10 Snippets from the Philippines

1)no matter how many times you refill the ice trays, the ice bucket will always be empty

2)it's such a relief to look down at an itch to find a stray hair instead of a bug

3)regardless of the 5 or 6 dogs that live around me, a stray cat still manages to make it's home inside our gate, which has come in handy lately. She has produced a dead mouse and a dead rat. go stray cat go

4)I have now felt three earthquakes! It's so awesome! We have them all the time, but they can be so small that only half the city may feel them. It feels like a little rollar coaster as the earth rolls underneath me!

5)When I went swimming the other day with three other white girls, a father approached us with his little baby and asked to take a picture with us. So, while we were in the pool, the mom took a picture of her baby girl with the white girls. Apparently, if you take a picture of your baby with white people, the baby will have lighter skin. oh my.

6)While out to dinner with a new friend from New Zealand, a few men approached us and very respectfully asked to take a picture with us. wow. They shook our hands, introduced themselves, told us what island they're from, then took turns taking pictures with us. Apparently white girls are scarce on their island.

7)I absolutely love meeting Filipino kids. They are such a blessing! They're always so excited yet bashfull, I just love it! Listening to them recite Bible verses at verse cub is incredible.

8)I travel basically everywhere on jeepneys. A jeepney is (often) a WWII jeep renovated with two rows of seats to accommodate as many people as can squish inside, for only 7 pesos which is about 14 cents.

9)Driving here is definitely not for the faint of heart. There are a few red lights scattered about, but only at the really big intersections. The rest of the time, cars just drive, wherever they want. A two lane road is typicaly four, with cars, trucks, taxis, jeepneys, squeezing in and out naviagting through the constant flow of traffic. It's actually a very good system, everyone is so alert, there are hardly ever any wrecks!

10) I have officially learned greetings for morning, afternoon, and night! So, mayon gabee! Good night!