Suddenly surprised by the noise
This was what was written yesterday, January 20, 2008.
Three nights ago, I was getting mad at my yaya because the my toilet's flush won't work. And, being the irrational being that I am, I got mad at her, despite the fact that technically, she had nothing to do with it.
Two nights ago, my "sister" Yani and I were thinking of a way of how to pee in the woods. I wanted to get mad out of sheer frustration of being so in need of a decent restroom, yet not having one right then and there.
I just got back from my three day immersion from the Mangyans in Brgy. Paitan, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, just around three hours ago. One thing I realized the whole time I was there -- Ateneo never ceases to shock me. I think, this immersion was a fitting close to four years' worth of unique experiences that I know I would never have had if I didn't study here. Our immersion was like a leap of faith. We didn't know what to expect (because no one else has been there. We're the first batch of students from OSCI to go there.), we had no real background as to how things went in there.
Personally, it was the most challenging thing I've ever experienced in my whole life. Three days of no electricity, no running water, no place to pee (much less to do number two), mud everywhere, and limatik (small leeches) to battle against, each time we had to go somewhere. Funny, even the idleness seemed to get to me. I couldn't stand just sitting there and not doing anything.
There's so much to tell about what really went on there, but I haven't got the time right now, so I'll jump to the point of this. My immersion was a humbling experience, for me, at least, and for so many reasons. At the same time, it also left me confused. It's like suddenly, I didn't know what it meant to be poor or rich, and what happiness entailed. The experience made me compare my life to theirs, and sadly, I don't think my life (or the way I live my life) fared well, compared to how they lived theirs.
Valuable lessons learned -- One, that sometimes, people get caught up in the business of running their own lives that they forget the things that are really important. Two, happiness is a complicated matter, and its something that cannot be judged. Three, being in a city doesn't really mean that someone is "civilized." Four, its who YOU are that matters, not what you are.
I know I'm sounding a bit vague right now. Well, that's exactly what I'm feeling. All I know is, so far, this has been the hardest thing I've ever experienced, but I'm thankful, because it has taught me so much.
Me with Nanay Maryanne, Almira, Tao and Fidel
On the way back to the jeep
Three nights ago, I was getting mad at my yaya because the my toilet's flush won't work. And, being the irrational being that I am, I got mad at her, despite the fact that technically, she had nothing to do with it.
Two nights ago, my "sister" Yani and I were thinking of a way of how to pee in the woods. I wanted to get mad out of sheer frustration of being so in need of a decent restroom, yet not having one right then and there.
I just got back from my three day immersion from the Mangyans in Brgy. Paitan, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, just around three hours ago. One thing I realized the whole time I was there -- Ateneo never ceases to shock me. I think, this immersion was a fitting close to four years' worth of unique experiences that I know I would never have had if I didn't study here. Our immersion was like a leap of faith. We didn't know what to expect (because no one else has been there. We're the first batch of students from OSCI to go there.), we had no real background as to how things went in there.
Personally, it was the most challenging thing I've ever experienced in my whole life. Three days of no electricity, no running water, no place to pee (much less to do number two), mud everywhere, and limatik (small leeches) to battle against, each time we had to go somewhere. Funny, even the idleness seemed to get to me. I couldn't stand just sitting there and not doing anything.
There's so much to tell about what really went on there, but I haven't got the time right now, so I'll jump to the point of this. My immersion was a humbling experience, for me, at least, and for so many reasons. At the same time, it also left me confused. It's like suddenly, I didn't know what it meant to be poor or rich, and what happiness entailed. The experience made me compare my life to theirs, and sadly, I don't think my life (or the way I live my life) fared well, compared to how they lived theirs.
Valuable lessons learned -- One, that sometimes, people get caught up in the business of running their own lives that they forget the things that are really important. Two, happiness is a complicated matter, and its something that cannot be judged. Three, being in a city doesn't really mean that someone is "civilized." Four, its who YOU are that matters, not what you are.
I know I'm sounding a bit vague right now. Well, that's exactly what I'm feeling. All I know is, so far, this has been the hardest thing I've ever experienced, but I'm thankful, because it has taught me so much.
Me with Nanay Maryanne, Almira, Tao and Fidel
On the way back to the jeep
posted by Leigh Villegas at
1:37 AM
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