Monthly Archives: February 2009

Movin’ in Malaysia

February 20, 2009 – 9:37 am
By Kendall Kadatz | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (0)

From the Philippines to Malaysia

After a farewell feast and karaoke on the front lawn of Northwestern University’s president, SSU’s Southeast Asia crew left Laoag City on Sunday evening for an overnight 10 hour bus ride to Manila (complete with bone chilling air conditioning, movies that randomly stopped and started, and Filipino radio that blasted our ears at 3am). Cathay Pacific then flew us through Hong Kong to Kota Kinabalu (KK), capital of the state of Sabah, in eastern Malaysia.

One night in KK was followed by an excursion in 6 mini-vans for three hours through Malaysia’s jungle landscape and over the spectacular Crocker Mountains (monkeys along the way might have previously met Katie Mott, since one of them grabbed a flower out of Karis Taylor’s hair and ate it). Our destination was a Moslem village near the town of Keningau. As we arrived, the villagers greeted us with a huge “Welcome to the Canadians” sign.

Home-stays with Moslem families

Through two nights of home-stays, the people of the village showed us generosity and friendship and introduced us to local foods and customs. The cross-cultural exposure has been multi-dimensional. In mid-30s (Celsius) weather, SSU students joined with their Moslem counterparts for soccer, tug-of-war, bamboo stilt walking and other field sports. Village elders spoke to us about their customs, traditions, agricultural economy and hopes for the future. Some SSU men were invited to the village Mosque to witness evening prayers. SSU women, with their heads covered, were permitted to sit in an anteroom of the Mosque. Following worship, all the Moslem men (about 50) came over to us and shook our hands warmly in a moving gesture of hospitality.

On the final evening many of the villagers (perhaps 400 people) gathered in our honour. The community hall was standing room only as local entertainment — musicians, dancers and a 10 piece bamboo band performed local favourites. Then the “SSU Singers” (aka: Holli and Friends) brought down the house with their cool rendition of “Oh Happy Day.” Later, Holli and Brianna sang Holli’s new song, “Healing Heart,” to much applause.

Comfort zones are being stretched

On Thursday morning we gathered in a circle and prayed a Celtic liturgy that helped place our day and ourselves into God’s hands. We also joined together in a prayer for community taken from the St. Stephen’s University Prayerbook. Next we reflected on the challenges of living and travelling together so far from our homes and families, embedded in a very different culture. Various students spoke about being outside their ‘comfort zones.’ We talked about personal struggles and frustrations and what cross-cultural learning can look like when it is up close and personal. Some spoke about how adversity is a good thing when it serves to stretch us in new ways. Others talked about the importance of being sensitive and vulnerable–to each other and to God. A student shared that she had been drawn to Ephesians 4:2-6 and read it aloud to the group–twice. It seemed to sum up our scattered reflections and cement the truth of St. Paul’s words in our hearts and minds.

So we ask friends and families to please pray Ephesians 4:2-6 over the SSU Asian pilgrims. It touches on the essence of our journey in this jungle-land, where there are spiders the size of hockey pucks! Your prayer support means everything to us.

Gregg Finley (on behalf of the SSU leaders’ team)

Adios Philippines, hello Malaysia

February 16, 2009 – 9:02 pm
By Kendall Kadatz | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (0)

Our second week in the Philippines has been full of activities based at or made possible by the efforts of North Western University NWU in Laoag City. We participated in a three-day series of lectures presented by NWU faculty. Among the lecture topics was coverage as such themes as: the history, economics, literature, and social aspects of the Philippines.

SSU students had many opportunities to engage with Filipino scholars in Q/A sessions following each lecture. These were rich exchanges. Gradually we are gaining an appreciation of the complexities and challenges of this fascinating island-country. We have been treated with great courtesy, hospitality and friendship by NWU staff, faculty and students as we engaged in conversations with our hosts in the classroom, at mealtimes, in the library and computer centre, and at other university venues.

The Mission Statement of NWU is that the university “…is committed to develop man’s full potential, empower him to attain excellence, uphold his dignity and worth as God’s creation and hence mold him to become a creative, patriotic and noble Filipino.” Our ongoing partnership between NWU and SSU holds much promise for SSU’s future visits to the Philippines.

When SSU students were not in class they were spending quality time with their home-stay families, experiencing exotic local foods like fried calamari, fried bananas, etc. and visiting sites around Laoag City.

Toward the end of the week the SSU group made a couple of day trips beyond Laoag City to visit historical and cultural attractions in the region of northern Luzon, including the Burgos National Museum, Vigan (UNESCO Site featuring Spanish colonial buildings), and St. Augustine’s Church at Paoay (UNESCO Site). On the second day we had time to splish and splash in the South China Sea on Valentine’s Day. At Pagudpud, we enjoyed a swim and lunch at one of the finest white sand beaches in the country – and yes, the water was warm and the tropical breeze was haunting.

