Technological Issues

Dear Readers ,

As amazing as technology can be it can also be extremely frustrating. Before I left to head back to site I had set up my post to release 2 post every week for you all. Some how their was a glitch in the system and the post kicked out on the 19th of July. Which makes me sad!! I was completely unaware of it and as technology isn't something I have had a lot of exposure to in Vanuatu I wasn't able to fix it.

I am state side at the moment having a few surgeries on my jaw. (Fun story that was suppose to be up already). I will be looking into what happened and trying to resolve it as soon as possible.

I mainly wanted to let you all know I am alive and well.

In the mean time I have been able to upload some YouTube videos so feel free to go view them at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3SipeWv7JraJ_rjeS_xTyQ

You can see my home, the dogs as well as some silly songs with Coconuts.

Again I am so sorry I had no clue but then again I do live in a developing world so things like this are bound to happen.

On the plus side if you need to get up with me I do have a working phone and internet at the moment so I can answer any questions you might have about Peace Corps or Vanuatu. Feel free to e-mail me at Jumpn4vanuatu@gmail.com

Until Next Time!!
Jump In The Jungle

First Large Community Meeting

So the water pipe broke, and the source of the water is beginning to be spoiled, and not everyone has been paying their water fees. Which is 100 vt ( $1.00 US) but keep in mind that's a LOT of money here. So for 6 months the fee is 600 vt. This fee goes to maintain the pipes and since that hasn't been paid by everyone, the pipe hasn't been fixed yet.  Right now the water runs because it's a taped up job but it won't hold for long.  Part of this is also due to the community not meeting together. So today my counterpart called a huge community meeting.  This meeting was emotional for me because the people here are soft spoken most of the time and since the mamas are in a separate place, it makes it even harder to hear. Also people spoke in both language and bislama. I only know basic bislama so there were times I was completely lost.   Since this has so much to do with work Peace Corps has done and it's vital to my project (water seal toilets), I really wanted to understand.  

I only spoke up once and that was when the mamas opinions were asked and I shared what I heard and what I felt. But I said over and over it's not my opinion that counts, it's the community. There was a lot of discussion and a few cross words BUT in the end a plan was put into place and the fees hopefully will be enough to properly repair the pipe. 

It was interesting to see how things were handled.  After the meeting I had my counterpart give me a summary to make sure I understood the important things. 
It will be an interesting two years here, that is for sure :-)

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Rainy Saturday

So I woke up to rain Saturday, which meant the ground was muddy outside, which then means I stay close to home as I just haven't learned to walk on muddy mountains yet. So after breakfast (boiled ripe bananas with coconut milk and avocado) my sister and I then split open Nanaimbe (a nut), cleaned them, and then after setting the sweet aside to soak, we boiled them. Then one of the guys from the village came over and he and Papa made my solar box.  (A box to hold up the solar.)  While they did that I finished unpacking the last pile of things and now everything more or less has a spot in my house. I also put up a world map and photos.  I realized a few important people are missing so please send photos.  The kids loved looking at them, it made me smile. 

After the box was done and Mom and I flattened out the mats, it was time to go to the garden. (I bought seeds to plant salad and since it was raining they wanted to plant them) but me and my sister already had plans to make coconut oil before we knew about the garden so we stayed and it was a blast. We fought over me scratching the coconuts, she didn't want to let me do any of it, so we came up with a 2 by 2 rule where she scratched 2 then I scratched 2. After making the oil, which takes some time, we rested a little. I practiced knots and then got really bored and started to read.  Shortly after, my sister walked by and I talked her into trying Uno. We played 8 rounds and then decide 7 luck would be better. We played that for 2 hours and some other kids joined in and left along the way, some came and looked at the photos and map. It was fun. We finished up around half past five.

Papa was the first one back from the garden and he shared all he had planted and where. I'm excited to see how they grow. Then Mama came back and we started dinner. My sister and I tied island cabbage while Mom cleaned yam. I then milked a coconut over the cabbage and we put them on the fire to boil.  Then I went to swim (wash via a bucket) and came back and played silly games with my brother and one of his friends until dinner.

After dinner we showed everyone the coconut oil we made today and I headed to my place to get ready for bed.

