Some of you may still be a little confused or unsure of what exactly I am doing here in the Philippines. So I have been thinking lately. If I could define my roles here in this oftentimes strange and exciting country, how would I describe them? Well, I have come up with a list.
My Roles
1. Teacher-- no degree needed. No experience? Preferred.
2. Sister-- "Ate" in Tagalog means sister. It is how you address people that are older than you. I am Ate Jessica. And that is pronounced Ah-tay, not like the word "to eat."
3. Mother or "Nanay"-- No need to be worried. No bun in the oven. But turns out when I came to work at GCM, I also informally adopted 40 children under the age of 13 and 30 teenagers as my own. The little kids like to joke and call me Nanay sometimes. It's a bit overwhelming. Not sure How I will get Christmas presents for them all...
4. Token-- Put me in a slot machine, cause I will cash in! Cha-Ching! As a white American, I am always thrown around a bit, invited to events and activities, just to be shown off. Hey, why not?
5. Facilitator-- What do I do here? I facilitate workshops, lectures, sessions, tutorials, meetings, you name it, I facilitate it. That means I talk a lot while people pretend to listen. Sometimes we play games too. Business cards? No, not yet..
6. Psychologist-- You know that BA degree I got? I guess that's all that I need to be a Psychologist here in the Philippines. My name written on a certificate for a seminar I presented at; Jessica Friedman, Psychologist. But you can call me Doctor Jess.
7. A giant-- Filipinos are tiny. I am looking out over a waving sea of little heads.
8. A play thing-- Touch it. Pull at the arm fur. Pinch the white skin, reach at the hard and pointed nose and.... NOPE can't touch that last one. I'll slap your hand, try me!
9. A play mate-- Puzzles? Love em. Read to you? Of course! Drawing? I love drawing! Baskteball? Well... not that coordinated...
10. A guest-- No matter how well I know the language, know matter how much I fit in at my job, I am still a guest in this country. Let me not forget it.
11. A ghost-- As one of my co-workers recently reassured my nervous supervisor when I was about to walk home in the dark, no need to worry, Jessica glows in the dark!
12. A friend-- I hope this will be number one by the time I leave. :)
Love you Jess! :)
ReplyDeleteYou forgot one thing though...you're also just a person- trying to make the biggest impact in a completely different world; in a place where your voice may not always be heard, but where your will and your voice will actually make a difference in someone's life." You're a giver, a nurturer, someone who those children and workers can trust in to be there for them at all times. You're a very special person Jessica and all of these things couldn't explain to the world how truly remarkable you are. :)