Prayer requests:

– Thanksgiving for gracious, hospitable families in the Philippines that showed love and built relationship with our students.
– Travel mercies as we travel to and in Malaysia.
– May the hearts and minds of the Moslem villagers be open to receive us warmly, and may our students not be fearful as they enter into very new and unfamiliar Malaysian surroundings;
– May our time in Sabah be enabled by continued unity and cooperation within the SSU group, and may our “quiet times” be enlivened by prayer and mutual service to one another.
– Healthy bodies as the rigors of travel have resulted in some colds and upset stomachs.

Thanks again for your support,

Asia 2009 Team

More Photos: SSU students in the Philippines

February 12, 2009 – 9:08 am
By Matt Frise | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (1)

Some additional photos of SSU students Holli Durost and Margaret Sider having some adventures in the Philippines.

Photos courtesy of Jerico De Castro.

The Nuances of Philippine Food

February 12, 2009 – 8:42 am
By Katelyn Avery | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (0)

I am a picky eater. I have distinct likes and dislikes. However, I went into this trip with the idea that I would try something of everything wthout turning my nose up and attempting to avoid wrinkling my nose. Therefore, to this point, I have tried mussels (yum), cooked carrots (which are usually my nemesis, but I wanted to be polite ), seaweed (crunchy green pipe cleaner. It was okay. Really salty), mangoes (so yummy) and a strange dessert which reminded me of the grade school horror shows we used to put on with dyed spaghetti and peeled grapes. In short, I am not starving here and the fish is delicious (and huge. You can eat as much as you like).

At the same time, I am experiencing a growing admiration for a people I did not know until a short time ago. They are unfailingly hospitable and friendly, even those I do not know. They wave to the tall white girl on the street and the kids want to run up and say hello. My host mother gave us the best of what she had and took us to visit her friends and family, incorporating us into her family as “ates” or sisters (although the youngest didn’t buy it. We were obviously aliens). I had a good conversation with the matriarch of the family, a wise great grandmother who was proud of the fact that she was an American citizen without ever having set foot in the US. Angela and I had a blast with the boys playing in the river. Talking to these modest people is a blessing, as I find a deep love for God in many of them, and those who do not actively pursue God have respect for people of faith. I like that attitude. I like it a lot. I wish we could see that same respect more often in our considerably faster-paced and cynical Canadian society.

Sweaty in Southeast Asia

February 10, 2009 – 12:29 am
By Kendall Kadatz | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (2)

Plane- 19 hours
Bus- 15 hours
Layovers- 9 hours

After an arduous but enjoyable journey, SSU’s team of 28 students and 4 leaders arrived in Laoag, a charming little city in the north-western corner of the Philippines. Dishevelled, sleep-deprived (and possibly smelly), we triumphantly hauled our luggage into our friendly hotel to be briefly acquainted with pillows and beds. With nigh a complaint, we had reached our destination.

Before long, though, our out-of-sync bodies arose to wander the streets, tackling our newly bestowed tasks of exploring our neighbourhood, remaining hydrated, and ingesting novel cuisines. Shortly, we were delivered to Northwestern University (NWU), one of the partners in our endeavour. An elaborate Welcome Ceremony awaited us, complete with dance routines, national anthems, songs, speeches, a campus tour, and a visit to NWU’s Ecotourism Park and Botanic Garden. Excited but exhausted, we returned to our hotel and attempted to sleep off some jetlag.

The next few days gave us a chance to engage personally. NWU initiated student interaction (NWU students and ours) through a morning of music and traditional games. Coconuts were broken, basketballs were thrown, and a good time was had by all. A trip to the beach continued the conversations with our new Filipino friends and provided a break from the heat. Another evening’s rest gave way to a worship service at Church of Our Savior, which is led by Pastors Brian and May Shah, longstanding friends of SSU. Puto (a sticky rice desert) and more conversations followed before students were taken back to NWU to meet the families they would be living with for the next 7 days.

In the coming week we will have lectures about the Philippines at NWU, partake in the city’s Pamulinawen Festival, and take a couple of day excursions to nearby sites.

While waiting for updates on those activities, please continue to pray for the following:
-formation of good relationships and meaningful experiences with the students’ homestay families
-continued good health and safe travel
-a speedy recovery for one student who came down with a throat infection

Thanks so much for your prayers and support

SSU at NWU – Laoag City, the Philippines

February 9, 2009 – 10:18 am
By Matt Frise | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (0)

The St. Stephen’s University Study-Abroad team is safe and sound at Northwestern University near Laoag City in the Philippines. This is the first location among several stops for this semester’s Southeast Asian term. Here are a few photos taken at a recent mixer between St. Stephen’s University and Northwestern University students.

(Photos courtesy of Northwestern University student Jerico de Castro.)

Tracks

February 3, 2009 – 12:42 am
By Nicola Gladwell | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (2)

A friend at school loves to make lines with a snowplough; anyone coming to the university wearing only socks can recognize when someone has made tracks with wet boots inside Park Hall; and I have a niece who loves to make families of snow angels in lines. This afternoon I hope to snowshoe in the woods around Dominion Hill, the retreat centre I am at for the weekend; next Saturday, I hope to sink my toes in white sand on the North coast of the Philippines. It seems like God made us able to make tracks for a reason… looking behind at the trail I’ve made in the snow, I receive affirmation that I am here and present; I have physically made a difference to my past.

