I have expected life in the community to be a challenge. There were lots of stories from the higher years on how it was like: snakes, lack of water, no decent bathroom, no electricity. Our life in Zamboanga would be greatly different from our life in the community. We would experience hardships especially if we are used to a life of luxury and comfort. But despite the hardships, many said that we'll learn a lot of things in the community. They say living in the community will change our perspective in life. It will make us realize how fortunate we are and appreciate more the things that we have. I don't really know what to make out of all these things they tell us. I just listen to them but I don't think I have ever really thought it through. A few months before this immersion, i was anxious yet excited. It's gonna be an adventure, i thought. But as time drew closer, i felt mixed feelings. Scared. Anxious. Excited. Indifferent. I didn't know what to expect.
And then finally that day came, we were on the bus on our way to the community. Even while on the bus, as we traveled closer and closer to the place, i wondered, How would it be like for a month? How would we live? I don't speak visaya that much, how will i communicate? These thoughts made me want to go home even before the immersion started. When we arrived, we were told which barangay we would live in. Unlike the others, our group was going to live in a very, very far barangay. And by far, i meant really, really far. The definition of far in the urban city is nothing compared to the definition of far in the rural area. I only hoped for three things in the place we're going to live in: a decent bathroom, adequate supply of water and no snakes. Thank God! We got what i hoped for and best of all, we have electricity. The people allowed us to stay in their session hall. They were very nice and welcoming. They helped us in whatever we needed. Cellular signal in our area was weak but we didn't have to go far to get a good signal. I had a rough time when it came to the dialect but luckily, I understood a few words. Time passed and we got used to the place and the people. We learned from them and joined in their gatherings. We made friends. We played with kids. We had fun.
There's still so much we don't know about our community. There's still so much to learn from them. We've encountered a lot of difficulties. I have expected this community life would be a challenge. But it's also going to be one amazing journey. And this is just the beginning.
And then finally that day came, we were on the bus on our way to the community. Even while on the bus, as we traveled closer and closer to the place, i wondered, How would it be like for a month? How would we live? I don't speak visaya that much, how will i communicate? These thoughts made me want to go home even before the immersion started. When we arrived, we were told which barangay we would live in. Unlike the others, our group was going to live in a very, very far barangay. And by far, i meant really, really far. The definition of far in the urban city is nothing compared to the definition of far in the rural area. I only hoped for three things in the place we're going to live in: a decent bathroom, adequate supply of water and no snakes. Thank God! We got what i hoped for and best of all, we have electricity. The people allowed us to stay in their session hall. They were very nice and welcoming. They helped us in whatever we needed. Cellular signal in our area was weak but we didn't have to go far to get a good signal. I had a rough time when it came to the dialect but luckily, I understood a few words. Time passed and we got used to the place and the people. We learned from them and joined in their gatherings. We made friends. We played with kids. We had fun.
There's still so much we don't know about our community. There's still so much to learn from them. We've encountered a lot of difficulties. I have expected this community life would be a challenge. But it's also going to be one amazing journey. And this is just the beginning.