Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving Reflections

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (which they obviously don't celebrate here), I thought I would write a list of some of the many things that I'm thankful for.... So here goes

I'm thankful for the children laughing and singing outside of this room right now

I'm thankful for my Dad, Mary, Sabina, and the rest of my family that have been so supportive during this journey.

I'm thankful that I have a wonderful man in my life, who loves me and cares for me so much despite the fact that I decided to follow a life goal and move half a world away.

I'm thankful that I've been given the opportunity to have another family right here on my little island, who care for me, watch out for me, feed me, shelter me, and rub tumeric all over me :)

I'm thankful for the Parrot fish, angel fish, snapper, lobster, tuna.... and the list goes on.... that I get to enjoy as a regular staple in my diet here.

I'm thankful that I get to live in a place where I am learning how to live off the land for the basic necessities.

I'm thankful that there are no longer 8 cases of budweiser in my classroom... and there is a pencil sharpener

I'm thankful that despite my isolated location, the wonders of the internet have given me the opportunity to share stories and exchange email with the people I love back home

I'm thankful that Kimmy B's suggestion of rubbing Oil of Oregano on my plague of ringworms... even though it burns like hell.... seems to be working better than all the other stuff combined.

I'm thankful for all the kids and adults throughout Gagil that pop out of places like trees, behind bushes, and near the waters edge to shout...."HeY V....Kefel" with smiles as I'm walking the 40 minute walk home after school.

I'm thankful that I was placed somewhere with such an amazing culture full of color and dance, and that I'm being given the opportunity to join the women of the village as they dance.

I'm thankful for my mom...my gaurdian angel, who I know is watching after me and keeping me from harm while I'm here.

I'm thankful for so very much here... including all of you who read this... Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Eat twice as much...just for me :)

Love,
V

Monday, November 24, 2008

Budweiser, Ping Pong, and Butcher Knives...another day at school

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but there are certain things that I foolishly expected were somewhat constant throughout most schools worldwide. Especially U.S. public schools after the many school shootins, schools have adopted strict policies against weapons (even butter knives aren't allowed). Also, most schools are alcohol, drug, and tobacco free.

Imagine my surprise on the first day of teaching at my school when sitting on the teachers desk is a large butcher knife for pencil sharpening, and two of my students also had their own knives that they were using and playing with at their desks. Wow! Can you imagine a class full of eighth graders in the U.S. passing around the class butcher knife? Even sometimes picking it up and running around playing with it when the teacher isn't looking. Well, this is what I saw my first day. (P.S thank you George for the pencil sharpener, I'm bringing it tommorow!)

I also found it interesting that the student's desks are in rows facing a homemade ping pong table made with two teacher desks and plywood. I always thought the debate was teacher-centered or student-centered classrooms, what about ping pong centered? I don't know how to begin to address that this may not be the best learning environment.

Finally, to the Budweiser. In the corner of the classroom on one of the book shelves are EIGHT cases full of Budweiser cans. What?! I asked why they were there and I was told that they were probably left over from a carnival this weekend. Storing them in the classroom, Oh My!

And this, my friends, is why I'm here. I think I've got my work cut out for me. The knives are one thing, but maybe I can find someway to delicately suggest that Budweiser and Pingpong tables really should stay in bars and pool halls, and out of childrens classrooms.

Besides this, I really think I'm going to enjoy working at the school. There is a lot to be done. I'm basically totally fixing the library, which now sits locked and used as a storage space, with dusty old books that are absolutely not appropriate for a children's library. Today I'm pricing paint and possibly a rug and cleaning supplies, so that my principal can put in a request for some extra funds from the Educ. department. It will take a long time, but hopefully I can get it up and running, and make it a warm inviting place where children learn to go and love reading.

Teaching is another thing, most teachers here lack qualifications, formal training, and some even certification. Often, teachers fail to show up without leaving lesson plans, and even if they did, there is no substitute teacher plan here, so the students are either alone or another teacher has to fill in. (Guess who that will be now?...me) Teaching also comes straight from old grammar textbooks that are filled with ideas and concepts completely foreign to these students (ex. snow, escelators, squirrels...).