These weeks leading up to our trip to Asia, we have read a lot of books, written a lot of book reflections and reviews, and listened to a lot of lectures: I am beginning to think I know more of South East Asia’s History than Canada’s. As I read the stories of these nations over the years, I often wished I could change the path that they were heading in; I could see where the trail was leading and the events that would eventually perspire. Western Colonialists have left footsteps in SEA and can look behind them to recognize their presence and the reality of their actions. Sometimes corrupt national leaders have risen in times of upheaval, their steps only leading to tragedy.

We are about to embark on another adventure that will be leaving a trail, and I guess I’m a bit anxious about the path we’ll make and the tracks we’ll leave behind. I’m scared that I don’t have the cross cultural know-how to make good decisions, that I won’t know when to trust and when to be wary, or what parts of my character that aren’t globally appropriate and which of my many idiosyncrasies are. I feel like I will make a lot of mistakes, and I’m nervous about how many confused – or even worse: hurt or distanced - looks I’ll get! I want to learn as much of the language as possible, be risky enough to ensure that I live consciously, and love new friends freely. I want to leave behind no regrets: a trail of relationships that both reach beyond and embrace cultural differences, experiences that enrich the meaning in my life, and a stretched world view, transforming the goggles through which I interact with my experiences.

But for now… I’m going snowshoeing :) .

Are you packed yet?

February 3, 2009 – 12:40 am
By Margaret Sider | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (1)

A critical look at packing, and whether one should (or should not), be really excited and eager to pack…

Packing Pros

1. NEWNESS! You are about to do something and go somewhere! You’re leaving where you’re at, and moving onto something else.

2. Living out of a bag. It is refreshing… and easy.

3. Condensing the most important items in your life into one little space. You have to think critically about what you actually NEED and what you don’t.

4. Sometimes you get new and exciting things to take with you. This could include: cameras, plug converters, and travel sized accessories like those little shampoos. Plus, you get to oogle over all your new stuff while you pack it.

5. Packing reminds you of the unexpectedness of everything. But also how you can still prepare in the midst of it. It’s all about flexibility…

6. You get to be creative in coming up with places for random shaped objects (just like when you wrap Christmas presents).

Packing Cons

1. It takes forever to squish up your stuff really small (or roll it up if you are really pro).

2. You can never figure out when to do the laundry so that you can wear and take the same clean clothes (unless you have lots of clothes or are really good at strategizing about what to wear).

3. You have to decide what to wear before you pack so you don’t pack it.

4. Measuring bags…. And if your bag is overweight, then you get to repack! (Is that a pro or con??)

Considering all things, I have reached the conclusion -with a 6:4 split- that packing is indeed an exciting endeavor… on that note, I should probably go do some more packing myself!

Cheers, Margaret

Pre-Asia

February 3, 2009 – 12:01 am
By Daniel Thiessen | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (0)

So I’m writing this blog a little late due to publishing problems. Now we are leaving for Saint John in 2 hours and because of this I am feeling different than I was 3 days ago when I first attempted to write this. I’m not so much scared about going halfway around the world for 2 months as I’m anxious about being without the basic comforts of home that I’ve come to love so much. Sure there are always concerns when traveling to new places about security etc. but that doesn’t really bother me. Many other SSU groups have gone on the same, or similar, trips and all come out alright, why should ours be any different? Not having internet regularly, not having food I like… these are things that actually concern me, who cares about illegal activities if you can’t get good food.

Over the last few weeks we have been bombarded with information on how to be culturally sensitive, making it seem as if any slip up with offend our hosts or even insult them. All this kind of thinking will do is make me so concerned with doing the right thing culturally I’ll completely forget about the rest of the trip. Of course I will make an effort to be polite in the eyes of my host, but I will also acknowledge my limitations.

Now its time to do some last minute packing before we leave, my favorite part of leaving. You go through a list of things you need, but no matter what you do, you will forget half of what you need. Oh well.

Ready to go

February 2, 2009 – 5:32 pm
By Lucas Walters | Posted in SE Asia 2009 Comments (1)

The idea of going half way around the world, the experience of meeting new people and living out of a duffel bag is a reality that I will soon be embracing. Going to Southeast Asia is going to be an experience of a lifetime. This will be the first time that I will have ever been out of North America. I am told that going to places such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand is an experience that will cause one to grow. I enjoy the idea of a challenge and that is what this trip will be, but overcoming adversity causes one to grow and become a better person in the process. Therefore, I am looking forward to this grand adventure that I will be going on in less then a week. It will be mango season when we arrive there and I am looking forward to eating lots of fresh fruit as well as being able to go to a market, interacting with different people and experiencing it all is going to be awesome. It has been a very intense month that has passed by extremely quickly. Classes are all over now and the packing process has begun, which means that I have to make sure that I have everything ready to go. Getting out of that Canadian perspective and being open to foreign cultures is something that I am really looking forward to. It is going to be awesome.