Is it possible to be cold when it's 84 degrees outside?

Well the answer to that question is yes. Our first couple nights it couldn't have been any hotter but now that were acclimated 84 isn't as warm as it sounds. Our training site is located on the Bay of Manila which makes it ocean side but there is a little pollution problem so we haven't been swimming. Our host family consists of Alfonso the father of the family (a former commercial seaman), his wife Delia, his son Freddie, Freddie's wife Donna, and their son Gian. However their is extended family and friends always around. They have two houses one that the parents stay in and we split the other one with their son, wife and kid. Both of the houses are very nice and we are very lucky to be placed here. We've been training for the last week. We have language lessons 5 times a week, and job training 3 days a week. Were learning a little tagalog so we can make small talk. Our community is small probably about 1500 people but it's very condensed. The whole community probably is contained in about three acres. We like that it is a small community because there is little need for introductions. So each day we attend class, study, and explore the community. The food has been great we eat mangoes everyday. We also have eaten fried eggs, hot dogs, liver pate, pancakes with shredded coconut (all breakfast food). For our other meals we eat rice, fish, crab, pineapple, soup, beef, pork, chicken and so on. Our host father has an extra lot with mango trees, bannana trees, a jackfruit tree, custard apple, chile pepper plants and a rooster training to be in a cock fight. I got to harvest some of the mangoes. You have to use a 15 foot bamboo pole with a net on the end. Life in our community is slow and laid back which is much different than were use to. The surrounding area is undeveloped farm land that has numerous swaying palm trees and mountains in the distance. Last Sunday we went to a birthday party and it was incredible. The party was for a 2 year old and had probably 80 guests. There was enough food to feed 200 and we ate three meals in about 5 hours. The had tons of games for the kids and it was impressive. Definitely the biggest birthday I've ever seen. Today we hiked Mt. Samat which has a WWII monument on the top. The hike itself was easy (a paved road) but we got some great views. We got to see the South China Sea and the whole area. We have some incredible pictures of it and will post them in the near future when we have time. On our way home our transportation got a flat tire so we were standing on the side of the road and the next thing we knew there were about a dozen kids around us. They were swimming in the stream next to the road. Lauren, Emily, and Rebeka jumped in to cool off and it was a great unexpected surprise. Oh yeah Lauren, Emily, and Jon are our Peace Corps training companions and we have pictures of them too. Were lucky to have such a great group of people to train with. Next week for my job training I'm going to the South China Sea to due mangrove and sea grass assessments and the following week I'm snorkeling for coral assessments. Our hour of internet time is up so until next week......
(PS there is so much more to say than I can write)
(PSS the last week has been incredible)