I hope that everyone is having a great Christmas. We stayed up until midnight mass. After mass we came back to the house and lit off some fireworks. Then the kids opened the gifts that we bought them. It was their only gifts, as far as I could tell. After that we had dinner. It consisted of the whole pig, rice, chicken adobo, blood meat dish, chocolate cake, sweet rice, and coke to drink. Jazie was frightened by the big. She looked at it and seems to realize that it was the same pig that was out in the back yard the day before. Her eyes got big; she started to cry and said I am frightened. I had to take her to the other room to eat. We all went to bed after that.
On Christmas day we had breakfast and divided up the leftover food that was distributed to all of the relatives and the neighbors’. After that we went to the beach. All of the relatives and us loaded into one very small truck and about six motorcycles. It is amazing how many people that can get in or on the vehicles here. Ella, Jazie, and I ride on one motorcycle. I have seen motorcycle with seven people on it. That was completely amazing. (Scary) The driver is required to wear a helmet but the passengers are not. From what I could see the driver didn’t most of time ether. The beach was just great. I took Jazie out chasing the waves. Then we played in the sand. She then took a nap. I went and joined the men who were already three sheets to the wind. They drink rum here that is just terrific. I never drink much and Ella likes that about me. I’m not one for getting drunk.
It is the next day now. I slept until 5:30am. Sham on me. After breakfast we went to meet at the beach with Ella’s old singles group. They all try to meet on Dec. 26th each year. Most of them are now married and have children. One their children that is about 4 kept chase Jazie around tell her that he love her. It was cute. The beach was all white sand and just beautiful sceenary. I sat in the shallows and cough hermit craps with Jazie and the kids. She was so festinated with them.
It is the next day now. Got up at 6am. Do you believe it? After breakfast Ella and I took the bike and went to town. We passed out invitations to the wedding, Ella did some shopping and I spent about two hours at Jolly Bee. It gave me the chance to get all the e-mail form everyone and send some. Thanks to all of you that have been writing. I don’t get the chance to go to town every day so I am glad to get mail from you. I feel quite stranded and it is good to get news from home.
The wedding is going to be on the 29th and I am going to get my tooth pulled on the 30th. They would not pull it earlier in the week. It was too infected. They said that I need to take antibiotics for a week first. Ella was not so lucky. They told her that she had 15 cavities and made her get the worst ones drilled. She has to get the others done after I get my tooth pulled. It seems quite strange. I had my teeth cleaned and so did Ella. She also had the cavities filled, and it cost $50 American dollars. Thing just don’t add up the same here. Electronics cost about the same as in the states. So does bikes furniture, clothing, and packaged foods. Gas is about $1.50 per gallon. Food from here is very cheap. Like fish, pig, chicken, fruits and vegetables. The difference is that they only make about $400.00 Dollars per month. That leaves them with very little for outside goods.
I am stopping for the night. I hope that all is well there. We miss everyone and look forward to returning.
Love Jerry, Ella, and Jazie
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Letter from the Philippines #3
It is Wednesday today. It has been hard to keep up with the days. Clocks do not seem to be anywhere. The only way to find out the time is to ask someone. Ella says that they moved my dental appointment to tomorrow. I don’t know how she found that out. The Phone never rings. I think that one of her relatives checked when they went to town.
I was awakening early this morning to go to church. I think that it was about. 3:30 am. After church we walked to Ella’s family’s farms. It is very beautiful. It is like going into the rain forest. There is thick underbrush, (except in the arias where the animals are eating it or they use the machetes to beat it back. The farm was fun. Jasie loved the animals.
Yesterday we went to the ocean. A little place just off the back side of the college. It is a bird and fish sanctuary. The water was mostly only about 3 to 4 feet deep. Jazie enjoyed the swimming, but not the salt. She kept rubbing her eyes and spitting. It was so nice to cool off. I rode in the back of the truck with about ten others. The wind cooled me off even more. I slept much better last night.
The weather has been better. It has not been so muggy. There has been a lite breeze blowing today.
We are going to a neighborhood party later tonight. All of the local residents will be there. All the people here are getting so excited about Christmas. Everyone is smiling and happy. We have had Christmas carolers most every night. We purchased some fireworks for the parties.
We miss everyone. Shaw family
I was awakening early this morning to go to church. I think that it was about. 3:30 am. After church we walked to Ella’s family’s farms. It is very beautiful. It is like going into the rain forest. There is thick underbrush, (except in the arias where the animals are eating it or they use the machetes to beat it back. The farm was fun. Jasie loved the animals.
Yesterday we went to the ocean. A little place just off the back side of the college. It is a bird and fish sanctuary. The water was mostly only about 3 to 4 feet deep. Jazie enjoyed the swimming, but not the salt. She kept rubbing her eyes and spitting. It was so nice to cool off. I rode in the back of the truck with about ten others. The wind cooled me off even more. I slept much better last night.
The weather has been better. It has not been so muggy. There has been a lite breeze blowing today.
We are going to a neighborhood party later tonight. All of the local residents will be there. All the people here are getting so excited about Christmas. Everyone is smiling and happy. We have had Christmas carolers most every night. We purchased some fireworks for the parties.
We miss everyone. Shaw family
Monday, December 20, 2010
Letter from the Philippines #2
Just came back from town. It is the only place that I can get internet. I have to go to a fast food place called Jolly Bee. It is like a McDonalds but with different foods. Jolly Bee is the nicest place in this small town. It is clean and more modern the other places that are more like shacks that serve food. It is a ten minute ride in a motorcycle car. They call it a strike. It goes only about 15 to 20 miles an hour. Jazie loved it. As we drove she saw oxen, sheep, goats, dogs, and all kinds of other animals.
