Thanksgiving

With the turkey and all the trimmings finished and put away; one way or another, I keep coming back to what I'm thankful for. Other than the usual Aaron, Sammy, family and friends, there is a very special young man, so far away, whom I've never even met and of course it's Sebio. Hard to think or even verbalize my feelings about him and I'm sure his co-children that I will eventually meet and surely come to love. Being an only child I never knew what it was like to have siblings. And having no children of my own it's hard to think about having this special young man in my life and feeling maternal love for him even though I've never even looked into his eyes or heard his voice.

The anticipation of our meeting is at times overwhelming. I did hear from some friends after posting what the blog's name means. And I will admit I'm very nervous about the trip. I didn't mention before but I can't exactly post when the trip is actually scheduled to take place. For security reasons both ours and theirs it's best that some details are not disclosed.

I will however be posting about the preparations that will lead up to this monumental trip. I did get my passport so at least that's a start. I still have shots to get, ouch, not looking forward to that. And I am begging anyone who has ideas, thoughts or sentiments on how to best get through a flight that I've been told is oh, what something like 17 hours long...please send them my way. I have requested a hand-held gaming device for Christmas which I'm sure I can make good use of since I'm a Bejeweled junkie but I'm sure that won't cover "all" those hours.

I have been looking at websites and blogs for Filipino recipes to try. If I happen upon any that are successful I'll be sure to post them. We did find frozen lumpia while shopping at Ft. Dix and tried those. They are the equivelent of egg rolls and not bad. If anyone knows someone with Filipino recipes please send them my way.

So as this Thanksgiving quickly becomes a memory I am thankful to all of you in my life, those who are following along on this journey with me and especially to our boy Sebio who I look forward to meeting someday.

Baby Duck Revealed

Well, since no one wanted to play along and guess where the blog title came from here goes the story:

I do believe the origin of all this dates back to a September 10, 2008 email from Linda in Pa who wrote: "you really should consider a trip over...Sebio will be graduating and that would be the trip of a lifetime". Yeah right, sure thing I could see myself doing that especially after the presentation she and Ms. Bicky gave regarding their last trip over together about some of the conditions there; hot weather, loss of electricity, climbing out taxi mini bus type transportation and more. Na, I don't think so, I'll just support Sebio from afar as best as I can.

Now I've seen Linda and Ms. Bicky on occasions when Aaron and I have gone to see his family in PA. There were always mentions (proddings) of my going with them to meet Sebio and his co-children. And my response has always been that is just not for me, I'm a wuss.

Then came a June 1, 2009 email that she and Ms. Bicky had been tracking air fares and they were the lowest they had seen in a long time to the Philippines, they were planning a trip and did I want to go with them? I told Linda she never seems to give up but for some reason this time I was having second thoughts about actually going. Could I do it? Would I be able to deal with going to a country that didn't have all the creature comforts of home? But if I went I could actually meet our Sebio and give him hugs, perhaps even see him graduate high school.

So, on June 2, after an interesting phone conversation with Linda I said yes, I would go. But I'm sure some of you may be saying but Dawn where does this Baby Duck thing come from? It comes after reading the church bulletin where Linda always includes an article about the children at God's Town. This one in particular not only included a story but a picture...a picture of the boys holding the 11ft python snake one of the boys, Eric had killed on the property.

Oh yeah, and this is where I'm going...seriously? I immediately shot off an email to Linda and kept asking seriously an 11 ft. snake to which she replied: "I have never seen a snake when I was there...but I know they have lots of them including cobras. When you're walking you just make noise so they know you're coming and they will leave. There are some big spiders...and some REALLY big rats in some places. Don't worry Ms. Bicky and I will protect you." ending the email with:

"IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR YOU BABY DUCK"

So from that point on I've been Baby Duck, BD for short, and there you have it. I figured since this probably is going to be one of, if not THE biggest adventure of my life what better name for the blog. I want to continue blogging about not only Sebio and his co-children but my preparation for this big adventure I'll be taking. Aaron will not be going it will be the 3 of us.

By the way, the Baby Duck name is quite flattering given my age of 50, how cool to be considered a baby of some sort!

