Hindi Ko Alam

After spending 2 days in the Philippines, I have learned a few things.

1. It is HOTT. The climate here causes you to sweat constantly. The sun is soso hot and then add the humidity to get a sauna everywhere you go.
2. Rice is really served at every meal. It goes with bacon for breakfast. It is combined with every form of meat. They even use it to make puddings and cakes.
3. Having people stare at you is very nerve racking. I figured we would stick out but not this much. When a group of white kids, some with blonde hair and some over 6ft tall, walk down the street its like a circus act. Kids follow you around and everyone stops what they are doing to watch you walk past.

I can already see that I still have so much to learn. There’s a new language, different foods, and cultural norms to explore. I’m also very excited to start the science portion of this internship soon. Here’s hoping I continue to fall in love with this country.

Paalam

 

The Calm Before The Storm

How do you prepare yourself to travel across the world to a country you have never been to and insert yourself into a new culture for almost three months. The only answer I have found is a lot of packing, research, and deep breaths. I am excited and nervous to embark on this journey to  the Philippines in just two days. I am looking forward to a chance to see a culture that is completely new to me. I am also looking forward to the chance to work with some of the worlds greatest minds and having the ability to work on a rice strain to help support the growing populations. This will be a brand new experience for me but I look forward to the next three months.