So, wish me luck everyone, I've certainly got a lot to work on, and hopefully I can make some positive change, even if right now it is completely overwhelming. My access to internet and mail is much more limited now that I'm in the village full time. Sadly, after recieving a new AC adaptor for my laptop, I found out that this wasn't the problem, it's just broke, so no internet at home for me. Also, the school's internet is very unpredictable and often the server goes down and I may not have internet for quite a while. I plan on going into town once a week to check the mail, send letters, check email, and do my errands (banking, shopping, etc.) So, if you write and don't hear from me in a while, no need to worry, I'm just in the village working my tail off at my new school...trying to get the beer, pingpong tables, and knives out of there, while adding good books, teaching skills, and smiles.

Much love to everyone, and thank you all for commenting on my swear in ceremony, I couldn't have made it this far without all the support. THANKS!!!!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Swear-In... I'm a volunteer!!!!

I'm officially a volunteer now, no more trainee, change the T to V because now I'm a PCV! The swear-in ceremony was an amazing event. The chiefs, principals, lt. governor, trainers, our families, and other community members all gathered to watch the event. I was nervous and excited all at once. First, we all introduced ourselves and talked about where we were from, where we would be working, and gave thanks to the community in YAPESE! Then there were speeches by the lt. governor and country director for Peace Corps, and finally we took the oath. The oath that we took to become volunteers is similar to the oath all government employees must take, and I must say while I said the words it really hit me. Wow! What a pledge! What an honor to be a part of this, and what a challenge. As I said this I had to hold back tears that came out of nowhere. This is really it, it's official, I did it!
Below is the official Peace Corps oath.
I, [state your name], do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, domestic and foreign, that I take this obligation freely and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge my duties in the Peace Corps by working with the people of [the host country] as partners in friendship and in peace.
To finish the ceremoney we performed our dance, ate, and performed it again. When we first said we wanted to perform a dance none of us had any idea how big a deal this was. We knew dance in Yap was important, but noone knew the extent. Every detail is important, the making of a dance involves ceremony, and before we could perform it chiefs had to present shell money, lava lavas, and betel nut as an offering to make the dance official. Then after finishing the dance, we had to do it again to "hang up" the dance, which means that noone else can do the dance without the approval of our trainer who wrote the dance. Bamboo dance is a type of warrior dance, it's fun, energetic, and really wears you out because to do it properly you spend the entire time with your knees bent to almost a squating position. Before starting my family brought me over and six hands began fixing me. My host mom rubbed a combination of tumeric and coconut oil all over my body which made me glow orange while my aunties tied young coconut leaves around my arms, wrists, and head while others fixed my nunu (leis). Then I was given a very special necklace made of whale teeth also covered in tumeric and oil, and a belt made of pretty black and white beads. I felt like a princess being fixed. Yes, I am part of this family, I'm their daughter, neice, sister, and friend and sitting there with all the hands fixing me made me so happy.
Ready for swear-in, before getting dressed with the dance decorations...
censored with extra leis for the picture
Enjoying the breeze, waiting to begin the dance
Chanting at the beginning of the dance
Dancing in the moment... bamboo dance is fun
I'm a volunteer! and Yapese Warrior Bamboo Dancer!!
The New Micro 75s and our Program Assistant, minus our 1 outer island volunteer
Loving the way my family decorated me

Sunday, November 16, 2008

PICTURES... weaving, practice, and dress rehearsal

All of this... and it's just the dress rehearsal... my friend Devin and I showing off the thus, skirt, and nunus

Dress Rehearsal.... in grass not hibiscus Before Practice Some of the girls showing off our bamboo and our practice skirts
Weaving thatch for a roof Weaving is fun!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Training is complete... the language test is finished... woah.. now only the Dance left! Crazy how fast time passes when you're attempting to learn a new language and culture and stay sane while living half a world away from home.

Now let's talk a bit about Yapese and my ability? to speak Yapese. You see, I really do know quite a bit, but using it is another story. I'll give you a typical example. So, I'm sitting at home outside and the mosquitos are starting to come out. I want to light a mosquito coil but I don't have a lighter. Wait... I know how to say this. I'll ask for the lighter in Yapese.

