Never have I been more proud to say this. Acceptance and cultural curiosity are the meat and potatoes of AIESEC and I feel like every day I follow this path a little bit more. Even though I have been here only like 5 days it is getting hard to imagine my life without these people. Honestly, I am dreading the next 7 weeks because each day is another day closer to leaving my “family” here. But at the same time, I can’t wait for the next day to start.

Today was amazing, even though we didn’t technically do much. This morning, after a delicious breakfast at the Pancake House, we went to Kenny Rogers to figure out what all we want to do over the next few weeks. We rearranged our itinerary a little bit so that we all can go to Palawan & fit in a bunch of articles & pieces that we want to work on. One thing Jan, Hani and I really want to do is write/film a particular person or family in the slums of Manila. I told them that I know so many people who want to do volunteer work and how expensive NGOs can be (2 weeks in South Africa through one program was $2000, not including plane ticket). We are of course going to be showing all the pretty & exotic parts of the Philippines, but there is also another crowd we could cater to. Nelie is working to find us a way to get to the slums every Monday from now until we leave. 

At 4 pm, we decided to walk up and down Katipunan (the main street where we live) to find the restaurants that are the best deals. We are going to some major places over the next month and so we are trying to save as much money as we can. As we were walking down about a mile from Oracle, we decided to be adventurous and take a side street. On this street we passed a bunch of Filipinos who, interestingly enough, were wearing “I am an AIESECer” shirts. I stopped dead in my tracks, whipped around and very unceremoniously barked at them “YOU ARE IN AIESEC?! WE ARE TRAINEES!” Turns out, these AIESECers were not from Ateneo but rather a neighboring college (The University of the Philippines). Immediately they began scrambling to introduce themselves and we were invited to join them for dinner at a cheap Persian restaurant called Ababu. Delicious (and CHEAP) food, excellent company and energetic conversations. We went to a bar with them afterwards and got to know the other LC a bit better. I loved how there was instantly a connection between us- they were so welcoming and excited to know us, even though neither party was expecting the other when it started down that street. This is where a global network comes in. This is where the barriers between cultures dissolve. This is why I am in AIESEC.

As a quote that hangs above our reception desk at Oracle says:

I think everybody should like everybody

But later in the evening Hani, Alzbeta, Jan, Larishka, Dominiqa, Nelie and I took a long trek through the Ateneo campus which is very green with huge trees and hundreds of stray cats and kittens (in love? yes i am). We spent 3 hours discussing failed relationships, happy and unhappy endings, parental influence, love and self worth. Many things were said tonight about our personal stories: our failures, our heartbreaks, our regrets and our hopes. Though I will not go into what was discussed since it was shared in confidence but what I will say is that Hani’s (the Pakistani woman) story really affected me. I sat in silence captivated by what she was saying. She is one of those people that commands attention when they speak- someone who puts such energy and spirit into their words that you can’t help but listen blindly. Her experiences as a Muslim woman in a conservative country really made me think about how I can relate to her as a woman but I can never fully understand where she is coming from because our cultures are so different. She says she is so confined in Pakistan, though she loves her country dearly, and to be able to walk on the streets freely is such a privilege.  

 Hani and I have become close in these last 2 days. Last night, she was feeling tired (understandably since she hadn’t truly slept in like 4 days) so she leaned against me at the bar. I stroked her hair and gave her a light face massage and she laughed saying that this could be the blunt of so many jokes about a Pakistani laying in an American’s lap. We shot a picture in a kind of protest to the fact that so many people believe that simply because we are from countries with hostility fizzling between them that we must translate that into our relationship with one another. Not so. This Pakimerican friendship is real and untainted, though not oblivious. I’ll post it separately because tumblr is slightly testy.

We also discussed how influential parents are in their children’s lives. Several of the interns here are not close with their fathers, because of a cultural thing. I cannot imagine my life without my dad being who he is and the father that he is to us girls. I am so thankful that he is willingly involved in my life and encourages me to pursue my dreams. I am so thankful to be so close to both of my parents and have their support and love and friendship. You two are the best parents I could ask for :)

Here in Manila we have struck a heart string that connects us together. I have already said before that we have come from different places and different beliefs but we trust one another so much to tell each other what we think, and when we disagree. That to me is so telling of the connection the 6 interns + Karolin + Nelie have. Being able to call each other out on hypocrisies or what have you without bringing offense is a rarity, especially among practical “strangers”. But these “strangers” challenge my thoughts, push my creativity and obliterate my insecurities. 

I PROMISE! I will start telling you all about our activities for the tourism stuff, but since that doesn’t start until Wednesday you’ll just have to read about my emotional breakthroughs in the meantime.