I brushed my teeth, flossed, then washed my feet off again before I headed to bed. I then wrote this post and it's only 7:44pm and I'm fighting to keep my eyes open!

Wow how my life had changed and I say for the better!

Until next time
JumpInTheJungle

BEST Laplap Ever.

So for breakfast Mom made a yam laplap inside of bamboo. There was no coconut milk in it. It was just scratched yam roasted inside green bamboo, but man did it taste AMAZING! I think it's gonna become a staple over the next 2 years. I might make a video and show it to you next time.  Sooooooo yummy! 

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Shrimp....no, Craw Fish

So when we went down to the river, my brother and sister joined shortly behind. After they got there my little brother went on a hunt for crawfish. About 15 minutes later he came back empty handed.  My mom decided to try.  And over who knows how long, she tossed two big ones and one small one up on the rock by me.  My job was to keep them from going back into the river, which took more effort then I thought it would, but I managed. We went home with three crawfish which later my sister cooked for me in banana laplap. I wish I knew how to get them to stop giving me the best they have.  I'm honored, it but I don't want them not to enjoy things just because I'm around.  It's complicated some times. I tried to eat one and offer the other, but they wouldn't eat them. Finally, my mom ate the heads (which I don't like at all). But maybe a year from now I'll be the one catching them and cooking the

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

River

So in the name of "exercise" (I plan on doing a lot of things under that reasoning) we walked down to the small river. And by down I do mean DOWN, like slight drop offs down. It took a bit of courage as downs are very hard on my knees and I'm still not 100% from my oral surgery BUT I did it even after falling down. We made it and it was a small running stream.  Mama was explaining to me how the mamas would have to do the walk in the soft mud during rainy season to get water to cook, to bathe, and to clean clothing and dishes. She said how grateful she was for the last Peace Corps and how much the water taps changed their lives. She told me about mamas who got injured, how people just wouldn't wash after a long day because of the hike. I honestly wish I could have recorded her standing in the stream talking about how, because of a Peace Corps volunteer, their lives were forever changed and the mamas were safer now. Jasmine, the previous volunteer here, truly changed this village and the lives of the people in it.  And, to be honest, mine! There is no way I could make that hike multiple times a day, as I know she did, and I'm so grateful she did. I'm also grateful for her hard work and determination.  

The walk to the river put a lot of things into perspective.  As now, the water system is starting to need repairs and fees are hard to collect in rainy season because no one comes to buy coco, or coconut flesh (copra), so no money is made.  But the day I arrived my counter part (the person I work directly with in the village) came to me and said, "Sunday we are having a water meeting, repairs need to be discussed!"  I was so happy and proud that I get to help sustain the work that Jasmine put in. Yay for second generation sites!!! Here's to seeing what I can do. 

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

It's my birthday!!

So since it's my birthday I thought I would do 30 things I have learned turning 30 in the Peace Corps!!

1. I have learned I can do hard things.
2. I have learned I am only as old as I act! (Some day's I'm 2 some 40!!)
3. I have learned to laugh through the tears.
4. I have learned being present is worth so much more then just being there!
5. I have learned we need each other.
6. I have learned nothing happens when you try and do it all on your own.
7. I have learned life is NOT about me, it's about US, WE, & THEM.
8. I have learned hanging on to a rope isn't as fun as letting go some times.
9. I have learned dancing randomly is necessary for sanity.
10. I have learned falling is a part of getting places.
11. I have learned mud covered legs are OK it means you made the journey.
12. I have learned that I take myself to serious, no one else expects me to get it right the 1st time. .
13. I have learned physical letters are like hugs.
14. I have learned the world is much smaller then I ever thought.
15. I have learned we all want to know the WHY behind what we are asked to do.
16. I have learned the successes aren't always as important as the growth of failures.
17. I have learned what is said isn't as important as HOW it's said.
18. I have learned anger changes NOTHING!
19. I have learned I don't need things I need people.
20. I have learned people really just want to know you care.
21. I have learned dancing in the rain can cleans the soul.
22. I have learned if you really want it bad enough you will figure out a way to make it happen.
23. I have learned the sun is always there even if right now you can't see or feel it..
24. I have learned sometimes the heat from a dying fire is more effective then flames.
25. I have learned everyone has knowledge, slow down you never know what they might teach you.
26. I have learned there is always more then ONE answer to a problem!
27. I have learned the size of my waist has NOTHING to do with what I am capable of.
28. I have learned time is only how we judge moments of life!
29. I have learned that others opinions only matter if you let them.
30. I have learned that I still have so very much left to learn!

