I'm writing this on the bus headed home from one fun gathering of
youth and friends. The youth summit was located in Dupax Del Norte in
Nueva Viskaya, North of my site by four hours bus ride. The bus trip
took me from the lowlands I live in, into the mountains I can only
just see at the edge of the horizon when I'm home.
Before I left for the summit on Thursday afternoon, I had to move out
of my host family's house and move into my new apartment. I was able
to make the move completely by bike, I made about eight trips back
and forth, filling my backpack and grabbing another piece of luggage
each time. I left my all my stuff all over the downstairs, locked my
bike up, and started out for my trip North.
At 3:17pm I was on the right bus. I was left with one spot in the
back of the bus where the seats had broken into a form that forces
all who want to use them to lounge-out. Thankfully the trip was
fairly uneventful, it was exciting to see more new countryside and to
climb out of the farm lands into the mountains. Some of the roads
looked hairy, with one side of the roads hugging the face of
mountainsides, with a steep drop off the other side. I made it to
Dupax Del Norte by 7:10pm.
When I arrived I was greeted by a van full of friends and we
immediately rode towards the place we'd be staying for the summit.
What we arrived at was a resort, the kind of place no one had
imagined we'd be staying. We were given clean and comfortable rooms,
a small room allowance for food and drinks, and were even greeted by
the owner of the resort. This gave me a chance to finally catch up
with my friends who I only usually get to communicate with through
Facebook or text. After a few hours, we were all tired from traveling
(everyone else had arrived hours earlier than me) and settled into
bed, looking forward to the next day's events at the youth summit.
The summit was prepared to host about 120 kids but when all was
sorted, we had about 50 youths. The first day had the youths doing
group work and allowed us PCVs to break the ice. The PCVs rotated
groups facilitating different activities all revolving around
leadership. After several hours of groups everyone was allowed to go
home and told we would reconvene the next morning.
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| The Bus Home for the Youth |
After most of the youth had left, in a huge truck, the PCVs settled
into one of the most favored pastimes here in the Philippines,
videoke. The PCVs tried their hands at singing but none of us could
really muster the courage to really belt out songs into the mic,
instead we opted to do choral versions of all the songs selected.
Songs included TLC's Waterfalls and an N'Sync song I can't recall the
name to. Be assured that it was artistically impressive.
The next day of the summit (Saturday) PCVs were split into two person
teams and had one activity they needed to facilitate the whole day.
The youth would rotate PCV teams and by the end of the day all
participants would have completed each one. I was partnered with my
friend Alex and our activity was based around “discipline.”
Our
activity started bumpy to begin, Alex and I were trying to grasp the
concept as we went along too. We were able to get a good handle and
flow to the activity and by the mid-way point we were really in full
stride.
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| The Longest Line. A killer game. |
Even with the activity in a form we really liked, it was short in
comparison to the other groups, we were left with figuring out
something to fill the time in with. First, we added charades, it
would last one round and was a moderate success in all. Second, we
added a cultural exchange, a time where the youth could ask us any
questions about the US and even about ourselves. This was really fun,
the youth took awhile to get rolling with questions, but after they
started they hammered us with questions. One of our favorite
questions was “what was the best Christmas gift you've ever
received?” Finally, the last group we were working with even burned
through questions so I had to come up with games on the spot. I did
two games, “everybody up”, and a game I'm most proud of, “Over,
Under” my quick-thinking adaptation of another game “Over, Under,
Through.”
After the activities had finished, the youth and PCVs were both
allowed to enjoy some videoke action. The PCVs opened the singing
with another rendition of a favored N'Sync song. The youth finally
started singing shortly afterwards, and further illustrated some of
the great singing talents I could seemingly trip over wherever I'm at
here in the Philies. After a couple hours of singing and dinner, the
PCVs decided to pack it in and head back to the resort. No one hung
out that night as most of us fell asleep moments after hitting the
bed.
The next morning was for wrapping up the summit which included a tree
planting and election for members of a new committee of youths. Also,
the PCVs were allowed a chance to feel like celebrities when the
youths mobbed each of us for out signatures and photos. The election
went by quickly and the members who were voted in were some of the
most standout participants, the PCVs were pleased. In the end, the
PCVs were presented with wicker-back-packs (which are awesome) and
received several seated ovations.
I was able to eat lunch with my fellow friends after the close of the
summit but had to leave immediately afterward. I gave hugs all around
and was driven to the side of the road where I found this bus I'm in
now, writing this. I had to leave so soon and fast because I have to
get my new apartment in order. As it stands now, I won't have a bed
to sleep on tonight but I might be able to clean the fridge if I get
there soon.
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| The Long Road Home |
Sadly, the bus trip has been slow. I've been on the road for about
three hours and I reckon I've got several more to go.
Later... It took almost five hours to get home, as compared to four
the other direction. I was able to do a basic set-up of my apartment
but I've got a lot of work to do. Here's my bed and how I built it.
The best way to end a great trip.
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| Half my dinner. Canned Vienna sausages. |
