Lost in Translation

Well, dear readers, dear friends, it's been a quiet week here in Manila. Matt and I continue to wait on bated breath for the second semester to begin. And this, dear friends, is where our lost in translation moment comes in. No, it wasn't a language barrier issue. No, it wasn't related to the 2003 hit motion picture starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson (although compatriots of mine may be experiencing it in other areas of the globe). No, dear friends, this time it was a cultural misunderstanding. It turns out that classes don't begin again on November 1st, as previously advertised. No, as we found out yesterday, classes begin on November 8th. So, we have yet another week to pass. 

Now don't take this as complaining-it's not-but it'll be nice to finally get going. As for now, we're still keeping busy as much as possible. We've been meeting with the deans of the College of Arts and Sciences in lesson and class planning, talking with professors, going to the library-you know...studious stuff....teacher..no-PROFESSORY stuff. So, with yet another week to go, we're starting to expand our horizons. 

Since the last post we had a terrific development. We finally, after 7 weeks, were able to leave the monastery unattended. I know! Hizzah! And for what event were we permitted to leave unchaperoned? Well, for a social, of course, a college social at that! Follow the dots as they're connected here. The Abbot, and Father Roman, have a lot of friend around Manila that they've been introducing us to. So, the Abbot introduced us to a nice old woman, who introduced us to her daughter, who introduced us to her daughters. Yes, we went 3 generations down and found a pair of gals who were our age (well, to be fair 21 and 18). These gals go to Ateneo University, one of the top schools in the country and a BITTER rival to San Beda. Thankfully, they are in a different division than we are in athletics, so there was little tension between the gals and us (you know, being as we ARE San Beda Superfans). Naturally the social was at a VIP nightclub that was invite only, rented out exclusively for the Ateneans. So here's three hip's for freedom! Then, on Sunday, we were taken by the Abbot, Father Roman, and 3 of the other Fathers to the home of the sweet old lady friend of the Abbot, where we partook in a fantastic family dinner. There we were, Matt, me, the 5 monks, and the 10 or so family members sitting around the family dinner table, dining, wining, and enjoying the company of all present. Just fantastic stuff.

As far as other big developments go, there are three. First, today we toured 2 Bennie alums around San Beda-one the wife of a FSO for the U.S. Embassy and the other a member of SJU Admissions. Yes, that's right, the game has come full circle, from us coming to Our Lady of Montserrat to us sending the San Beda delegation to SJU to SJU sending an admissions delegate to San Beda. The world...it's getting oh so small and we're controlling oh so much of it from our ivory tours. Muhahahaha *cough cough* sorry. Second, today for lunch we had the usual rice, chicken dish, soup, and...Fried, Battered Fish. Yes, that's right, the cooks used my recipe! Needless to say, the monks were prr-etty excited when the covers came off the food dishes and asked if Matt and I had been cooking again. Indeed, it was a pretty incredible feeling-one of near appreciation. Yes, appreciation indeed. Thirdly, and pretty fantastically, Matt and I finagled a bit and did some negotiating with our handlers here in the monastery, and on Friday we have another unsupervised adventure out into Manila. We're just going to the Mall of Asia-probably to a movie, maybe get some groceries, but most importantly, just EXPLORE-and explore at our own pace, at that.

So, again, things indeed are very well here in Manila. The weather is warm, the sun is hot, and the people are friendly. Good luck with the cold weather and snow back home, folks, we'll send some of our 90 degrees and sunny weather back your way (or at least good thoughts of warm weather your way), Happy Halloween (preemptively), and look forward to quite another adventure-filled story next week, because, Dear Readers, All Souls and All Saints day in the Philippines, as it's been described to us, is the heart of Philippine culture. With that, Dear Readers, be well, take care, and watch out for the zombies.

History in the Making

Welcome again, Dear Readers, to yet another fateful and exhilarating experience. I hope you're all sitting down, hopefully you have a nice cup of coffee or a scone, or something like that, because, Dear Readers, I've witnessed history in the making. I sit here in the midst of what is being called the strongest storm on earth (since 2005), Mega Typhoon Megi (aka Juan), reveling in the last few days. First and foremost, let's put your worries to rest. We're just fine here in Manila. The worst of the storm is up north, where the winds were recorded at over 160 mph, whereas here in Manila the winds are, at most, 30 mph. Alas, dear readers, the worst effects of the storm we're experiencing here is heavy rainfall. The storm began last night whilst eating dinner. As we sat there with the monastic community, enjoying our rice, fish, and peaches and cream, we began to hear howls and whooshes. No no, readers, it wasn't a pack of rabid wolves. It was the storm surging through Manila, but again, fear not, it was just the outskirts of the typhoon. It began to sprinkle, it began to drizzle, then it began to rain. And then the wind picked up...(that was for you, Al). It's continued to drizzle all day, and because of the heavy winds last night, most of the humidity and heat has been swept off. So, it's currently a cool and comfortable 26 degrees Celsius, which...I guess is 78 degrees Fahrenheit....which is actually really surprising. It feels like it's in the low 60's. The breeze is perfect, and the drizzle pitter-pattering off the steel roofs is quite poetic. If you're curious what Megi looks like:

Our first typhoon, and a monster one at that. History in the making.

