Glimpse in the Sea: September 2010

Wednesday afternoon, this is my last day in Palawan. Tomorrow I will fly to Manila and the day after I will fly to The Netherlands again. Time goes so fast when you are having fun!!

I have experienced so much that I cannot begin to tell you all about it. And I should not do that anyway, because you should just come here and experience it yourself! That is the only way to understand how I feel right now. However, ok, I will give you something to start with.

This morning I was at Don Ramon Roces elementary school, the last school of the environmental education project ‘Glimpse in the Sea’. It is unfortunate that I cannot finish this school, because these kids are the most interested ones I have seen so far! Our Philippine volunteers, who are doing a wonderful job!, almost did not get a chance to finish the lecture today because of all the questions raised by the kids.

After this morning I went to the Mandaragat Elementary School, were we have just finished the project, to hand out the certificate of participation and a very nice classroom poster of the project to each class. It is such a rewarding job! The kids were already yelling to me when I arrived on the bicycle: “Ate Lysa, Ate Lysa!” This means “big sister” in Tagalong. The children are always happy to see you coming. They were very happy with their poster and put it up instantly. In this materialistic way, we leave something of our program behind, but of course, most of all we hope we left something of our program in their minds!

This day is the first day in the so-called ‘rain season’ that it has been clouded and rainy the whole day. It has been very fortunate for the program that we had such great weather because that meant no complete cancellations of the excursions so far. Yes, we had to re-schedule a bit. Actually, we had to schedule a lot! But most of the time it was not because of the weather, but of prescheduled activities of the coast guard, schools or bus drivers that they accidently forgot to inform us about. But this is the Philippines, what means: no worries, relax, we can be flexible J.

That attitude also illustrates one of the most important things I have learned here, being a coordinator of a project: do not worry too much, be confident, everything will work out one way or the other. And so it did! Another important thing I have picked up here: scuba diving! Not only have I, by coming here, learned about another world on land, but also one underwater. I have gained a new hobby and a much bigger view of the world for sure!

I want to say thanks to all the wonderful people I have worked with: Kyra and Sander especially! Thanks for the great time and making me part of your great project! But I would also like to thank the Philippine volunteers who gave the lectures everyday and helped with the excursions. I have learned so much by talking as well as listening to you. You are the ones that are already changing our world for the better! Thank you so much, Anneliza, Arnica, Esther, Florence, Honey, Jessa, JR, Mark, Melissa, Phobies and Precious!!

Ingat!

Lysanne Snijders BSc

Coordinator of the Environmental Education Project ‘Glimpse in the Sea’.