I've been here in the Philippines since August 3, so it's just over 2 months now. My journey here has been one of eye-opening culture shocks and inspiring natural beauty. This country is completely different from my own in almost every regard. The other week, I drove down a road I knew had hundreds of miles of an untouched jungle on either side. Indeed, the landscape is a sight to behold. The culture and its people are more relaxed in many regards (except their bureaucracy!), and I'm trying to acquire some of the local Waray language. I was surprised to find many Malay (Balinese, to be specific) influences. Due to my country's long history with Indonesia, I can understand a word here and there when they talk about food. Garlic (Bawang) is the same, and Bami is a type of pancit, while it is the generic word for fried noodles in Malay. Language aside, the Filipinos are a very warm and welcoming lot. I've felt very welcome here during my stay so far. The poverty here is heartwrenching, to a level where the next meal for the kids is a top priority for many families here and not infrequently an uncertain case! The stark contrast to this desperation is their will to live and the kindness in their hearts. I think many Westerners would simply give up (in the absolute sense) when confronted with a similar situation, like not even being able to afford rice for 1 Dollar/Euro a kilo or living in a slum beside a sewage ditch. These aren't exaggerations ─ it is the reality here for 33% of families. At the same time, I think it would be good for the moral fibre of the average Western teenager to come here and experience it for themselves. Even if it is but a sampling of the hardship, it would be a good teaching moment. A little less focus on Media bullocks and vogue luxury opinions on politics, climate and society and instead work on their future livelihood more diligently. There are parts of the world where you die if you don't work or succeed. Full stop. No one cares about your mental problems or how hot or stormy the weather is. If you can afford the food here (and to us Westerners, it's comparatively cheap), it's simply delicious. The Filipino palette makes use of Asian ingredients but a more Western flavouring. My favourite local dishes so far are Letchon (grilled pork), Sisig (crispy, fried meat), Pancit (fried noodles) and Pares (pork-beef soup with toppings like letchon and beef). I learned the hard way that it's the dusty, shabby local restaurants you can trust, not the large chains! I got sick from eating a large food chain the second week I was here but never had any problems with even the smallest roadside vendor selling BBQ off a rusty old grill. I think this is because their customers are, by and large, other locals. They most likely know each other well enough so that if word goes out that their food isn't good enough or rotten, they'll go out of business quickly. See above what happens to you when you no longer make any money here. I'll visit a couple more beaches and places while I'm here before returning to my home country at the end of October. | 
