One-Day Teacher Training at my High School

My teacher training with 5 other PCVs. Startedvas a training for 42 and then on the day of the training the number grew to 200!! However, the more the merrier. The teachers and the PCVs had a great time, and everyone learned something new.



Julie and Julie teaching about Visual Aids and Materials

Science teachers working on their visual aids.

MAPEH (Music, Art, Physical Education, and Health) teachers using their visual aids to teach a dance.

Shauna and John helping the teachers plot what "intelligence" they were the strongest in. Multiple Intelligence workshop with Shauna and Julie.


Julie and Shauna teaching about Multiple Intelligences.

Shauna, Julie, Justin, John, and Julie and I in front of our welcome sign.

Ma'am Antique reaching for the blanket...but she can't because she is not tall enough.

So by "differentating" my instruction and giving her a chair to stand on she was able to reach the blanket. :)

Me teaching about Differentiated Instruction.


Teachers working on their activities.

John and Justin teaching about Classroom Management and expectations.

PCVs with some of the participants after the training.

Yay! We did it!

Out and dinner with Grace and Charlie after the training.

Other side of the table.

Group shot

On our way to the island to enjoy a relaxing day on the beach.

Our lovely captain!

It seems like its going to be a great day, right? Sunny day...

Well, then we disappointed children, I fell down in the coral and skinned my knee, had to fight off dogs to defend our food (they were really sad looking dogs though), our boat broke, and it rained ALL day. But at least the boat ride was nice!

Dungog Indigenous People Festival 2009

This year Roxas City hosted the Indigenous People festival. So the native people from all over the Philippines came to show case their homes, way of life, livelihood products, foods, and native dances. It was really cool!



House from a tribe in Mindanao

They dye this straw/grass (not really sure to tell tyou the truth) to make these beautiful cloths. This is before...

And after! How pretty!

Kalinga tribe doing a native dance.

They let me try on the head dress!

and then I had to dance...haha :)

This is my favorite native house. It is from a tribe in northern Luzon. They use a ladder to get in their house and they pull the ladder up at night to protect themselves from animals and people.

The kitchen inside the house.

House from Palawan.

A woman from the tribe in Palawan. (This is Grace's nephew, Jolo. He was attached to me the entire day. I think everyone thought he was my son)

The medicine woman from Palawan!

She is ridding me from evil spirits with ginger and chanting.

Yay! I'm healed!

Me with some of the people from the Ati tribe. The Ati live on Panay Island. (My island)


Pretty shoes from Capiz!

Me with some of the dancers from the tribe from Mindanao

Some of my students from school.

Another tribe from Panay island. I loved these ladies! They had really cool bracelets and headbands, too.

Cool necklace.


C.R. (comfort room) of the Panay Island tribe house.


Found some more students!

Front of the house.

Climate Change Project

So back in July I started this environmental project with my school to educate my students and raise awareness about Climate Change. In July I taught a lessons about what is climate change?, the causes and effects, and what we can do to help stop it. In July- we focused on Earth Pollution, September- air Pollution, and October- water pollution. Each year level got to pick a culminating activity to do to help stop climate change. First year chose a tree planting and a campus wide clean up, Second year chose a mangrove tree planting, and Third and Fourth yea did a River clean up. The kids had a really good time and learned a lot. :) Here are the pictures


Fourth year students making posters encouraging people not to litter.




Me with the second year students at the mangrove tree planting.



Students on their way to plant mangroves.

She is very excited about planting her tree!

Some of the local fishermen helped us with our mangrove tree planting.

Students learning about mangroves.

The cool raft we rode back to our jeeps.

The third and fourth year students on our river clean up.


Looking for trash.

Fisherman

After the river clean up with all of our trash.

Teaching about air pollution


Tree planting with my first year students.

Campus clean up



Teaching about water pollution...

...and climate change.

Isn't she so cute? She is very excited about planting her tree.

Yea! Let's all work together to stop climate change! :) Some of my first year students after their tree planting.