Next time: my long distance project with Sebio and frightening trip prep

The Baby Duck is International

Ok, I will admit up front that I made a request from a relative to click and read the blog and thankfully they honored that request. It is so cool to see on the stat counter map a pin in another country. Thanks go to my cousin's son and daughter in law Todd and Brandi. I'm thanking them both because I'm not exactly sure who did it. That pin on the map is located in Germany.

And while I've got the floor I'd like to publicly thank Todd for his service, he is in the US Army and he and the family are stationed in Germany. He recently got back from deployment oversees and we're truly proud of him.

So as you can see the Baby Ducks first international landing was in Germany without so much as a single wing flap. Not bad for someone who has never left the country or had a passport...yet. And there lies another slight clue. So the Duck has now been viewed not only in Germany but in at least 12 US states from coast to coast.

I recently traced back a part of the origins of the blog title and it first goes back to an email dated October 10, 2008 from Linda in PA. Which wasn't too long after we signed on to sponsor Sebio. Actually I told Linda not too long ago I think this was all part of a plan ever since the first time I met her and listened to the presention by Ms. Bicky about their trip to God's Town.

A guess about the title....anyone??

Shout-out and Hint

I normally don't do any posting on here until the weekend but I felt compelled today to write because I'm in amazement at how the blog is shall we say taking off. In case you haven't noticed I added a counter to the bottom of the blog, thanks to my friend and fellow blogger Christine. And if you haven't done so yet, check out her blog its listed here on mine as one that I follow. If you are a foodie its a must. Anyway, not only does the counter allow me to see the number of visits but I can access statistics and even a map to show me just where folks are that are visiting Baby Duck's New World Adventures.

I wanted to share that the blog is being read coast-to-coast. Now I do have some online friends in Calif and TX so I can account for some of those BUT just today it indicated a viewer in Nebraska. I can't think of anyone I know there and it's been viewed in Oregon, again can't think of anyone there. I do know the church in PA did list the blog URL in the church's monthly newsletter and hopefully that and word of mouth are spreading the word about Sebio and his co-children. Next step, international readership.

So I want to give a shout-out to all those across the country, known and unknown, I hope that you are enjoying the blog and will return often. Please feel free to become a follower and/or leave a comment. I'd love for that number of followers to change, its been 10 for too long... we want to see more.

And now, a small hint and challenge about the blog's title...it has to do with: Visayas? If you'd like to take a guess, leave a comment or email me. Sorry there are no prizes or cash rewards for playing along except my gratitude and appreciation for joining me on this journey.

More to come and thanks for reading.

Prom (possible tissue alert)

It appears some things transcend no matter where you live, and in this case I'm speaking about going to the prom. Even in the Philippines adolescents get to experience this rite of passage and attend prom. Given the long and tedious time it takes for us to communicate back and forth with Sebio I can't give you any real details but I can share this picture of Sebio's prom.

I'm sure many of us can remember back to our prom(s) and how nervous and awkward we were feeling and it appears our Sebio is no exception. He looks pretty shy and nervous in this picture.

We were invited to help with his prom by sending over some additional monies for his clothes to wear. There appears to be a sort of "dress code" they had to abide by but we were more than happy to make sure he was properly outfitted to attend. You must admit he does look handsome, doesn't he?

Lately his letters have spoken about how he is working hard to make his school report. "I am busy studing and making the school report and one thing hard for me is CAT (Citizen Army Training)." He has mentioned this before so I had to go find out what exactly he was talking about. I found the following through my google search. There is no compulsory military service, or draft, in the Philippines. CAT (Citizen Army Training) is a course that is part of the fourth year high school curriculum. As with any course, the students receive marks for their performance. Like the academic requirements, they can either fail or pass. It is compulsory for all fourth year students, girls as well as boys.

It was while mentioning CAT that he also said the following..."every morning we have a training and it is hard but it's part of my schooling and I can do it because God is with us, and you and Ma'am Linda, Ma'am Bicky and others are my inspiration because without you maybe my future is not like this now".

