Just four days here and it feels like a lifetime cause this place can really exhaust you. I mean, this city never sleeps and it comes even more alive in the evening unlike in the states cause of the heat.... theres so many motorbikes, mopeds and gippnies, busses, cabs, bicyles, people walking..... its like living on an ant hill. Everywhere you go theres food being cooked on the sidewalk, people hanging out in bus stops just to hang out, people trying to make a dollar out nothing, so many people walking around with little trays of snacks/candy/cigarettes to make money. Every peice of space is consumed with some kind of economic opportunity its just amazing to see the spirit of such a hard working people. I can honestly say that i was in such shock by the how much poverty there is...but i can honestly say that you dont know your poor unless you know what poor is. You dont know what rich is you unless youve lived rich. I see families of 10-15 people sleeping in one house... and one house here is like the size of my kitchen back home. I see people living on the streets and in the alleys ways on top of cardboard and whatever will keep them dry or shaded. You look down one alley and its full of life. All the kids belong to everyone in the area. Clothes hung from every doorway. Every family has a few chickens either for fighting or food. The alleys...or cooridors are thriving and clean. Phillipinos take pride in their homes and keep everything super clean. The people are like one giant family... a family of 3.6 million people living in some kind of organized chaotic harmony. I mean no disrespect by my words but its really hard to describe this place....riding in a taxi cab is alike looking into a kalidaskope filled with color and always something to look at. Since im the only 6 foot big guy around, i feel all eyes on me like im some kind of specticle and thats pretty hard to get use to.... i bought sunglasses to hide my eyes. lol.... I really miss home and my new unborn baby. I really miss my son and wish i could message with him. I really miss my gramps and the mourning process im sure will never heal.... the reality of leaving my dad in 10 days for however long sucks... but atleast i know he will be cared for in a city that never sleeps, everyone knows your business, and everyone is in love with life no matter what kind of condition they are living in. As private as my dad says he is... idk... i wont understand....well i do understand...but still shaking my head. We were laughing around yesterday as we were unpacking all his native art, little blinky light sunglasses, and settting up his surround sound... he talked about all the little business opportunities he could create here. The Ricker retire? I think not.... I know hes always thinking of something to get going.... :) im going to help him get his snocone machine up and running..... he is already known thoughout the neighborhood as OMG....cause thats all he says now. All the kids call me moneyyyyy...ill be walking down the street and hear moneyyyyy out of know where and it makes me smile. why money? I tought 6 little kids to say MONEYYY when they made a shot on the while playing basketball.... and they all just get a kick out of it. Even their parents and uncles say it now.... :) Im thankful for my health, family, friends, lummi and the love for life.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:48:57 +0000
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