...traffic (Manila has the worst traffic in the world).  The highlight for me was definitely our visit to PNU.  The students had a welcome ceremony for us which included, in true Filipino style, singing and dancing.  The students performed this lovely traditional song, and then immediately transitioned into "All About that Bass" which made me choke on my water because it was so unexpected!  Filipinos are known around the world for being performers and boy, it's so true!  It's more fun in the Philippines, haven't you heard?

Love is a strong word...how about I'm indifferent about Manila?

Since I've arrived in Agoo (Pronounced Ah-go-oh), I have witnessed 3 beauty pageants, 2 dance competitions, and practically nonstop singing...I mean, seriously, everyone is always singing.  Which leads me to conclude....we Americans need to lighten up!  We need to sing and dance more because, why not?  It breeds happiness! (P.S. We can do without the pageants.)

Winner, winner chicken dinner!  (My soon-to-be student)

I've been in Agoo (my new home) for 3 weeks now and officially feel settled.  Agoo is small, quaint, and for the most part quiet (exceptions being karaoke, chickens, and goats around my apartment).  I like the walkability of the town.  I can get from my apartment to the university in a few minutes and "downtown" in about 15 minutes.  Tricycles, motorbikes with sidecars, are the main form of public transportation in town and are quite convenient when I don't feel like lugging my groceries for the 15-minute walk back home.  There's a small Dunkin Donuts, a 7-11, and a few Filipino fast food chains (Jolibee, Greenwich, and Chow King) when I feel like eating junk.  Otherwise I have to brave the market for my food shopping needs.  The market is still a bit overwhelming as I figure out which vendors to buy what from and where everything is found, but I will conquer it soon enough!

My home 

Typhoon Lando hit Agoo for three, long days taking out power everywhere.  The first day felt a bit exotic, the second day was when boredom hit (all battery powered devices were dead at this point), and by the third day I was actually starting to lose my mind.  I re-arranged the furniture in my apartment several times and danced around to tunes inside my head just to have something to do!  All the while praying that no goats would come flying through my windows.  I survived on bread and peanut butter and walked around by candle light.  True survivor mode!  The storm made a mess on campus and around town which is still being cleaned up.

I've been busy at school even though classes have yet to start.  I've spoken at several end-of-the-semester seminars/workshops and been active in the Faculty Olympics.  I played on the volleyball, basketball, tug-of-war, and sack racing teams--go DMMMSU!  I even tried my hand at some traditional games like coconut racing and kadang kadang...although I didn't try the greased pole racing.  I'll leave that one to the experts!  Anyway, it's been fun to get to know some new people around campus through the games.

DMMMSU men's basketball

Resume and cover letter writing seminar for seniors

400+ thrilled students :)

This week I need to prepare for all my classes which will start on the 9th.  I'm a bit anxious but also excited to get back in the classroom!  Before classes start though, I'll be traveling to Cebu to be the keynote speaker (eeek!) at a language conference for Filipino English language teachers...pretty big time, right?  I know!  I've only been here for 3 weeks, but I've already grown so much professionally.  I can't wait for what the next 10 months will bring!

My social life is a bit lacking at the moment, but I'm confident that will change with time.  I think back to my time in Korea and how lonely it was for those first few months as I was building friendships...it gives me hope that I will make friends as close as family here as well!  Filipinos are amazingly friendly and welcoming but the challenge, like anywhere, is finding friends my own age, with similar interests, in similar life stages (aka single, no kids).

One professor and his sons helped me buy a mountain bike and have invited me out the last two Sundays for rides.  These outings are without a doubt the highlight of my weekends!  It's great to be back on a bike again and adventuring through the beautiful mountains here.  Now I just need to find a yoga studio to maximize my zen activities!

A lil different from road biking in Iowa

Beautiful countryside

It's hard to imagine the cool temps you all are experiencing in Iowa as I sit here with sweat dripping down my face still, but I love seeing everyone's pictures on Facebook and Instagram.  Keep 'em coming! Also, please please please send me email life updates and/or let's set up a Skype date to chat.  I miss knowing what's going on in your everyday lives.

Miss you all loads and loads!  Sending lots of love from Agoo...

xoxo,

Kelly