Better Weather

Since the Philippines lies on the equator, it doesn't have seasons like I am used to back home.  It is between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.  However, in mid June, the rainy season starts and lasts until October.  Wednesday night, after we got back home from the job site, it began to sprinkle.  Within minutes it was a torrential downpour.  It rained.  Rained.  Rained some more.  There was flooding all throughout the city and roads were closed because they were impassable.  Luckily Justin and I had no reason to leave the apartment or we may have ended up stranded!  It turned out that this storm wasn't a common intensity, but our coworkers compared it to the monsoons that can hit the island.  We might need to invest in some rain boots or life jackets if we are to survive this summer.

The next morning I was able to take the picture below.  The rain yield some beautiful scenery and greenery in the area around our apartment.

That is the Davao City city hall.  I didn't even realize it until I went for a walk, but it is only half a block from the apartment.  We are situated in what I would consider the governmental district of Davao.  There are many governmental buildings and some government housing in the area.  There is also a large church called San Pedro Cathedral around the corner.  It is a very nice area that offers a lot to see in our free time.

Not much else has occurred this week.  We are getting settled in and have some projects to keep us busy.

I will leave you all with a driving fact that one of my coworkers shared with me about the Philippines:

In the Philippines, if you kill someone while driving, the penalty is that you have to pay for that person's funeral.

You don't just look twice, but three or four times before you cross the street here!