Food!

I've talked a lot about island cabbage, I thought I'd show you what it looks like.

This is a photo of the food I brought back from the two markets on my whirlwind of trips out to site and back. You'll notice some HUGE cucumbers, they were 200 vt. (The easiest is to see the number and move the . over 2 to make it dollars 200vt = $2.00.  It's not direct BUT very close). The oranges were 30 vt.  The pomplemouse?  (Which is a big grapefruit and comes in red and white) it cost 30vt.  The island cabbage, which are the big bundles, are a standard 100 vt but the bundles change in size. Next you have bundles of freshly pulled peanuts still attached for 100vt. So basically everything on that table cost $10.00 total. Talk about an awesome day at the market.

Awkward Moment

So there was an area meeting today and all the men meet with all the chiefs.  After the meeting ALL, and I do mean ALL, of the young men from Gallaley (a village on the other side of the bush) came to shake hands and story. They have a new Peace Corps volunteer as well, so we swapped stories. It will be interesting to hear what they go back and share. But after about 5 minutes of talking I was looking at a line of 13+ men who I had very little to say to. Thank goodness my papa was coming back from the garden so I could make dinner, or else we might have sat and looked at each other for an endless amount of time. But as awkward as it was, it was also kinda cool to stop and meet a whole group of guys from a village that's a three hour walk away! It'll make it easier when I go do co-teaching over there and vise versa. I'm sure this is the first of many awkward moments ahead in my life. 

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Seven Luck

Seven luck is a card game that you play with face cards BUT it is more like uno. 4 is reverse one turn, 2 is draw 2, 8 is skip, J is how you change the suit or #, Joker is a wild card that you lay a card on top of it and it changes the top playing card. The major difference is that the 7 of Hearts ends the game at any time and the person with the highest points has to shuffle. I recently learned the cards are called different things among the different islands. For example in Efate the queen is Misses, here in Womul it's called 16 ( the number of points it cost).  Here there is also Pig, I'm still not sure which card that is. 

Any way, the other day I was sitting under a fruit tree playing with my host family and before long half the village kids were over and a few adults. Card games seem to be a universal get-together activity which I plan on using. Now if I can only teach them spades....in due time I'm bound to win.  Lol 

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Laplap

Today there was a big meeting so Mom and I made laplap. I swear there is something relaxing about scratching starch down to a liquid/solid state. I went into the kitchen and took over so Mom could finish the clothes before the rain came. I must have scratched about 20 green bananas; my hands were covered.  But it was so relaxing. My little sister scratched the coconuts,  I don't like those as much.  Mainly they make my wrist hurt after 2.  But we just sat in the kitchen and made laplap and made small talk.  My sister is still shy around me, I think that will change in time but I still love making her laugh,  Which I do rarely and normally by splashing water on her.  But none the less it's fun! Cooking takes a lot of time here but it is something you're rarely in a rush to do.  And I'll be honest right now, I enjoy making laplap more than I enjoy eating it.  But that too I'm sure will change with time. 

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Power of the Web

One of the projects I'm working on is toilets at site. My site is full of soft mud, so it makes the pit toilets a bit harder due to the flooding.  I have been in Vila for some medical stuff so I had the internet.  I downloaded TED talks. If you aren't aware of TED, PLEASE go check it out! www.ted.com 

Anyway, I was listening to toilet talks and one of the presenters happens to be a professor at my graduate school. I sent him an email, honestly not expecting a reply (because I know how busy teachers are), BUT I got a reply and we were able to connect via Skype.  I now have more information about toilets and UDDT (Urine Diverting Dry Toilets) then I could ever have found on my own. I'm so excited.  Yes, I said I'm excited to read about toilets!  Oh Peace Corps, what are you doing to me?  lol. Any way I diverge.  I think it's just amazing what the Internet can do! The possibilities are endless for changing the world and yet I still spend a large amount of time on Facebook when I'm in town.... think this might change as I have less and less access to the world wide web (www). I'll let you know what I learn from all the info I got.