And then this is what happens in my head "ok... so the verb for 'to have' is what... but it's a question...so maybe it's different... It's present tense so it's Gu be.... but I'm asking for theirs so i have to say rom after lighter... but wait isn't a question different.. i don't think...wait isn't p' the word for have or is that give?.... ummm.... ahhh...should I just go get my own lighter from my roomm... oh no they're walking away"

Nina, Ga be p' e lighter rom?........and then she looks at me like I'm crazy and laughs...
I mean, I try again "Ba e lighter rom?" ... oh yeah that's right

"Danga" she replies which means no.... so I've just spent ten minutes of contemplation on one phrase... a phrase which I'm using a borrowed word too and it still is difficult. Hopefully I learn to be less concerned and just start blurting out Yapese phrases and let them correct me later. Obviously I've got a lot of work to do. I think I'm going to search for a tutor soon.

I've added a book list to the blog (bottom right) so I can keep track and share some of what I'm reading while I'm here. If you see anything you're interested in send me a note and I can share more. I've been lucky so far in having read all books that I found both interesting and well written. My latest book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" strikes close to heart now since I'm experiencing first hand the challenges and benefits of living off local, but I'll save that for another time.

much love,
V

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Hitting Torpedos with Machetes is a bad Idea :)

I'm at the midway point of my final week of training. By this time next week I'll be an official PCV, Peace Corps Volunteers. Also by this time next week I'll be preparing to let down my inhibitians in honor of the unique and beautiful customs of Yap. With one week left, my afternoons are filled with practice, practice, practice for my bamboo dance that i'll be performing sans top. It's all really exciting and at the same time somewhat nerveracking, after about 2 1/2 months training is coming to an end and my new life as a village PCV is about to begin. From that point on I will no longer be surrounded daily by other trainies and Americans, instead I'll be in my village, my little gem of a community on the far end of Gagil, where I'll be trying my very best to be a helpful addition to the school and the people there. My daily visits to telecom (where I use the internet) will stop and I'll probably make it into Colonia (town) about once a week to check the mail and do any necessary shopping. Things will be really different and it's both exciting and scary.

The past couple mondays there have been holidays, and this weekend we finally got to have a long weekend also, which was nice to spend extra time with our community.
FUN FACT: Last Monday this country celebrated it's Independence Day ...it was officially still two years younger than I am (1986). Strange thinking I live and serve in a country that I'm actually older than!

So, with a long weekend, I enjoy such wonderfully Yapese things as hiking stone paths, hearing myths (about a boy who lost his fathers fish hook, went to live underwater to get it back, and upon returning forgot to put green coconuts in his canoe so he turned into a stone...moral of the story...don't forget your coconuts??),I had a friend come to the beach with me for some relaxation, barbeque, thatch making, and pig slaughtering. Totally normal right?

The torpedo thing came about from our hike through the stone paths and trails deep in the far end of my village. My friend and I went with my host mom and another village woman to get taro, and we stopped to rest at this area very close to an old japanese wreck from WW2. It was basically just a lot of rust and metal, hardly recongnizable, but still interesting to see. When we started hiking again my host mother took down her machete and beat it against this thing and said, "Look Metal" My friend and I were wide eyed as we saw the "metal" was in the shape of some type of old amunition... I'm no military expert of course, but movie and tv have put certain images of what missiles and ammunition looks like, and this old rusty metal thing next to the WW2 wreckage, was most certainly shaped like something we felt probably shouldn't be just hit with a machete. (kinda small torpedo..ish shaped) At this point my other trainee friend and I just laughed.... well... that certainly is a "metal thing." Only in Yap, only in Yap. I should add that moments before pointing out the metal thing with the machete, my nina actually killed a mosquito on her arm with the same machete with out even blinking.. Oh I love her and one day I hope to also be so good at using a machete that even mosquitos know to stay away. I love Yap!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

We're out of Onions! and other Shocking News...zzzzap!

So, remember those mountains of onions you browsed through the last time you went to the grocery store. You know, the vidalia, the yellow, the red, the sweet, the white, and the list goes on. 5 lb bags or 2 lb bags, so much variety, and all so super yummy..

Well folks...We're out of Onions! NO, not my house....the entire island state of Yap is out of onions. All of the stores have none left, even the little stores have been wiped clean. See, those type of onions don't grow here, only green onions, so they have to be imported. The thing is, when things run out...they just run out. So now, the state of Yap is Onionless...sad... that is, untill the next cargo ship arrives loaded down with onions, beer, ramen, and spam. I can see why the island for so long was so dependent on growing and eating local foods. I'm perfectly fine with no onions, but it's such an interesting concept... things like that help bring to my attention the true isolation of this remote island in the Pacific.

