knowledgeable enough about what was needed to take over from there, which freed me up to take care of the things that only*I* could do.
At the designated time, I was in my client's conference room to give the people going with me – including the lawyers, surprisingly – an introduction to where we were going.
I spent nearly two and a half hours giving them a rundown on the country, from its history to its culture. The next hour and a half was spent answering questions, and with Kelly's help, demonstrating some of the things they needed to watch out for when dealing with the people, along with some basic Tagalog. I also gave everyone – including Bill, who had explicitly asked for one – a hefty booklet that included additional Tagalog phrases, along with plenty of pictures and other materials.
When I was done, Bill invited me to his office so we could go over a few of the other details for the trip. When we were done, he thanked me for all my time and effort. I assured him that I was glad to be able to help, and asked if I could ask for his help on something. He assured me he would if he could, and asked what the problem was. I told him about the orphanage, and how the diocese was going to start collecting things for it. Then I asked if it would be possible to include the items from the churches in with the materials he shipped to the Philippines – assuring him that his help was needed only between his facilities.
'Shucks, I thought you were gonna ask me something hard, Dan. We can do that, no problem – we've always got space left over in our shipping containers, and the stuff you're talking about won't add squat as far as weight is concerned; we'll just absorb the added cost – it won't be enough to fuss with, anyway. Heck, I'll even go you one better: you have that bishop call me, and I'll take care of picking the stuff up and getting it here, too – and getting it to the orphanages at the other end.'
Then he picked up a phone and dialed a number. While he was waiting for the other person to answer, he asked me 'How much did you say you and your friends sent them?'
I barely had time to reply before he told the person that answered 'Shirley? Bill here. Listen, I need you to get a check to Dan Marshall before he heads off. Yeah, make it for ten thou. Charitable donation.
Yeah, that's fine. Okay, thanks.'
I was sitting there, surprised, when he turned to me and said 'I expect it's gonna be a couple months before they have something ready to go.
And it'll be a few weeks after that before the stuff gets there. Until then, those kids are still gonna need food and clothes and lights and water and all that. You take that money with you, and see that it gets to who needs it.'
I tried to thank him, but he just waved it off, saying 'I told you, Dan, we're gonna do right by you – and these people, too.'
When Kelly heard what he'd said and done, she just sat there and cried.
The rest of my time before the return visit was busy – getting things started for Kelly to help keep things moving while I was gone, fielding questions from Bill and his people, and so on.
The trip over wasn't appreciably different from the first time, except for the company I was keeping. The lawyers pretty much stayed to themselves, apparently discussing strategies. The other four were amazed at the attractiveness and grace of the Filipina stewardess we had. One of them had the courage to ask for help with his Tagalog, and the stewardess he asked for help was delighted to do it. Once he'd asked the question, a couple of the others joined in. Following my example, even the lawyers opted for the Filipino fare during meals.
As promised, Marlyn was waiting for us in Manila, once we'd cleared customs. All of them greeted her – haltingly – in Tagalog, pleasing her.
I watched all of them reacted to the scent of Manila, shortly followed by the environment. Bhoy got the luggage packed into the large van he'd brought, and it was off to the hotel – using the same route we'd followed before, as I'd arranged with Marlyn. As we passed the garbage dump and shanty town, I explained to everyone what they were, and about the people. None of Bill's people failed to react. The lawyers tried to play it cool, but the same fellow that had asked the stewardess for language lessons looked horrified while the others simply looked relieved when both places were out of sight. I told Marlyn, in Tagalog, that I needed to speak with her. She didn't answer directly, but with a Filipino gesture, indicated that she understood.
After we'd all gotten settled into our rooms, I went down to talk with her while the others refreshed themselves after the trip. Once we had a seat in the hotel bar and gotten something to drink ordered, I told her what I wanted to discuss with her.
'Marlyn, the other four people with me are candidates for the job of managing the plant here. I've already got my own thoughts on who I think would be good for the job, but I would like your help – and Bhoy's.'
She looked at me quizzically, and asked 'How can we help?'
'I'm not asking you or Bhoy to spy on them, or anything like that – but I would appreciate it if you would just kind of watch what they do, and let me know what you think of them. Are they polite? Do they seem interesting in the country and people? Do they seem to like it here? Do they look comfortable here? Those kinds of things would be of interest to me.'
She looked hesitant, and I told her 'Please understand: you will not be making the final decision. You will only be telling me about things that happen when I'm not there to watch them. Even*I* won't make the final decision about them, their boss will – but he is counting on me to give him advice about who the best one would be; neither one of us wants to send someone here that would be an Ugly American. We want someone that the people like having here.'
Satisfied that she and Bhoy would only be helping, she said that she would be happy to help, and thought that Bhoy would, too.
It kind of threw her off-balance a bit when I next asked 'If you don't mind, I would like to ask what your salary is when you are working as a guide.'
She thought it over for a moment, and then told me – I did the currency conversion in my head, didn't like the answer, and did it again to get the same result.
I completely stunned her when I asked 'My client wants to hire a local person to be their liaison between the workers and the American manager of the plant. Would you like the job?'
She could only sit there for a couple of minutes, looking at me doubtfully, before finally saying 'That is not a funny joke, Dan.'
'It isn't a joke, Marlyn. It was something that my client brought up after I got back – but I had the same thought while I was here, and was going to suggest it to him. He needs someone that can explain American ways to a Filipino, and Filipino ways to an American. He needs someone that can help the American manager and Filipino workers solve any problems that come up if – when! – the two cultures have differences.
You were a nurse in an American hospital for several years, so you understand our ways – but you're still Filipina.*I* think you would be perfect for the job.'
She still seemed doubtful, but less so, when she objected 'But I don't know anything about a factory.'
'We thought of that, too. My client knows that you would have to learn something about what they do, and why they do it; so they would want to bring you to America for two or three months to both refresh yourself about our ways, and to learn why they do things the way they do in their factory.'
It was finally sinking in to her that I was serious – and that the opportunity opened up a lot of options for her.
Hesitantly, she asked 'What about Marilyn?'
My answer was 'Bring her with you, if you want. I expect you'll want to get her out of the orphanage if you take the job, anyway. If my client doesn't want to pay for her airfare, then*I* will – you know Kelly would want to do it.'
She gave me a slight smile at that, and said 'Yes, she would. Forgive me, but what is the salary?'
I gave her a salary that was near the middle of the range I'd been authorized – it was roughly a dozen times what her guide job paid. With that news, she just sat there – stunned again.
When she was finally able to speak again, she was crying when she started thanking me in a mixture of English and Tagalog. I just grinned and asked 'You accept the job, then?'
She managed to laugh before saying 'Yes! I take the job! Thank you!'
I laughed, and said 'Don't thank me, yet. You are going to be a very busy Filipina for a little while.'
She looked at me questioningly, and I told her 'You are going to be on the payroll effective tomorrow morning; it's up to you if you want to quit the guide service. Over the next several months, you're going to be helping my
