Sunday, September 25, 2011

Christmas is coming!

Here in the Philippines the Christmas celebration starts now.  I was in a store today and the music went from a Beatles song to one about snow and Christmas.  This wouldn't be entirely weird for me even in September except that I was wearing a tank-top and had beads of sweat gracing my forehead.  Let it snow, only in my dreams!  I am looking forward to learning how Christmas is celebrated here in the Philippines during the next few months.




 With thoughts of Christmas I am reminded that yet again I will be away from my family this year.  My mom loves Christmas and to this day she still wakes up early on Christmas morning.  Sometime after Thanksgiving and before Christmas day my mom brings out special decorations, old Christmas records, and we wad out to cut the perfect spruce tree.  After the hunt we bring it in and hang ornaments my parents made on their first Christmas together along with the various ones accumulated since that time.  The last step is hanging popcorn and cranberries that was strung the day before and a tiny bit of tinsel to give the tree an extra shine.  Yes, I will miss spending Christmas with my family!  

If you would like to make Christmas a little bit easier, please remember to send me a Christmas card.  I also enjoy packages and I promise if you indicate on the outside I will even wait until Christmas day to open them :)  So far it seems to take about a month for them to arrive and I shouldn't have to pay much more then a dollar to get it if anything.






My Christmas wish list;
*  I love chai teas, bengal spice, black peach tea... tea's that won't curdle if I add milk :) Some herbal tea's are nice too
* Cheese powder
* Parmesan cheese
* Candles
* St Ives face scrub
* Stickers
* Hair ties and clips
* Scarfs/bandanas
* Pictures of people, places and animals I love :)
* Lufa bath sponge 
* 2012 calendar
* Sharpie markers
* Nice black pens
* Christmas goodies
* And anything else that you think I might enjoy... girls are easy to please :) 


Also when I start catching babies, it is nice to give the new mom a onsie.  If you would like to add a few new or lightly used onsies that would be nice.  The babies here are about 5 1/2 to 7 lbs at birth



Tianne Cole c/o Abundant Grace of God Maternity  Appas Tabuk, Kalinga 3800 Philippines

Thursday, September 15, 2011

I arrived in the Philippines on August 11th, then on September 11th I was leaving the Philippines.
Most people who knew of my plans to return to the States just a month after leaving thought I was crazy.
I began to also contemplate my sanity level as I worked hours everyday to get my first assignment finished on time.  I questioned sanity again as I sat crunched in the small airplane, already 7 hours into my journey; with over 10 hrs more to go. "This is just too soon"  I thought to myself, as I turned in my seat, knees jabbing into the seat in front of me, neck twisted in an odd position, the seat back too low and my back trying to regain feeling as I settled into the new position.
Somethings are worth the pain, money, time and effort.  My cousin and close friend, Candace, is getting married.  We have talked, giggled, planned and dreamed about this moment since I can remember.  It is worth every moment of discomfort to stand beside her as she takes her vows of love and commitment to the man God has brought her.
Candace and her husband-to-be, Riley, picked me up at the airport, where they meet me with flowers in hand as I was coming out of the bathroom,... but whatever.  I had never met Riley before and in my tried jet lagged brain I liked him immediately. This was a great relief, because it saved me the trouble of having to bring sense to Candace and help her make a quick midnight escape.  And believe me, if Riley had been a man of questionable character there would have been a midnight get-away :)  But thankfully Candace's good sense came through even in the mists of being bitten by the love bug.... I'll be sure to fill you about pre-wedding, the wedding and pictures later...

My first month in the Philippines went by quickly.  I settled into my new life with a few tears and a lot of laughter. My roommate Sara and I spent 4 days in a village about 45 minutes from where I live. We stayed with a women named, Linda, her elderly parents and 7yr old daughter, Angle.  I love village life with its slow pace and simple living.  Linda was very accommodating and made sure I had 3 meals a day with chocolate/coffee that was so tasty that even I, as a huge non-coffee drinker looked forward to my daily intake.  We played frisbee with the children, bathed with some little girls who even in the dark could see us enough to exclaim in loud voices "ooooohh the white beauties!!!", visited Linda's school and observed her teaching, then after school played games with the children.  We had a monsoon come through the day after we arrived, so we were stuck inside a fair amount because of the rain and had many fun talks with Linda and other local women, who thankful could speak good English.
I also enjoyed the plethora of pigs that ambled about poking their heads inside in the mornings oinking for their breakfasts.  It was a good experience and much easier then my first home stay in the Didinga Hills.  I slept on a bed (with no mattress, but still...), enjoyed power at night and even watched Jacky Chain movies and TV!  Learning a new culture is always an adventure and because I tend to be on the shy, quiet side and so do the Filipino people we spend a lot of time staring at each other...
Me, planting rice for the first time



Beautiful are the feet... just take a look at mine and it is clear that is's true :)

Sara, planting rice

It's a muddy business 

Linda

With her students

Boys

Boys...


And more boys!

Sara eating at Linda's

The native pigs eating there breakfast




Who's looking at me??? everyone!  Its OK to be stared at, just don't stare back
I am still new at blogging.  If you have any comments on how I can better inform you or any things you would like me to write about, please let me know.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support!