Halli hallo, ich wuensch euch allen einen braven Nikolaus (oder Krampus, hehe....) Wart ihr auch alle brav?
Naja, heuer mein erster Nikolaustag im Ausland, am meisten vermiss ich ja die Berchtln, Gluehwein und ganz viel schwarze Farbe im Gesicht... Und unser kindisches Gekreische wenn eine Glocke naeher kommt, gell Kati und Eva?!
Ich hab heute in der Adoption schon einen kleinen Nikolaus gebastelt, der ist total lieb geworden... und Teresa und ich wollen uns morgen Mandarinen und Nuesse kaufen und unsere eigene kleine Nikolausfeier machen, denn den Nikolaus kennen die wenigsten hier, leider.
Die letzten Tage waren schon wieder spektakulaer ( =
Am Samstag haben wir mit 15 Kindern vom Bukas Palad die International School of Manila besucht. Dort werden unsere Kinder hier 1 - 2 Mal im Monat eingeladen um dort zu spielen, zu schwimmen (riesiges Sportbecken), Theater anzuschauen etc. Sie kriegen dort immer auch eine kleine Jause, echt super dass die International School Bukas Palad unterstuetzt. In der IS sind natuerlich nur die reichen Kinder, meistens die von irgendwelchen Geschaeftsmaennern oder Politikern usw. Sie haben mir auch erklaert, dass fast alle Abgaenger der IS nach Amerika, Grossbritannien oder Australien studieren gehen. Naja, wer hat der kann. Endlich haben wir auch wieder mal perfektes american English gehoert, sehr entspannend nach dem verkorksten filipino Englisch, dass das Wort Grammatik nicht kennt.
Am Sonntag haben Teresa und ich dann das BASEBALL Finale der Sea Games gesehen - Thailand gegen Philippinen. WOW!!! Das war so super, 10.000 Leute im Stadion, super Stimmung und die Philippinen haben Thailand glorreich weggeputzt. Was fuer eine Stimmung - im Stadion waren ja schliesslich mind. 9.999 Philippiner ( =
Und zum Anfeuern gabs den Vogeltanz - man stelle sich 10.000 Philippiner beim Vogeltanz vor (na na na na nanana), wie beim Kinderfasching!!! Zum Schiessen!
Dank meiner Baseballlehrmeisterin Christiane R. hab ich Teresa perfekt die Regeln erklaeren koennen und weiss natuerlich was ein Pitcher, Catcher, ein Inning, ein Strike, das Outfield oder ein Low Ball sind! *stolzbin*
Es war auch total spannend und Teresa und ich haben natuerlich auf Seiten der Philippiner gekaempft und kraeftig angefeuert - bei so vielen feschen jungen Sportlern in Action hatten wir natuerlich unseren Spass! ( =
Und gestern am Abend haben wir noch fuer die Gen Kasspazl gekocht.. hihi. Aber es hat ihnen geschmeckt, auch wenn ein paar Reis dazu gegessen haben ...
ohne Reis geht nix!
Diese Woche arbeite ich nochmal in der Adoption at a Distance mit den Kindern. Die ganze Woche sind Christmas Parties, heute hatten wir die Kinder von Grade 2 und 3.
Lieder, Taenze, Jause und Geschenke. Die Kinder haben sich total gefreut ueber die Geschenke, die die Adoption Eltern sponsern und dann hier in Manila gekauft werden. (zB. fuer die Maedls ein Duschbad, Teddyseife und Schwaemmchen, fuer die Jungs ein Schachspiel)
Am Freitag ist dann die Weihnachtsfeier in Tambo, im anderen Bukas Palad, da werden wir dann hinfahren.
Und sonst? Die Zeit vergeht so schnell hier, gestern hab ich den ganzen Abend damit verbracht meine Waesche zu waschen (inkl. Bettzeug) UFF!! natuerlich alles mit der Hand und Buerste geschrubbt, Wasser im Reiskocher erhitzt... man glaubt es nicht wie anstrengend Handwaesche ist. Und dann noch Berge von Geschirr gespuelt, es lebe der Geschirrspueler und die Waschmaschine! Kleiner Tip> probiert mal eine Woche Handwaesche (und dann noch vielleicht fuer eine 12 koepfige Familie) und ihr wisst unseren Luxus wieder zu schaetzen! Auch sollte man den Luxus geniessen nicht unter einem Moskitonetz schlafen zu muessen aus Angst vor Malaria, Dengue oder Kakerlaken. Weiters nicht zu verachten ist der Luxus eines Wasserklosetts, das denk ich mir jedes Mal wenn ich in der Adoption aufs Klo gehe und noch ein froehliches braunes Wuerstchen von dem Kind das vor mir auf dem Klo war herumschwimmt, weil es gar nicht so einfach ist soviel Wasser zu schuetten dass ordentlich gespuelt ist... jaja. Sonst?
Tragische Geschichten gibt es viel zu viele. Gestern war ein Maechen in der Adoption deren Mama an Krebs gestorben ist, der Vater ist Alkoholiker und arbeitslos, sie hat aber noch 10 Geschwister. Zur Schule gehen kann sie auch nicht mehr, denn das Schulgeld das sie von Bukas Palad kriegt nimmt der Vater um sie ueberhaupt zu ernaehren.
Viele Kinder sind auch extrem unterernaehrt. Wenn man sie so sieht faellt einem das vielleicht gar nicht so auf. Aber wenn man dann gesagt kriegt, dass das Maedchen 12 ist, aber auschaut wie 6 realisiert man wie zurueckgeblieben manche Kinder sind. Nur wenn man jetzt so wie ich zuerst, denkt, naja, wenn sie jetzt zB in der International School ein Essen kriegen ist ihnen schon sehr geholfen. Nur schockierend war, dass viele Kinder das Essen fast unberuehrt stehen gelassen haben, weil sie es gar nicht gewoehnt sind zu essen und so wie Magersuechtige gar nicht mehr normal essen koennen.