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Rebuilding from the Storm

So after getting to Womul and walking around, my project focus has shifted slightly.  I think I'm going to need everyone's help when the time comes. Our aid post was damaged and either has to be torn down or replaced.  The goal is to replace it with a building that can be used for protection in the next cyclone to come. Also, the community center was completely demolished. Both need to be redone and made stronger.  In the storm a lot of our posters, books, and medical stuff was damaged due to the roof and support beam collapsing.  When the time comes I may need you all's help funding part of this project!! So start saving pennies and dimes now ;-) because I'm sure I'm going to need help with this one. 

More will come as we price out everything and figure out what funding is available here. 

Stay tuned

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Arriving At Site: Part Two

The best thing about Vanuatu is how things make it to you. For example, since I was passing both Lauras, I could bring stuff to them. Then Cade had a package that came for Laura (g26) and I had already left the city.  We didn't think we would meet up, then next thing I know I see a white man standing in the bed of the truck behind me. We saw each other at the same time, smiled, and stopped our trucks. He brought me the package, we shook hands and took off our separate ways. We both laughed when we saw each other again two hours later. That's the thing I love about here: you never know who you are gonna see where. And you never know how many hands a letter passes through before it comes to you. But it will some how, some way, make it to you. The same is true for passing messages across villages.  We call it coconut wireless! It's effective and it's a vital part of the culture here. 

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Arriving at Site: Part One

So I flew again into Norsep after getting my tooth fixed.  Me and the guy running the airport waved at each other, smiled ,and laughed--no words were exchanged. I flew with Laura's (g26) brother and we took the same truck. We made a few errands in town as per normal.  We then went to Laura's (g27) house and got my stuff that came off the boat. Then her host mom gave us food and water. We then went and picked up the rest of my stuff from Kelsey's.  Mind you, there were 4 people in the truck bed, a tire, 2 bags of someone else's and then ALL my stuff.  And it's a 5 hour drive.  But what made my day was when we shifted stuff around to fit 2 more people. It was AMAZING riding in the back of the truck, sun full on and dust flying everywhere.  To be honest, I refused the cab of the truck for many reasons BUT the main one is I love riding in the bed of the truck. I was so giddy it could have poured rain and I would have sang in it. I was on my way to site and nothing was gonna keep me away this time. (Or so I desperately hoped!) As the truck finally turned up the hill to my village I could feel my joy grow with every turn of the wheel. It could have gotten stuck and I would have ran (well walked steadfastly) home. Which, had we waited a day, I would have walked (when it rains the road isn't passable,  today it's raining).  We didn't wait though and I saw my little village and was so dang excited. I MADE IT AT LAST!!  As we unloaded everything into my house I was overwhelmed with a love for this village.  I know there will be moments of frustration, but I am in love with this place that just appears out of the middle of no where. Womul is an amazing place full of amazing people who work hard to enjoy a simple life and I'm honored to be a part of this wonderful place. 

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Any Reason for Ice Cream

So I think I'm out of reasons to have ice-cream when oral surgery is my excuse ;-) Just Kidding.  I had my dental surgery, where we extracted my tooth which shattered and he had to take it out piece by piece, BUT it's out. He did an immediate post, which is where he drills into the bone to put a screw that later on will have a screw go on top (September some time). After, the dentist placed a bone graph to help hold the screw tighter.  The surgery was intense and I was awake for it all with a local anaesthetic to numb my mouth, but the dentist was AMAZING: sweet and kind. I'm just glad it's over. I'm heading back out to site tomorrow and hopefully this time I'll make it all the way :-)

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

A Great Stroll and a Wandering Mind

So it's a Saturday and I have nothing to do, so I decided to walk down by the salt water. It is interesting how much this place has begun to feel like home in such a short time. As I saw the cruise ship sitting in the ocean I couldn't help but feel a  sense of deep gratitude that I have the chance to really stop and spend time in this great country. I also feel so much gratitude for the tourists who come, because they help provide opportunities for skills to be cultivated by the locals working in the business sectors. So yes, come visit!! No, you won't regret it!!

