Bound for South Africa

May 14, 2010

This is it, the departure. The team met around 11 AM at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

Armed with very heavy bags and heavy heart filled with anticipation of what lies ahead as well as a little sadness for the people we will miss for a month back home, we pushed our way inside the airport.

Departure time was 2 PM.

 

After 4 hours of travel from Manila, we arrived in Singapore for a short stopover.

Then we were off for the long haul. Ten hours of flying time. Good thing the food and entertainment of Singapore Airlines were just so awesome. 

 

And then we were in South Africa.

Last Meeting before Flying to South Africa

May 7, 2010

This was the last meeting before the team flew to South Africa. We had it at Tita Ana's house in San Lorenzo Village, Makati.

We had our last minute reminders, last dance practice.

South Africa, bring it on! :)

Btw, we will never forget the mango ice cream cake... Thanks Tita Ana! :)

Meeting with GSE South Africa Inbound Team

April 30, 2010

The team met the GSE South Africa Inbound Team. Fresh from the plane, with only a few hours here in the Philippines, they were so nice and game to share to us their experiences from the preparation to their landing. They also gave us tips on what to expect and what to prepare when we go to South Africa.

Yay! I love.

(l-r) Ambassador Tom Wheeler, me, Vera Naidoo, Bea, Wendy Harbottle, Gov. Chit, Doc, Lynne, Paul and Marc Van Heerden

Application for Visa

April 7, 2010

The team had an appointment with the South African Ambassador to the Philippines for our visa application.

Ambassador Vermeulen and Sylvia Matona entertained us. We can already feel the excitement of the upcoming trip.

with Ambassador Vermeulen and Sylvia Matona

Weeee... :)

Rotary District Conference

March 12-14, 2010

The GSE Team was off to CWC, Bicol to attend the Rotary District Conference. We were to be presented to the Rotarians in the district and to perform the Carinosa dance we practiced earlier on. This also served as the first official bonding experience of the group. 

Inside the sleeping bus on our way to Bicol.

The dance practice

Goofing around

Tring to accomplish other stuff like ordering shirts

and ordering jackets and blazers

Ang nasirang si Mrs. Asiado

with the other outgoing team (team Japan)

Meeting the GSE Japan Team

And of course... when in CWC...

let's do wakeboarding... :)

Fourth Meeting

February 28, 2010

After a cancelled meeting last February 6, 2010 because Aldwin had an important thing to do that time, the team met again for a Filipiniana dance practice. Venue was Paul's place in San Pedro.

We were able to somehow produce a Carinosa-like dance steps. Too bad there were no pictures to prove the event.

Third Meeting

January 31, 2010

The team met at Sta Cruz. Ang layo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good thing Bea prepared lunch. The inihaw na liempo readily compensated for it.

The hearty lunch

The to-die-for liempo

With our Filipiniana in tow, we had our pictorial in one of the studios in the area. The picture will be used for the postcard and brochure we will need in South Africa.

The Filipinana pictorial

Afterwards, we continued to Lumban to search for the Filipiniana terno costume we will use for our dance presentation. Yay!

The search for the dance costume

Second Meeting

January 12, 2010

(from l-r) me, Gov. Darwin, Doc Lynne, Aldwin, Jett (Aldwin's wife)

(from l-r) Doc Lynne, Aldwin, Jett, Paul and Jhea  *Bea took the photos

The team had our second meeting. The time was around 6 in the evening. We had dinner first in a Chinese Restaurant and then continued the discussion at Dusit Thani Hotel.

Gov. Darwin was with us giving advices on what to expect and prepare for the trip. We were also getting to know more our teammates.

First Meeting

November 27, 2009

(from l-r) Bea Agarao, me, Lynne Lucena, Jhea Solis and Aldwin Baltazar

This was the first meeting of the team after the selection. Location was Dusit Thani Hotel. Time was around 10 in the morning.

We don't know each other yet so we were still polite and courteous to each other. Brief introductions about ourselves were done and then we leveled off expectations for the upcoming exchange program.


P.S.
Paul was absent in the picture for he was currently in Baguio that time attending a hearing.

The GSE Selection

October 24, 2009

Sorry guys... This was my only picture of the selection. Hindi pa tayo friends that time. Haha.. :)

It was the final selection of Rotary's Group Study Exchange Team. We found ourselves very early in the morning seated inside the library of Enverga University waiting for our names to be called and have our turn on that nerve-wracking interview.

We knew this interview can change our lives.

After much anticipation, nervousness and anxiety, names were announced around 5 in the afternoon.


Leslee Natividad
Paul Gideon Ilagan
Bea Agarao
Aldwin Roy Baltazar
Jhea Solis (alternate)

and

Lynne Lourdes Lucena



You are all going to South Africa on May 15 to June 16, 2010!!!


Hurray to us!!!