Filipino Surprise

As I meet people here in the Philippines, I'm often asked how I'm adjusting to the climate. In case I have not adequately communicated the fact that it is very warm and very humid here; I wish it to be known that it is very warm and very humid here. I usually go on to talk about how it is too warm and humid for me here, but I feel like I'm adjusting a little bit. One of my absolute favorite things, is when a Filipino says, "Oh! It's hot!" I always ask them if they are surprised that it is hot. "It's hot everyday here!" I say, and they just laugh. That crazy Amerikano.

The last week has been pretty hectic. I mentioned in a previous post, that the previous week was spent running down immigration documentation etc. This week, classes started and my direct responsibility for those classes also started. I'm finding it most interesting right now that in one class, I can work off of a page of prepared material for 90 minutes, and in another class I can blow through 3 pages of prepared material in an 60 minutes.

For most of them, I am the first teacher they've ever had who speaks only English. So we're still in the adjustment period for the students, when they listen to me talk they usually have to stop and think about what I said for moment. Since they are making sure they understood what I said, they are slow to respond to questions. This is a little frustrating for me, but I think that as we adjust to each other the class participation will increase significantly. Also, for my Greek class I have 2 students. I'm going to be very interested to see how that turns out. It is either going to go really well or really badly.

Almost all of the classes here meet twice a week for 90 minutes. Since most of the students have part-time weekend ministries, and transportation here usually takes triple the time that it should, there are very few classes on Monday. Most classes meet either on Tuesday and Thursday, or on Wednesday and Friday. It is an interesting schedule which I find enjoyable thus far.

Wednesday night this week was the first chapel service of the year, which they refer to as convocation. Chapel this week was special because Phil Campbell and some of his family, as well as an Elder from his church in Washington Court House, OH were here visiting. Phil's father Norville was the first Academic dean here at Aparri Bible Seminary wayyyy back in 1953. The Campbell family is still very involved in mission work here in the Philippines and it was exciting to get to meet Mr. Campbell and some of his family, and Rob the unfortunate Buckeyes fan. Interestingly enough, Rob works for a power company and told me that he personally shut off the power of the infamous tattoo parlor in Columbus 4 times in one year. It's such a small world. Go Blue.

It has been great so far, and I feel like it will keep getting better. Please pray for the students. Please pray for the school. Please pray for my immigration status, I officially submitted the application for a long-term visa last week.

Nick