four vignettes

a few days ago, some of us went to a bamboo concert. the band bamboo is one of a growing number of pinoy bands creating quality local music in a market saturated with american imports. my favorite part of the night was during the song noypi, a song of national pride. during the chorus, there were middle aged women raising their fists and screaming, hoy! pinoy ako! (hey! i’m filipino!) it was beautiful to see national pride in a country that so often lacks it.


it’s a new year and that means new student friends. of the firemans from last year, only steven and the two calebs were left. this year, they will be joined by sophomores jake, paul, and, nathan, a senior peter and possibly one other senior guy. i will also be having a small Bible sudy with two juniors mike and dawson. i’m excited for the opportunity to meet with some new guys. hopefully, we’ll figure out logistics this week and start meeting next week.


i’ve been life guarding quite a bit over the summer at the faith pool. occasionally there are no swimmers and i will walk about with my cel phone or ipod in my bathing suit pocket, but i will always put it in my bag when people show up. since the pool opened last year, no lifeguard has ever had to enter the water to make an assist or a rescue. last saturday, i was guarding and had to run, i mean… walk quickly around the pool to my bag to answer a few phone calls, so i ended up with my phone in my back pocket. the ten minutes it was there was the same ten minutes a three year old got stuck on a lane rope with his face in the water and i had to jump in the pool to get him. darn. my phone worked once it dried out for a few days, but the battery doesn’t hold a charge for more than ten minutes.


melissa and zeb are in the states for a few more weeks, so i’m in the house alone for a while. it’s been weirder than i thought being here without them, but God has brought some great people around. the french family has been taking care of me. i have enjoyed a few meals with our friends mark and abbey and two week old alistair. the kuhlows have invited me to their dorm to hang out with the guys there. and most recently, aaron drake (class of 2004) returned for a while and has stayed with me for the last couple of days.