We also went and met with the Priest that is going to marry us on the 29th. He was nice. He thought that he might be able to convert me to Catholic but found that I was just as stern on my religion as he was. I told him that I respected Ella’s religion and that she respects mine. He left it with that.
Tonight we are going to a party at Ella’s brother’s house. ( Neceto ) he is a high school teacher. Neceto and some of his students just added the new kitchen – dinning room onto Ella’s mom’s home. They wanted us to feel more comfortable. I say Kitchen mildly because they only do a little bit of cooking in the house. Electric coffee pot, rice cooker, and sink. The rest of the cooking is done out in the back yard. I will include more photos that will include the outside cooking.
The housing here is not what any of us Spoiled Americans could ever tolerate. Most of the people live in houses that are made of bamboo or tin, but together as to whatever way they can. The floors are mostly dirt or bamboo. If the owner is a little better off then he has concrete. We have been so spoiled by them. They even purchased an air conditioner and installed it in the room that we are using. I have to say that I am so glad. It is so muggy here. I have been dealing with it ok, but Ella and Jazzier are not doing as well with it.
We are looking forward to the wedding and the celebrations of the holidays to come. It is family get together that her family has not been able to have in many year. Ella is like a little girl. The smile has hardly left her face since we got here.
I will write again as I can. Jerry
We also went and met with the Priest that is going to marry us on the 29th. He was nice. He thought that he might be able to convert me to Catholic but found that I was just as stern on my religion as he was. I told him that I respected Ella’s religion and that she respects mine. He left it with that.
Tonight we are going to a party at Ella’s brother’s house. ( Neceto ) he is a high school teacher. Neceto and some of his students just added the new kitchen – dinning room onto Ella’s mom’s home. They wanted us to feel more comfortable. I say Kitchen mildly because they only do a little bit of cooking in the house. Electric coffee pot, rice cooker, and sink. The rest of the cooking is done out in the back yard. I will include more photos that will include the outside cooking.
The housing here is not what any of us Spoiled Americans could ever tolerate. Most of the people live in houses that are made of bamboo or tin, but together as to whatever way they can. The floors are mostly dirt or bamboo. If the owner is a little better off then he has concrete. We have been so spoiled by them. They even purchased an air conditioner and installed it in the room that we are using. I have to say that I am so glad. It is so muggy here. I have been dealing with it ok, but Ella and Jazzier are not doing as well with it.
We are looking forward to the wedding and the celebrations of the holidays to come. It is family get together that her family has not been able to have in many year. Ella is like a little girl. The smile has hardly left her face since we got here.
I will write again as I can. Jerry
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Letter from the Philippines #1
Good Morning,
I have had some trouble getting connected here. It is so far back that there is almost no phone signal. If I stand on the side of the building and hang off, then sometimes I can get a signal. We spent the first two days in the big town of Davao City. Went to their big mall and bought so things that we needed. I had to get a power converter because there power plugs are double the power of ours. After that we made the trip to her town and home. They drive like complete maniacs. Ella has been in heaven visiting her family. They are so funny to watch. The emotion in their conversation. I do not understand most of what they are saying, and it is too fast for translation.
They all just love Jazie. She is being kissed or carted around or playing with at least five cousins at all times. She is being spoiled to death. She is amazed with all of the animals. She is chasing the chickens or goats around.
She is talking up a store and just thinks that she is the queen. It will be hard to get her back to normal.
The weather is very humid and wet. It would be easier to handle is you could shower more and had hot water. The shower consist of a bucket with a pan in it that you can scoop out water to but over your body. Then you wash with soap. Then you rinse by panning out the water again. The food is great. Everyone eats a big breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is mango, papaya, and rice at every meal.
Tell everyone that we said hi and that we miss all. If you are able to e-mail me please attach whatever you are saying as I will have to download it and read at a later time. I will only be able to use the internet for a sort time.
We love and miss everyone and look forward to our return.
Jerry, Ella and Jazmerella
I have had some trouble getting connected here. It is so far back that there is almost no phone signal. If I stand on the side of the building and hang off, then sometimes I can get a signal. We spent the first two days in the big town of Davao City. Went to their big mall and bought so things that we needed. I had to get a power converter because there power plugs are double the power of ours. After that we made the trip to her town and home. They drive like complete maniacs. Ella has been in heaven visiting her family. They are so funny to watch. The emotion in their conversation. I do not understand most of what they are saying, and it is too fast for translation.
They all just love Jazie. She is being kissed or carted around or playing with at least five cousins at all times. She is being spoiled to death. She is amazed with all of the animals. She is chasing the chickens or goats around.
She is talking up a store and just thinks that she is the queen. It will be hard to get her back to normal.
The weather is very humid and wet. It would be easier to handle is you could shower more and had hot water. The shower consist of a bucket with a pan in it that you can scoop out water to but over your body. Then you wash with soap. Then you rinse by panning out the water again. The food is great. Everyone eats a big breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is mango, papaya, and rice at every meal.
Tell everyone that we said hi and that we miss all. If you are able to e-mail me please attach whatever you are saying as I will have to download it and read at a later time. I will only be able to use the internet for a sort time.
We love and miss everyone and look forward to our return.
Jerry, Ella and Jazmerella
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