Random Reflections

Back in beautiful, cool Baguio. Today I got back together with everyone in my region and we are all comparing our first 2 weeks with a family. Someone has rats and tarantulas all over their room and another is dealing with a cloud of smoke from burning trash blowing into their room. I got to say i think i got it pretty good. Most others are eating bait and pork wrine 3 meals a day. I found out that a lot of the secondary projects I will be doing in Banaue will be marketing the local products from wooden carvings at the local market to new grains of rice to possibly export. I am getting a rash all over the back of my neck and I got a car door slammed on my entire hand and I just got the most painfully numbing vaccination in my other arm so overall I am pretty useless right now. But hey thats life here. Last night I went to a concert to see this awesome rock band who sang in taglish called Couche. There was about 2000 ppl there and Im pretty sure I was the only white person there - it's still very difficult to go out in public here because everyone is yelling Ilokano at me and touching me and it definitely gets overwhelming. The past couple of days I have been running around my town inviting ppl to the meeting next week. And it is custom to drink some "wine" which is basically 80 proof gin each time I visit a home. I was smashed by the end of it in 90 degree humid weather and tripped onto a mound of red ants on my way back home 2 nights ago. ALright I apologize for this all being so random. I love all the comments everyonme is leaving - please keep it up and mom thanks for the birthday letter I just got it today. OK Bye for now