Hello all...sorry for the long wait in sending you info! I will be placed on Satawan Island of Chuuk State - no electricity, no internet, no phone! I leave on 10/4 for Chuuk, but I will be in the capital of Weno for 6 weeks until I depart for the island. During that time I will hopefully have access to internet/phone.
My new address is (effective immediately):
Alex Plum, Peace Corps
PO Box 39
Weno, Chuuk, FM
96942
If you send me a blank CD I can burn you some of the pictures I’ve been taking and then send it back to you (loading images onto the computer is very, very expensive and time consuming). Yesterday I went to the ruins of Nan Madol, one of the first ports/kingdoms/forts built on the southern coast of Madolenihmw thousands of years ago. After taking pictures of the ruins, you can swim out to an outpost about 50 yards off the coast, climb to the top, and jump off into the waters below, about 20 feet down. It was about an hour walk from my host family’s home.
The Ringlen family is hosting me here. Rizal and Jayleen (30 and 28, respectively) are the parents of Rijay (10), Richie (6), and Richen (1 ½). Rizal’s dad, Edwin, also lives with us (I believe it is Edwin’s house). It’s a great place to stay; tile floors, big kitchen, my own room, running water toilet, and a bucket shower (fun experience). The kids are interested in all the weird gadgets that I brought, from my iPod (current favorite song is the theme from Snakes on a Plane) to my computer (taught Rijay how to use MS Word last night..hahaha) to my camera (they like to mimic Western culture whenever I take their pictures, which basically means they turn into gangsta thugs and flip the bird…thanks, USA).
Well, that’s enough updates for now. Hopefully I will have more regular internet connection for the 6 weeks I’m in Weno for the second phase of Pre Service Training. Once I’m placed on Satawan, however, these posts will come monthly at best…such is the life of a Peace Corps soon-to-be Volunteer.
Peace,
Alex
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Micronesia...I'm here!
Micronesia…I’m here!
Well we’re here in Pohnpei, one of the four island states of the Federated States of Micronesia. The city is Kolonia, which is the capital. The plane trip was intense. We left Hawaii at 6:55am (Hawaii time) and flew to Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands – trip time 4h 45m, crossing the International Dateline. Half the plane “deplaned” so Marshall Islands police could do a security sweep of the plane; we waited in the outdoor airport lobby for 20 minutes or so. Then we took off for Kwajelein, a US military installation in the Marshall Islands network, flight time 45min. Some people’s trip ended here. We took back off and landed in Kosrae, the easternmost island state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Deplaned for 20 minutes, got back on, and an hour later we landed in Pohnpei.
I usually don’t take window seats on planes because of my irrational fear of getting sucked out the window in the event of an explosion. But the scenery upon landing has made me consider revamping my live-saving strategy. Coral reefs and very small atolls (in addition to our ears popping) signaled that our landing was imminent. The first sight of the island was pure green – exotic trees covering everything, with the occasional house nestled in. This island, I’m told, was formed by volcanic activity, which would explain the huge rock formations which give the appearance of a mountain range. The blue-green lagoons dotting the coast are a huge temptation to just go swimming – the color looks computer generated. It’s breath taking and unreal.
We landed, boarded a bus, and are at the hotel right now. We were greeted by a ton of Peace Corps staff people – so many smiles and hugs and hand-shakes. In the hotel’s “conference room” we found a smorgasbord of local foods for snacking (the conference room is air conditioned, but it’s a separate building from the hotel). Three groups were separated for different aspects of training – we rotate trainings until we leave Monday morning. Tonight was host family training…look for another post on that topic later.
FYI: From my training manual a warning about my future communication starting Monday here (Sunday night for you in the EST):
Trainees should assume that they will not have email access during PreService training, and limited phone access – some host families have phones and some do not. From any phone, you will need to use a calling card to call internationally. Please make sure that your family and friends are aware that your ability to communicate with them during PST will be extremely limited, and you will likely not be able to communicate to call them at a specific time.
Thank you for the prayers and thoughts. I’m ecstatic to be here, and I’m getting really excited as I keep thinking about what the next weeks and months are going to bring!
Love,
Alex
Well we’re here in Pohnpei, one of the four island states of the Federated States of Micronesia. The city is Kolonia, which is the capital. The plane trip was intense. We left Hawaii at 6:55am (Hawaii time) and flew to Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands – trip time 4h 45m, crossing the International Dateline. Half the plane “deplaned” so Marshall Islands police could do a security sweep of the plane; we waited in the outdoor airport lobby for 20 minutes or so. Then we took off for Kwajelein, a US military installation in the Marshall Islands network, flight time 45min. Some people’s trip ended here. We took back off and landed in Kosrae, the easternmost island state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Deplaned for 20 minutes, got back on, and an hour later we landed in Pohnpei.
I usually don’t take window seats on planes because of my irrational fear of getting sucked out the window in the event of an explosion. But the scenery upon landing has made me consider revamping my live-saving strategy. Coral reefs and very small atolls (in addition to our ears popping) signaled that our landing was imminent. The first sight of the island was pure green – exotic trees covering everything, with the occasional house nestled in. This island, I’m told, was formed by volcanic activity, which would explain the huge rock formations which give the appearance of a mountain range. The blue-green lagoons dotting the coast are a huge temptation to just go swimming – the color looks computer generated. It’s breath taking and unreal.
