Jan 1 2016 Blog Post

By: Madi Schraut

To add to this wonderful adventure…

Today, January 1, 2016, was a relaxing day. Last night everyone stayed up past midnight to bring in the New Year and watch the fireworks. We still got up at the crack of dawn to take advantage of the sunshine. Some of us got up at the crack of dawn as the monkeys were pounding on the roofs as well. Many of us walked the beach, laid in the sun (to add to our sunburns), and swam in the Subic Bay. We snorkeled and saw many fish, starfish and jellyfish. We can see the old Clark Air Force base across the bay, in use since 1903 until a volcano (Mt. Pinatubo) erupted and Americans made a hasty exit in 1991.  The abandoned buildings remain with barbed wire rolls still in place to protect the base. We are also near the Bataan Peninsula where in WW II Japanese soldiers forced American and Filipino POW’s to do the Bataan Death March where 15,000-25,000 American and Filipino troops died on the march to the POW site.  After lunch, we were surprised with an extra hour to stay before we had to load the bus and head back. The bus ride was about three hours. For the most part it was a quiet ride until…one of the students was incredibly surprised when she found a live hermit crab in her purse! We made it a home (in a plastic bag with a little water) and a few minutes later she found ANOTHER one in her purse where she had placed her collected shells. She named them Larry and Louie and they will be released into the ocean once we get to the next resort (if they survive)! Lesson learned to check your sea shells before you pack them J. Half way through our ride, we stopped at a rest area and found a Filipino food store, where Gina bought interesting looking goodies that we passed around the bus. We sampled garlic chips, Cassava chips, tamarind bites, banana chips, boat tarts (pie crust with nuts similar to pecan pie). This sampling will help all of us decide which snacks to buy to bring home and share with family and friends. Once we got back to Mary Johnston, Bebe made us a delicious supper including her specialty, pesto mushroom and tuna pasta, and I will admit that many of us miss pasta and burgers, even though we have loved all of these new foods. Lastly, we got the agenda for tomorrow; early start to observe at a community EENT (Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat) clinic in Batangas, a community 2 hours south of Manila. This is a private clinic owned by a group of local community physicians led by Dr Andrew Opulencia (husband of a Mary Johnston graduate). We will then proceed to Lake Taal in Tagaytay and the volcanic crater for a hike.  We headed off to our rooms to pack, journal, and get a good night’s rest. I hope everyone catches some rest even with the firecrackers on the streets since the Philippines celebrates their holidays the longest. Happy New Year everyone!!!!!
Our wifi connection is spotty-so please be patient ...pictures will follow.