Now, as there was some question last night about my true nationality (Australian or English) I decided there were few better ways to set things straight than to set off bright and early for a game of badminton at 7am. This turned out to be marvellous fun, at least one of the Filipino players there had been playing badminton for a while which gave me a healthy challenge. Back to the dorm where some people were still sleeping and I had my second dip shower (the only time I don’t feel the humidity at all).

I had a bit of time to kill so before I set off again for the college so I sat around the table playing cards (Dutch blitz apparently, non-gambling) with 1 pastor and 2 pastors in training. Overall I came second. And the pastor came first. Make of that what you will.

Exiting the pastors dorm/card den, it was time for my piano lesson, at last I can get some formal advice about why my fingering is all wrong and how to make myself look semi-professional when playing my Irish piece.

Lunch was some digestive biscuits along with the cheapest cheese known to mankind. It was sliced, in a packet, and truly “a food like substance”. I will eat most Filipino things instead of the western replacement but cheese isn’t one of them.

Snoozed yet again. An Englishman surely but a sleepy one.

I packed up from dorm, Christmas break here now. I caught a tricycle back to the B’s, but this was one of the crazier ones…. He did a 360 in the middle of a 4 way intersection and the guy we nearly ran over banged on the carriage with his fist. That’s never happened before.

As I was recovering from the shock I sat in the carriage thinking… I can never seem to sit still in this country, I wonder why that is? It’s lovely to see so many new places but goodness me it really takes it out of you.

At home I Skyped my parents and grandparents for a while. My little sister smugly waving around a can of J2O, my one true love from the U.K (it’s a soft drink that’s only sold there).

Another movie night. A fantastic Christmas special set in the 1930s called Miracle on 34th street, about the real Santa Claus working in a department store. Hilarious. Worth watching to all who want a Christmas chuckle.

Headed off via tricycle to a prayer meeting at the college and then went out for some ice cream afterwards. I also realised after glancing at a mirror that a haircut is definitely in order, I consulted my two fashion advisers (Master B and Miss B) on what to do. That was about the extent of my evening. The verdict remains open but I wonder if there’s a really distinct Filipino styles should try… I’ll keep you posted 😉