Here! Present! Over here!

I'm HERE!

Internet access has been a bit spotty and I don't want to pull a "I'm having such a great time abroad let me spend all my time in internet cafes telling people at home about it" so, I've been creating posts on my laptop and planing to load them up via jump drive. But, of course, now that I have internet access, I don't have my jump drive. So, there's going to be some back tracking the next time I post.

It's strange because as of right now, I have yet to have an "I'm on the other side of the world!" moment. I am (obviously) familiar with the culture, I've been with family, and nearly everyone speaks English and when they do speak Tagalog I can understand them. I am sure the fact that I am so far away from home with sink in at some point, but right now, I don't feel so far away.

Oh! Before I forget. I CAN get texts but not through my American cell. My uncle is lending me a Filipino cell. You can text me from the States at +639154337235. You may or may not have to use the +. I think it just depends on your cell phone carrier. I think it costs about 40 US cents or 15 more cents if you have unlimited texting.

I have some detailed entries on my computer, so I will just leave some enticing highlights and post the specifics later.

--Makati, Manila (lots of shopping--though I restrained myself and only bought sunglasses--lots of great restaurants, the "closest to New York you'll get to in the Philippines," says my Tito (Uncle) Rofel.
--I've learned so many things about my family that I didn't know (Tito Rofel has been filling me in on the drama that noone ever talks about).
--I've already procured several books and that was on my first day in the country.
--My family is so nice. They have been so generous. They are having a hard time speaking to me in Tagalog. They keep talking to me in English, which makes it hard for me to use my Tagalog. They also keep forgetting that I understand almost everything they say :)
--I am in Laguna now and I passed the University where I will be studying. I am in the country AND close to the International Rice Research Institute. Ah. The jokes are endless...
--I've been missing my dad. But it's been a good kind of missing. It's a sad sort of dull ache but I am happy to be feeling it.

Ok. More later. I am going to go swim! Ok, well, float and wade around.