*Playing in the Rain* Rainy Season 2009

It has been a CRAZY few months! I have been a travelin fool and I am sorry for my tardiness with my posts. I am staying put at site until my parents come in November. :)


My friend Christina and I at the opening night of Harry Potter. We were so excited! This was taken in Manila during our tech binder training. We were working on the curriculum for the new education peace corps volunteers who arrived in August.
Celebrating the completion of the new education technical binder with a night of dancing in Manila!
My first year students making friendship bracelets during my last English Traveling class. Second quarter I will be traveling with the second year students.

Peace Corps Volunteers before the Lady Gaga concert in Manila!

My friend Tom and I at Taco Bell in Manila before going to meet the new Peace Corps Volunteers. We rode an hour and a half on the subway just for Taco Bell. We were so excited! We have all become slightly obsessed with fast food...
Night out in Cebu before the prisoners dance.
My friend Julie! She is my new site mate (she recently moved to Roxas City) and lived with me for about a month and a half while looking for her apartment.
Butterfly sanctuary in Cebu.

In front of the prison with other PCVs.
Dancing to thriller.
My favorite dancer.

Tribute to Michael Jackson.


Books for Peace Donation arrives.
Marivel's and My birthday
Happy 24th birthday to me! Look at all my birthday food!
My 2nd birthday celebrated in the Philippines!
Host family and I at my birthday party at home.
Sugar Beach, Sipalay.
Me :)
So it rained the entire trip. We wanted to go scuba diving but it just didn't happen because of the weather, but we still had a nice relaxing time.

Welcome to the World Melvel Jo Caitlin :)

In the early morning of June 21st, 2009 my beautiful goddaughter was born. Her mom is one of my very best friends, Marivel. She is a teacher at my high school and one of the nicest people in the world. I love her to death and I am so thankful I have made such wonderful friends like her in the Philippines.

Marivel and her kids-Melvel John, Melvel Jo Caitlin, Melvel Jasmine.

Isn't she soooo cute??!?!?!

So beautiful and so sweet. She has already stolen my heart. :)

Little bit of this and a little bit of that...

Rumulus and Whinny's wedding.

The newlyweds :)

Rumulus and Whinny with all of their sponsors (Godparents). In the Philippines it is not uncommon to have many Godparents.

Grace(Rumulus's sister), Kareen, Charlie, and I at the wedding.

With the happy couple.

The flower girl and I bonded during the ceremony. Ha-ha. Isn't she cute?

With the other flower girl and ring bearers.

After the wedding at Grace's house.

Trip to Pilar with my host family and other Peace Corps volunteers. The scenery was breathtaking.

Walking to the waterfalls.

The first waterfall...

My host brother Reyboy and his friend Jun Jun.

Stopping to drink some buko juice. (Coconut juice)

It's yummy :)

Next waterfall...

WOW!

Amazing

The delicious lunch my host family prepared for us on bamboo shoots-fresh fish, chicken curry, rice, bananas, and pineapples. Yum!

PC Friends :)

My host family

My favorite flowers

Ha-ha, this is for Dad. I think this is Tim. He was very excited to be in the picture.

Sara, Julie, and I in Iloilo before a night out on the town.

4th of July weekend in Bacolod.

I love Justin :)

My friend Tom and the cat he rescued from an alley. Ha-ha, we took this cat EVERYWHERE that weekend.

My friends Charlie and Grace on Charlie's birthday. In the Philippines the custom is YOU take your friends out to for a treat on your birthday. So he treated Grace and I to a delicious seafood meal at a restaurant that just opened in Roxas.

*Home Sweet Home*

The family on Meg's graduation night. Doesn't she look so cute in her hat???

Molly and I

Gilley's Bridal luncheon.

The bridesmaids before the wedding.

The beautiful bride! Mrs. Wilson :)

With Ashley and Forrest.

My fabulous parents!

Jenn and Sara

Mother's Day

ADPi girls.

Beverley, the interact club, and I at the Rotary club meeting. Thank you!!!!!!! :)

Mom and Beverley

Me and Holly

Congratulations to Meg!

Sisters

Fabulous Uncles! Uncle Tom and Chris. :)