2009.11.08: Philippines Peace Corps Volunteer Cassie Pardee writes: Things I have learned from my Filipino family

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Philippines: Peace Corps Philippines: Peace Corps Philippines: Newest Stories: 2009.11.08: Philippines Peace Corps Volunteer Cassie Pardee writes: Things I have learned from my Filipino family

By Admin1 (admin) (151.196.10.59) on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - 10:20 am: Edit Post

Philippines Peace Corps Volunteer Cassie Pardee writes: Things I have learned from my Filipino family

Philippines Peace Corps Volunteer Cassie Pardee writes: Things I have learned from my Filipino family

Saying goodbye to my host family was a tearful moment. I felt like I was leaving home all over again. It's hard to start over, but I am excited about meeting the people of San Jose, Northern Samar, and making new friends. And, of course, my first family of the Philippines is only a seven-hour bus ride away. They have already invited me home for New Years, the skimboarding competition and their town fiesta.

Philippines Peace Corps Volunteer Cassie Pardee writes: Things I have learned from my Filipino family

Cassie's Chronicles: Things I have learned from my Filipino family

Sun, 11/08/2009 - 00:46

The Peace Corps has three goals: To help the host country with technical skills, to teach people in your host country about American culture, and to learn about the host country culture and teach others in America. I have just finished my three months' training and had to say goodbye to my first family and my first friends of the Philippines. I have learned a lot from my host family. I have also taught them some things.

My older brothers taught me how to skimboard, and I taught them to throw a Frisbee. They have improved a lot more at Frisbee throwing than I have at skimboarding. I taught my brothers how to play rock-paper- scissors and tic-tac-toe, and they taught me how to sling mud … literally throwing mud at each other at the beach. We also exchanged card games. I taught my family how to play Speed, and they taught me how to play the card game of the Philippines: Tong-its. They taught me how to play Ungoy-Ungoy. I learned how to play 1,2,3 …Pass, and they learned how to play James Bond.

While I taught them a couple of games, they have taught me much more. They invited me into their house, and I became their 11th child. When I was sad, my Nanay would feed me and make sure I was OK. My brothers liked to tease me, and jump out from behind walls to scare me. We watched movies together and played games. We went on weekend trips to the beach, and to landmarks around our home. I feel as if I have become a part of a family, which makes me less homesick.

Saying goodbye to my host family was a tearful moment. I felt like I was leaving home all over again. It's hard to start over, but I am excited about meeting the people of San Jose, Northern Samar, and making new friends. And, of course, my first family of the Philippines is only a seven-hour bus ride away. They have already invited me home for New Years, the skimboarding competition and their town fiesta.



CASSIE PARDEE is a Peace Corps volunteer from Sierra Vista. She's serving in the Philippines.





Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2009; Peace Corps Philippines; Directory of Philippines RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Philippines RPCVs





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Story Source: The Sierra Vista Herald

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines

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