like ate and anak na babae

Day 14 24/5/2010

LIKE SISTERS and DAUGHTERS

I was still feeling exhausted and drained from last night and tita nancy thought I was sick. She got a bit worried and kept asking me to sleep. HOW I WISH I could do that.

This morning breakfast was greeted by the 3 loud horns of a truck and I saw everyone bringing bags and bags of garbage out. Basically everyone in the village was bringing their garbage to the truck. As i went out to observed them, It was indeed a different sight for me seeing kids, adults, all carrying their garbage out of their homes to the truck, even the kids who were dragging big bags out. Kids helping their friends to carry their garbage bags... Some hanging around to help others drag the bags over. It made me think how singaporean kids would never do cause they are always too busy for housework and with their maid around, basically everything is being done for them. And I do admit, sometimes I can be one of those kids. even though I dont have a maid, I seldom bring the garbage out. I feel this is something that is really being taken for granted by us. We do not appreciate the accessibility and yet we shunned the people who are clearing our garbage saying the truck is dirty and smelly. On the other hand, these villagers' 1 week worth of garbage is what they have to drag out everytime the truck comes. If you missed it, then just have to wait for the folowing week.




Today tita Jean came over to our place to visit tita nancy. We didn’t know they are such close friends, just like “sisters”(ate) they said. And I think I have to agree on that cause they share so much common interests and have really similar personalities. Their stories about how they came to Bagong Silang were really moving,from what i gathered from their conversation. They both left manila city and their families to move here with their husbands and start a totally new life. Both came from well-to-do families and yet, they packed and leave to come to a village and experience something totally different. now, this is something that I totally admire them for. They are brave women, each with a distinct personality but yet share the similar characteristic of being independent.

Today was also the day that we found out that tita nancy was WASHING OUR CLOTHES!! Like she took our dirty clothes and washed them! We came back after lunch to wash our 3 days worth of clothes and found that our clothes went missing. Tita Nancy was so scared to tell us and afraid that we got mad for her rummaging our bags but honestly, I felt shocked and grateful and guilty!! I mean we meant to wash them later that day but didn’t expect her to beat us to it! Even as we tried to help her, me and michelle got shooed out of our own home! Can you believe that we were asked to go back to the community hall so as not to disturb them? Tita Jean was even defending her and shooing us. I felt quite disoriented by it and between me and Michelle, I got a hunch that Tito told her about our lousy washing skills. Hahaha I think we were not exactly professional in washing clothes by hands but I know we tried our best but yes, tita is better at doing it.



THANK YOU tita nancy and tita jean!!! You showed me the meaning of true hospitality and how much you cared for us and really treated us as your daughters. PAMPERED daughters(anak na babae).



zuraidah