island living

I have been off Satowan for one week now, and I can safely say that, although being connected with news and family has been a huge emotional boost, I can’t wait until I get back out there. Truth be told, I did not expect such a powerful pull to draw me back – at least, not this soon. Maybe the ocean currents have seeped into my blood, and like the undertow after a big wave breaks on the reef, my subconscious is saying ‘go back, go home.’

Landing in Pohnpei on Monday was a HUGE culture shock. That sentence alone might not mean much, but realize two things: Pohnpei is the size of Swartz Creek, and Satowan is the size of (if not smaller) than the United Methodist Church of Swartz Creek. If you can imagine living inside a community the size of the church for 3 months, and then exiting the front doors one day and rediscovering Swartz Creek, you might just be in for a surprise. Seeing cars, taxi drivers, other “Western” people, restaurants, hustle-and-bustle, and signs was like information overload. In some ways, it stands as a harbinger of the culture shock yet to come when I arrive back stateside after my service. The familiarity and intimacy you get from being in such close quarters to so few people explodes into a dizzying anonymity when you leave the comfort zone.

Now I am back in Weno, and I feel more comfortable here, even though Chuuk is basically a failed state, in terms of development, economics, and politics. [I’ll save my observations on the political scene (we are in a run-off election right now) for private emails and conversations.] Weno is much smaller than Pohnpei, and I am more “at home” here, with a host family, faces and people that I recognize from my earlier 3 months of training, and, of course, a common language that ties it all together. In no small way, communication represents the defining linkage between me and my community here in Micronesia; as my language understanding and vocabulary improves, so, too, does my sense of relationship and connection. Without these attributes, I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I have, nor would I have the strength, will, or desire to continue on.

Lest I paint a picture of roses without thorns, I must be honest that the first three months have been a difficult stretch. Peace Corps warned us that the initial weeks of service would be the toughest – initial culture shock, difficulty of being immersed in a new language, emotional stress of being without contact/communication, and having to deal with new stresses without the ability to rely on old stress-relief mechanisms. I am now officially a professional in each of the four preceding categories, having struggled, at times valiantly and at times like a baby, through it all. Like the last post, I feel like I have come through the Refiner’s fire, and I’m shining like new! Hopefully my personal development will be somewhat evidenced in these posts as I reflect on the past three months and answer your questions. Keep ‘em coming!

Love,
Alex

Back (for a bit...)

Ran allem!!!

Tiro me fairo aami monson... (that's: "hello, excuse me everybody" - typical salutation when you start a greeting)

Well I'm alive and in Pohnpei. Satawan is great - realllllllllllly great. I will take some time to offer some real reflections on this first leg of the journey. I will be in Chuuk tomorrow, but just wanted to take a moment now to thank you for all the love, prayers, and support you've offered me and my family. The first three months of service are definitely a very challenging period, but I feel like I've been through the refiner's fire and am stronger for the next part of my service. So thank you very, very much.

Feel free to leave comments on this with specific questions that I can answer on my next post. Killisou chappur aami monson! O le no!

not 'bye', just 'see ya later'

Well the day has finally come (or is coming). I will be leaving on December 12 for Satawan! My host father is in Weno and has arranged for me to take the FSM Coast Guard Patrol Boat with him out to the Mortlocks. The ride will thus be faster and smoother than if I were taking one of the smaller fishing boats. Praise God!

At the present time, I am running around town buying supplies to take out, sending emails, sending mail, writing this blog, etc. The immediacy of this has given me a sudden burst of excitement about getting out there, but I am trying to pace myself because once on-island, things will be much s l o w e r...

Mortlocks HS, where I will teach, has sadly not begun their school year yet. The Chuuk Dept of Education's shipment of food was postponed to Satawan (for various reasons...) which delayed their start. Because students come to the HS from each of the several Mortlocks Islands, they have to stay with host families while they attend school. Part of the deal is that the state will provide lunchs to remove a burden from the families. No lunches = No school.

Thankfully, the HS just got solar panels which will allow for night classes. This, in addition to Saturday classes, will hopefully get us caught up and salvage some of the summer. We'll see!

I will be back in Weno in March for an in-service training of all volunteers for a few days. At that time, I will be able to give many updates about my first 2.5 months there. To everyone who has posted comments: thank you so much for you thoughts and prayers and well-wishes: I wish there were some way I could hit "reply" to your posts. I go with your support behind me!

PEACE and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Alex