Welcome Cebu City

I have enjoyed my first week in Cebu City, meeting lots of people including the town mayor and many head officers of the university. My host organisation have been amazing so supportative in helping me to get from one place to another, taking me shopping and finding perm. accomodation.
I spent the morning at the Braille school, the little classroom consist of two fans, no air conditioner and very limited resources. The children were beautiful, very busy bunch of students but so independent. The children ages range from 5 years old to 21 years old, however it is meant to be a preschool setting! Wish me luck!
The university has asked me to work in partnership and do some lecturing in the special education course, this will be something new for me but I'm highly looking forward to it.
I found a little studio nearby so local to everything. I looked at one little brand new condo apartment on the 6th floor, awesome but so far away from everything!
However, my first night in the studio was an interesting experience to say the least! At 3am I was woken by a crash and then water pouring out - the tap in my bathroom had fallen off from the wall and water was spurting out everywhere. The first thing I did was a huge mistake - tried to put it back in, only to end up soaking wet! In the end I closed the doors, put the bath mat right against the door to stop the room from flooding and put earplugs in to try to get some sleep - not much I could do about it at 3am unless of course I woke the landlord upstairs! They have since fixed it for me!
I have been to the magellen's cross, meet up with my HO friends who had a brillant view of Cebu City but also views of the slums down below and meet up with other volunteers in Cebu City. I have shopped at both the SM and ayala malls as well as mingled with the locals! I have been asked for money by many homeless Philippinos and followed across the road by a local who kept scratching the back of me neck!
I have found the store that has vegimite and even caught a jeepney on my own for the first time!
Hope everyone is doing well!
Love Zoe

The Cebu City Town Mayor

Some views of Cebu City

Slums down below from the house

A child living in the slums

More views of Cebu City

My supervisor from my HO

Some of my supervisors friends

Magallan's cross and a local praying for happiness for me!

The gate to my shoe box!

Just some photos of inside the shoebox

Meet chocolate, one of the two dogs that live here!

The lane to my place, I'm the blue place on the left!

Some locals selling food on the street.

Don't forget to check facebook for more photos!

 

Manila

Wow I have already been in the Philippines for one week and have been able to imerse myself into so much cultural experience!
I have experience washing myself with a bucket using cold water and even having to get into the habit of putting toilet paper in the bin not in the toilet!
I have had a taste of crickets, duck embroyos, deep fried rose petals and banana heart as well as eatting rice for pretty much every meal including breakfast and of course the two snacks they have on top of main meals. I'm hoping I won't put on weight here but wow I've eatten way to much in one week!
I have seen many 'big' things - a snail where its shell was as big as my fist, big cenetepids and big worms.
I've been attacked by mosquitos and have heat rush!
I have attempted to learn tagalog even though Cebuana is the language I'll be using!
Seeing my birthday in on the 31st was an entertainining experience with a bright and tight party, a australian pinoy styled BBQ, a cake at midnight, a big group hug with all the volunteers and of course a game of crazy water polo with a balloon in the pool in the wee hours of the morning (and yes I have got the brusies to prove it!)
I came second in the amazing race and experience videoke (karoake) where I sang my little heart out for many hours!
I've seen poverty and homelessness in the streets of Manila including seeing some slums. It makes me realise how important it is the work that I'll be doing in Cebu City, it also makes me appreciate the things we take for granted back home.
I am looking forward to visiting my work place on Monday and settling into my new place (still searching for somewhere!).
Hope everyone is well back at home - I think about everyone all the time, wandering what you are all doing at the moment!
Please keep in touch!
Love Zoe

Sunset from Singapore to Manila

City view of Manile from our resort

Crickets & duck embroyo

Intake 28's tight and bright!

For more photos please go to http://www.facebook.com/zoe.batten

Goodbye Melbourne hello Philippines

Well the time has come for me to get on the plane and head to the Philippines (can't believe its here)

I've finished packing, manage to get just under 20kilos but have a little to much hand luggage - fingers cross they let me on the plane with it all!

I've also manage to fill two small boxes full of toys, resources and Australian gifts for the school, hopefully this will arrive in time for the week I start work.

I'll be spending the next week and a half in Manilla before heading to Cebu City on the 4th of September. I will be starting work on Monday the 6th.

Emotions are running wild at the moment - not sure whether to laugh or cry! I'm not good at saying goodbye but the time I'm away will go quickly and visitors are always welcomed!

I'ld like to take this opportunity to thank all my friends, work colleagues and family on their wonderful support on taking this journey on!

Please keep in contact.

Love Zoe

All my luggage - think I've got it all!

The two boxes ready to go to Cebu City

Just some of the sensory toys for the school.

Thank-you to my work colleagues
for the beautiful flowers!