Back to the good ol’ sweltering climate where I resume my former identity of being “Joe”. The greetings of “Hey Joe” began instantly upon disembarking from the plane and have not slowed since. Bobby has told me that it is in reference to G.I. Joe and it is an affectionate term from the days when the Philippines was American controlled. I am particuarly annoyed by this term, 1) I am not a soldier, 2) I am not a MALE, 3) Just because I am white doesn’t necessarily mean that I am American.
The other day I was riding my bike through Kabankalan and someone to my surprise shouted not Joe but “‘Miga” short for Amiga,or friend. I loved this, it acknowledged that I am a female by the “A” ending, it is a certainly amicable term and it just sounds nice. So I have a plan to eradicate the term “Joe”, well at least try to in my own way. Every time someone shouts Hey Joe, I will shout Hey Migo!! Then they will hopefully remember me as Migo/Miga instead of Joe and just get in that habit. Its worth a shot!
One thing that is great about this country is that is really cheap for medications. I have a UTI, when this had happened to me in the US before, I needed to get Cipro, this was in high demand because of the sensationalized West Nile scare New York had going at the time and I had to pay about 80 USD for that! I just bought it now for 380 pesos, or 6.78 USD. I have no prescription and no insurance and still, it was quicker, cheaper and easier than it would have ever been in the US. What a great place. Now if I could only get GOOD western food here!! Fortunately our big supermarket in Bacolod, 2.5 hour bus ride away just started stocking mozerella cheese, its a start!!
Bobby just left for a week training that will be on Luzon. He took the laptop with him so it will be a long week for me. I have books and little Jon Jon to keep me occupied so hopefully that will be enough!