In other news.... the SHOCKING news...literally. Electricity here is bonkos! My laptop is no longer functional because the power cord has somehow fried... which caused a slight panic attack the day it happened as I sat there pressing the power button over and over with no result "But...but....but.....what? I mean... how am I gonna keep in touch with home? How am I gonna write..how am I gonna call steve....ahhhhhh....." (teardrop teardrop) Luckily I got over the ridiculousness and came back to my happy realization that I'm in YAP...of course things are going to happen that I don't expect, and I can live without until I figure out how to get another cord shipped out here. (It's harder than you would think because no electronic companies will ship to P.O. boxes... and that is the ONLY option here..so I've got some figuring out to do)
And I'm not the only one, a bunch of other current volunteers...almost all...have had to replace their power cords at least once.

It's gotta be something with the electricity here, it's different somehow than from the U.S. TWICE I've shocked the heck out of myself...also known as electricuted myself... and both times were bizarre and unexpected. Both times I was just going to plug something in, and my hand was barely near the socket when... ZZZZZZZZZAP a jolt of electricity went running through my hand and arm. My hands weren't wet... I wasn't feeling the socket... I was just going to plug something in. If nothing else it wakes me up in the morning...that's for sure! So, me and my electronics...the few that I brought, are going to have to be much more careful from now on.

The Yap Zap is no fun :)

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Shrimp, Eels, Machetes, and Grass Skirts

Me in the jungle by the river in my village
You know.. somedays I'm just in awe that I'm actually here in Yap. A few days ago I had the opportunity to go into the jungle and explore some. See, my home here is in the middle of tropical jungle, but close to the main dirt road and my fear of getting lost in the jungle has kept me from venturing out too far from the main road. So, the other day a relative said, hey I'm going to the river to look for shrimp and collect firewood, do you want to go? Of course I jumped at the idea, and soon I found myself trekking into the jungle following a man with a very large machete. Now in the states, the idea of venturing into the jungle following a man I hardly know with a huge knife would be a little freaky, but here it seemed like the most natural thing that I could be doing. So, I happily worked my way through the jungle behind him as he cut vines and bamboo that were blocking our path. It's a good thing that I hadn't gone into the jungle on my own, because now that I've been I'm fairly certain that I would have gotten lost if I was alone. This man however seemed to know the jungle so well that he could have been walking blindfolded and still found his way. Soon we were at the "River", really it's more like a small stream, but it was nice anyways. We walked up and down the "river" looking for shrimp and found some, but out efforts only succeeded in us catching one shrimp. If we had had a small net I could have gotten many, but we were using a local tool that they use to catch shrimp and it's really difficult. They basically strip a small piece of a leaf stem, then me a little loop in one end. You try to get the loop around the tail of the shrimp and pull up, and the loop tightens and you catch a shrimp. Fun stuff, but I still wanted a net. While looking around a HUGE eel came out of it's hiding spot in the river and tried to steal the shrimp from us. Feeling that eel would have been awful if it had bitten me, so from then on I was much more cautious as I walked through the river back to our land in the jungle.

My Auntie's House on the BeachI made my way back through the jungle to my home, where my nina was waiting and said we would finish my skirt. So, we loaded up the various pieces of grasses and materials and went to my aunties house by the beach to finish the work. We sat and weaved and I helped as much as possible preparing the grasses for her. We laughed as she told me that the old man who made the local twine for us to tie it together might have put "local magic" on it so that I would chase after him when I'm wearing it. So, if I suddenly begin chasing after an old man in my village while wearing my pretty new practice skirt, we all know why.

Soon she was weaving together the most beautiful skirt I've ever seen. I was absolutely glowing when I finally tried it on. We laughed and they attemped to show me how to stand when I dance. I have to squat down low and stick out my butt. I kind of look like a duck when I'm standing like that, but a happy Yapese Dancing Duck, so I think it's awesome. This skirt is only for dance practice, so I can only imagine how beautiful the real hibiscus performance skirt will be when it is complete.
Practicing a Women's Sitting Dance Move in my new skirt