More to come.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Treetop Soccer
We had a very busy weekend...and it was fun.
On Friday we went out with our new friends, and as it turns out they do tons of stuff all the time and just thought we weren't interested.
Anyway, Saturday Jordon co-coached the lower school soccer team in a tournament. He had a great time.
The girls went to the cloth store. It was huge and overwhelming...located in Olongapo market. So we got there at 9:00, picked out our fabrics, went to the seamstress, told her what we wanted, she measured us and is going to make us beautiful dresses. Each will be around 600 pesos. That's right around $12.50. Crazy, huh?
After the market they wanted to go to the mall in San Fernando. So we went to the mall and I was ok for a few hours...but boy can these girls shop.
Oh, and after shopping they wanted to go to lunch at a new Mexican restaurant in Clark. By the time we finished lunch around 5:00 the nightlife was beginning...and as we walked out the door of the restaurant we witnessed a very pregnant prostitute selling her wares...quite disturbing to say the least.
Saturday some of us went on the Treetop Adventure. It was lovely. We thought we were going to be walking, but they stuck us in chairs and we zoomed around on a cable. The highest point was only 100 feet...but it was still a little nerve wracking...especially when Jordon's protective gear malfunctioned and they forgot to strap him in. But no harm no foul right?
Our guide told us this was a doorway to Narnia. But it was actually where the miltary did jungle training and put snipers and the like.
After that we went to Kamayan beach. We got there around 4ish, and had 'lunch.' It was really nice...pretty busy, but we found a secluded spot and swam and rested. A great way to finish off the busy weekend.
On Friday we went out with our new friends, and as it turns out they do tons of stuff all the time and just thought we weren't interested.
Anyway, Saturday Jordon co-coached the lower school soccer team in a tournament. He had a great time.
The girls went to the cloth store. It was huge and overwhelming...located in Olongapo market. So we got there at 9:00, picked out our fabrics, went to the seamstress, told her what we wanted, she measured us and is going to make us beautiful dresses. Each will be around 600 pesos. That's right around $12.50. Crazy, huh?
After the market they wanted to go to the mall in San Fernando. So we went to the mall and I was ok for a few hours...but boy can these girls shop.
Oh, and after shopping they wanted to go to lunch at a new Mexican restaurant in Clark. By the time we finished lunch around 5:00 the nightlife was beginning...and as we walked out the door of the restaurant we witnessed a very pregnant prostitute selling her wares...quite disturbing to say the least.
Saturday some of us went on the Treetop Adventure. It was lovely. We thought we were going to be walking, but they stuck us in chairs and we zoomed around on a cable. The highest point was only 100 feet...but it was still a little nerve wracking...especially when Jordon's protective gear malfunctioned and they forgot to strap him in. But no harm no foul right?
We felt remarkably like Bob the Builder.
This photo taken prior to Jordon's wardrobe malfunction... aka, the caribeener on his harness would no longer close. That made him nervous because....
It's a long way to the bottom...
Jordon post wardrobe problem, reminding us how important safety is... right before the guide forgets to buckle him into his seat.
Below is a photo of the solution to the malfunction. They strapped a belt on him with a rope and caribeener on it.. which really made his harness effectively useless.
The different towers were named for numbered stations. Like we weren't already feeling like we infiltrated the Dharma Initiative...check out some of the mysterious buildings we observed...
Our guide told us this was a doorway to Narnia. But it was actually where the miltary did jungle training and put snipers and the like.
Me making my muppet face. My students now love the 'Manamana' song from Sesame Street.
The only thing keeping us from plummeting to our doom.
After that we went to Kamayan beach. We got there around 4ish, and had 'lunch.' It was really nice...pretty busy, but we found a secluded spot and swam and rested. A great way to finish off the busy weekend.
Lovingly yours,
The Quattlebaums
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I love history. I don't know if it was my Dad subscribing to National Geographic, or all of the hours watching the Discovery and History channels.. but I -love- history, and one of the most interesting times in recent history was during World War 2.
