Kelsie in the Philippines: Our Wet Market Adventure

Since it has been about two months that we have been in the Philippines, two friends and I decided we needed another Filipino adventure. The wet market sounded like the perfect escapade.

Following the lead of our ate, Nimpha, we caught a jeepney and went public to the market. It was so fun seeing some culture within the jeepney... money being passed back and forth between new passengers and the driver, tapping on the roof when you want to stop, and bodies squashed together. I tried to talk to some children who wouldn't take their eyes off the "whities" but they grew embarrassed and quickly looked away. Their mother and her friend on the other hand were not quite so shy. They were opening aiming their phones right at us to snap pictures left and right. Being the celebrities that we are, we just smiled back and laughed. We hopped off at the market place a ways down the road prepared for this next cultural experience.

After exploring the "dry market" where all the clothing was, we headed for the "wet market" for fruit and vegetables. We soon discovered how the "wet market" got its name. The floors were covered with water, dirt, and other things that I prefer not to know about. Fish, pig heads and all sorts of meat lined the walkway. Smells of meat, people, fruit, and humidity mixed together to fill the air as people buzzed around. I loved being able to talk to people, joke with them, smile with them, and try to say a few Tagalog phrases. It was so much fun. We were definitely a sight to be seen. Everyone wanted to pose for and sell to us... 3 white girls with their ate in the "wet market". :) Our ate finally decided to turn us back when our feet were beginning to sink a little too much in the mud on the floor.

What an adventure. It was about time to get out of the classroom! Thank you Ate Nimpha for the adventure!