During the 1st semester of our NSTP, different groups were assigned to different places here in Davao. After knowing where our group was assigned, the volunteers told us it’s a good place since it’s an enclosed area. We were all feeling good about it.
When we went there for the first time, we interviewed the head of the area we were assigned to. Then, she introduced us to the kids and said that we were there to teach them. I think my groupmates and I had the same thing on our minds, “WHAAAAAAT???” All we knew was that we were there to do an environmental scanning and not teach. Since we didn’t know what lessons they’ve already tackled, we asked them. We told them that the next time we meet, they should be prepared for our lessons.
The next meeting went well. We taught. They learned (I think). After about an hour, everybody was already pooped. They asked us if it was ok if we stopped and played games. They didn’t have to ask us twice! We played something that made everybody who joined, dance. They had fun. We had fun.
The last time we went there, we brought food. We also played a few games. Some, I learned from my childhood Christmas celebrations. While they were eating, one student said, “Mura lagi ni suka?! (It’s like vomit)” He still ate it. That day was very tiring.
After we reported what we did to our teacher, he told us that the information lacked a lot of things. He said that we should’ve done our environmental scanning on the whole community. So we went back there and did it. When we interviewed the mother of one of the students we taught, we had this conversation:
mother: Kamo tong niadto diri last year? Nursing kamo? (Are you the ones who went here last year? Are you nursing students?)
us: Hindi po, bakit? (No, why?)
mother: Lingaw man gud kaayo tong mga studyante last year. Daghan kaau sila games. Human katong mga nursing students kay nagadto sila diri human nghatag ug shots para sa mga bata. (The students who went here last year were so fun. They planned a lot of games. Then, the nursing students went here and gave shots to the children.)
us: *pissed and thinking: ipabalik na lang sila diri para walay problema (Let them come back here so there won’t be any problems)* Ah, mao ba?(Is that so?)
mother: Oo, karon man gud kay naglagot akong anak. Nag-ingon man to, “Naa na pud mga atenista?”
us: Ngano diay kung naa mi?
mother: Gina-hold man gud na ilang allowance pag naa mo para daghan studyante muadto.
us: *really really really pissed* Aaaah.
All we wanted from them was to thank us for what we did. We even went beyond what was required of us, and this is what we get?? RAWR!
*I need help translating!
P.S. I won’t be posting pictures because if I do, they might know I’m talking about them. We will still return to that community and implement our proposal. 
