I walked around the city with one of the women who helps set up the Volunteers. It was pretty fun. She showed us where everything was and it was nice to really take a mental image of everything I have been searching for the past two weeks. I was able to get a lot of you the souvenirs I had in mind. Also I found one that is perfect for you Ashley but I didn’t have enough money with me… so I will have to get it tomorrow. I am sure no one else will buy it. I was actually surprised to see such a thing here. While eating supper last night I was greated with a HUGE cockroach. It flew right at me from across the room. It was about half the size of my hand. But pretty big. I swatted it to the ground and stomped on it right away. Tes and Jerry couldn’t believe it. Jerry laughed and kept saying the same thing over and over in waray waray ( so I didn’t understand) Then Tes said that all of the other volunteers have seizers when they see a bug that big but I just killed it. Don’t get me wrong the thing was super disgusting but I would rather have it come at me while I am awake than enter my bed with me! So I thought it would be best to Kill it at that moment. Yes all of that went through my mind as I decided to swat and step on it. What can I say… I’m a fast thinker. Yesterday I was walking down the side walk ( along with a billion other people) and there was a Jeepney stopped waiting for people to get on and another one pulled up too close to it and the side mirrors from both were took off and the glass from both mirrors shattered everywhere. So you can imagine how fast the other jeepney came in. Anyway I was hit by a lot of the mirror but I am unharmed! I was pretty excited to witness it though. Everyone just stood around and the cop at the end of the street corner shook his head and walked the other way. I am not sure what happens in an event like that… and I am not convinced they knew either. It rained all day today but it was kind of refreshing because five days of no rain and everything is super dry. But I guess February has hardly any rain. This morning I was telling Tes about French toast and she said she has never heard of it and wants to try to make it. So I am pretty excited about that for breakfast tomorrow morning. We are going to the bakery at 4 in the morning to get the bread.

There is a one legged man that I pass everyday (sometimes twice) who always asks me to marry him. I just thought you guys would like to picture that. Oh.. and he made is own crutch. Why he only has one… probably because he had to make it and two was out of the question. The thing I have learned in Waray Waray recently is Will you marry me or will you marry my son. They pretend then that they don’t understand English when I explain why I am really here. I am not so much flattered any more.

Today while I was walking on the street with some other Volunteers I noticed one of the kids I interpret for who was NOT in class this morning. I went up to him and yelled at him for not coming to school. He explained that when it rains he doesn’t got to school. HA… this is the Philippines and he doesn’t go to school when it rains. But I just explained to him how important it is for him to be there and that it makes me feel important when he comes. I was able to meet his best friend who is also Deaf. He is not able to come to school because his family doesn’t have enough money and he is Deaf so he doesn’t get first choice even though he is second oldest. He told me the whole story but it was nice to talk to him today.

I woke up this morning to Jerry cutting the “hair” of his Cock for the fight on Sunday. He said he gives it a bath every morning and trims it every other day so it looks the best. I just thought it was funny and I would share.

Also last night another cockroach story… I was going to go to the bathroom and as I was in mid pants down a giant cockroach came from behind the toilet. I almost peed myself because I was unsure if I should pee first or try to kill it. I decided to use the toilet first and then kill it. It seriously took me like ten minutes to kill it. It would NOT die! After I had smashed it all over the bathroom I had to take the bucket and wash it down the shower drain. I had to use the same bucket I “shower” with and “flush” the toilet with. Ahh.. what would I do without that bucket!

I put pictures up on Facebook. I can not do it on here for my blog. Mom and Dad.. you will just have to use Krystal's facebook to get the pictures.

much love...

Toni