Slim Pickins
I leave Sunday for Manila for two weeks training in grants writing, which will hopefully result eventually in some funding for my new site. It’s so hard when these little shoe string agencies have to spend 99% of their slim budgets just to feed and shelter the kids. There’s no money for supplies or activities. I keep buying picture books, paper, yarn, etc., just to be able to do a few activities. We’re not supposed to spend our own money, but honest to crud what can you do?
My PC recruiter told me when she taught school in Cape Verde in the 90s there was flat nothing. To teach math she went and picked pebbles out of the river! Gads, I need scissors and glue stick at least!
I bought some bamboo percussion instruments at a mountain craft museum in Baguio last week. So I had this big lumpy box to lug around, but as usual the other young volunteers wouldn’t let me carry anything. They hoisted the instruments and my suitcase to the restaurant and to the bus. Honestly, my fellow volunteers are sweethearts and spoil me.
