What Happened to Bill?
Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 3:32 am
Well, guys, I really didn't go anywhere but I have been going through some tough times for the past three months. One of the problems was, for me to keep doing what I was doing with Asian Life Financial Assurance, I had to give the company US $44,000. That's actually in the Department of Immigration rulebook here (and you can even find it on their website). Hey, I didn't even have 44 bucks at that time (and "bucks" is the slang term for pesos here (47 pesos = US $1) as well as US dollars. I had to get from the boarding house where I was living (where I had been the only occupant until April 6, when, suddenly, I had 18 roommates who liked to get up at 4:00 AM with the radio blaring at full volume. My boss/landlord couldn't understand why I yelled with my new roommates. He said I should try to get along. Sheesh. (It works here.)
The next day, I received word that my sister died. It's really strange being the oldest child of the family and learning that a sibling died and that it was expected. Brenda, had stage four breast cancer on both sides and had the surgery done in August, which included simultaneous breast reconstruction and a tummy tuck. The surgery went really well. No complications. They waited a few weeks to begin chemotherapy. When that happened, more medical problems were discovered. She had congenital heart failure and had been suffering from it for the past five years (at least, by the amount of damage that was seen.) They pulled the plug, and tended to the heart problems for several months.
I should interject, Brenda had been a cracker jack nurse for the past 28 years, working in a kidney dialysis center in Fontana, California. She was one of the best and I was very proud of her.
A few more months, and they tried the chemo again. This time, her body just gave up and she went into a coma. She awoke only to tell my mother that she was scared to death and didn't want to be left alone. Mom spent 16-20 hours a day at the hospital. Brenda died Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at 6:35 AM California time. She was 50.
Meanwhile, I had to look for a job. It might seem funny, but I got the job listening to the radio. A language school was advertising how they had the best teachers of any English language school in Cagayan de Oro (the city where I live). So, two days later, I sent that school an e-mail. That led to an interview and that's where I teach now.
It doesn't follow the school year, but it's worthy to point out that the Philippine school year runs from June to March. They call the time in between March and June "summer." Consequently, it's the hottest time of the year for most of the country. I tried asking some Filipinos what they think about what the summer really means... I mean regarding such terms as Summer Solstice (the longest day of the year, except in the Tropics). And then an Aussie has to come along and explain that in his country winter doesn't start with the Winter Solstice, but rather all seasons start on the first day of the month... so, guys, June 1 is the first day of Winter for our friends in Australia and New Zealand... (just in case you have that question on a trivia quiz or TV game show...)
Anyway, I'm back. My relationship with Josie is still going strong, although she is having her share of problems, too. I now live in a cheap hotel on the main highway near the biggest department store in the city. The nicest thing about where I live is that I have unlimited hot water. You don't know what a luxury that is here!
I am now involved with the Christ Lutheran Church, which is across the street from Consuelo's Buffet (All you can eat for 49 pesos, that's roughly US $1.03). Being a life long Baptist, I'm going through the same confirmation classes the kids went through during the "summer."
Life is interesting. And now, it's good.
The next day, I received word that my sister died. It's really strange being the oldest child of the family and learning that a sibling died and that it was expected. Brenda, had stage four breast cancer on both sides and had the surgery done in August, which included simultaneous breast reconstruction and a tummy tuck. The surgery went really well. No complications. They waited a few weeks to begin chemotherapy. When that happened, more medical problems were discovered. She had congenital heart failure and had been suffering from it for the past five years (at least, by the amount of damage that was seen.) They pulled the plug, and tended to the heart problems for several months.
I should interject, Brenda had been a cracker jack nurse for the past 28 years, working in a kidney dialysis center in Fontana, California. She was one of the best and I was very proud of her.
A few more months, and they tried the chemo again. This time, her body just gave up and she went into a coma. She awoke only to tell my mother that she was scared to death and didn't want to be left alone. Mom spent 16-20 hours a day at the hospital. Brenda died Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at 6:35 AM California time. She was 50.
Meanwhile, I had to look for a job. It might seem funny, but I got the job listening to the radio. A language school was advertising how they had the best teachers of any English language school in Cagayan de Oro (the city where I live). So, two days later, I sent that school an e-mail. That led to an interview and that's where I teach now.
It doesn't follow the school year, but it's worthy to point out that the Philippine school year runs from June to March. They call the time in between March and June "summer." Consequently, it's the hottest time of the year for most of the country. I tried asking some Filipinos what they think about what the summer really means... I mean regarding such terms as Summer Solstice (the longest day of the year, except in the Tropics). And then an Aussie has to come along and explain that in his country winter doesn't start with the Winter Solstice, but rather all seasons start on the first day of the month... so, guys, June 1 is the first day of Winter for our friends in Australia and New Zealand... (just in case you have that question on a trivia quiz or TV game show...)
Anyway, I'm back. My relationship with Josie is still going strong, although she is having her share of problems, too. I now live in a cheap hotel on the main highway near the biggest department store in the city. The nicest thing about where I live is that I have unlimited hot water. You don't know what a luxury that is here!
I am now involved with the Christ Lutheran Church, which is across the street from Consuelo's Buffet (All you can eat for 49 pesos, that's roughly US $1.03). Being a life long Baptist, I'm going through the same confirmation classes the kids went through during the "summer."
Life is interesting. And now, it's good.
