7.09.2012

A heart thats not a heart + A spine of bread


Hello all,

            How are you all doing? It is currently pouring buckets and buckets of rain. I love it! We learned in school today that the Filipino wet season is June-November. Boy, is that true of late. Raining almost every day!

            We had a fun filled week last week! Tuesday we had an Australian team lead by Nanay and Tatay’s old friends. They taught the girls how to make three different types of bracelets and how to sew a beautiful handbag. I was really impressed by the girls handiwork! The team members were very sweet and endearing. You could clearly see their heart and love for this country. Their purpose really intrigued me. They are going around to different organizations and rural villages teaching ladies how to make simple handicrafts to sell as a way to make an honest living. I like the idea of giving them a way to get out or change their lifestyle.

            Then Wednesday was Phil-Am Day. It used to be the Filipino Independence day since the United States gave over control to the Filipinos. But they decided years ago, to celebrate the day the Spanish turned over control. Now I think only the Rosmarino’s celebrate Phil-Am day, but we have enough fun for the whole country. The kids stared off the day by colouring American and Philippino flags to decorate the house with. Then we moved it outside to play games. We had a “marathon” for each age group. Even the kids in wheelchairs had their very own “marathon”. We had banana eating contests, egg races, three-legged races and relay races. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Smiles and laughs abounded. We rounded out the day with a barbeque, a movie and apple pie J

            So to continue part of the last blog. I showed my kids an x-ray of a hand and a foot. They were amazed!! They couldn’t believe you had or needed so many bones. The third graders are learning the simple systems of our body, so I showed the class a book with anatomically correct pictures. Man did that both interest and confuse them. To help clarify and differentiate parts of the body, the book would highlight or colour certain organs. This is where the confusion started. They are very literal. So the page showing the different parts of the spinal column, showed a piece of bone which looked like a piece of bread. Bringing on a volley of questions about why we have bread in our back. Here are some more funny, confused moments. The lymphatic system (highlighted in green) looked like peas scattered throughout the body. The heart is not heart shaped. Highly puzzling as to why they call it a heart then. The capillaries in our lungs were mistaken for the roots of our teeth. I had quite a time trying to sort out all the confusion and answer all their questions. I’m still not sure if its all straight in their minds now. I didn’t know teaching bodily systems would be such an adventure.

            Friday brought the box of love (forex box) from my aunt. They are so exciting to get! I never really know what’s inside. This one was filled with snacks, dresses, hairpins, aprons and beach balls. My two cousins each contributed to the box. Maddie made flower hairpins for each of the manangs. They all loved them! Thought it was very sweet she would think of us. On Sunday, we all sported them to church. Claire, the younger one, bought me with her very own money a gift bag filled with edible goodies J I loved it! My family sent me some more snacks that should last me my last two months here. The box was rounded out with cards from my dad and uncle which made me cry, in a good way. The box was a great way to kick off the last leg of my adventure here.

            “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open you mouth, judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy” Proverbs 31:8-9
            “She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” Proverbs 31:20

God Bless and much love,

Kelsey

No comments:

Post a Comment