It has been a seven months now, since I arrived in the Philippines.
I can’t say the seven months have been easy, I have been tested in many ways and have been faced with many challenges but in all the experience has been amazing, an eye-opener.
The other day, I was walking home from work. Walking down my usual road, when I turned the corner near the construction site and there was hundreds of people standing around, an ambulance, two police cars and all these people from the media with their cameras. I had to walk past all these people, it was a really weird feeling. I am often the amusement of the locals around here, who often stare or hiss to get my attention, this I have gotten use to but this particular day was different. I know that they weren’t watching me but were watching the scene that was going on at the construction site.
Unfortunately a 22 year old died at the construction site that day after a gas cylinder exploded whilst him and another construction worker attempted to open it. The next day, the construction workers were back working there and three days later they had all these safety signs up around the site.
The matter of ‘Safety First’ has always been an issue here in the Philippines. I have seen people climbing up make-shift ladders and people working on the 30th floor standing on the edge of a construction site, with no fear at all. It really amazes me that I haven’t seen more incidents like this.
In the last couple of months I have gradually meet the locals that live near me and it has been nice to be walking home from work or the shops and have people come out and say hello and asking how I am going. One group, which have now got the name as the ‘Bikie gang’ have offered to take me around to some adventure park. They are a lovely bunch of people, who own a mechanic motorbike shop just near where I live but I am yet to head off with them on a motorbike adventure around Cebu!
And then there is this lovely old man, who has a little side-walk store where he sells cigarettes and candy. I’m sure he lives here, as above his little store is a tree with a pillow and a cardboard box. He is always so welcoming and so happy to see me on my way to and from work!
Last week, I had my hair cut and yes it is shorter than what I had asked for and although I have had it this short before it will take a little while to get use to it! Back home, strangers wouldn’t even notice that I’ve had a hair cut but here everyone acknowledges it, even if I have never spoken to them before for the simple reason is I’ve always stood out, as being the only white person living in this area.
My work, has presented with many challenges in which I have manage to overcome to some degree. I enjoy seeing the students smiles on the faces everyday and realise that these challenges are so little compared to what these students are faced on a daily basis.
I have been a little unsure about whether to stay for another couple of months or go home when I’m suppose to go home but there is so much that I still want to do before I head back. There isn’t a day, where I think about everyone back home, the lifestyle back in Melbourne and how easy it is to get from one place to another without having to give plenty of time and worry about having change for the jeepney or taxi. However, I do know that this day will come when I arrive back to Melbourne and I look forward to that day but for now I will continue to enjoy every little moment I experience here in the Philippines.
I can’t say the seven months have been easy, I have been tested in many ways and have been faced with many challenges but in all the experience has been amazing, an eye-opener.
The other day, I was walking home from work. Walking down my usual road, when I turned the corner near the construction site and there was hundreds of people standing around, an ambulance, two police cars and all these people from the media with their cameras. I had to walk past all these people, it was a really weird feeling. I am often the amusement of the locals around here, who often stare or hiss to get my attention, this I have gotten use to but this particular day was different. I know that they weren’t watching me but were watching the scene that was going on at the construction site.
Unfortunately a 22 year old died at the construction site that day after a gas cylinder exploded whilst him and another construction worker attempted to open it. The next day, the construction workers were back working there and three days later they had all these safety signs up around the site.
The matter of ‘Safety First’ has always been an issue here in the Philippines. I have seen people climbing up make-shift ladders and people working on the 30th floor standing on the edge of a construction site, with no fear at all. It really amazes me that I haven’t seen more incidents like this.
In the last couple of months I have gradually meet the locals that live near me and it has been nice to be walking home from work or the shops and have people come out and say hello and asking how I am going. One group, which have now got the name as the ‘Bikie gang’ have offered to take me around to some adventure park. They are a lovely bunch of people, who own a mechanic motorbike shop just near where I live but I am yet to head off with them on a motorbike adventure around Cebu!
And then there is this lovely old man, who has a little side-walk store where he sells cigarettes and candy. I’m sure he lives here, as above his little store is a tree with a pillow and a cardboard box. He is always so welcoming and so happy to see me on my way to and from work!
Last week, I had my hair cut and yes it is shorter than what I had asked for and although I have had it this short before it will take a little while to get use to it! Back home, strangers wouldn’t even notice that I’ve had a hair cut but here everyone acknowledges it, even if I have never spoken to them before for the simple reason is I’ve always stood out, as being the only white person living in this area.
My work, has presented with many challenges in which I have manage to overcome to some degree. I enjoy seeing the students smiles on the faces everyday and realise that these challenges are so little compared to what these students are faced on a daily basis.
I have been a little unsure about whether to stay for another couple of months or go home when I’m suppose to go home but there is so much that I still want to do before I head back. There isn’t a day, where I think about everyone back home, the lifestyle back in Melbourne and how easy it is to get from one place to another without having to give plenty of time and worry about having change for the jeepney or taxi. However, I do know that this day will come when I arrive back to Melbourne and I look forward to that day but for now I will continue to enjoy every little moment I experience here in the Philippines.
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| Safety first - construction workers working on the 30th floor of a new hotel. |
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