Lessons Learned

I've been riding my new bike for about a week now (even though I just officially got my Filipino driver's license two days ago - shhh, don't tell) and I have learned the following lessons:

(1) You don't wait until the light turns green to go. If you try to do that, you will be honked at and run off the road. Instead, you wait until the light for the cross traffic turns yellow and then you go for it, and yes, your own light is still red. Note to self - don't try to run a yellow light. It is very likely you will be hit by oncoming traffic.

(2) I can't tell the difference between someone who is honking at me because I'm about to be run over, someone who is honking at me just to let me know he's here, or a someone who is honking at me just because I am a girl.

(3) My lungs will soon look as though I smoke 5 packs a day because of all the black exhaust I am breathing in. When I am stopped behind a jeepney, I just watch as a black cloud of exhaust swallows me whole.

(4) I will constantly be stared at no matter what I am doing... and not in a "subtle, guys sneaking glances at me from the car next to me or across the parking lot" kind of way, but in an "obvious, blatantly staring at me and calling out to me without any shame" kind of way. Seriously, I went to get gas at a gas station and the attendant came over to pump my gas (because you aren't allowed to fill up your own vehicle here), and every single guy at the gas station walked over from whatever he was doing and just stood there a few feet away, staring at me. I actually had to ask them all to move so that I could leave...

(5) I can now get to work in 20 minutes instead of the 45 minutes it was taking me before.

(6) The best way to know how to weave through traffic is to follow other bikers. They really know what they are doing.

(7) I feel (and must look) extremely out of place when riding in the middle of a pack of 15 - 20 Filipino men riders.

And finally....

(8) I absolutely LOVE riding in Cebu and wouldn't change it for anything in the world!