Jeremy's Impressions of Cebu

My first thoughts about the Philippines: wow it's hot and there sure is a lot of homeless people. The houses are sure different in how they are built. The roads are lined with stores and huts which hide the houses. In between some stores, almost hidden are very narrow lanes, maybe 3' wide, which lead to shacks made out of scrap materials - pieces of wood, cardboard, plastic, metal, etc. The poverty is very bad. A lot of people can't afford much, some even can't afford clothes. On one taxi ride we went by an area where all the little kids were naked because they couldn't afford clothing. The taxi driver told us that often kids have nothing because of irresponsible and lazy fathers. Some fathers gamble all their money away. The traffic is very crazy - everyone cuts each other off. Jeepneys stop for people all the time, making all other traffic go around. To get around each other everyone honks - to let them know they are there or to tell them to get going. Motor cycles and bicycles weave in and out of the mass confusion. Pedestrians don't have the right of way. They walk and pause a number of times so they don't get hit as they go through rows of traffic, no one stops for anyone. Their culture is quite dirty - litter everywhere, cigarette butts, garbage, people just throw garbage on the street - but near businesses and inside buildings they keep things very clean. People are meticulously cleaning up, sweeping, mopping floors, etc. The security guards are very helpful, opening doors, greeting you, saying thank you. They are very nice. Home owners are very protective of their houses. They have big walls around them. Concrete walls have pieces of glass sticking up on top of the walls so that people trying to get in would get all cut up. They have bars on all the windows. I like all the little lizards that crawl around especially at night near the lights where they are eating their supper of bugs and insects. The rats are giant and ugly. The birds don't have water baths, they have dirt baths, fluttering around in the powdery dry dirt. Their toads are really scrawny but large. They must be poor, malnourished toads like the dogs around here. I am enjoying pretty much everything - going to malls, meeting some guys at the school today, hanging out with my dad, swimming, making a model tank, and riding in jeepneys which my dad doesn't like. He prefers the air conditioned taxis.

Miss all my friends (and even my sisters) and of course my mom and my dog Benji.

Jeremy

PS Here's a picture just for Joel Smith's sake.