So sorry for the delay in posting, but things have been SOOOO crazy and for the next week or so it will only get crazier! So bring it on :)
Ok so the last time I was on here we had went to sa dagat (the beach). The following week we had school as usual, but this week I got to do my first team-teachings! The kids were so great and I had a blast being there with them. My Counterpart is an amazing teacher and has some great ideas for her students; I can't wait to learn more from her. We won't be back at the school for two weeks so it will be neat to see where the students are at when I get back.
On Wed, week 4, I also started volunteering at LCP (Little Children of the Philippines); it's a shelter that helps sponsor students to go to school. I went for a total of 6 days and had a BLAST. I worked mainly with two boys on math everyday, and yes I had fun doing math, but altogether there were around 10 trainees and 30 boys. We had so much fun and it was so hard to leave on the last day. The boys warmed up to us all so quickly and we were able to have so much fun with them while teaching them a thing or to. I really felt like this is the reason I am here, and it all made since; our purpose in being here. Don't get me wrong we have had so much fun already, but being there with those boys made sense to me and the experience made me love being here even more. (Sorry mom, I know you want me to come home)
On Friday my technical cluster got together and had some great food and ice cream at a restaurant called Gabby's. It was a nice treat.
Saturday I went to a concert, Bob Fitts, with my host family and had a great time worshipping and experiencing Filipinos in a church concert setting.
The Sunday, WOW, we went to Casaroro Falls. Let me tell you it was AMAZING!!!!! This is by far the biggest waterfall I have ever seen and it was so beautiful. We had to hike up to the falls, but it felt so good because it was cooler and then when we got to the falls we went for a swim and the water felt so wonderful!!! Ryan and I are definitely going back there at least two more times before we leave Dumaguete!
So the sunod semana (next week, week 5) we had classes again, but we also got to meet with two PCVs. They were able to give us so much great information. I also got to meet a volunteer that I have been reading her blog since before we left and now I finally got to talk with her in person, which was neat.
Then one night Ryan and I were able to cook for our host family. That was so much fun!!! We made home-made flour tortillas (yeah thats right showing my mexican side) and then we had tacos, rice, and salsa. Our family loved it, which I was nervous about but they had 2nd and 3rd helpings! It was so interesting to show them how to make some of our food and it was delicious.
Later in the week we had an important meeting at the college to decide on a community project we are going to do. That was an interesting exchange of ideas and a new way of seeing how meetings are conducted.
We also met up with some returned PCVs who are from Dallas, Texas (aw, Texas how I love thee) and had dinner with them. They were so nice. They are a wonderful couple doing some wonderful things here in the Philippines.
Finally it's today and I am beat. Tomorrow a group of us are going to Apo Island to go snorkeling!!! I am so excited and want to see some sea turtles. Then EARLY, like 3AM early, Monday morning we take a trip to Bacolod City to have a conference to meet our supervisors and find out where we will live for the 2 yrs!!! Sooooo excited! We have a hunch where we are going, but we won't say until we know for sure. If we are right there will be 2 winners from the party, so be on the look-out :)
Ryan and I are doing great, magtuon mi kaayong Cebuano (learning a lot of Cebuano), and staying safe. We try new things everyday and think of everyone always. Take care and until next time. Love ya!!

Well we have official finished our third week in the Philippines and already making our way into the fourth!! I can't believe this much time has gone by already. Time goes so fast and slow at the same time. Our days here are intense and long, but once they are over your like wow, the day is over already?!
We have four hours of language class, which is tiring in itself, followed by an hour long lunch, and then four or more hours of technical training. Twice a week I go into the High School and tomorrow I will start co-teaching with the teacher. My first task isn't anything big, but it's a start. Last week I observed twice in the classroom, which was a lot of fun! The students are 1st year high school students, which is like our 7th graders. And they are so interested in me...LOL! They are great kids and it seems like they love to learn, which is great! I had one girl tell me here current situation and it just broke my heart. She is so nice, energetic, and positive that I never would have guessed what she is going through. Although I shouldn't be too surprised coming from a social work background. Some days I feel like I have the wrong job here, teaching, but I just remind myself that this is something new and with time I will get better. We shall see tomorrow how well it goes. All I know is that when I'm with the kids I have a great day, but when it's just a lot of jargon and theory I feel like I'm in the wrong profession.
We got to go to a beautiful beach yesterday and swim in crystal clear water. The water looked green if you looked at it from an angle, but when you were in the water you could see all the way to the bottom! A little fish, similar to Nemo, was also following me around and freaking me out! Ryan was having fun laughing at me. Now I'm wondering if I really can go snorkeling, let alone swimming with the sharks. I mean if a little fish scares me and then I see big ones who knows!! LOL!!
This weekend we were also invited to a "Debut", which is similar to a "15" in the states. It was really nice and a great cultural experience. There was a lot of dancing, presenting, and food! It was a lot of fun and really exciting to be a part of! I have pics but they aren't very good quality, but maybe I will post a few.
Ryan and I have also found some pretty cool stuff to buy as far as souvenirs go. I will probably go shopping this weekend for some things. That will be fun!
Well I think I'm going to go study now. Everyone take care, and until next time! Love you! Nahigugma ko nimo!!

Question: Kumusta Ka?

Answer: Maayo Kaayo!

I asked how are you doing, and I answered very good! This is how I am feeling right now. There are many things that I miss a lot back home, (Panda Express, Izze’s, making my own food, and of course family/friends), but I am beginning to feel at home here in Dumaguete City. Nagpuyo ko sa siyudad sa Dumaguete. (I live in the city of Dumaguete) If you haven’t noticed I am having a blast learning the language. Whenever you use it in town people laugh and are excited because you can speak some of their language. It is a lot to learn and is hard, as any language is, but I think it’s fun ☺ Yesterday when I was walking to language class and I was waiting for some fellow PCTs (Peace Corps Trainees) I realized how beautiful it is here. Yes it’s hot, and we sweat a lot, but the scenery is amazing!! When I look to my left I see the water, and when I look to my right I see beautiful mountains! I can’t wait to go snorkeling, hiking, and exploring more of Negros Oriental. (I will be doing all those things…woohoo) The food is kinda hard for me to get used too; lots of seafood- yuck! and fried foods all the time!! The plain white rice at every meal (and I mean EVERY meal) doesn’t bother me because at least I have something I will like. By no means am I starving, most of the time I am so full the sight of food makes me uneasy. And I think that’s what it is, we eat so much that I’m like argh not more food! Taking Malaria medicine has not been fun as well, but each time the side effects are less and less so soon it shouldn’t bother me at all. I just don’t like taking medicine, you know this. We are lucky to have a very nice family, that is very laid back and out-going. And as time goes on we are becoming more and more comfortable with them. I am getting used to hand-washing clothes and learning my way around the town. The city we’re in has about 115,000 people that reside here, but during the day there can be as many as 600,000 people in the city because they are coming from smaller more rural towns to gather materials or they work here, which is quite interesting! Yesterday we also talked with our host-family about witchcraft and folklores. It was very interesting to hear what Filipinos have stories about and tales that they pass down to their children. I now have a favorite new song, which hopefully will post to photobucket. Hope you enjoy!!! Everyone take care, and I love and miss you all VERY much! Ayo-ayo!

P.S. So photobucket is STUPID, so I am now adding a link to Flicker. This is where I will post all pics from now on. Enjoy!