24 Hours Later

So now that I've been over here for about 24 hours what do I think? A few thoughts based on initial impressions.

I wouldn't say I'm experiencing culture shock, it's too Westernized over here. There is however a culture-clash that exists. A modern Westernized society is blended in some kind of harmonious balance with appears at times to be third-world. That being said, the people here are amazing. I was enjoying a walk yesterday and a police officer stopped and asked if I needed help or was looking for anything in particular. Than he began offering suggestions on places to go. You'd NEVER find that in the States.

Driving here is ... pretty much exactly as I'd been warned. The lanes are more suggestions than hard and fast rules, it's pretty much like nascar out there. And they take their security very serious. Every store I've been in, I've been greeted by a police officer who's run a wand over me looking for WMDs. And every time we drive into the parking garage at the work they pop the trunk to look inside and check under the car with a mirror for explosive devices.

Manila is a beautiful city


But there are places and times when that beauty gives way


to reminders of the culture-clash that surrounds you.