He also wrote... "I am very lucky because I have sponsors that always thinking of me. I proud of you sir and ma'am. I shared my candies to our co-children and to our house-parents. I love you!" The aforementioned was also from the same letter that he signed off by saying; "I hope you are in good health and I love you".

This was the very first time he had said he loved us in a letter and honestly considering we have never met him face-to-face, we love him too.

Next time: I felt this post should stand on its own so next time, I promise, to explain the blog title.

Flooding in the Philippines

Several people have asked or sent me email links about the severe flooding in the Philippines. They have asked if Sebio and his co-children are ok. I have emailed Linda to see if this latest flooding happened where the children are. By the map I have of the area Manila is not exactly the location but I'm still not sure if it hit them too. I promise to put up a post as soon as I hear back from her. I want to thank everyone for their concern, we all want the children to be safe and dry.

Here is a link to the story from CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/28/philippines.floods/index.html


UPDATE: Linda just spoke with the home's director and there was no mention of flooding in their location. So it appears no news is good news and all the kids are safe and dry!

Sebio: Drummer & Our Photo Journalist

First I want to apologize for my posts being so long but I tend to get rather passionate when I start talking about Sebio and the other children at God's Town. I also promise to eventually tell all those who have been asking what the blog title means....just not today!! I've got to keep you coming back for something, right?

So in my efforts to keep this post shorter it will be mostly pictures many of them taken by Sebio himself. This was a fun project. When Linda was making her last trip over there, earlier this year, I sent with her 3 disposable cameras and asked her to give them to Sebio. With the cameras were the instructions that he should take pictures of anything and everything. Then he should send the cameras back with Ma'am Linda (which is how they refer to her) and I would have them developed. This all worked as planned but to my initial dismay there was nothing with the cameras, no note, descriptions, nothing. UNTIL, one night while I was home alone and for some reason realized the cameras, neatly packed back in the boxes they travelled over there in were numbered and taped shut. Now I hadn't done that so I started to untape and investigate. The first one yielded a piece of paper inside with notes to us and highlights of what was on the camera. So then it became like Christmas because each and every box had a note!!

Since I titled this Sebio, Drummer this first picture obviously wasn't taken by him because it is him. We recently sent him an instructional book and dvd about playing drums which I we just heard he loves and is using often.

Of course with each letter describing the pictures he wrote things like: "Thank you that you are my sponsor who support me, I have many pictures are very nice for you". He writes "this our cat the color are white and orange."

This is one of the building at GT and the bike pictured, to the left will be used by a couple of the older boys to go to school.

And then there was the night filled with popcorn making and eating fun.

One of the infamous carabou.

One of his co-children getting bamboo for use at the pig roast they had. Sebio wrote: "I like the roast pig but I forgot to take a picture of it." Remember they raise many of their own animals, fruits and veggies.

Sebio writes of this final picture: "This is the restaurant in town where we went to lunch." Linda later relayed to me, when she finally got to see the pictures, that it was a really good day on their trip into town.

I want to end this post with something Sebio wrote in one of the notes found with the cameras but first I must preface it with this. Aaron and I both wear bracelets that he got while in Iraq. We had an extra one so I asked Linda to deliver it to Sebio. It included a note telling him we wanted him to have it and that we both have them too and it would be a kind of connection between the 3 of us. Here was his response to this small gift: "I thank you for the bracelet you send me. This is good remembrance for you. When I grow up and wherever I go I will remember to you. It is a good simple things of me."

Next time: Prom and what's up with the baby duck thing!

The Pixie Sticks Connection

When we decided to sponsor one of the kids at God’s Town I was looking forward to sending care packages like I did when Aaron was in Iraq. I had gotten to be quite a master of finding fun cool things to send and knowing what could survive the approximately 8 day travel time to reach him in the sand box.

Unfortunately I was informed that the only thing I could really send over to Sebio were flat envelopes. Linda impressed upon me to send anything that could travel flat in a large yellow envelope. This was for several reasons, one of which was they must pay for boxes that they receive over there. Well that was out I didn’t want to put any undue expenses on them there. Also boxes could be stolen and or gone through and items “removed”. Ok, didn’t want that happening either….so flat mailings it is. And as Linda said when you don’t really have anything, you are happy with whatever you receive.

