Had to start off my post with that revelation of today.
I needed to go to the bank this afternoon, so Ate Monz offered to bring me with her on her way to the Department of Education. It ended up just being a joy ride, because I brought my visa card with me instead of my debit... haha. So I'll have to go walk to the bank myself later. But I always enjoy the time I get to spend with Mona. She's one of the most inspirational people in my life. (If you know her, you already understand why that is.)
We chatted about how it really is a gift of God to be able to live in a completely different culture. I didn't realize it until my mom was here, and I saw how hard it can be for some people to adapt to the Filipino way of life. For me, it's not that it was so "easy"...but it really did come naturally. So I never thought twice about it. Now I can see that God really made me for life here! I have the right amount of passion to get excited about the children, and a love for a certain lack of 'order' shall I say? How do I describe it...? It doesn't bother me when a vehicle comes within an inch of hitting me, I just shrug it off. Even though in Canada, that would nearly give me a heart attack. I don't mind anymore when I get a mixture of urine and mud all over my feet, because it probably means I'm hanging out with children in their village. And I love those times, they are awesome! But I am realizing that what could have potentially been offensive to me, or disturbing, or irritating, I'm usually able to get over and go with the flow.
I walk down the street. People stare as they drive by. Children point, men elbow each other and make jokes.
I attempt to speak the Tagalog that I know, occasionally getting teased for my accent.
I sing with the children. I hold them, and play with them, only realizing in hind-sight that they could have lice, that their hygiene is poor.
There is puss oozing out from the wound on one child's head. But I don't look away from him, neither do I stare. I wait for him to smile at me, and go on singing, just like I should.
Some of my students are abused at home. Some of my friends are. But I'm not shocked, and I don't lose my temper when I'm around their folks or abusive siblings. The Lord gives me peace, and I know that I can only do, in the words of Mother Theresa, "small things in great love." So I try my best, by His grace, so show love.
Nothing starts on time. Ever. Except for the instances w
hen I show up late, telling myself "well, we never start on time anyway." Those times, we do. And everyone wonders, where have you been? I'm learning that there is a such thing as 'Filipino time', and it has nothing to do with time zone.
In all honesty, my students often don't take me as seriously as they do the other teachers. I suppose part of this is due to my very real lack of experience as a teacher, and also because of the language barrier. I think back to Senor Sanchez, the Spanish teacher we so awfully disrespected in grade ten. Language is huge. It really is. I need to become fluent in Tagalog.
A walk down sunset drive can be an adventure to the nose. Among some of the smells you may encounter, the three that really stand out are urine, garbage, and rotting animal. These three smells are pungent on their own, but just imagine them at midday after the 32 degree sun has been pounding down, along with the 94% humidity. Oh, it's delicious. BUT, I continue walking, because most of the time I don't even consciously notice it.
What I've learned in how to live here is a credit to the people I live with. It started out with Nathan and Matt the first time I came last year. They were the only two from our team who had been to the Philippines before, therefore, I would look to them to be my example. When a bargaining situation would arise, I'd look to one of them to see how they handled it. From Nathan's successful teasing way of bartering, I learned to get a pretty good price! Filipino's love to joke around- it really works! And with respect to the children, I wouldn't have known that it's okay to just pick up random kids and play with them had I not seen Nathan and Matt doing it first. Then, as I got to know Pastor Ding, Ate Mona, and the youth in the church, I learned to look to them as an example. From them I learned not to be offended by the rough conditions of a squatter village. I learned to focus on the children above their environment. And of course, God does a huge work in my heart to enable me to live in this Nation, and to love it. Many times I wonder how I could fit in so well anywhere else. It's not easy, and there are times of loneliness and missing home. But I find so much joy in the relationships God has blessed me with, and so much encouragement in seeing His work.
"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work."
-Mother Teresa.