Theresa und ich planen uebrigens einen Trip!!! Und zwar wollen wir doch nur eine Woche in Tagaytay bleiben und dann 2 Wochen auf die Trauminsel Palawan.



Also wenns klappt, dann Silvester mit einem Cocktail am Strand!! Jippieh!!!
Wir schauen uns jetzt schon nach Fluegen um. Die Insel ist echt ein Traum, von super Straenden, Jungel, Unterwasserfluss, Riffen, Nationalpark mit afrikanischen Tieren hat sie alles zu bieten. Und die Fokolare kennen dort auch einige Leute, also fuer den Notfall ist gesorgt.



Wir freun uns schon total. Stecken also jetzt mitten in der Planung.
Gestern hab ich das erste Mal in meinem Reisetagebuch vermerkt: "Mittlerweile gefaellt es mir so gut hier, dass ich mir auch vorstellen koennte bis Juli hier zu bleiben... Die Philippinen sind ein Traum, es gibt so viele tolle Inseln zu erkunden..." etc.
Also ihr seht, ich fuehl mich sehr wohl hier, obwohl ich auch sagen muss, dass das natuerlich auch und vorallem an Teresa liegt, weil ich mit ihr so viel unternehmen kann.
Bukas Palad ist auch so interessant, ich haette nie gedacht dass es so gross und vielfaeltig ist. Ich freu mich natuerlich schon besonders wenn ich dann im Early Learning Center anfangen darf (Kinder von 2 - 6 werden im Bukas Palad unterrichtet bzw. wie ein Kindergarten). Dort werd ich dann auch wahrscheinlich bis Maerz bleiben.
Also ihr Lieben, ich meld mich bald wieder, gerade in dem Moment wuerd ich mich gern fuer 2-3 Stunden zu euch beamen lassen, um die Krampal zu sehen und einen guten Punsch mit euch zu trinken.
Frohen Nikokaus, oder wie man da sagt, ich denk an euch und vermisse euch alle sehr!
1000 Kuesse Stephanie

Hello again,
I would love to get some Christmas Cards or Letters from you!!
Here is my mailing address:

Stephanie Hoefle
Bukas Palad
1862 Tramo Street
Cor. Buendia Avenue
Pasay City
13300 Philippines

Would be so nice to get some post!
Actually I will spend my Christmas in Tagaytay, which is a beautiful town 2 hours from Manila and near the town is a huge lake with a volcano! Beautiful!



