Kate (back) in Manila
Yes – I am still alive, but have been frantically busy with work, and Christmas, and travel, and being sick etc!
A couple of weeks before Christmas, however, I got a wonderful early Christmas present, when I was able to return to Manila for ten days, for work. I am currently spending two months working on the project I was on when I lived in Manila (although now based in Melbourne). A new manager has taken it over and has asked me to assist in the first stages, as I know the project and the staff. It is very exciting to be back on this project, and helping to steer it in a new direction that will see it achieve its full potential.
And it meant that I got to return to Manila. It was soooo exciting to be back there – driving from the airport to the hotel, fortunately I had a very patient taxi driver, as I kept squealing “oooh – I remember that”, or “oh – that’s new” over and over! It was great to be back with the great Pinoys and their wonderful smiles. And to see my colleagues and friends again. I have so many wonderful friends in Manila and have missed them so much since I left – to see them again and to catch up properly – not just over email – was wonderful.
Of course, Manila was in full pre-Christmas swing, which means horrendous traffic (“bery trapic ma’am”), completely over the top decorations, endless carols and the wonderful Christmas Cantata and my church. One of the highlights was definitely returning to UCM – I managed to attend two Sunday services, one Saturday night bible study, one Tuesday night worship service and the Christmas Cantata (sadly, my friend Rainier was not solo-ing this year, but it was still brilliant). I do love that church so much – it is just an amazing place full of the most beautiful people, and I have really missed it. It was really the heart and soul of my time in Manila and introduced me to people I will be friends with for my whole life. To be with them again was like a warm blanket – familiar and comfortable and refreshing, as well. They remind me of the goodness in people and I cannot spend time with them without coming away strengthened and feeling loved. I feel so lucky to have these wonderful people in my life and to spend time with them again was a true gift.
We got the tail end of a typhoon through Manila (it hit further south in force) which meant amazing rain and wind. I just wanted to pack up the rain and send it down to poor, drought-stricken Melbourne. Manila has had two super-typhoons this year (I spent my last couple of days staying with friends who lost power for a whole month after the typhoon in September!) and there are still signs of some poor trees that suffered.
It was interesting being back surrounded by poverty again. I have been back in Australia for several months now, and one tends to forget a little. But being back with children begging at your car window and seeing the street sweepers and people who work so hard just to survive another day gives new strength to my determination with my work – a fresh reminder of my privilege and how I do really feel obliged to share some of my blessings around.
And of course, I went diving! My last Saturday, a group of friends and I went down to Anilao, about 130km south of Manila, for a day of diving. It wasn’t the greatest conditions – a very strong current mean quite hard work and low visibility, but it was so terrific to be back under the water and surrounded by fish. Plus diving with these guys was hilarious – they kept making me laugh and my mask would flood – I would just get myself sorted out and I would look at Jess pulling another face, or turning a somersault during the safety stop, and I would be off again. Getting to dive with my great friend Kim was also wonderful – during my year there we never managed to dive together and I was so pleased we finally did – it was such a fun day and made me really lament my absence from Manila all over. It was really a good summary of my time there – wonderful friends from all around the world out on the water with beautiful scenery, hot weather and bad food! And the vague reminder that I had work to do the next day!! Oh – and a six hour gridlocked trip back to Manila (bery, bery trapic!)
A couple of weeks before Christmas, however, I got a wonderful early Christmas present, when I was able to return to Manila for ten days, for work. I am currently spending two months working on the project I was on when I lived in Manila (although now based in Melbourne). A new manager has taken it over and has asked me to assist in the first stages, as I know the project and the staff. It is very exciting to be back on this project, and helping to steer it in a new direction that will see it achieve its full potential.
And it meant that I got to return to Manila. It was soooo exciting to be back there – driving from the airport to the hotel, fortunately I had a very patient taxi driver, as I kept squealing “oooh – I remember that”, or “oh – that’s new” over and over! It was great to be back with the great Pinoys and their wonderful smiles. And to see my colleagues and friends again. I have so many wonderful friends in Manila and have missed them so much since I left – to see them again and to catch up properly – not just over email – was wonderful.
Of course, Manila was in full pre-Christmas swing, which means horrendous traffic (“bery trapic ma’am”), completely over the top decorations, endless carols and the wonderful Christmas Cantata and my church. One of the highlights was definitely returning to UCM – I managed to attend two Sunday services, one Saturday night bible study, one Tuesday night worship service and the Christmas Cantata (sadly, my friend Rainier was not solo-ing this year, but it was still brilliant). I do love that church so much – it is just an amazing place full of the most beautiful people, and I have really missed it. It was really the heart and soul of my time in Manila and introduced me to people I will be friends with for my whole life. To be with them again was like a warm blanket – familiar and comfortable and refreshing, as well. They remind me of the goodness in people and I cannot spend time with them without coming away strengthened and feeling loved. I feel so lucky to have these wonderful people in my life and to spend time with them again was a true gift.
We got the tail end of a typhoon through Manila (it hit further south in force) which meant amazing rain and wind. I just wanted to pack up the rain and send it down to poor, drought-stricken Melbourne. Manila has had two super-typhoons this year (I spent my last couple of days staying with friends who lost power for a whole month after the typhoon in September!) and there are still signs of some poor trees that suffered.
It was interesting being back surrounded by poverty again. I have been back in Australia for several months now, and one tends to forget a little. But being back with children begging at your car window and seeing the street sweepers and people who work so hard just to survive another day gives new strength to my determination with my work – a fresh reminder of my privilege and how I do really feel obliged to share some of my blessings around.
And of course, I went diving! My last Saturday, a group of friends and I went down to Anilao, about 130km south of Manila, for a day of diving. It wasn’t the greatest conditions – a very strong current mean quite hard work and low visibility, but it was so terrific to be back under the water and surrounded by fish. Plus diving with these guys was hilarious – they kept making me laugh and my mask would flood – I would just get myself sorted out and I would look at Jess pulling another face, or turning a somersault during the safety stop, and I would be off again. Getting to dive with my great friend Kim was also wonderful – during my year there we never managed to dive together and I was so pleased we finally did – it was such a fun day and made me really lament my absence from Manila all over. It was really a good summary of my time there – wonderful friends from all around the world out on the water with beautiful scenery, hot weather and bad food! And the vague reminder that I had work to do the next day!! Oh – and a six hour gridlocked trip back to Manila (bery, bery trapic!)
Good to know that some things remain eternal…
posted by Kate | 12:10 pm
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