Leah's Peace Corps Adventure - leahspeacecorpsadventure

Calling Me in the Philippines

If you need to reach me from the US, you will need to dial: 011-63-939-292-4563.

I don't know what the international cell phone rates are, it's probably cheapest to get a phone card or use skype internet to cell phone.

Skype is a on-line company which allows people to talk to each other for free over the internet. I have pretty regular access to internet (as in my M-F 8-5) so this is a pretty feasible option. It is free to sign up and you can search me to add me as a contact using my name or e-mail: lfettema@gmail.com. When you sign in a list will appear, similar to that of AIM, showing all of your contacts on-line. To add a contact click the plus sign on the bottom.

Postal Address

If you would like to mail me something, you can use the following address: (Including the telefax number will help once the package is in country)

Leah Ettema, PCV
Care of Mayor Madeleine Mendoza Ong
6411 Laoang, Norther Samar
Philippines
Telefax: 055-251-9001

Guestbook

3/31/2010 1:19:52 AM - 002084379990
Hey, just wanted to let you know that your "Christmas" package is now officially in the mail! Sorry it took me so long! I hope you are doing well. Things have been crazy busy for me the past few weeks...and will be until the 10th when I move into my new apartment....after that, we'll chat!

MISS YOU!,
Travis

12/14/2009 6:18:12 PM - 002087541561
i laughed OUT loud in my office when i read in your 'packages wish list' that you want Michigan stuff. gifts, Seriously?!?! you just want to ball it all up and snuggle with it at night. ;)

12/3/2009 1:58:23 AM - 003003896756
Hi Leah: Sounds like you are in for an interesting education. Good luck on your endeavors. Great to hear of your chosen career path. I am chair of the Ocqueoc River Watershed Habitat Restoration and Protection committee. Keeping me busy in my retirement. C. M. Lyon

11/4/2009 6:49:04 PM - 002097429519
Leah!!! I'm caught up (for now) on all your awesome blogs. Everything sounds amazing. Miss you!

10/25/2009 9:58:30 PM - 002095618975
Hey Leah!!!!!!!!!!
This is the first time I've visited your site - waaaay cool! : ) How's everything going? I'm sure it's much better than Rock Springs, Wyoming - although that was quite an adventure too : ) All is well here in CO. The snow has started, and it's early. Usually we don't get any until Halloween. I'm looking for a house and traveling a lot for work, so life is crazy in the mundane, everyday sort of way. Wish I could be off having an adventure like you : ) Anywho, take care and I'll catch ya later!
Love,
Heidi Rose

10/5/2009 12:26:27 AM - 002091619093
Ohh Leah. I hope you have been trying new things every day. Each day is something new probably. If you learn any recipes, give them to me. I always want to try a new dish or few. Also, you better be taking awesome pictures over there. I want to see the many animals and plants that we cannot see over in the States here.

Tell me what you have done over there. I bet it is new and exciting each and every day. Hope you have been keeping in touch with many people.

Aj

9/27/2009 4:03:25 PM - 002084379990
Leah - I forgot to give you a Big Ten update when we spoke:

Michigan 36, Indiana 33 --- Michigan is 4-0. Tate Forcier is AWESOME!...Defense needs some work. UM (4-0), Indiana (3-1).
Iowa 21, Penn State 10 --- #5 PSU had too many mistakes. PSU (3-1), Iowa (4-0)
Ohio State 30, Illinois 0 --- OSU (3-1), Illinois (1-2).
Wisconsin 38, MSU 30 --- Wis (4-0), MSU (1-3)
Notre Dame 24, Purdue 21 --- ND (3-1), Purdue (1-3)
Minnesota 35, Northwestern 24 --- Minn (3-1), Northwestern (2-2)

Embarrassment of the week: Undefeated #6 Cal loses 42-3 against unranked Oregon.

9/13/2009 12:26:51 AM - 002084379990
Leah...just in case you haven't heard by the time you read this:

Today, 9/12/09:

Central Michigan University 29, Michigan State University 27 - in an amazing game including a missed 2 point conversion for the win by CMU with 22 seconds left, a recovered onside kick, a missed first attempt at a field goal (but there was a flag on MSU), and a made second attempt from 48 yards out. With 3 seconds left, kick off hits an MSU player and is recovered by CMU for the win.

Michigan 38, Notre Dame 34 - Michigan scored a TD with 11 seconds left on the clock!!!

It was an awesome day for football...and it just made me miss you that much more.

9/10/2009 12:41:08 PM - 002087541561
Lisa's back... you're missed.

8/25/2009 12:59:24 AM - 002084379990
Good Luck Leah! We'll all miss you.

8/22/2009 1:25:32 AM - 002084404013
The whole family is thinking of you as you are flying over the ocean with 68 other Peace Corps folks.

8/19/2009 1:30:07 AM - 001001557597
You can do it! Best of luck and be safe!!!!! You will definitely be missed! But hopefully the "cousins" can win some Eukre when you're gone!

Pictures

Philippino Food I have eaten

Sinangdayan - Kassava with milk, flour, and deep fried. delicious.JPG
P8050009.JPG 2010-08-05

P8050011.JPG
P8050011.JPG 2010-08-05

Not a great picture, but fried fish

My plate of food at Donald's host family host during fiesta
P7240006.JPG 2010-07-24

Sample buffet at fiesta
P7250010.JPG 2010-07-25

Lechon
The head and feet will be eaten later... don't worry

Langka.JPG
also known as jackfruit

Puso - shells.JPG
These are snails..... a delicacy

Puso, shells 2.JPG
P4190006.JPG 2010-04-19

Prawn Crackers in Calomotan.JPG
P2080107.JPG 2010-02-08

Tanduay.JPG
P2080109.JPG 2010-02-08

Snack in Calomotan - Cassava.JPG
P2080111.JPG 2010-02-08

Pakbit - a mix of vegetables (squash, beans here, but can be any) cooked in oil.JPG
In Calomotan

Lunch in Calomotan.JPG
Lumo nga carne sa carabao: Carabow meet cooked in Carabow blood or litterally translated, blood meet of a carabow

Cheese Ice Cream
Ok, so I didn't actually eat this. I had the cookies and cream one behind it

Fruit basket: Papaya, lanzones, pinapple organes, guava.JPG
P3250015.JPG 2010-03-25

Guava.JPG
P3250017.JPG 2010-03-25

Papaya.JPG
P3250018.JPG 2010-03-25

Mango.JPG
P3250021.JPG 2010-03-25

Snack2.JPG
P1240021.JPG 2010-01-24

grilled fish. quite tasty.JPG
PC170051.JPG 2009-12-17

purple are puto with ube (rice cakes with the purple root crop ube).JPG
PC170052.JPG 2009-12-17

kasava (a root crop) cake and pork chops.JPG
PC170053.JPG 2009-12-17

Delicious gab-i (root crop).JPG
Covered in a sugar coated something....

Food at LGU party.JPG
Eating on the trunks of a banana tree (the white plates)

Puso at LGU party.JPG
I have not eaten these yet but they are supposed to be a delicacy.

Cooking outside for xmas.JPG
PC230020.JPG 2009-12-23

PCV Xmas party plate.JPG
PC220007.JPG 2009-12-22

breakfast at haven.JPG
Pandesal (the rolls), rice, dried fish, a fried sausage patty (that does not taste like an American sausage patty), and a hard boiled egg