Re-embracing my Paulinian identity.

I got a wonderful experience today. I woke up early at around 6:30 in the morning and I opened my facebook account to check the notification tab then I took a bath and went to the vigil house. I arrived in the vigil house at 8:25 in the morning and I've sent a  text message to Ms. Marty that I'm already in the site. Then Ms. Monique called me up to let me know that the Japanese students will be late due to some health problems (One experienced difficulty in removing bowels while the other experienced an insect bite that made her feet swelled).

Before the Japanese students arrived I met the old sisters living in the vigil house (They are our lola madres). I've met Sr. Mary who had been in France and Africa for many years and she was sent in the Vigil house last May. I also met my grade school principal Sr. Josefa. I had a good conversation with both of them. Sr. Josefa said that she's very happy to be in the vigil house for she can remember all her students before and the schools that she had administered. What struck me most was when she said that she's always praying for us. I had a great time in the Vigil house beacause the old sisters felt our love. The smiles of our dear lola madres made me feel the unending love of God for us. God is really great for He can show his love through other people.

Lola Madres are waiting for their visitors.

Waiting area of the lola Madres. :))

At 9:25 am they already arrived in Vigil house then we easily go to OLCC and we had our museum tour and

Young sisters welcomed the Japanese students.

a very short interaction with the sisters. The young and junior sisters sang a song to us. The Japanese students from Sendai felt the warm welcome of the sisters. I also had an opportunity to meet Ate Chandra who is a graduate of SPUQC last 2009 who have decided to enter the congregation.

 I also had an opportunity to listen to story of Sr. Sally about her experiences in the formation house and on how she manage her life there and on how she overcome home sickness and others. What struck me most with what she have shared to me was when she said that when she was still a junior sister and not yet saying her vows her group mates always go to the garden of peace and they offer flowers to the tomb of the SPC sisters who already died to guide them and to help them overcome the temptations. She also shares that OLCC is the sunrise of their religious life and vigil house is the preparation place for sunset. On our way to Makati Sr. Sally shared a lot of things and experiences as a student. Ms. Marty also shared the tuition fee in U.P. and many more. I found out that the tuition fee in Sendai Shirayuri is $11 000.

Balik Bayan

At 2 in the afternoon we already arrived in BALIKBAYAN, the Japanese students shopped souvenirs and other stuffs that they will bring in their country while I together with Ms. Marty and other sisters sat in the table near the counter and eat our free merienda. (Free dried mangoes, peanut, drinks and etc.) After that we went to SM Ayala and I accompanied other Japanese. I accompanied her in the super market and in KULTURA.

PEACE!

They are looking for stuffs to bring in their country

Japanese students in Balikbayan

Balikbayan

Airi in SM super market

At 6 pm we went to the Japanese restaurant and ate our eat all you can buffet Japanese dishes. After that we laughed out loud and they taught me how to speak Japanese. It's quite hard to talk to them since some of them don't know how to speak English. Well, I really want to thank Ms. Marty for inviting me to be with her and to be with the Japanese students. I would like also to thank Sr. Sally and Sr. Evangeline :))

I hope there will be more opportunities like this for the SPUQC students. I also hope that there will be more interactions to other country and foreigners.

God is really great for He always guide us in our life and I truly believe that even though we have language and cultural differences, if we have the same mission and a heart for others for sure this will help us to be united and connected to everybody.

The tour helped me to re-embraced my root and identity as a pure blooded Paulinian.

"CARITAS CHRISTI URGET NOS"