I guess today I'm just full of gratitude to be able to have had a chance to step out of the hectic side of life without worrying about bills and jobs and food.  Here all those things are taken care of.  My job is to enjoy this country and see how it works and share those experiences with you. I also get to share information on health related issues and in Womul I get to figure out how to make sustainable toilets in a remote village that floods.  This has almost turned into a game because every time I think we've found one that might work, I get to find reasons that one won't work there. But that's fine, that's my job: figure out what won't work until we figure out what will! 

If I haven't said it in a while, I love what I do here.  I LOVE VANUATU and all its amazing adventures. And I'm so very grateful you guys follow along with my adventures!

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

1000 Words

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So the other day I meet a man who speaks volumes.  His name is Kyle Mijlof, he is from South Africa and has toured over 50 countries capturing stories. I sat and chatted with him for some time the other night and looked over a few of his photos. Needless to say, I was taken away by them. He just got hired to do some work here in Vanuatu. He was coming on holiday but got recruited and I'm so glad he did. He is gonna upload some images to his instagram which is @MIJLOF.  Go find him and follow. I promise you'll be in love with his work. I'm so grateful I got to meet him and see his work I'm excited to see what images he selects for this beautiful country! He also has a blog that has stunning work.  It's kylemijlof.blogspot.com  Please go check it out and tell me what you think.

Once he's done with the ones specifically of Vanuatu I'll share them here as well.

Update:

Here is two of my favorite one that Kyle did!! Again PLEASE follow him on Instagram and go check out the rest of his photo's from Vanuatu!!

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Medical Update

So I went to the dentist and, yuppers, I did a great job!  Like I said with the giardia: if I do it, I do it well.  This includes medical stuff. The tooth broke below the gum line so we have 2 options.  Either we cut into my bone and cut away part of my gum then make a crown that would last about 5 years or so. The second option was they cut into my gum and take out the molar and in 3 months we start the process for an implant. Both require gum cutting so it requires an e-mail to DC for approval and since it's now after 5pm on Thursday in the USA, we will have to wait until Monday (as today is Friday here). Which means another weekend in Vila. And on the foot side of things, it's wrapped and up on the couch. And I'm instructed to stay off it for the weekend.  We'll see how that goes. But either way I'm in Vila so I'll make the best out of it. I'll let you know when I know what we end up doing and how it goes.

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

A Chain of Crazy Events

So after a crazy rounds of "go"'s and "no go"'s I finally head out on the plane to Malakula.  Man was I so happy when that plane took off. The ride was a wave of emotions!!! I was on air (literally). The ride was also bumpy but when the plane touched down in Norsup? We clapped! It was time to make work and settle in as good as we could until our stuff comes in on the boat.  After we unloaded, there was a chain of events that seems like a story out of a movie. The truck we chartered to get to site found out the boat wasn't coming so it cancelled.  A half charter was made with time to get stuff in Lakatoro (the province center area). As we made purchases like rice etc. I kept getting more and more anxious. I just wanted to get to site! As is custom with island time, 1 turned to 3 and finally we were on the road. Well in that extra time we walked up to a store to kill time. As I was walking out I twisted (or as I would later find out I dislocated) my ankle. Me, plus the local around me, heard it pop. I still have no clue how it happened but good-gosh-almighty, it HURT! I could still walk and thats just what I did. I walked to the handy craft market, got a fan, sat down, and tried to decide what to do. My ace wrap was in the box in storage that would come on the boat. Since I was in the city, we were able to find ice. Someone went and got me some as I sat in the shade. As I started rubbing it, one of the mamas asked what was wrong. Laura (the one I stayed with last time I was in town) said she fell and hurt it. The mamas called out to another mamas and said "bring the oil". Right there on the porch of the handy craft market she sat down, took my leg on her lap, said "sorry", and then started massaging my foot. It hurt badly as she moved it around for a solid 10 minutes; massaging and turning it, then it popped and instantly it felt a ton better. It's still sore and bruised but man does it feel a ton better. But once it was reset I was like, "sweet! No worries now." Shortly after it realigned, the truck showed up and it was time to head HOME to Womul.