This past Sunday Matt and I finally had a primo chance to give back to the monastery. They've given us SO much since we've been here- great food, incredible places to sleep, great trips around town. So, we decided to do a little cooking, and since we were cooking, why not give them a little Minnesota flair! And what says Minnesota more than fish and potatoes!? So, the cooks took the backseat and Matt and I took over the kitchen for an afternoon. I was in charge of the fish part, and Matt the potatoes. The fish they gave us is called lapu lapu, which is in the grouper family, and it's common name is Sea Bass. That's right, they gave us bass for a fish fry. They know us all too well...all..too...well.... So, I made a nice breading out of Fita crackers (fita=ritz), some spices and flour, and then fried up the fish. Matt peeled some potatoes and made a killer potato soup and fried up the peels. Needless to say, we finally earned our stripes with some of the older curmudgeons of the monastery (most notably the 96 year old Spanish monk, who, surprisingly, is unable to smile anymore (or at least hasn't smiled in 6 weeks)). Well we got him smilin' on Sunday. History in the making.

 

 

I know you're all wondering about the NCAA Championship game. Well, I'm gonna go ahead and just wait to tell you the story when I get back! Hope everything is well!

No no, I'm kidding! Of course I'll tell you. Well, as noted last Thursday, we did, indeed, win. Which set up an epic showdown on Friday evening. The Juniors (High School team) played at 2pm, with the shot at winning the Junior National Championship. It was a well fought game, a tough game, but in the end we came out victorious by 11. 

The little Indian dancers at halftime, yet again!

 

 

 

The crowd goes wild!

The 2-Time National Championship Juniors Team

The crowd was rockin, there was electricity surging throughout the arena, and anticipation was mounting over the Senior game. Then it began.

The game was tight for 3 quarters. We had some solid defense throughout the game, had good passing, but weren't making good shots. The other team...well they had a lot of great flagrant fouls (2 REAL, REAL bad cheap shots, including their star player punching our star player right in the family jewels), and a lot of great technical's (4, yes, 4 technical fouls). Somehow they kept it close, though. Then, finally in the 4th (when most of their top line was on the bench in foul trouble) our guys ran away with it. We absolutely put the hammer down on them. They tried to hurt us in the place where it hurts most (you know...see above), so we hurt them where it hurts most- the Scoreboard. We were making HUGE blocks, HUGE rebounds, and our 3 point shooters came alive. We had the game sealed by the halfway mark of the 4th quarter, and the crowd knew it. The players knew it. It was SO loud, SO exhilarating waiting for the clock to hit 0 and our team to be crowned national champions. And then it happened. The game ended, the Red Lions had the first-ever 18-0 sweep, it was the first time that a school had the double championship (Juniors and Seniors), and the place went crazy! It was unbelievable to be a part of, so surreal, so fantastic. When we got back on campus "We are the Champions" was blaring from every speaker, the celebration began, and a great night was had by all. Truly, history in the making.

The Red Lions take the court

 

It went in

The crowd knows it!

And there it is, folks!

 

Our star player, Season MVP and Finals MVP Sue Daniel cutting down the nets

Borgie Hermida, the only senior on the team and a 16-year Bedan cutting down the other net

The celebration back on campus

Complete with bonfire

and fireworks!

NCAA Championship Game 1

Lunch Art- the San Beda Pirate Ship

The Championship Arena is the same one Ali fought Frazier in!

The Junior Squad (High School) warming up

The San Beda Halftime Show. Yes, they're dressed as indians.

The Juniors Won. Handily.

The Seniors taking the court

They won too!

Life size crucifix in the entrance to the arena.

So, since both the Junior squad and the Senior squad won yesterday, AND since both teams swept the regular season, they are both now 1 game away from being the national champions. The next game is tomorrow, so we'll have another full day of basketball tomorrow. IF both teams win, it will be the first (and second) time that any team has went 18-0 on the season AND it will be the first time that a junior and senior squad from the same institution have won the national championship in the same year. Needless to say, there is a HUGE celebration being planned for tomorrow night at the school. Naturally I'll report the results. For now, GO, SAN BEDA, FIGHT!