I miss my life in Davao!
I miss my life in Davao! It was four years ago when I left Iloilo to teach as Lecturer at UP Mindanaor. It was not my first time to be away from home. I had a job in Bohol in 2001 which required me to be away from home. In college, I attended summer class at UP Diliman; I also took a short course for three months at the Institute of Women’s Studies, St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, in 1999.
I resided in Davao for a period of four years. I went to Davao on June 2002 and returned to Iloilo on October 2006. In the four years that I lived in Davao, I had experiences which helped me mature as a person. The first months was not really trying. My spirit of adventure was up and Davao was an exciting journey. I could even say the first few months was pure bliss.
I enjoyed the anonymity and the solitude. I had my own place. It was not much but it provided for what I needed. I had a job. It did not pay much but it sufficed to pay for the bills. Although, initially I had to adjust to the tight budget and my financial priorities took a drastic change.
The adjustment was not so difficult because I was with friends whom I consider as soul companions. I also had a refuge in the formation house of a Catholic mission. I was renting a room and a first cousin is one of the tenants of the building. I felt safe and secure surrounded by blood kins and friends.
In UP, the adjustment was not difficult either. I taught a General Education course which I really love to teach, Social Science II. My co-faculty were nice and not that impersonal. The familiar face of a former faculty member in UPV was welcoming. The major hurdle was getting accustomed to riding the "habal habal".
I remember making a big issue over the matter. I cried about the fact that I have to make do with such mode of transportation. I was worried about my poise and my legs. looking back, after my teaching demo, I expressed the experience was rather harrowing.
But it was fun later on when I got used to it. I like the cool breeze on my face and the feeling of "freedom". I miss my life in Davao. I felt freer there with my anonymity and solitude.
