From Marty: First days

Flower leis and a poster welcoming us to the Philippines — we are welcomed indeed! And tired. We are finding it easy to get used to palm trees and tropical breezes; less easy to turn around our inner clocks . We had lunch with the GSE committee, and were introduced both to our own schedule and to the good works that this District does. I mentioned to Dan that I was impressed with the number of Rotarians and club projects that this District is involved with. His answer: “Sixty percent of Manila is very poor. We need a lot of Rotarians.” Words to live by. Thursday — a day we barely noticed as we flew across the international date line — was Valentine’s Day. We missed that day with our sweeties, of course, but are making up for it here: Not only were we met with the aforementioned flowers at the airport, but last night, the hotel restaurant had a “Valentines package” that included a rose for all of us, gifts of romantic movies (on DVD) and candied popcorn, and, of course, comments from the waitstaff of, “it’s my pleasure, ma’am.” Being called “ma’am” is easy to get used to, and doesn’t suggest the age differential it does in the states. Anticipation is high. In an hour or so we will be picked up to meet our first host families, and the adventure will continue! –Marty

We’re here!

After a lovely mid-night drive through Manila, we arrived at the Discovery Suites hotel on the cusp of Valentine’s Day.  On our drive here, we saw many bright signs – Jesus Alone Saves, Praise the Lord, In God We Trust, at the top of skyscrapers (I am looking at Praise the Lord as I dine at the hotel restaurant on the 22nd floor.)  Also saw a Shakey’s Pizza (big during my childhood in California) and a fastfood chain that I did a case on during MBA studies!

Woke up this morning and rejoin the real world after our long and arduous journey.  Woke to bad news locally and back home – here in the Philippines, an assasination plot was uncovered and the country is on “high alert” for internal terrorist attacks from the southern area.  The US embassy has issued a warning to visiting Americans to “exercise extreme caution.”  While disappointed to hear of the unrest, I feel safer here than say, an US college campus.  Just catching bits of info on a shooting rampage at Northern Illinois University campus outside of Chicago.  Three dead, 17 wounded including the gunman. 

From Marty: Getting there is half the fun, part 2

I will leave it to others to discuss the specifics of our flight to Manila. As for me, I yin and yang between awe that we can travel half the world in what is essentially one very long day, and disgust that we choose to do so in conditions more reminiscent of a Guatemalan “chicken” bus than any mode of transportation more civilized. Yes, the airlines see fit to pack us like sardines, and yes, they have managed to convince themselves that it’s a money saver to provide inedible food (therefore forgetting the 80-20 rule which  in this case means they could spend 20% more and get 80% greater quality.

But the airline’s penny pinching doesn’t really describe the lack of consideration, the me-me mentality all too prevalent in flying today.

Anyway, we are here. And enroute the immigrations line we were met by a man named “Job” (everyone seems to have one-syllable nicknames here; augurs well for someone like me who can’t name-remember) who sped us through the “diplomatic” line, collected our passports and got us waived through, and repeated same through customs. I made the mistake of trying to help; must remember not to do that in this culture.

There at the curb was Dan, the district GSE coordinator, with at least two helpers, a welcome sign with all our photos , and flower leis. At least we were told they are leis, although clearly not of the Hawaiian kind. It was 78 degrees at midnight, we had clearly arrived in the lap of civilization and hospitality, and the tiredness seemed to melt away as Dan apologized for the “small” greeting party, explaining that it was, after all, Valentines Day and that the other Rotarians were all out with their wives.  Of being forced to give up his own special evening to greet us he couldn’t concern himself.

We were loaded with all our bags (and they seem to have multiplied themselves in the cargo section) and Dan drove us into town and to our hotel. There we were met by Jun, who sped us through check-in and into our three-bedroom, incredibly appointed suite.  Dan text-messaged the Governor – who apparently is in North America – and received back warm words of welcome from him which were sorta lost on a completely exhausted me. We bade our hosts good night (good morning? It’s the wee hours of Feb 15 by now) and while Christin and Juliette showered and crashed, Evelyn, Cat and I went to the bar as instructed to find an internet connection and send back the good word that we were here, and welcomed, and safe.

We will see our hosts at 12:00 tomorrow (today?) for lunch and orientation. Dan explained that both he and Jun are past-GSE team leaders and that they both “get it.” I am sure I will too, in a very few days. Dan went to South Dakota in 2001; Jun to Brazil last year. Dan said that the District typically pairs with the US; I still need to find out why! And when I complimented him on the quality of our arrangements, he said that the district prides itself on its GSE activities, “This  is our pay-back time,” he said. I need to find out for what.

So we are here. After months of wondering and planning, weeks of imagining,  days of crazed deadlining, we are here.  Representatives of our country and Rotary, 21^st century travelers with a once-lifetime only opportunity to learn in-depth about another culture. Peter has urged me to “turn off” the connections to the “real world” and savor the experience; but he is remembering pre-online days – with on-line connections back home, I feel a greater obligation to write and share what we experience and feel with my Rotary friends and family than I do to savor it solo.   

–Marty