There we were: Me, Cade going to his site (which is on the way to my site so we chartered together), and Laura (G 26 who was helping Cade make it to his new site as his old one got destroyed in the cyclone).  We were flying down the road because it was a Wednesday and no one was around. (The road is busiest Friday and Monday). We stopped at a few markets on the way and needed to swing by and pick up something from Kelsey (the one who took me to site when I went). The market just from her house had AMAZING bananas and the driver stopped to pick up some. I was kinda hungry so I picked up some peanuts.  Yumminess!! I had eaten a few but then as I popped another one in my mouth and started chewing....well the worst thing happened.  The tooth I had just gone to the dentist to get the crown reset, BROKE! I could feel the crown the second it came up and I instantly knew what that meant. No matter what I couldn't fix this one or wait 7 weeks. The hole in my mouth is huge and ripe for infection and my site is hard to get in and out off. I knew I HAD to go back to Vila. I instantly started crying and poor Laura and Cade had to wait a few seconds for me to calm down enough to explain what happened. The crazy thing is that you learn to adapt to change quickly in the Peace Corps so in a matter of 5 miles we had already worked out where I would stay for the night, where I would leave all of my things, and how I could get them when I got back into town. It didn't make the task any easier but we had a plan.  So I picked out my phone called the PCMO (peace corps medical officer) and the first words out of my mouth were, "we have a problem."  I explained the tooth thing and he agreed with the plan we had come up with, so I became Kelsey's guest for the night as Peace Corps figured out flights and a dentist appointment.  BAM. By 5 a flight was booked, and an appointment was made; all I had to do was make it to the airport at 8am for check-in.  The flight would go out at 10 am, and a dentist appointment scheduled for 2pm. Kelsey had to agree, of course, and she did. Once I sat down in her chair, I cried again. ALL I WANT IS TO GET TO WOMUL! !! I want to work! I want out of Vila! Well Kelsey still had work to do and as I sat at her house, her two cats climbed up in my lap.  Let me tell you, cat therapy is REAL!

I was calm and making the best of things, figuring out all the positives from it like: thank goodness it happened close to her house,I could get things I forgot to buy when I was in Vila, The office made the plans fast and things were happening.  So when Kelsey got home we made a fire and cooked, she made amazing yam pancakes that almost tasted like cornbread and we topped it with lentils. Which I then had to gargle out of the hole in my mouth.  After, it was a bucket shower (which was so refreshing), then off to bed. I slept on a mat on the floor, which was fine except every time my ankle touched the floor it would wake me up with a bit of pain. So sleep came in small spells and my mind wandered back and forth.

Finally 5:30 came and it was time to find a ride into town. We got out by the road around 6:15, after having an orange and tea. We waited until 7:25 when a truck passed that had room for me. Mind you, I was suppose to be at the airport at 8 and Kelsey is an hour ride from the airport.  Also planes leave early and late here. So my stress was building, plus I didn't want to head back into Vila. But while out waiting I got to meet a cousin sister who is from Womul and we got to story about the village and she said she would come visit me next time she came up. Which is part of why I LOVE Vanuatu. 

When I got to the airport I was informed that there was NO flight going to Vila today. I was like, "yes there is!" He checked my confirmation number and it turns out I was booked for a flight FROM VILA TO NORSUP.  Oh man did my blood run hot! I called our office and they called Air Vanuatu and come to find out they booked me on the wrong flight, and there was NO flights to Vila,  BUT they could book me to Santo and then from Santo to Vila and I'd get in at 6:45 pm. My dental appointment was at 2!!!! Ugh! Then as they were trying to get it all sorted, the plane for Santo came and left. At that moment, I cried again. Mind you, I cry when I'm angry.  It's something I've always done. It's my body's way of screaming without actually saying something I don't mean and it normally lasts no more than a minute or two. Thank goodness another Peace Corps Volunteer was there picking up her mattress which didn't make it the day before!  We ended up laughing about it all as she waited a few hours for her truck! Once the tears ran out I just laughed and said to the other Volunteer: "welp I wanted an adventure and I sure have gotten one!"