I can’t tell you the aimless time I’ve spent in stores trying to figure out; what will mail flat, what will survive the nearly 3 weeks it takes to get there and the biggest question “what the heck do you send a 17 (now 18) year old boy in another country. How do certain things translate?

My first attempt at mailing that flat envelope over of course included a letter. I was informed that book covers would be great. Do you know how hard it is to find book covers, at least ones that don’t include the face of Hannah Montana on them?? Paper is expensive so I did send some of that but how fun is getting paper?

I knew I wanted to send over something Sebio could share with his co-children and what kid doesn’t like candy, no matter where you live. So now, what candy will make the 3 week trip and the heat once it arrives? From mailing over to Iraq I knew gum was a good choice, especially the coated, chicklet type. But then I spied them, pixie sticks. They brought back great childhood memories of hoisting those babies up in the air to allow all the sweet, gritty goodness to slide down into your mouth. I made sure there would be plenty to share. But of course then I was overcome with the question, would they know what they are? How to eat them?

The photo here shows Sebio holding OUR envelope (yes, I can tell by the outside label even in a small photo). And there they are his co-children, pixie sticks in the absolute perfect slide into your mouth yummy goodness position. Doesn’t Sebio, proudly handing out that candy, have one of the biggest smiles you’ve ever seen? I have been told he didn’t always smile like this.


Of course here I was worried about the kids knowing what to do with the pixie sticks, but it seems it was really the gum I should have been concerned with. The story is that little Sara there, who by the way is sponsored by Aaron’s Aunt Sarah in PA, really enjoyed her gum from my first flat envelope. Unfortunately I guess she enjoyed it so much she went to bed with it in her mouth and well, it has been said she woke up with it in her HAIR.

Next time: Sebio, the photo journalist & drummer.

What Do You Do When the Lights Go Out?

How do you react when the power goes out? How about when the cable goes off right in the middle of a riveting movie scene? Not to mention being unable to fine a “signal” for your cell phone when you want one! Are you anything like me when something like this happens exclaiming “now what or what the heck” or perhaps a few other choice words we’ll leave to the reader’s imagination?

For most of us, after some huffing and puffing or a call to our friendly utility provider, the lights, the cable or whatever creature comfort has gone off is back on again. At its worst around here, during storms or a downed pole, our inconvenience lasts maybe a few hours. Now imagine you live in a place where electricity goes off on a nearly daily basis. Without rhyme, reason or schedule it goes off and returns in the same manner.

For us, we often have peace of mind when bad weather or crisis strikes there are people we can call and count on; 911, local fire and rescue, the Red Cross, the police. But where God’s Town is located typhoons can be a fairly regular occurrence, and unlike here, there are no government agencies to help out. Communications between Linda in PA and Purie, the director at God’s Town can be sporadic and difficult.

There being little or no infrastructure there, these daily power outages are a way of life. Something everyone young and old deals and learns to live with. Damage clean up after a typhoon or other weather event is left to the residents and their own resources.

In April 2008, the following was written in the church bulletin: A huge typhoon came and flooded the entire compound up to thigh high on the adults and way toooo deep for our little children. Everyone managed OK. Our piglets and chickens were moved to the top bunk beds by the older boys….those guys are so resourceful. Dan (one of the asst.) evacuated our mother pig and the carabaos aren’t called water buffalo for nothing, so they managed just fine. The water subsided, but left mud and difficult conditions. The weather continues to storm and it has been sporadic getting email or cell phone signals thru.

So the next time you can’t get a signal, experience a few minutes or even a couple of hours of “inconvenience”, think of our Sebio, his co-children and the adults who live at God’s Town.

One of the biggest reasons I’m glad I started sponsoring Sebio and working with Linda and the charity is that she and others involved believe in making the children and God’s Town in general as self-sufficient as possible. Funds have been spent on projects like planting fruit-bearing trees; FYI; the price of small fruit trees are apprx. $1 and take about 4 years to mature and begin to bear fruit. And while many fruit trees were planted one of the most recent typhoons caused about 50% of them to be damaged or lost completely. The flooding also causes food prices to go up. At one point it was noted that the price of rice went up 4 times from what it was the year prior.

