Not on Vacation

I've had a couple conversations recently on appearances. Typically I post about colorful activities with colorful people in my new colorful country. I have photos on my facebook where I'm always smiling and having a good time (why else smile)*. I won't deny that I love my work and my new locale, but I'm not in Eden on vacation. Lets see what my schedule last week was like.

7:50: Wake up

7:52: Get up, dress, get almusal (breakfast)

8:15: Finish almusal, sit on my bed and prepare my backpack for language.

8:45: Walk to language (if it's raining, substitute wade for walk)

9:00: Language training

11:45: Walk home

12:00: Tanghalian (lunch)

12:20: finish tanghalian, repack bag for technical and tutoring, grab money

12:40: Meet Kaiti to wait for a jeepney or bus headed to Calapati (dove, it's a landmark in New Cabalan)

1:00: Technical training

5:00: Technical training usually ends here, if not I'm still stuck in New Cabalan thanks to the impossibility of catching a jeepney back after 5pm, why would I go back? Here's why

6:00: Tutoring

7:00: walk to Calapati to catch a ride home with Kaiti

7:15: Home, eat hapunan (dinner)

7:45: finish hapunan

What do I do after that? It's tough to tell, there's a lot I'd like to do but not a lot of time to do it in. Maybe one or two of these: internet, blog, read a book, language practice, exercise, laundry, watch fuzzy TV with the family, or some technical work. It's always a tough call and some important things usually are forgotten, like laundry.

That's everyday. Saturday is a half-day usually, and Sunday is free (except for church and volunteering). I'd like to say I'm on the beach everyday, I went twice total, but that's not the case.

There's drama you'd wish was left on the tarmac in LA, there's assignments, there are deadlines, there's trainee assessments, complaints (valid and otherwise), heat, rain, diarrhea, longing, and so on. I'm not trying to whine, I just want to make sure to alleviate undue envy. Want the job, the opportunity, the challenge, the teamwork, the good, and the bad. The scenery is just pleasant garnish.

*I'm smiling because it's weird to have a photo I'm staring into with a question written on my face, inside I'm probably thinking of what I might be forgetting to complete or study.