This week was the first time I had a chance to catch my breath.  Since school has started, the church has been a little bit quieter.  There were several days though that classes were cancelled due to heavy rain (because the streets flood easily).  I went to Bible study on Wednesday night and TGIF at McDonald's on Friday, as usual.  I especially enjoyed TGIF this week.  It seems like the pastor used English more, but maybe that is because I was sitting up front instead of the back. It is always fun to see my friends that I have made, and I am always meeting new people at these functions.  

I had a "celebrity moment" at McDonald's . . . I was standing up, talking to a table of guys from church when I looked to my left at saw some people taking my picture!  I'm an oddity-it's true.  I have seen no other blondes in the 2 1/2 weeks since I've been here.  I think I get called "Barbie" every other day.  Like last night when I went to get my hair cut.  The hairdresser spent so much time on my hair, I think he was playing with it.  His friend (quite flamboyant, I might add) told me that he would like to have hair just like mine, but I don't think that would be flattering on him!  So anyway, before I got my hair cut, I had dance practice.  I'm enjoying it so much, and it's good to have a least one form of exercise while I'm here.  We started at 3:45 and didn't finish until 7:15, so I was pretty tired by the end.  I hope we can perform what we've been practicing.  I'm looking forward to next week, because the instructor is going to teach us some Filipino folk dances.  We were supposed to do a jazz routine yesterday, but the instructor couldn't make it.  Hopefully we can do that at some point. I was planning to make a house-visit to the mother's home of one of the boys, but since it was flooding yesterday, we couldn't make it.  The boy was disappointed, because he can't see his mom often.  He was also disappointed because he was excited for me to see his home, which is outside of Manila.  I think we'll plan to go another day though.  

I'm doing a lot more traveling than I thought I would.  I've been invited to go to the beach when it's sunny.  I also might go outside of Manila to visit the hometown of one of the young guys from SBCC.  I've also been told by several youth that they want to take me to Baguio, which is a resort city that the rich people go for relaxation.  Sounds good to me.  

This weekend, I have been really focused on analyzing the boys' files that the social worker gave me.  After spending so much time with the boys (I've been told that I'm now one of the boys), it was a stark reminder of why I am here.  These boys, who are so cheerful and funny and kind, have had very hard pasts, and I know that they have to deal with their baggage every day.  I am so blessed to know them though.  I love watching them interact with each other-they pester and tease each other like brothers.  And they are so sweet to me.  They treat me like a lady, and I feel very comfortable with them.  Ah, I am loving my internship!