For years I've heard about the events of WWII, the Korean war, and Vietnam from the U.S. perspective. The victors get to write history, right? The Philippines is an amazing place and Brent school especially. My students are reading 'Number the Stars', a historical fiction book written by Lois Lowry. The book is about nazi occupied Denmark, and how a small group of people risk their lives to save the lives of their Jewish friends and neighbors. In order to get my students to appreciate the book more, we're really digging into World War 2. Part of our assessment is to partner up and give a presentation to the class on what WWII was like for people of their country. I really pushed the fact that many of their grandparents lived during the war, and that they are terrific resources. We also talked about how sensitive this subject is, and that some of them may not want to speak about it. And that's ok. Their relatives lived the war in a different place, experienced different things. Koreans still harbor a grudge against the Japanese for the occupation of their country for over 30 years. They stripped them of their culture, their food.. even their names had to be changed to a Japanese name. The Filipinos have a very different experience of the war, Japan being so near, the U.S. coming to 'help', and then deciding to stick around for a long time. There are mixed feelings about that time, and I'm getting to learn all about it. We really are blessed to be able to travel. We learn so much from other people, about the past, and what happened. About what people think of the U.S. and other countries, and why they think it.
If you get the chance to live abroad.. not just a visit of a week or two.. do it. It's difficult to adjust to the many changes, but it enriches your life to a degree that you can't even imagine. A big thank you to God and our families for allowing and understanding why we've moved here. We miss you.
-Jordon
PS. More pictures to come soon. Bookweek is right around the corner, and students are asked to dress as their favorite book character on October 30th (instead of celebrating halloween). I'm sure there will be some amazing costumes to photograph.
For years I've heard about the events of WWII, the Korean war, and Vietnam from the U.S. perspective. The victors get to write history, right? The Philippines is an amazing place and Brent school especially. My students are reading 'Number the Stars', a historical fiction book written by Lois Lowry. The book is about nazi occupied Denmark, and how a small group of people risk their lives to save the lives of their Jewish friends and neighbors. In order to get my students to appreciate the book more, we're really digging into World War 2. Part of our assessment is to partner up and give a presentation to the class on what WWII was like for people of their country. I really pushed the fact that many of their grandparents lived during the war, and that they are terrific resources. We also talked about how sensitive this subject is, and that some of them may not want to speak about it. And that's ok. Their relatives lived the war in a different place, experienced different things. Koreans still harbor a grudge against the Japanese for the occupation of their country for over 30 years. They stripped them of their culture, their food.. even their names had to be changed to a Japanese name. The Filipinos have a very different experience of the war, Japan being so near, the U.S. coming to 'help', and then deciding to stick around for a long time. There are mixed feelings about that time, and I'm getting to learn all about it. We really are blessed to be able to travel. We learn so much from other people, about the past, and what happened. About what people think of the U.S. and other countries, and why they think it.
If you get the chance to live abroad.. not just a visit of a week or two.. do it. It's difficult to adjust to the many changes, but it enriches your life to a degree that you can't even imagine. A big thank you to God and our families for allowing and understanding why we've moved here. We miss you.
-Jordon
PS. More pictures to come soon. Bookweek is right around the corner, and students are asked to dress as their favorite book character on October 30th (instead of celebrating halloween). I'm sure there will be some amazing costumes to photograph.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Jordon got his very own email address
It's a big day for the quattlebaums. Jordon and I were having issues sharing gchat so I invited him to gmail and we promptly thought of a most memorable name. It also happens to be the most ridiculous.
To email or chat with Jordon add/email SuperQuattleMan@gmail.com.
Yes. SuperQuattleman@gmail.com.
And mine remains the same MelissaQuattlebaum@gmail.com.
If you want to get information to both of us go ahead and just send it to one...we'll show each other.
Oh, and you may be interested in Jordon's observation of the retainer post. He theorizes that the cockroach was simply attracted to the retainer. The retainer looks remarkably like a cockroach, albeit far simpler, and it was in a fragrant bath of listerine. What hot blooded cockroach could resist?
To email or chat with Jordon add/email SuperQuattleMan@gmail.com.
Yes. SuperQuattleman@gmail.com.
And mine remains the same MelissaQuattlebaum@gmail.com.
If you want to get information to both of us go ahead and just send it to one...we'll show each other.
Oh, and you may be interested in Jordon's observation of the retainer post. He theorizes that the cockroach was simply attracted to the retainer. The retainer looks remarkably like a cockroach, albeit far simpler, and it was in a fragrant bath of listerine. What hot blooded cockroach could resist?
Friday, October 3, 2008
This is what I hear every day.
They come up to me after we've gone over their assignments and I've asked them if they have any questions. I also have them explain the directions back to me before I send them to their seats to work.
My theory is that it goes back to the fact that they have everything done for them and that they are hoping that instead of me telling them how to do their assignment they want me to actually do their papers for them.
Generally, after I go over their practice problems again, they say, "oh" and finish their work at their seats.
Anyway, it's cute...most of the time.
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