I will go there from 22 December to 3 January! So I will spend Christmas & New Year's Day there. In Tagaytay they have also a Bukas Palad with a school and other projects and there are a lot of young volunteers there.
I'm looking forward to it!
How are things going in Austria? Can't wait for some exciting stories...
Love Stephanie

Hello everybody!
Here you can see "beautiful" Manila - enjoy the smog, the slums, the cockroaches ... ( =



The next days I will try to insert my own pictures, so be excited! I just finished my working day, today I worked from 8.30 - 17.00. I painted the whole day Christmas Cards! Wow, you wouldn't believe how tiring this is...
At the moment I change between all the programs, for example this week I'm working in the Adoption School Program. The Adoption Program is great, it gives the possibility to over 800 children to go to school. They are sponsored mostly by European or American or Asian families. This "adoption parents" pay about 300 Dollar a year for one child, so they can buy a school uniform, books and are able to pay the fees for a public school.
So now we are making Christmas Cards for all the families who sponsor our children to thank them.
Bukas Palad is really an amazing project, they do so much to enhance the situation of the people here, especially for the children to give them the possibility to go to school so that they have the chance for a better life.
Everybody in Bukas Palad is so nice, the people are really happy with what they have, they are smiling a lot and I never heard them moaning about their situation. They are really brave.
Today we sang Christmas Songs all together which was great fun. I've already tried a lot of different philippine food and you will be surprised but it's good! ( =
A lot of rice so. Filipinos have rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner...
Here is another picture for you, from the slums...
It's exactly looking like this.



The last weekend Theresa and I did sightseeing!!
We visited Rizal Park, the opening of the Southeast Asian Sea Games (Olympics) which was like a festival with concerts and lots of young people - cool!!
And on Sunday we've been at Intramourus - the old spanish rich part of the city...
And next week we want to go to China Town, so it's not boring here, and we always have something to do!
I have to go now, it's getting dark and dangerous ( =
Ok, my best wishes here from Manila,
Stephanie

Hi ihr Lieben!
Habs wieder mal geschafft ins Internet zu kommen...
Ach, seufz, Englisch ist ja sooooooo anstrengend zu tippen, aber let's try. (in Ruecksichtnahme auf meine international guests...) I'm now here in Manila for almost 2 weeks and it's still exciting, difficult, funny, hot... The last days I was ill again, because of the heat you sweat so much and the air condition is so freezing that you get a cold so easily. But thanks of Lemocin and 1 day in bed I managed to be fine again.
Well, there's a lot happening here. The last days I worked in the Human Resources Department of Bukas Palad and in the Center for Life. The Human Resources help especially young people to get a job and they have the so called "School of Life" which is a seminar for young people about all sorts of topics such as Family Planning, Politics, Time Management and Business Skills, Healthy Food, Community Work etc. A great problem in the Philippines are the 5 months contracts for employees which have to look for a new job every 5 months which is rather difficult for them and so they can hardly support their families.
The family is everything for the Filipinos, most families have between 6 to 12 children.
In the Center for Life they do also home visitations in the "slums", they try to inform families about good treatment for children, the natural system of contraception, family planning etc. it's intersting, but for me as a european the attitudes of the Filipinos, especially in Bukas Palad are very different. Abortion, condoms, the pill and every other method of contraception is a sin (Suende!), because it's killing. You shall not kill!
So we visited families in the neighbourhood and it was ... hm... heavy, shocking. Families of up to 12 people live in a small cellar whole without windows, without a bathroom, without beds.
The smell is the worst - you smell a mixture of excrements, garbage, smog, dirt .. it's disgusting. Seeing ill children, so poor that they haven't got something to eat every day. They can't pay for school, a doctor...
To be honest after this walk I was nearly vomiting, but I could control my self. I really don't want to now how the poorest area in Manila is, Tondo - where the garbage people live.
Ok, so this weekend I told you that Theresa and I wanted to come with Feli to the countryside, 4 hours from Manila. Today we wanted to start, but we couldn't because yesterday they said in the News that there where attacks of govermental rebells in the neighbourtown of Felis town.
Well, we were quite disappointed, but it's just too dangerous.
So we stay the weekend in Manila, and now Theresa and I will go to eat Halo Halo (yummi) - a desert.
I write soon and will also answer to the emails, I have a lot of time this weekend.
DENISE!!! so glad to hear from you - would you give me your email address or just write me> stephaniehoefle@hotmail.com ( =
So keep smiling you all, I would love to go skiing with you!!!
Love Stephanie

