Settling for Good ("Good" = Five Weeks)

We moved into our apartments today and I am so relieved to finally have my own space that I nearly cried. I could not stop grinning when I saw that I landed the only - yes, read ONLY - single bedroom with a queen sized bed and tv. I have my own closet space, nice clean floors, and pretty, colorful decorations on the wall.

Our first accomodations during orientation at UP were okay. We had enough space to survive, but we were in tight quarters, unable to unpack, and living off of restaurants and fast-ish kind of foods, and snacks stuffed in our bags. Here in our apartments we have our own kitchens, working showers with optional heaters for hot showers, and closets! Without being dramatic, I nearly squealed when I walked into our apartment. Finally, my suitcases are put away, my clothes are hung and I cooked for my roommates. A nice regular dinner - fresh baby corn, peppers, onions, garlic and squash sauteed with olive oil and soy sauce. Nice and light, for a change. My body thanked me.

Yesterday I went running again, trying to get to three miles and found it nearly impossible. There are two reasons why I don't think I'll get to my goal here. 1. The heat. I cannot describe the water spigot I have become since I came here. Whenever i wear I backpack, my entire back is drenched in sweat. It's like I'm wearing a sweater or something if I put a layer of clothing over my skin. Being this close to the equator is just unreal. 2. The pollution. The pollution here makes Los Angeles feel like a walk in the park. My chest actually hurt from the pollution when I ran and by no means am I a fast runner. Some of my friends went running together and no one could make it to their usual pace or mileage. You can FEEL the pollution in the air, it sits on my skin, glued on by the humidity, and fogs my brain with its potency.

We had our first week of classes and my head is spinning with ideas, reflections, and questions. The lectures have been taught by world renouned poets and activists, scholars and sociologists, peasant farmers and professors. I am in intellectual heaven. I truly believe that as one ages, it is critical to keep your mind stimulated with as much rigor as possible. It's so easy to become consumed with mind-numbing things. (How many nights did I spend watching Tila Tequila on MTV?) I saw yesterday that the PI president, Gloria Arroyo was actually in the US visiting with Bush. Before this blog turns into my political pulpit, I will just say that it is unreal to read the mainstream media's take on issues and then meet the people themselves and what they are going through. Small examples: the rice crisis, agriculture workers making $0.17/day, a mother of five burst into tears crying when my friend Kim tipped her $12, and starving children in the streets. Arroyo is not popular, not in my book anyway. Note: end pulpit rant.

Onto lighter things flopping around in my head: it's been a long time since I have been in community, living in community specifically and it is quite an adjustment. The group, as I said before, comprises 9 people aging from 18-35 with 1 male and 8 females. I've forgotten that when you eat, sleep next to, travel, attend classes, and live with 8 other people decisions are slower, things take longer, and chaos is never but two feet away.

It's saying a lot that 1. I'm considered the most decisive and mathematically articulate one in the group 2. I'm handling the money 3. I'm usually one of the fastest walkers 4. I'm annoyed with other people's indecision

If you know me at all, all four of those statements should be stunning to you as you read them. But, that's the role I have taken in the program. The group dynamic leaves much need for organization and for me to say that things need to be running more on time, you know it's getting out of control.

I'm the third oldest in the group and am often called Ate ("ah-teh") by the younger students in the group. Ate is a word which translates into "older sister," and is a sign of respect when someone is older than you. So, as Ate Lisa, I have already talked to some of the young ones who are still teenagers about respecting our professors by not falling asleep (which ten years ago, I was the WORST with) and guiding their perspectives by pushing them to delve deeper into the issues and culture here. And I cooked dinner for everyone, too. I'm like a "mom" of the group. I keep things in line, which is a different role for me, but I like it. A lot. It's needed.

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Magandang umaga po! Good morning!

It's now 8 hour later. After I wrote the last sentence in the previous paragraph, I laid back to think and fell asleep!

So, now it's Saturday morning and we're getting ready for a full day of language classes, weekly reflections and assessment, and tomorrow we are OFF! Last night was the first day in a week that I got seven hours of sleep. Every night I have gotten about five, six maximum. I feel much more rested and less like I'm functioning off of adrenaline. Amazing what an apartment with all the small comforts of home can do!