Hello Everyone,
For the past 2 weeks, I have been staying with a host family in a municipality called Madolenhmw, which is know for Nan Modol ruins and Kepirohi Falls. The family I'm living with is really great. My father speaks pretty good English and my mom speaks a little. My sisters can understand English a little bit and can't speak much. I have my own room in the house where my host father grew up. I've learned to cope with the lizards and the cockroaches that scurry around my room at night.
A normal day for me has been waking up at 6 a.m., taking a bucket shower, eating breakfast, training from 8:30-5, dinner and sleep. I get tired here very easily. It could be the heat and the vast amount of information I absorb each day.
I have one more week in Madolenhmw and then I'll go to my assigned island state of Chuuk for Phase II of training on Saturday. For the next two years, you can send all mail to this address:
Chuuk Field Office
P.O. Box 39
Weno, Chuuk FM 96942
This past weekend I attended a funeral which is not like funerals in the States. Only women were allowed to weep in a room where the body was. The men stayed out. Throughout the morning, men were bringing in live pigs and yams. I got to watch the men kill the pigs by stabbing them several times in the chest. I won't release any more details because it was pretty gruesome. I hung out with other PCTs during the morning and then saw my host brother and went with him to see our family. I met my host mom's oldest brother who is the speaker for the FSM legislature.
That night, we went to my host mom's sister's house where we drank Sakau and made our way to see some the Mercedes dancers. They are a group of nuns from Pohpei who spent the weekend in Madolenhmw to have fun and see their friends. They did a lot of shaking. It was very entertaining.
Last Thursday I found out my assignment. I am going to be serving on the main island of Fefan in the FSM state of Chuuk, which is know for its shipwreck diving sites. I am flying there Saturday and will move in with a new host family during my 6 weeks and language and cultural training. During my service, I will be working at an elementary school teaching 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade English with other teachers. I will be working with a counterpart and will be sharing resources and ideas with him.
Right now I am in Kolonia, the city where I spent my first 2 days. I have the morning free today but I will be in a meeting from 1-3 in the PC Office. Tomorrow I will have water safety which will be fun. I'll get to go on a boat and doing a little snorkeling. Half of the trainees are doing it today. I'll get to do more water safety when I get to Chuuk as well.
That's all I can think of to write at the moment. If any of you have specific questions you would like to ask, send me an email and I'll be happy to send you an answer. Hope all is well with you all.
Kasilel,
Ben
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Arrival in Pohnpei
Kasaleliah!
After being on a plane for 15-20 hours, I arrived in Kolonia, Pohnpei, Micronesia with the rest of the PCTs yesterday at 2:30 Pacific time. We were greeted by the language coordinator and the programming and training officer. When I stepped off the plane, it wasn't as hot as I thought it was going to be but it was still very warm. Children and adults stared at us and were only a few yards from the plane. We put our stuff in a PC truck and went to the hotel on a bus. Current Peace Corps Volunteers and PC stuff greeted us at the hotel. We were warmed greeted with local food and coconut milk in the coconut shell. Between our arrival and dinner, we had interviews. Yesterday I had an interview with the training officer which has pretty laidback. She asked me about myself, and whether I would mind being stationed on an outer island. I said I would be us to going to an outer island instead of a main island because I thing it'll be more rewarding. Today is Sunday here and I am writing in a building next to the hotel. Early this morning I had a medical interview where I got three shots and gave the medical officer my medical questionaire. Afterwards I went to a Wal Mart knockoff named "Wall (with 2 Ls) Mart" where I got some envelopes and some snacks. This afternoon I have a host family session with the training coordinator. I start training tomorrow and will be moved in with a host family. I'm a little nervous but I positive that it will go well. I will be staying with them in a rural community in Pohnpei for three weeks before I will be moved to another host family on the main island state for six weeks. During part 2 of training, I will be moved to the main island of my assigned island state. I will be staying for another host family there and will have language and cultural training. After training, I will be most likely be placed on an outer island in my assignment state, whether it be Kosrae, Yap, Pohnpei or Chuuck. The food is great here. Last night we had sashimi, chicken, coleslaw, tarro, rice, spagehtti and other good stuff. It is very beautiful here. There are many palm and banna trees and the water is bluish gree. Mountains surround the ocean and the buildings and coated with beautiful bright colors. I'm enjoying my time here so far. Well, that's it for now. This will be my last post for a while. Please mail my your addresses so I can write you letters.
-Ben
After being on a plane for 15-20 hours, I arrived in Kolonia, Pohnpei, Micronesia with the rest of the PCTs yesterday at 2:30 Pacific time. We were greeted by the language coordinator and the programming and training officer. When I stepped off the plane, it wasn't as hot as I thought it was going to be but it was still very warm. Children and adults stared at us and were only a few yards from the plane. We put our stuff in a PC truck and went to the hotel on a bus. Current Peace Corps Volunteers and PC stuff greeted us at the hotel. We were warmed greeted with local food and coconut milk in the coconut shell. Between our arrival and dinner, we had interviews. Yesterday I had an interview with the training officer which has pretty laidback. She asked me about myself, and whether I would mind being stationed on an outer island. I said I would be us to going to an outer island instead of a main island because I thing it'll be more rewarding. Today is Sunday here and I am writing in a building next to the hotel. Early this morning I had a medical interview where I got three shots and gave the medical officer my medical questionaire. Afterwards I went to a Wal Mart knockoff named "Wall (with 2 Ls) Mart" where I got some envelopes and some snacks. This afternoon I have a host family session with the training coordinator. I start training tomorrow and will be moved in with a host family. I'm a little nervous but I positive that it will go well. I will be staying with them in a rural community in Pohnpei for three weeks before I will be moved to another host family on the main island state for six weeks. During part 2 of training, I will be moved to the main island of my assigned island state. I will be staying for another host family there and will have language and cultural training. After training, I will be most likely be placed on an outer island in my assignment state, whether it be Kosrae, Yap, Pohnpei or Chuuck. The food is great here. Last night we had sashimi, chicken, coleslaw, tarro, rice, spagehtti and other good stuff. It is very beautiful here. There are many palm and banna trees and the water is bluish gree. Mountains surround the ocean and the buildings and coated with beautiful bright colors. I'm enjoying my time here so far. Well, that's it for now. This will be my last post for a while. Please mail my your addresses so I can write you letters.
-Ben
Monday, September 1, 2008
Last Week Home
This week will be my last week home before I board a plane and leave for a 2 day orientation in LA and Micronesia afterwards. On Sunday I said goodbye to family and friends at my going away party. Thanks to those of you who came out and helped to send me off right. I will miss you all.
What am I doing now until I leave? Well, my mom and I are supposed to take a short trip to Ocean City where we'll stay at our neighbor's condo. I'll probably do a little kayaking and reading up on some important Peace Corps materials. I still have to pack all my stuff which I hope will be a simple ordeal now that I know what I'm bringing.
I'm leaving BWI Monday evening. Anyone who wants to send me off one last time is welcome to so just let me know if you're interested. That's it for me, at least until I get to Micronesia. Take care.
What am I doing now until I leave? Well, my mom and I are supposed to take a short trip to Ocean City where we'll stay at our neighbor's condo. I'll probably do a little kayaking and reading up on some important Peace Corps materials. I still have to pack all my stuff which I hope will be a simple ordeal now that I know what I'm bringing.
I'm leaving BWI Monday evening. Anyone who wants to send me off one last time is welcome to so just let me know if you're interested. That's it for me, at least until I get to Micronesia. Take care.
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