But the damage and storms don’t seem to dampen the hearts and spirit of the residents of God's Town or those of us who sponsor children there. The mere cost of $30 a month to sponsor Sebio has been worth it in more ways than I can count. I will try to tell you more of those ways in future posts. If anyone at some point wants to join us and sponsor a child at God’s Town just let me know. There are still children not yet sponsored…and imagine being a child who needs and wants someone to care about them. I’ll close this post with something Sebio wrote to us in his own words:

Dear Dawn and Aaron, I thank you you’ve supported in me. I have no something to give you but this my letter.

And for us, that is more than enough!

Next time: The Pixie Sticks Connection

And So It Begins - The First Letter

Sebio has been at the God’s Town home since 1997. It was told to me that he was left by his parents when he young for his grandmother to raise. She died after 2 years and he is considered an abandoned child by Social Services.

But those were his beginnings at GT (God’s Town) and now; he is 18 years old as of this past May and in his final year of high school. He is doing very well in school and often assists the younger children (his co-children) in doing their assignments. I’ve been told he even teaches the younger children who are poor in reading. He will graduate in 2010 and wants to continue his education.

We wrote our first letter to him some time in June/July of 2008. For any of you who know me you know I’m not the most patient person. Mail takes approximately 3 weeks to go from NJ to the Philippines and vice versa. So sometimes waiting for answers to letters seems like a lifetime. And GT is remotely located so it’s not like here where we can just walk to the local mailbox.

I hope to help you get to know our special young man by telling you in his own words. This is from that very first letter and what follows is exactly as written by Sebio himself.

Dear Dawn and Aaron
I received your letter last July 29, 2008 and I thank you very much that I have a friend like you very supportive and I thank God that Ma’am Linda she shared to you myself. We proud that Ma’am Linda she is good mother to us.

Yes I will tell you a few things about my self I am Eusebio, my b-day is May 5, I came God’s Town year 1998 I have 1 older sister. We don’t know our parent, It is very sad my history.

By the way I am third year high school now. My favorite subject is science and math, yes I study hard so that I want to get high score in our class, I don’t have a dislike subject, I enjoy all my subject.

I enjoy here together with co-children and our faithful houseparent they good parent to us.

We thank Ma’am Linda she brought us carabao, pigs and chickens. Well my favorite pet is carabao. (water buffalo)

I should close this letter to you.
God Bless You

Your Friend
Sebio

I'm not sure how long I cried or how many times I reread that first letter but I remember carrying it around and showing anyone and everyone who would look at it. Not having any children of my own, unless you count our 4-footed fur baby Sam the cat, this was the beginning of what I think it might feel like to be a parent.

Next time, more from Sebio and my lessons being learned about his culture and home.

How it all began

My reason for starting this blog actually has to do with a boy and as he refers to them his co-children who live in an orphanage, a world away in the Philippines.

His name is Sebio, Eusebio to be more precise. My fiancé’ Aaron and I first became aware of Sebio and his co-children living at the God’s Town home in the Philippines some time in 2008. Their pictures were displayed on the Penbrook church bulletin board in Harrisburg PA. Each photo lovingly encircled by construction paper hearts with their names below. Their pictures were on display looking for individuals to sponsor them with each face searching for someone to care not only financially but more importantly emotionally.

But of course, all too often, like many decisions we had to “think” about it before making at least the financial commitment. Little did we know how life changing the decision to say yes, we care and will sponsor you could be. In June of 2008, I took the first step of emailing Linda in PA, who you will hear much more about throughout this blog, to tell her yes; yes we care and want to sponsor Sebio who we saw on the bulletin board. In that first picture he appeared somewhat sad, with barely a hint of a smile.

On June 25, 2008 Linda wrote the words that mark the beginning of our journey sponsoring Sebio; “I spoke to him by phone last evening and told him he has sponsors.....he was speechless. He is such a good boy. He does chores without being asked....when I called he was mopping the cafeteria floor before breakfast.”

Next post, more about Sebio in his own words from letters we received.