May 23, 2014
Well it has been a long time since I have blogged. Time to fire up the cpu again. Today willbe a doubleheader day. The second one will be a blog about Friday's. I have wanted to write about TGI for months, but the story kept changing, so it got delayed. I am just going to write a short blog about it and then augment as time goes on.
I still do not have full time employment here in the PHP. Getting a work visa is tough. I am working through the interview process with an international company now and will see how it goes. I am not holding my breath. In the meantime I assist Suzy with whatever and have been able to help her friend and co-worker Melissa, who has also come here for a time from Iowa. Part of my duties is going down to the taxi stand in the evening and waiting for a cab so they can get ready and not have an extra 45 minutes or hour added to their day. Usual wait is around 45 minutes although sometimes there is no wait. Thursdays, Fridays and any day it is raining are the worst.
During my time in line I have challenged myself to come up with new ways to be entertained. I listed to enough music working out, so I do not bring the Ipod, but I do have my phone. I try to stay off except to text Suzy with updates.
One day I followed a huge Palmetto bug as it crossed the road. It made it all the way across. Inexplicably, the insect decided to turn back and do another lap back (living dangerously I guess) only to get squished by a van.
Most locals are very friendly, but pretty shy. so usually no one talks to me. Last Friday, a guy of middle eastern descent I would guess, was in line ahead of me with a Filipina. She was sitting nearby on a bench. After 30 minutes of waiting, he decided to join her on the bench and did not say a word. As I finally got close... He jumped up from the bench and cut back in front of me. I said, "Oh now you are back in line?" The tiny guy said, "I was here and got tired and sat." I said, "you were out of line." He just gave me the hand and turned. There are some very rude people here in the Philippines and almost always has to do with them cutting in front in line.
Tonight was a long line. It started to move fast, then grinded to a halt. A few person lengths ahead of me, I noticed a beetle on its back, flailing its legs helplessly. It took about 10 minutes to get to it. When I did I propped him up on his feet. He then took a few steps to a curb and flipped upside down again. I helped right his ship again and as he crawled up the curb, I put my foot under so as to keep him from falling. he then got to the top! I watched as he just kind of hung out on the top step. I then moved forward a ways.
Hoping he was on his way to safety I looked back to see his location just in time to spy a lady kicking him back down the step and onto his back. He was in the helpless position again. At that time, I was too far way to help.
On a broader scale, I started to over-analyze. Should I have never helped? Should I have just stomped him? I think I did the right thing. I hope he makes it.
This last weekend marked the 6th anniversary of an event that I think about a lot. I was leaving Suzy's house on a Sunday afternoon to go home to newton. I was on 2nd Ave heading South From Ankeny to I-80 when I happened upon an accident that happened about 15 seconds prior. I essentially was the first or second to stop. I called 911 and ran to the scene. A car and pickup had collided head-on. The car was in one side of the intersection, the pickup in a ditch and it was smoking. The Pickup had destroyed a telephone pole. Another guy had stopped and met me at the pickup. We opened the door and saw an elderly man in bad shape from Mahaska county. he was all bloody and didn't look responsive. The other gentleman who stopped was an EMT in the Navy and he said he had this. He gave me directions to make sure traffic was clear around him so they did not get hit and to find first responders.
At the same time, the elderly guy stopped breathing. Mr. EMT started CPR and brought him back. I got traffic moving and in 8 minutes, the first responders from Saylor arrived. I advised of the situation and they took over and got the elderly guy to the hospital. The day was saved. The wife of the hero told me I was a hero for being in the right place and taking orders. Nice for her to say, but her husband is the hero. I never saw or heard anything on the news about this. I have no idea if the old guy passed away or is still driving a fixed up pick up all over Oskaloosa. I hope he made it. The Hero? he was from Illinois and just happened to be driving to Ankeny to visit family. Talk about right place at the right time. he deserved a medal.
So, everyone in the US, please have a safe Memorial Day Weekend. When you fire up the grill, be careful. To all my friends here, just have a great weekend.
Take care, everyone.
Chuck
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