Hello you all, my first lines from Manila.... wow, I finally managed to get to the Internet!
There are so many things to tell you, but I really don't know where to start... Firstly don't worry anymore, I arrived fine and safe. The flight was quite exhausting, 11 hours to Bangkok, then another 4 hours to Manila. I had some problems with my ears - because they did hurt while landing because, typically me, I got ill 2 days before starting my trip. But now I'm fine again, just because of the good medicine I have with me (DANKE MAMI!!). Getting out of the airport I felt like in the Tropical Palmhouse of Vienna. Really hot and humid. Well, after panicking 5 minutes, because I was afraid they forgot to pick me up, a little philippine woman came to me and asked: are you Stephanie from Austria? and I was like: juhu!!
Then we went to Bukas Palad with a VW Bus, but we sat in the back of the bus - like prisoners cars. The traffic in Manila is HORRIBLE! There are streets which have about 10 lines - try to imagine, cars, trycicles (motorbiketaxis), people, bikes, pedlups (biketaxis) and the famous Jeepneys (old american bustaxis)!!!
Chaos! Well, then we arrived and I we went to my small "house" - (keine Illusionen vom Traumhaus bitte ( ; )
The first thing that welcomed me were lots and lots of little kids running around me and saying "hello" and mabuhay (welcome) to the Philippines - really sweet. The next thing was a big beatle in my kitchen and a lizzard (Echse) in my bathroom. Yuck.
My house has 2 floors. Downstairs the kitchen with fridge (jiphie!) and a couch and a table to eat. and upstairs - very steep stairs (wie in der Almhuette ( = ) my bed and a little "bathroom" / bathroom is a watertab and a small WC(Wasserhahn wie fuer den Gartenschlauchauf Kniehoehe und eine kleine Kloschuessel ohne Deckel, Rand zum Sitzen oder Spuelung.)
You have a shower with a bucket and a pan (Eimer und ein Schoepfloeffel) and the WC works also with the bucket and the pan - you have to put water in the WC that it dissapears, and for the toilett paper you have a basket... Yummi.
Anyway, my moskitonet saved my life (THANKS MAMI) - because two days ago I had a cockroach attack (KAKERLAKEN ATTACKE!!! IGITT) It was soooooooooo horrible, Kakerlaken everywhere - no, ok, there were 5! But they are BIG! And disgusting - ihhhhhhhh, i killed all of them (hehe ( = ) with my insect spray and a shoe.
So at the moment they don't come back - they are afraid (grrrrrrr...). But Feli told me I should expect mice, rats, spiders (already saw some), lizzards and a lot of cockroachs. Well, that keeps life exciting! ( =
On the next day we went to Bukas Palad and I saw the Clinic, the Health and Feed Programme, the Adoption School, the Production (where they produce things like e.g. postcards to sell them on a Bazaar) I will work in every project for maybe one week and then they decide where I will stay finally.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Gerade hat mir das schei**** Internet alles geloescht, jetzt ist die Haelfte von meinem Text weg.
Ok, there is also a german girl here, Theresa, and she's very nice. We can talk about all our european problems and do a lot of things together. We were at the bay of Manila, today we went jogging at 6.30 in the morning, we went to the shopping center (the mass here is in the shopping center every hour) and in the afternoon we will watch a film with the other Gens. (Gen are the young people of the Focolare Movement)
So, we did a lot of things this week, I saw a lot of new things. Feli (about 45 years old,one of my neighbours, she works in the clinic) is really nice and we always eat together and watch TV in her house. (also german news!)
Everything is new, everything is different, one week passed really fast. Next weekend Theresa and I will go with Feli to her home for the weekend (she lives 3 hours form Manila in the countryside) and on Christmas Theresa and I will go to Tagaytay for 2 weeks - it is beautiful there, a lake, a Vulcan, lots of nature, and there is also a Bukas Palad and lots of young volunteers there. So Christmas will be really nice I think (also because Theresa comes too), so don't worry Mama und Papi.... ( =
I miss you all already, but I'm really happy here, and although somethimes it"s difficult here, I know it's the right thing to do and I'm happy. Theresa also travelled 3 weeks through Thailand so she will give me some advise...
The children are great here, very open and every evening there sit 15 or more children in my kitchen and talk with me or learn me some words in Tagalog (it's soooooooo difficult!!)
The people here are amazing, so happy with so little they have. But the poverty is impressive. You really have to see it. And everything is so cheap here. For example for good pair of shoes you pay 400 pesos, 6 or 7 euros. Or for a meal you pay 1 or 2 euros. The food is good here, they cook often for me, but they eat too much rice, so now I eat oat meal (Haferflocken) for breakfast and lunch.
As a European you're so special here, everybody looks at you and says: hello mam, how are you mam, you are so beautiful mam, you look like an angel mam... alles schon gehoert.
philippinos love white skin, the european face and blue or green eyes...
So don't worry about me, I'm fine here, (except the fights with the Kakerlaken), I will write again as soon as possible.
I can't tell you everything in one story, there are so many new things here... the smog in Manila is terrible, NO fresh air at all! It's stinkin everywhere, yuck. The traffic is terrible too!
I thank you all so much for your support the last weeks, without it I couldn't have made it. And sorry for all my tears (Mama, Papa, Kati, Flo....), but I was really sad to leave you all. ) =
I have such a great family, such great friends, I don't know what I would do without you - thank you for everything, you all gave me the courage and energy to do this and realise my dreams! I love you all so much!
Hope to hear from you all soon, all my love and thoughts
Stephanie

