FREEDOM!

Finally....

Can you say freedom?

We've been around the block quite a few times and exercised a lot of patience. We settled on spending quite a bit less than anticipated and got a very good deal for our money. Its a Honda Accord that has been well maintained and will need some "minor" work. Everything is working and K and I are ready to start mapping the area. We are toying with the idea of getting a GPS just to coincide with the map. We'd only get it if it were possible to put other countries of SE Asia on it.

No...it's not a BMW as we were entertaining the idea of getting one of the two that jumped out in front of us, but we can afford to put a BMW sticker on it. One was a manual with a very small back seat and small trunk. The other was 20 years old and though it had a nice new paint job, the owner has a history or reputation of not being on the up and up. It made our decision pretty easy. We had a lot of help from a couple of guys who toted DT around the outskirts of town and another guy who had a buddy selling the Honda. Consider it yours if you come and visit.

We're gonna lay low today, Saturday a.m. Sept. 4. We've both been charging pretty hard. I seemed to have misplaced my voice for the past two days, Kirst doesn't seem to want to look too hard?

She had to judge a performance competition last night that I chose to stay away from. I'll let her report out on that.

We've been able to re-acquire our ailing ya-ya and our place smells and looks much better.

The weather here is actually cooling down to what it has been in maine the past few days. Mid 90's and humidity to match, been quite nice.

We really like our place. It's bright and mostly cool with two AC units running frequently. The kitchen is very functional and spacious. We purchased a TV that we will be sure to take with us wherever our next abode lay. We have two bedrooms and three queen beds. One of them is like a trundle bed in that there is a queen mattress under the guest bed.

We have a great storage/work area downstairs with a washing machine and dryer. We've found that we actually need the dryer for towels and other items like denim and cotton b/c things just don't dry too well. Maybe when we're out of the rainy season, we can hang them up outside under the avocado tree and banana trees? Did that sound like a name dropper? Sorry.

It has been interesting in terms of electricity here. There was obviously an argument about whether to bring the USA here or stay Filipino. We have some 110V and other 220V. Luckily, we got both styles of equipment. My toothbrush charger is much happy not being connected to an adapter!

Despite living on the hillside and having a gorgeous view of the jungle and mountains, the other half of the house seemed to have drawn the short straw and moved out. He said that is was "abismal" in there. I never saw it, I guess we got a little lucky? But now, no neighbors that have an air of "listen to what I know" or "no, its like this" so it's been a welcome subtraction to our lives!

Kirst is doing a fantastic job coaching swimming. She's firm, fair, and fun: not bad for a first timer huh, you'd never know it? The kids are enjoying it and getting stronger at their individual skills. She takes advantage of it and often swims their routines at least a couple times a week after them. I enjoy watching her interact with the kids of MS and HS.

We try to run our 8 km loop twice a week amongst a shorter (somewhat) course a couple of times too. We even run in the rain, especially when light out, in order to keep from sweating. For me, I come back looking the same regardless if it rains or not. There is no shortage of hills, the only question you have to decide out of the driveway is whether you want a long steep hill or a long long semi-steep hill? Kirst has also gone for a long bikeride to Camayan beach which is 50 km round trip.

I've been able to play three rounds of golf which has spoiled me a bit. One place was too expensive to return to, hence they ask you to pay at the end when they gotchya. The other local, Luisiata (say it with a spanish accent and its very powerful), is gorgeous and much more reasonable. I've played with lots of different staff and their acquaintances and that has been a nice introduction to some great people that are somehow one, two, or three degrees of separation from our school. It is part of your fees to pay for a caddy. They are about 8 bucks and are usually, two out of three anyways, knowledgable about the courses and greens. They will do everything from choose the club, tee up the ball, to line up your ball for a put if you let them. They are usually friendly and working for a tip as well, which is expected especially from expats.

Kirst has been hanging with lots of different groups of fun ladies. Some from around here, some that are expats that have settled here, and other expats like us. She stays plenty busy and is enjoying all the different personalities. They get a kick out of her as you can imagine and appreciate her dancing and acting. She is actually taller than a lot of the locals, I think she likes that?

Everyone here really has been quite giving and friendly. It certainly helps when you can speak the language!

My time gets filled up pretty quickly too. Before I know it, its another monday and I don't feel like I spent enough time working or playing or resting over the weekend. I have a group of guys that let me play cards, a different group that exposes my speed on the basketball court (hehehe), and others that play golf.

Now wait a minute, I don't want this to sound like the Villages or Club Subic, we actually do work quite a bit. This is definitely a place where people work hard and play hard, some choose to play a little more than we can at the moment...ah next year!

I, just yesterday, received all brand new text books and supplements for all three grades. My grade 7's didn't even have a book to start out, but they'll be dangerous now. I'll mostly likely spend a few hours per day this weekend to get the next unit up and running. It wouldn't be fair to say that these kids are any smarter or the alternative compared to others. They are a mixed bag of abilities, though most students are Korean, followed by at least half Philippino. After that, you have about 10% of the population left that has neither of the forementioned ethnicities in their blood. They have been willing to work, just not sure how. I guess the previous MS math teacher wasn't all sunshine and lollipops so I have some confidence barriers to start breaking down, I'll give it a whirl.

We'll be sure to include some photos of the apartment as soon as possible, but just wanted to give everyone out there in the world a quick glimpse into our world. Check out our Flickr account too!

Miss you all,

D and K