After the storm we had here (I think we had the edge of what later hit Manilla), it's been very hot and dry here - so we have had none of the problems that Manilla had. Thanks everyone for asking about me.
There is a new volunteer here for a month - he is a Filipino but from Manila. Thankfully he speaks good English, but we talk as much as possible in Tagalog.
Recently the grandfather of three of the girls that work here (all sisters) died and in this culture they have some very interesting traditions. The body stays in the house on display for about ten days before the funeral. Every night, lots of people go there to pay their respects – but its not all sad. In the corner is the open coffin and a few people praying quietly... but everyone else is playing games and drinking having a great time with lots of laughter and fun!
I was invited along and spent a few evenings there over the last week and had a great time... it's a fascinating tradition. Even though I was the only foreigner, the people were all so welcoming and took great delight in including me and watching me play the games. There's normally some fun forfeit for making a mistake, like having lines drawn on my face with charcoal. So I've had some late nights returning looking like a marine, but I have enjoyed it. I try to throw myself into everything about the culture here and accept every invitation that I'm given. Its the Filipino way that even a funeral is great fun!
Angels have been busy holding up trees here... the other day while we were having meriender (the whole group takes a snack break), a large papaya tree fell for no reason (there was no wind and nothing was touching it, although we now know it was rotten inside) – and it landed exactly where I had been working about 20 minutes before!