Hello everybody, I'm on my way to the airport - keep your fingers crossed for me! kisses Stephanie

New Humanity und Action for a United World

Die Fokolar-Bewegung ist bei der UNO mit zwei NGO's ("Nichtregierungsorganisationen") vertreten: Die Neue Gesellschaft ("New Humanity") - mit beratendem Status (Kategorie 2) bei der ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) - und die A.U.W. ("Action for a United World"). Beide unterstützen Projekte für sozio-kulturelle Entwicklungen und arbeiten mit anderen Organisationen für unterentwickelte Länder zusammen. Über 100 Mikro-Projekte in Lateinamerika, Afrika, Asien und Osteuropa werden begleitet, die größten Projekte laufen in Argentinien, Brasilien, Kamerun, Guatemala, in der Elfenbeinküste und den Philippinen. 750 Kurzzeitprojekte wurden erfolgreich abgeschlossen.



Beispiel Bukas Palad, Manila, Philippinen:

"Mit offenen Händen", so die Übersetzung von "Bukas Palad", ist der Name eines Sozialzentrums, das Angehörige der Fokolar-Bewegung 1984 in einem Armenviertel von Manila gegründet haben. Ihr Engagement kommt 3500 Familien zugute, die zum großen Teil ohne festes Einkommen sind und in schwierigen sozialen und hygienischen Verhältnissen leben. Das Sozialzentrum bietet ärztliche Betreuung, Rechtsberatung und Kurse für Eltern. Außerdem gehören zwei Kindergärten mit 300 Plätzen und eine Schreinerei zu "Bukas Palad".

The secret of freedom is courage!
Why would a 20 year old girl go all alone on a worldtrip for about 10 months? Believe me, there are many people asking right this question... And maybe you too want to know my intentions why I'm doing this trip?
Well, actually there are a lot of reasons. Obviously the most important reason is my heart whispering to me all the time: "let´s pack our stuff and go to discover the world! So many beautiful countries, so many different people and cultures, so many places to see..."
I'm so much looking forward to this trip, I'm all excited and nervous, but it's an amazing feeling. I'm going to live my dreams, and I'd like to encourage everybody to do the same!
The secret of freedom is courage... so just do it!
Although there are enough people who tell you they would never do it, or it's far too dangerous, it's never going to work etc. Be optimistic! ( =



MY TRIP:
I will start on the 14 of November, flying to Bangkok (Thailand)... There I will spend about 2 weeks and then take a direct flight to the Philippines. On the Philippines I'm going to work in a social project called "Bukas Palad". Bukas Palad Foundation with its motto: "Freely we receive, freely we give", is a non-government organization founded to respond to the social problems besetting the Philippines.
I'm going to work in the Bukas Palad in Manila, the capital, and also in Tagaytay, a more rural area. Mainly I'm going to help in the play school and school for children in the slums. In April I´ll travel 1 month Thailand, then Australia is waiting for me.... After that I'd like to discover beautiful New Zealand. And last but not least I visit Christiane in Mexico!

For your information: Back again I'll estimated be at the end of july. So I´m looking forward to hearing from you all during my trip, you can visit my homepage and write me emails! ( =
Carpe diem and lots of kisses
Stephanie