my favorite food on this earth:  sisig.  mmmmmmm

my little studio (or as my cousin likes to call it, the bachelor pad) 

I can’t believe I’m finally here.  Well I’m here, but I’m not quite here yet, if that makes any sense (probably doesn’t).  

It’s the second day of my nine months here in the Philippines for my Fulbright fellowship, and I’m not sure what to do with myself.  Freedom!  So much of it.  My research adviser was kind to let me have the first week off to get myself adjusted, and there is lots of adjusting to do.  For starters, this whole waking up at 3:30 am probably won’t work out in the long run.  But still…everything is up to me.  I’m sure my working friends have a head start in that department, but it’s weird.  I could stay in my little studio all day, or I can roam to my heart’s content (just jokes, mom and dad!). Gotta get started with finding that balance.

But anyways.  I got into Manila on Sunday night, close to 11 PM.  The Pilipino American Educational Foundation (PAEF), who are my Fulbright support in the Philippines, arranged for me to be brought to a suite near their office so I could be oriented the next day.  I couldn’t sleep, so I worked on the immigration forms they left me while watching a rerun of Eagle Eye (I still don’t understand why Shia Lebeouf is considered an action hero).  

I head out of the hotel around 8ish in the morning for my Fulbright orientation.  I finally got to meet many of the email addresses I’ve been sending my myriad questions to, which was nice.  Everyone at the office is good-natured and humorous, and I really look forward to communicating with them more throughout these next nine months.

The rest of the day was errands galore:  I somehow managed to get my stipend deposited in a brand new bank account, get me + my boxes to my place, buy groceries with my cousin, and get unpacked and more or less settled by 9 PM.  Sleep was amazing, needless to say.

So many things running through my head…there’s so much to do, so much Tagalog to learn.  Gonna start exploring the area, get familiar with potential places to perform, find a church, etc.  I’m really grateful for all the people and experiences that have somehow brought me to this point, and while a potent cocktail of excitement and fear surges through my veins, I’m looking forward to the adventures.

One more thing…the sunrise is spectacular from where I’m at.  I’ll post a pic or two later this week.

I hope you’re doing well, wherever you are.

Cheers,

Andrew