Quick update!

Disclaimer: This is not a reflective well planned and orchestrated blog update- it is just brief reflections on our life so far- set up in a FAQ style.  We do not have internet at home yet and have been very busy getting school and home set up. This has been written in pieces over the last few days.  We will be able to better communicate and share our new life with you all soon.  Love you all! - Meghan and Craig

Are we getting settled in?

We are getting there.   Our boxes that we shipped in May not be here till the end of the month, we have purchased basic groceries, and we are working on buying things like a dehumidifier, water cooler, setting up a water service (can’t drink water at our apt.), internet, pots and pans, hair dryer, adapters, and the list goes on and on.  New friends have been very helpful helping us learn how to get these things. 

How’s the jet-lag?

    Getting better- We went to bed at 6pm and got up at 5am today. We are starting to feel normal. 12 hour difference jet lag is not fun- really not looking forward to the jet-lag when going home- we hear that direction is much more difficult since you lose 12 hours.  

What is Baguio like?

Amazing. It is so beautiful with green plants and white fog everywhere.  It is like a huge cloud/jungle/city maze.  We have probably only seen about 1/3 of the city, but we love what we’ve seen!   Our home, as a friend called it, is “in the heart of Baguio”  it is away from the downtown/shopping section but still quite bustling. Our street is very difficult to drive up because, as another friend said, “everyone here owns like 3 jeepney and at least 3 dogs.”  The roads are narrow, somewhat steep and the main street to get to our house is very crowded with Jeepneys, cars, people, and taxis.  We are on top of a hill and from our driveway we can see down into a beautiful gully full of little houses with dogs and roosters and kids playing. It is very nice-maybe not a typical “American” view of nice- but we are right here surrounded by the people- in their town and their neighborhood.  That is a little bit scary- being the minority and knowing so little about everything Filipino- but it is also humbling and exciting.   Another comment on where we live by a new friend was “you will be getting an authentic Filipino experience.”  We certainly felt that when we walked down our neighborhood streets for the first time, and every time since then. We start at the top of our hill and it calm and pleasant just a few dogs maybe another person or two. Then we walk down the hill and there is one point where a stream runs under the road and peoples houses are just scrambled all over the place- and someone must own chickens- bc at the bottom of the hill you are always greeted with a pungent odor of what I can only call "yuck". Then at the bottom of the hill where the road intersects with the main road of the neighborhood there are 2 little shop windows and a water filling station and the street is lined with Jeepneys- all hours of the day.  You walk around these heading to the main road and pass chickens in small  cages- probably waiting to be someone's dinner, more dogs, and many more people- pretty much all staring at you.  
 Our apartment (picked out by the school) is quite large, definitely more space than we need but I am excited to have the space as we can house people if there is ever a need for that.  Lindsey (another young teacher that we are working with & our new best friend) will be taking an apartment within 50-100 feet away. It is a very nice little apartment and we love that she will be so close. :)   Today we ventured  shopping on session road and a more authentic Filipino department store (compared to the SM mall which is very modern and western).  It was great! It took our friend like 10 minutes just to get her car like a mile down the road- it was totally packed with Jeepneys and the like- when we finally got to the store we got out of the car and jumped into a sea of Filipinos.  I admit, it was a tad bit intimidating- but I just jumped in and went with it- I think we we the only non-asians in the whole 4 story store.  We got some great kitchen items- a nice pot great kitchen knife skillet, tea infuser, spatula and a hair dryer.  Then we hiked up session road (major shopping road) with all of our goodies to the mall for lunch.  Again- sea of asians- I am sure we stick out like sore thumbs. However we had no problems- everyone is very very nice (just like everyone told us they would be).  You still have to be careful though- just like you would in a crowded American city. After our adventure, Lindsey and I were talking about how amazingly at home we feel here already- even though there is no earthly reason why we should.  It is such a blessing to be where God has placed you and to be in His will.