Mahal Kita

Time for an update!

This last week was hard on me, as I didn't have much internet access opportunities and everything feels different and I felt out of place. One comfort to me has been pilates and music. I found this place where they hang their laundry and which faces the back yard (tropical jungle!) to do my pilates. I have seen 5 more births! And I found a cure for my hand. Saturday I got on an FX, which is a large type of car that they shove full of people and drive to a certain destination! I went to meet my friends whom I had met at church and spent the night at one of their apartments. I feel like I'm getting better at public transportation and would really like to get it

 down so I have freedom to go where I will. As far as public transportation goes there are four ways: Trikes; motorcycles that have a seat atached so that you can fit probably 5 to 6 people, FX, Jeepney; an extended jeep that they also shove full of people and stop whenever they see a random person on the side of the street who looks like they need a ride ( you guys seriously ought to look these things up on youtube)., and taxis. The traffic is absolutely crazy!

   Speaking of crazy I went to a market called Divisoria, which is the largest market in Manila and all the other markets get their stuff from there. The smell of frying meats, garbage on the ground, crowded streets, cheap deals to bargain with, people yelling for attention, shifty eyes to watch for purse snatchers. What a great cultural experience. I bought some clothes and stuff. It was really fun. One weird thing though, was the men yelling at me "hello ma'am, you are beautiful." Even though when buying clothes I have to go from a small to a large here, my self esteem has survived due to these comments given even from women. It is really strange to be told you are beautiful when you are quite average where you come from. It's just funny to me. Now regardless of how fun it was I am still suffering from a sore throat just from the pollution! 

   So, I think it might be nice for some of my readers see into a week in my li

fe. Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are seminar (birth or child-rearing lessons) and prenatal visits. I figure the due dates of the new women, take blood pressure, weigh them, measure their bellies, and find the position of the baby. Afterwards we eat lunch and then I can do whatever. Most days I run an errand or two and do pilates. The picture above is of a neighbor girl who came with me to the coffee shop one day with her friend. I plan to really reach out to these neighborhood kids. Somedays I go to the orphanage and help the caregivers out with the babies or older kids. For dinner 3 nights a week I go to Jeri's house for dinner. On Saturday night for the past two weeks I have met up with my American and Canadian friends, spend the night at their apartment, and go to church on Sunday. Last Sunday I spent the night at Jeri's, which was nice to not be woken up in the middle of the night by various things like babies crying, people turning on lights, etc. I love coming to this little coffee shop in the morning to catch friends and family on skype or whatever. And that's my week!

Mahal Kita! ( I was informed today by one of the nursing students that mahal kita means, I love you!)