東京

I have arrived. On the plane, I was scared because my Japanese has somewhat gone to crap and I had to make a phone call in Japanese immediately after getting off the plane. I really don't like phone conversations in other languages because it can be super hard to understand without body language and facial expressions. The plane ride from Manila was actually pretty good though...I met a nice Korean guy and we chatted for about 2 hours about travelling and our impressions of different countries. After landing, I figured out how to use Japanese pay phones and got through to the Meiji International Centre to tell them to send the student volunteer to meet me. The conversation went pretty flawless and it felt so good to conquer my first Japanese challenge. There are many more to come though.　

So far, my first day was overwhelming but I know it will get better. Japan is nutso on the bureaucracy and I have 6 different forms to fill out to register my status here. Luckily I have 2 lovely student advisors to help me out, and without them, I seriously would have died already. ありがとうございますムンちゃんとゆうみちゃん！

I know I have lots of things about the Philippines to bring closure to, but I just want to announce to the world that Tokyo is my favorite city ever. I am SO glad that I chose to study here and it's only been 1 day. Practically everything that you have seen on TV or read about Tokyo is true...the uber crowded subway cars, men in suits, bleach-blonde girls with super high heels, little noodle shops, people lining up neatly to get on the subway. I am in love and I can't wait to explore as much of Tokyo as I can (as long as I can afford the subway tickets).

Will write more soon!
<3 ケイティ

Noticings

In return for writing sooner, I'm resorting to bullet points to summarize some more observations about the Philippines and a few of my reflections:

• People try to give you plastic bags for take-out drinks. This baffles me. Yes, I can see how it might be convenient to carry a drink in a cup in a bag if you had a bunch of other things in your hands, but the whole point of take-out is to drink ON THE GO. I don't need to wrap my drink in plastic just to take it out and throw away the bag thank you very much.
• Men piss everywhere. I don't know how many times now I've seen a guy just walk up to a wall and take a pee with no regard for how public a place is.
• Drivers feel the need to honk as their main form of communication. Our bus driver on the way back from Carmen would honk at least every minute of a 2 hour bus ride. I think he was trying to say "hey watch out I'm coming" but when a bus is coming, you hear it and don't need your ears blasted out.
• Women swim in shorts and t-shirts. At first I thought this would suck but I actually like it now because you can just have fun in the water without worrying about creepy men staring at your body. Plus extra sun protection!
• It seems like a majority of Filipino people have a misguided sense of distance. We will often ask for directions and have someone say that we need to take a trike or a cab because it's soooo far when really it's less than a 5 minute walk
• I really like the way fares work on trikes (motorcycles with a large sidecar). Instead of paying by distance or time, you pay a flat rate per passenger for most locations within a certain area. Also, jeepneys kind of work on an honor system where you pay at some point during the ride and pass your money through people's hands up to the driver.
• There are no bus stops - you just flag down a jeepney and then bang on the handrails with some coins or yell "Bara" when you want to get off. Very convenient but it makes for a lot more starts and stops. 
• The baggage security system at the Cebu ferry terminal is not an x-ray but a dog. Everyone boarding had to set down their bags and the security guard marked some of them with chalk and then proceeded to make all kinds of clicking noises as the dog went up and down the line.
  
• On Panglao Island, I noticed people raking up kelp and then digging large holes. I then figured out that they were hiding the piles of kelp in these holes. I'm guessing this is so the beach looks more picturesque for the tourists but this has to be one of the dumbest jobs out there. Everyday with the tide, the debris comes back...at least they are creating employment?
• There are bakeries everywhere and I have made it my mission to sample at least 15 different kinds of baked goods. So far I think I'm well on my way and my favorites have been ube bread, monggo ensaymada, and the little chocolate cookies. I will try to post some pictures so you can share in the deliciousness.
• I came across a really great idea for a social enterprise at the Cebu ferry terminal. While you are waiting, you can pay 70 peso for a half hour massage from visually impaired masseuses. My massage was honestly one of the best in my life and I was thinking that this would be a wonderful venture for an organization like the CNIB that works with the blind and visually impaired.
• I've seen multiple job ads here that go against Canadian hiring practices in sooo many ways. For example, at a burger stand, they required that applicants be female, between the ages of 18 and 22, single, and above 5'1" in height. I'm not sure how this affects your ability to grill burgers, but perhaps being short means you can't see over the grill and affects the flavor of the meat.
• I knew the Philippines was a highly Catholic country, but I have never seen so much religious propaganda in my life. Almost every jeepney/bus/trike has a rosary in it, there are crucifixes everywhere and even the ferry stewardesses said God bless you before we got off. I also saw my bus driver cross himself before starting the trip which slightly worried me...
• Finally, I want to reflect on feeling like a wallet many times while I've been here. I know that I have much much more than many people here ever will but I didn't come here to give handouts. If I wanted to just donate money, I could have returned to Canada after Korea or found another country to travel in. Instead I chose to come here, get to know these kids, and show them that I care about them and believe in them. I don't mind buying ice cream for some of the Streetlight girls or buying them a small birthday present but I have a problem with kids on the street just coming up to me and sticking their hands out. It's heartbreaking to say no to them but I feel that I want to spend my money on the children that I've actually developed relationships with.
  

After today, I have less than 2 weeks left in the Philippines. 3 of the other volunteers have already left and I have 3.5 more days in Tacloban. I'll try to write again before I leave for Japan.

Bisous!