Airport Vignette

When we disembarked from the airport we were immediately hit with the warm, humid air. We walked to the baggage terminal and I noticed a group of young men who were assisting travelers with their luggages. It wasn't clear whether they worked for the airport because they didn't wear a uniform. My mother immediately engaged a young man to help us with our luggage. My biggest observation was my mother's interaction with the young men and the others that we met who helped us carry the luggage outside and identify the hotel van, or the driver who drove us. She was talkative and and engaging, and she asked questions about the city or various things along the way. The young men were respectful and polite, referring to my mother as "mom," which I believe is the same thing as "ma'am." There was a deference and respect in the way they addressed her. More amazing was how much I understood when she spoke to them in Tagalog. I would not have been able to utter a single word, but for some reason everything they said was clear to me.

As we left the airport and drove to the resort, along the way we noticed shacks, almost like shanty villages lined up along the two lane road. On each side were small stores, places to eat or to cut your hair but the buildings were rough and many roofs were made of corrugated tin. People were outside selling every kind of item or food. Wooden crates of exotic fruits were displayed outside, and we noticed one young woman who seemed to be grilling something that looked like coconuts that were cut open on a huge grill. There were many people walking or on bikes or small Filipino jeeps (http://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+a+filipino+jeepney&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&q=filipino+tricycle&revid=1596169248&sa=X&ei=uVdJT9uAGcmQiAeWy_CQDg&ved=0CC0Q1QIoAQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=c62546f6641911c7&biw=1024&bih=672). The kids immediately noted the poverty and the stark contrast of the people and shanties that we left behind and the gated resort where we were staying. Once inside the gate, we drove about a mile up a road that was lined with the local trees, a few that I identified as bamboo. The road opened up to a huge, modern hotel that was situated on what seemed an endless beach.


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Location:Cebu International Airport