It's truly hard to believe we've moved up and out of 2008 into the vast new year of 2009. Wow! I wonder what all this new year has in store for me. 2008 was full of surprises and excitement, challenges and successes! So, here's hoping that 2009 will be just as exciting and productive for me.
For New Years Eve a Peace Corps friend and I rang in the New Year at my little house in the Jungle with a small bottle of White Wolf Vodka (the cheapest vodka on the planet..greatly cherished in Yap) and a toast of Ameretto (Thanks George). It was simple, but nice. We chatted for hours about our adventure so far here in Yap and Micronesia. The pros and cons... the successes and the difficulties. We talked about love and distance, about friends and family... about policy and politics...about the other Micro 75s... three of which have already ETed (gone home), so now we're down from 28 to 25 volunteers. All fun stuff, and at midnight I called the U.S. and wished my man Happy New Years from the future! It was good
I've come to learn over the months that if I fail to recognize and celebrate the smallest of accomplishments here that I will be absolutely miserable. So with 2009 now upon me, I'm making the effort to really notice little thing and find happiness in any way that I can. The truth is, there are many things in this journey of discovery that haven't gone as planned, and some things that have gone just downright badly, but I'm making this work by willing myself to look at the details that shine... finding the beauty and letting the darkness fade in the distance as much as possible.
So, in my quest to notice the small things (once again)... I sat and watched as one of the ten thousand lizards that lives in my house with me sat licking the candy wrapper of a CreamSavers candy for about 15 minutes... It was so darned cute. Gheckos are really quite interesting to watch as they go about their day...sometimes enjoying a sweet candy or two. So, thanks Robin for the candy in my Christmas package... it gave me and my lizards hours of entertainment.
A Few Little 2008 Peace Corps Accomplishments
*I taught my neighbors and a bunch of kids to play UNO and shared lots of laughs playing with them
*30 7th and 8th grade students know at least one extra thing about the English language that they didn't know before I came here
*My library has some new books and brightly new painted bookshelves... and the beginning of a book catalog
*I've shared lots of facts and stories about Yapese culture with everyone who has read my blog
*I've learned how to respect enough Yapese customs that I'm no longer making an ass out of myself in the village
*I joined a Women's Dance
*I sent stickers and pencils and hair ties and other goodies out to the outer islands to a family who needed them
*I learned how to descale, gut, and cook a fish... and I relearned the value of sharing whatever I have with those around me
*I held lots of little baby girls and made them smile or fall asleep in my arms
*I've practices patience, faith, respect, and courage when facing things that were difficult
*I reached out to a child and offered a safe place if they ever needed it
So Happy New Year my friends and family! I miss you lots and I hope that 2009 is filled with great joy and discovery for all of you! Thank you so much to Dad, Mary, Steve, Sabina, Ann, George, Jeremy, Christian, Jill, Mindy, Racheal, Robin, and others who have sent Christmas goodies or cards or well wishes... It makes my day knowing how much love and support I have back home!
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