Our Latest Updates

Hello! It seems it's been a while since we've had some photos to upload. More to come soon!


In the mean time, I (Alana) am spending a week and a half in Manila. I've been struggling with what I thought was a muscle issue and turns out to be a disc issue in my lower back. I'm receiving intensive Physical Therapy for a week to see if that will get me on the right track. All of your positive healing vibes, thoughts, and prayers are welcomed and appreciated.


I'm feeling much like the country mouse in the big city. I've spent a lot of time lost, asking for directions, and sweating. I'm very thankful for many kind-hearted Filipinos that have helped me find my way. Eventhough they speak English, language is still a barrier so pointing or waving in the general direction I should head is our most effective form of communication.

Jacques has included some detail about our next steps as we become true-blue-sworn-in Peace Corps Volunteers (and I couldn't resist adding some comments):

We are entering our last week of training (Whooo Hoooo!).  Our technical training is over and this week is all about brushing up on our Cebuano as much as possible to pass the LPI (Language Proficiency Interview). It is a big deal since we have specific time slots at a local nice hotel and they fly people from Manila who are trained assessors to interview us.

Realistically, Alana & I will probably not pass (Yes we will!) and need to continue with a tutor (we'll still continue with a tutor) that Peace Corps will pay for. There are soooooo many local people that speak English around us that it hasn't been like being immersed in the language. We are happy to get a tutor because we really want to learn more and practice more before being cut loose. Alana's work will require her to speak more Cebuano yet my work is around instructors who teach and are expected to speak English all the time while in the work place. Interesting.

Next weekend we head to Bocolod city again, where we went a month ago for our Supervisor's Conference (back when we were really sick... ieew!), for the week long Counterpart's Conference. There will be many sessions that give us more information on becoming a full fledge volunteer (like how we get bicycles from the Peace Corps), then a few days working with our counterparts (the people we will be working most closely with in our new positions), then we officially trade in our T (trainee) for a V (volunteer) at the formal swear in.

I have read the words that we repeat as we are sworn in and it sounds just like what they have the President Of The United States repeat when they swear her/him in. Sure hope I don't goof it up and accidently become the president (Jacques for President!) !!!
After swear in, all new volunteers go to their new permanent sites, which are spread out all over the central islands of the Philippines. Alana &I will take our 7 hour bus ride back to Dumaguete where our training site was and move about 4km to our new host family. They live inside the city proper, near the downtown city park, the post office, the local market, the mayor's office (and hopefully ice cream) etc., and more importantly nearer to both Alana &I's permanent sites (Yes! Time to get started with our work!) so we won't be walking so far to get to work. (Fear not... Jacques will still have walking time thus developing his "walking-thought-monologue's")
We will be with this new host family for three months as we continue to learn how to live on our own. I still haven't figured out how to buy food from the local market and things we need without going to the mall and the airconditioned supermarket which is too expensive and not even in the price range for what we get paid.

We will tell you more about our new host family once we have spent some time with them and in the meantime we will miss spending time with Lola (Felice) and Lolo (Amador) Omalsa and their family in Bunao. We will miss Charlie the rooster that lived 4 feet from our window and their grandchildren who lived with us, Amelia and PJ. Amelia is one of 8 young ladies running for Miss Dumaguete and we'll let you know how that turns out.
So, that's it. Some big changes coming at us. We are still excited to be here. We have many more questions and things to learn about now that we are getting into the culture here and learning more about what is being expected of us. For the next two years we won't be living under the harsh conditions that is often expected of Peace Corps Volunteers (no mud huts with dirt floors or burning yak dung for warmth) yet I'm thinking we will be dealing with some more intense situations as we are in "the big city."  (Although after the chaos of Manila, Dumaguete may just seem like a sweet little town-- I'll take it!)