Homestay, language and Napudot!!

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  Baguio City, Gusing Sur, Philippines
Monday, April 10, 2006

I did not think I would have internet the first few weeks at my host site but it turns out we are living in a Barangay (neighborhood) only 10 min. away from a larger town.... So hear I am at an internet café writing to all of you!!!

Where to start...... we arrived in Gusing Sur our Barangay five days ago and have been going since the min. we arrived, but not going in the American sense Filipinos have a very relaxed sense of time, we have been spending our days with language class in the morning, which is starting to get better but I am still a bit overwhelmed, it helps that I am living in a house with lots of kids around, they are wonderful teachers. And the afternoons consist of sitting, talking and eating with the locals and trying to stay out of the heat it has been so Napudot (Hot!) Our first night we arrived there was a big basketball game in the town Naguillean, I was not expecting it to be as large as it was The court is in the middle of town and was packed there must have been at least five hundred people there, and in classic Filipino style the Mayor of the town and the Barangay Captain had us introduce ourselves to the crowd..

A bucket full of Mango delights!!

. our first language test so to speak.. It was very fun and we have been getting these warm welcomes everywhere we go. My largest observation of the Ilocano people is how gracious and welcoming they are: the people of Gusing Sur have opened their homes and hearts to us already which has made this a much easier transition. Both of my host brothers play on the b-ball team so it has been fun to connect wit them through basketball!

I am really enjoying my host family my parents Grace and Geronimo and brothers and sisters Melody (20), Melanie (19), Roland (22) and Dominique (17). At first I was totally surprised by the age and was expecting younger kids but it turns out I am living on a compound of sorts and all of the cousins and grandparents live next door... so there is a group of six girls that are always in the house which is fun... and as I said they are wonderful language teachers. I am living on a beautiful farm we raise pigs, chickens, corn and have every vegetable and fruit in the book on our property... it is so wonderful to be in this environment so connected to the earth.. All of the neighboring homes have small farms as well so I wake up each morning to the crowing of roosters and many barking dogs.... I look out the window and see fields of corn and greenery everywhere... it is so beautiful... I am looking forward to learning about the duties of the farm and helping out in anyway I can

Adorable kids of Gusing Sur!

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While the language barrier has had its difficulties I am fortunate to have a family that speaks some English which is nice but every night at dinner they help me practice my Ilocano and I take lots of notes!! It has been very special to witness how important grandparents are to the Filipino people in the house next to me there are tow sets of grandparents and one great-grandmother who is 99 and on her death bed but the whole family is here and supporting her it is really special to witness. A few days ago I had a wonderful talk with Lolo or grandpa, he is in his 80's and blind and we had a wonderful hour plus long talk about the world the importance of relationships not money... I could not agree more with him... and the town of Gusing Sur exemplifies this belief in everyway.... While there are TV's and American pop music in my home there are also bamboo huts, and 14 year-old children at the end of town malnutrition and having kids, and many children being raised by their grandparents while their parents are abroad making money to send home... the entire community looks out for one another... thus far Gusing Sur represents the spirit of a true community for me!!

Part of me still feels like I am on vacation, while there have been challenges and I am sure they will only get larger I am really having a wonderful time and enjoying the slower pace of life here. I will write another update in a week and include some photos of the farming valley I am now calling home.

Love to all,

Sherry

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And again more cute kids.... 2 of my fav's!	Barangay Capitan jamming!	Barangay Hall in Gusing Sur!	Basi bottles ready for sale!
Basi!!	Beach or bay=bay in Ilocano!	Cousins sitting on the stoop playing music!	Family... cousins... aunts and sisters!
Free Range Chickens!	Good Morning to Me in Ilocano!!	Host sister and cousin Carl!	Lola or Grandma
More cute kids!!	My House!	On a community walk!	One of my host brothers Roland
Picking apple Mangos!	Picture with Mayor and Basi makers!!	Sand covered cousin Clarissa!!	Seadling planting project
Tatong and Lola ( Grandparents)	The " gals" my cousins!!	The Beach on Saturday of Easter Sunday!	The Kids again I can't get enough!!
The kitchen in the back yard!	The Pig Pens in my backyard!	Tree seadling bags	View from our backyard!

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