Security: A Separate World

 Today we had the pleasure of visiting the St. Paul College, Pasig High School in Manila and the American Embassy.  You would expect the security to be very tight at the American Embassy, but it was shocking to see the guards with automatic guns ready to search our cars at the entrance of the high school.  Yes, I guess I should not be surprised because there are guards at our hotel searching our bags as we enter but at a private girls high school?  Security is just part of the background scenery of living in Manila.

 The highlight of my day was speaking with two high school students and meeting the United States ambassador, what an honor.   As tensions rise between the Philippines, Japan and China, the world's attention is focusing more and more on the Philippines.    I felt very privileged to have had the opportunity to speak directly with the ambassador and to ask him questions.

 On a completely different note, I am about done with buffets.....

Shoutout to Stacia:  there are 17 regions in the Philippines.

Shoutout to to Tessa, Leah P., Gabby, Leah M., Theodore, Kai, Kailey, and Tucker: one dollar equals 44.25 pesos ...... The food is reasonably priced but everything else is expensive