We have completed one week of our time in Philippines. It has been a fantastic experience, hectic, fast paced, ever changing, challenging, rewarding and most of all fun. Our hosts have been gracious, understanding and so kind that one can only marvel at their hospitality. It would never be possible to duplicate that level of hospitality at home.
On Monday we visited 4 schools, one private and three public. We were able to observe lessons in the public schools while our visit to the private school was brief and only allowed time to look at the classrooms and meet the staff and students. This was an important learning experience for me. I did not know what level of expertise the teachers would have. Our workshops had been planned with only a smattering of understanding about the needs of the teachers. However, after observing these lessons it was clear that the teachers were indeed professional educators with excellent training and experience. Their classes were interesting, followed a basic lesson planning outline (which resembled the one we used at Malaspina very closely) and classroom management practices were in place. It was clear that we could approach our workshops as if we were working with people who would understand what we wanted to do.
From Tuesday to Friday we travelled around the province, staying at host families and arriving at school by 8:00. Our workshop would last until about 3:00 and then we would meet as a team to talk about the issues which we encountered throughout the day. This had proven to be an important idea as it is the only time we were alone and together at the same time. Our hosts would take us out for supper and to Rotary events so that we were able to get to bed by 10:30 or 11:00.
Driving here is quite an experience. It is like nothing a Canadian can understand. Our trips to and from school would take from 1 1/2 to 2 hours in each direction. Highways are very narrow, automobiles, people, and animals share the space, often as narrow as a residential street in Canada with the buildings built up to the edge of the street. As a result, a distance of 10 kilometres can take 1/2 an hour or more.Traffic is extremely heavy and chaotic. Lane markings are only suggestions. People drive in which ever lane they feel is fastest, including the passing lane. Even driving along the lane line seems accepatable. They weave in and out with a honk of the horn to let others know that they should stay out of the way. You must be bold.
And yet it works. That is what is amazing. It seems as if there is a level of courtesy that allows one to dart into an opening with the knowledge that the other driver will give way. In fact, if you don't, no one will take you seriously and you will be left where you are. Considering the number of people sharing the small amount of space it is remarkable that it works as well as it does.
The food here is fantastic. Unusual, with names that I can't seem to remember, but appetizing, delicious and plentiful. You can not enter a Filipino home without being offered a smorgasbord of delicious food and being asked to try this. Food seems to be central to the culture (and what a great centre it is). The way a Candian says, "How are you?" as a greeting, a Filipino asks, "Are you hungry?" If you say "yes" you will be fed delicious food to the point you willl feel that you will never be hungry again.
Our trip to Philippines is has been amazing. We have been welcomed, fed and made to feel that we are important to the point that we feel as if we are a group of Hollywood stars touring the country. It is wonderful and in future blogs I will try to describe some of the experiences we hhave had.
No comments:
Post a Comment