The Incredible Philippines

So i am now in Manila, Philippines and it is just mind-blowing.
Really, i absolutely LOVE it.
Except for the fact that the first 4 days i was here i happened to catch strep throat on the plane maybe. Lets see, but where to start. Well on our journey here we left Monday and got to Manila on Wednesday, so we got to skip a whole day of our lives. It was pretty interesting too because it was Shawna's birthday! When we go there i already knew i was going to like it because the weather is just wonderful. Anyway, on with this blog. Basically the driving here is crazy! I felt like i was going to die trying to cross. Mcdonald's delivers, the shopping here is extremely cheap and the people here are rediculously nice!
I got to my host families house and come to find out, they aren't even Flipino, but Iranian and German! They are very nice though, so it's awesome.
So then i got sick and stayed home for 2 days because i could hardly lift my head off the pillow. I felt so awful though because i just wanted to do communiy service with everyone, but i had to get healthy first.
Saturday was a reagional learning day where we got to learn the history of the Philippines, learn about the people we are helping (http://www.gawadkalinga.org/gkinthenews.htm), (go check them out, it is just amazing what this organization is doing for the people here.) and interact with one of the villages, and then go to a dinner.
I decided to go even though i still felt sick. I just had to get out of that house and go out and see everything. I just don't want to miss a minute.
So speaking more of our communtiy service, we are working with Gawad Kalinga. A little bit about them, Gawad Kalinga (GK) translated in English means to “to give care”, and it is an alternative solution to the blatant problem of poverty not just in the Philippines but in the world. GK’s vision for the Philippines is a slum-free, squatter-free nation through a simple strategy of providing land for the landless, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry and as a result providing dignity and peace for every Filipino.
I feel so lucky that i get to be a part of this incredible organization and i'm so excited to help out as much as i can.
Today i finally got to go to CI and it felt good to be able to see the village we are helping. (We are all split up into several different groups from the cast and working with different villages.)
It really is so sad though. The difference here in the Philippines is rich or poor. The slums here are just awful. It smells bad, trash is just overflowing in the river, and the houses are made out of anything possible. With the help of GK and volunteers, things can be built into something better for the people here.
The people are so happy that we are here to help. They greet you so greatfully and love to just see you smile at them. The kids are just adorable and i want to bring them all home with me. hahah but i got to interact with the people of the village and teach them dances.

Thats all for now, i'm so very tired.
goodnight!