The month of June usually heralds two things: the start of school and the rainy season. It is a well-designed torment for young people -- having to get up from a warm bed before the sun is barely up and battling the ever-worsening traffic to get to a classroomful of equally-sleepy young people doing their best to brace themselves against graded recitations and surprise quizzes.

This year, the rainy season trickled in as early as mid-May. This morning, the going was slow as cars inched along EDSA. A muddy river rages along the street canals. I gave my cab driver a generous tip for not complaining.

We are half-done on our lower-class household visits. I sent my newbie off for exposure. I was actually quite delighted when it rained. Now that's real immersion! I will rejoin the group tomorrow because I still have work to finish in the office.