We landed, boarded a bus, and are at the hotel right now. We were greeted by a ton of Peace Corps staff people – so many smiles and hugs and hand-shakes. In the hotel’s “conference room” we found a smorgasbord of local foods for snacking (the conference room is air conditioned, but it’s a separate building from the hotel). Three groups were separated for different aspects of training – we rotate trainings until we leave Monday morning. Tonight was host family training…look for another post on that topic later.
FYI: From my training manual a warning about my future communication starting Monday here (Sunday night for you in the EST):
Trainees should assume that they will not have email access during PreService training, and limited phone access – some host families have phones and some do not. From any phone, you will need to use a calling card to call internationally. Please make sure that your family and friends are aware that your ability to communicate with them during PST will be extremely limited, and you will likely not be able to communicate to call them at a specific time.
Thank you for the prayers and thoughts. I’m ecstatic to be here, and I’m getting really excited as I keep thinking about what the next weeks and months are going to bring!
Love,
Alex
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hawaii
Aloha!
We landed here at 5:00pm Hawaii time (11:00pm EST) after a 5 hour plane ride or so....very smooth ride. Obviously only here for a very short while, we leave at 3:30am Hawaii time (9:30am EST) for the airport again, to depart for Micronesia, making 3 pit stops along the way.
We cross the dateline during this whole thing, so instead of being behind you all, I'll soon be ahead of you. When we land in Kolonia we will be 15 hours ahead of you: 2:30pm Pohnpei time on Saturday 9/13 is actually going to be 11:30pm Friday 9/12!
No more updates...nothing has really happened. Oh wait...a guy named Michael B. is joining our training class because his program in Georgia was suspended after all of the South Ossetia drama.
I'll hopefully have a post (with some pictures) later on tonight or when we're in Micronesia!
Peace,
Alex
We landed here at 5:00pm Hawaii time (11:00pm EST) after a 5 hour plane ride or so....very smooth ride. Obviously only here for a very short while, we leave at 3:30am Hawaii time (9:30am EST) for the airport again, to depart for Micronesia, making 3 pit stops along the way.
We cross the dateline during this whole thing, so instead of being behind you all, I'll soon be ahead of you. When we land in Kolonia we will be 15 hours ahead of you: 2:30pm Pohnpei time on Saturday 9/13 is actually going to be 11:30pm Friday 9/12!
No more updates...nothing has really happened. Oh wait...a guy named Michael B. is joining our training class because his program in Georgia was suspended after all of the South Ossetia drama.
I'll hopefully have a post (with some pictures) later on tonight or when we're in Micronesia!
Peace,
Alex
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Welcome to Staging Part 2
Our staging has been going pretty well. There are 27 of us who are training together here in LA, and the group dynamic looks pretty good, even though we are still in “honeymoon” stage. We got out at 7:15pm last night and all of us lined up at the ATM machine to withdraw our staging allowance and per diem - $180 for three days. Then 10 of us walked down West Century Blvd to Denny’s for dinner.
The time change turned my biological clock upside down, but I feel pretty rested this morning. We got a huge update of our next few days, so that’s what follows in short-form. I turn my phone off tonight for good (for 2 years).
9/11 we fly LA to
9/13 & 9/14: Medical shots, interviews with training staff, getting to know trainers, learning about PC/Micronesia. We move to our training host families on Monday, 9/15.
9/15: Move in with first host family near Pohnpei. From my training manual: “Trainees will be assigned to host families in villages throughout the municipality that they will live with for the next three weeks. All of the families will have access to water and the washroom may be an “outhouse” type facility, a water seal toilet, or a more Western-type facility. Trainees will take bucket type showers. Trainees will have their own room, and will likely be the only person in the house with his/her own sleeping area. Sharing belongings is a cultural norm, so make sure to have locks on luggage if there are valuables you need protecting.”
This is Phase I of pre-service training. It includes general orientation, medical and admin training and orientation, water safety, and some basic technical training.
9/27: I find out my site assignment right around this date (which island I will serve on).
10/3 and 10/4: Move to the island of service to begin Phase II of pre-service training. Phase II training includes language, cultural, and more technical training. At this time, we will be living with our local family – the family with whom I will live for the next 2 years!!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Welcome to Staging - Part One
I'm here in sunny LA, officially as of 1:15pm (PST). The plane ride was bumpy...very bumpy; one flight attendant blamed it on the weather (specifically the Hurricanes), but as I de-planed, I got the skinny ---- the baggage attendants in Atlanta did a "poor" job of loading the plane, which contributed to the bumpiness until we roller-coastered up to 38,000 feet. Adventurous....!
At any rate, I have a roommate named Morgan. I saw his stuff in the room, but I haven't met him yet. I am sitting at the hotel bar, enjoying a Gin & Tonic (I deserve it) and watching the pizza to my left get cold. I'll have more tonight after I register and we have our first training setting meeting.
Peace!
At any rate, I have a roommate named Morgan. I saw his stuff in the room, but I haven't met him yet. I am sitting at the hotel bar, enjoying a Gin & Tonic (I deserve it) and watching the pizza to my left get cold. I'll have more tonight after I register and we have our first training setting meeting.
Peace!
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