On top of the list, of course, is Randdie Cuelo. What a wonderful human being--a true representation of all that is good in people. Randdie has been a gracious and doting host--always quick with a warm smile, an offer to help, and a willingness to accommodate the nuances of his visitors from the U.S. Can you imagine what it would be like to begin the school year with all of the responsibilities you have, and to add to the chaos, the responsibility of hosting two exchange teachers from another country? I couldn't do it, frankly. I think my stress levels would be through the roof. And while there were times that I could see that Randdie was simply tired because of his lack of sleep (he managed his school-related obligations, it seems, after he dropped us off at our hotel at the end of the day), he never stopped working to make us comfortable, and more, to have us share in the experience of the LLC. I know that I can count on him as a true friend, and I am looking forward already to the time when we shall meet and share our experiences again.
Dugal--our driver. Quiet, respectful, and always smiling. I have called him our guardian angel when we have been here. I am going to miss him looking out for me, and he is another unexpected blessing of this trip.
The teachers/staff: Marge, Nanette, Manuel, Ditos, Genevieve, Genelyn, Rodj, Anthony, JenRae, Melona, etc. How many do I have to name? Everywhere I turned, and with every experience I had, there was someone else right there to say hello and make me feel welcomed. Whether it was sharing a beer at Marge's house, or interacting with her daughter, the lovely "Princess," her son, the charming Nanette, Manuel singing and calling for the waiters and waitresses with random names hoping to land the right one sooner or later (hysterical), experiencing the charm of Ditos, the commitment of Genevieve and Genelyn, etc., each day was more remarkable than the previous one. There is a reason why the LCC is a special place, and frankly, it's rooted in the people like the ones I named, above. I should also include my travel partner, Jeanette, in this. She has been wonderful in so many ways. She made us laugh, has a wonderful sense of adventure, and, perhaps most importantly, was committed to experiencing as much of the culture of Bacolod as she could. I can see why her family misses her as much as they do, and I'm equally sure they are excited that she will soon be back home.
Bacolod is a vibrant city in the midst of transition. Among the dilapidated buildings, the signs of people struggling to live their lives, there is a renaissance occurring. I could see it in the new buildings being constructed, the rush of people in the morning as they jumped into taxis or Jeepnies on their way to work or school, the sense of dignity and pride that emanated from people when I spoke to them about my impressions of the city and this wondrous country called the Philippines. And while there are unfortunate signs of the negative influence of the West in terms of media, music, social influences and the like, the simple truth is that like any city struggling to forge a path in this day and age, Bacolod remains someplace special. I am reminded, in many ways, of my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, believe it or not. We often talk about how the people of Pittsburgh are kind-hearted and charming, always willing to lend a hand to a neighbor, offer a kind smile, do the work that needs to be done to get through. etc. There is a sense when people leave Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh never leaves the people. It is the same here. That sameness is rooted in the awareness that the city and its people bring something special to the table. If I had to put my finger on it, I would say that it is the awareness that life has a way of getting in the way when you are busy making other plans. In other words, amid the crush of responsibility--to family, to the job, to so many other things--there is nothing more special than taking to time to step away and share one's experiences with others. Something as simple as having a coffee with a friend in the morning, or a glass of wine over dinner, has a resounding impact that contributes to the pride of the people and keeps them grounded with a strong sense of place.
Similarly, the LCC mirrors North Allegheny in many respects. The undying commitment of the school community--the teachers, support staff, students, parents--nearly everyone who is involved in the functions of the school exhibit an underlying purpose and awareness--that this--all of this--is good, and it works, and the reasons why it works are both tangible and unconscious. I guess what I am trying to say here is that the culture of the LCC is very much like the culture of NA. The pride and respect comes from the shared experiences of working together to make the kids feel safe, give them a sense of happiness and security so that they continue to learn and grow, and, perhaps most significantly, to create an environment that welcomes their participation beyond the limits of their schooling. The LCC is called "A Community of Friends," for a reason. And believe me, it is not just a slogan.
In closing, I want to believe that I am now a part of the community of friends of the LCC, much like I feel a part of the community of friends at North Allegheny. Moving forward, I realize that I have changed during this experience--I suppose time away from family and friends puts one in a reflective mood. There were many times when Marge or Randdie or Nanette would see me interacting with the students in the school, or talking about my life at home, and they would comment that I must be missing Rocco and Daniele. They could see it in the way I acted--as if I was trying to channel my love for Rocco and Dani through my interactions here. And you know, they were right. The more things seemed different in ways, the more they reminded me of how lucky I am to have the live I have back home. How special it is for me to have been able to experience such an awareness.
Some day, I hope to return here with Rocco and Daniele. In truth, I hope that my connection to the LCC will open up opportunities for all of us to continue to collaborate in the future. I have made many connections with teachers, here, and I hope to have shared lessons with them in the future. How cool will it be to have a video conference between my kids at NA and the students of the LCC? One goal of the TEA is to open those who participate in the program to the idea of global collaboration. The notion is simple enough--when educators are able to make connections with educators from other parts of the world, the world of education becomes smaller. We come to recognize that the same issues affecting teachers in the United States are affecting teachers in other countries. From these experiences we learn to improve, to grow, and to truly understanding the notion that we are living in an empathetic civilization--that our true purpose in life should be one that is rooted in our connectedness to one another. What we can share with our children, in my mind, is simple: We are indeed a global community. We cannot deny it. Deep inside, we have our shared human experiences that bind us together and provide to us endless possibility.
I hope you have enjoyed my blog. I want to thank all of you for interacting with me during my stay in Bacolod. Of course, I want to thank Daniele for giving me the sense of comfort I needed to come here and not worry about the goings on back home. And yes, while she backed my truck into a wall, left the freezer open for all the meat to spoil, and while Dante spent a week in the hospital because he wouldn't eat, and while Rocco kept dropping hints about how much he missed me, the truth is that I would never have been able to experience this trip the way I have without their love and support. I also want to thank my friends and colleagues back home. From members of the school board who dropped me emails commenting on my blog, to Bob Tozier, Dan Solenday, Diane Steckel, etc., who sent me messages during my stay--thank you for following my adventure.
I leave you for now with pictures of The Ruins. Awesome.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Bacolod, Philippines
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