We were able to get it sorted for a plane leaving an hour later but I would have 6 hours in Santo and my appointment would be 8am the next morning. Not ideal BUT it works. The time in Santo allowed me to have lunch with the Santo G27 crowd before they headed out, and then I got to go to the market and buy island cabbage for the office, as well as some spices at LCM (a market house which can only be purchased in Santo).  Here spices are a GREAT luxury!! At the airport I saw a couple who was staying at the same motel as me last week and we chatted for a few and I ran into most of the group of guys I cooked dinner for in Santo (the ones who bought the ice cream) which was awesome because I didn't think I would see them again.  I was able to give them a basket I had picked up at the market last week.

So moral of this amazingly LONG blog post is that yes, it could be called a series of unfortunate events BUT nope, it's just an amazing adventure.

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Who, What, Where?

So I was curious to see if anyone was actually reading these post, because no one ever leaves a comment.  According to Google this blog is being read in 9 countries. I find that very, very hard to believe BUT I guess maybe. If you're reading this, tell me where you are from and how you found this blog! You don't have to use your name but it would be awesome to see where all this is being read.  And if you're from the USA, tell me what state please. It's exciting and scary at the same time. Also it would be nice if you asked me questions and I'll turn them into blog posts! I would love to have a Q&A post once a month. But that's just a want, I'm just so grateful you all are reading this at all!

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Traveling Abroad

The reality of living in a developing island nation recovering from a cyclone is that transportation is anything BUT predictable.  We were suppose to take the ferry out on Monday to site, that got pushed to Tuesday,  then Tuesday morning AFTER we had loaded up everything, we got a call saying the boat wasn't going North but instead was heading to Tanna (a southern island) to bring relief supplies. They were not sure when the next ferry would be heading out. So we are flying in and then we have to come back into the province once the ship comes in with our stuff. A trip into town is expensive and LONG from my site but has to be done. So, meh! 

That's the thing I kinda love and hate about here:everything changes in a matter of minutes and you, well, you're around for the ride :-)

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

The Joy of Island Cabbage!

So the Mama's Market had island cabbage today. It's been a month since any food was sold there due to the storm. I am not a fan of island cabbage BUT I felt like a queen walking down the main road back to the office with two bundles in tow, almost like a bouquet of flowers. I got stopped several times and got asked where I got them.  With beaming joy I replied, "The mama's market". The next big smile came as I walked into the office with them and told the staff to take some home. The look of joy on their faces to have some, but also to know the market is slowly returning, was AMAZING!!!

Vanuatu is a strong, cultural country and I dare say island cabbage is a deep part of that culture.  I'm so grateful that it is returning!!

Until Next time

JumpInTheJungle

Tea By The Sea

So one of the beauties of living in Vanuatu is I get to slow down and enjoy all it offers.  Unlike "most" tourists who rush from site to site, I get to slow down and enjoy little moments. 

One of those moments was having tea by the sea with a tourist I met.  I got to share some of the things I had learned about Vanuatu. I hadn't realized until then just how much I have learned in such a short time. I had so much fun sharing simple stories of my life here and learning about their life in other parts of the world. Tea by the sea also made me realize that maybe some of you are interested in crazy things like fruits I find on the island or how I cook.  So I'm going to try and make a few videos in the next few months and upload them when I come back into Vila.

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

City Versus Village

One question I've gotten from a few people is "How does the city differ from other areas you've been to?"

Well the answer is A LOT! The city is a largely populated area that runs commerce and industrial items for tourism and a group referred to as Xpat (ex-patriots, people who've moved to Vanuatu from other countries like Australia, New Zealand,  China, America, etc.). Cities tend to be dirtier and louder due to the consumption of packaged goods like soda cans and chips, and also the amount of vehicles used daily. The villages are also full of noises but it's mainly the 3C's: chickens,  cows,  & children. But man, those things can be  just as loud as a truck at 3 am.

Also the who's who is different in city versus village. In my village, I know who's around; in the city I get lost in the crowd.  Also this city has more non-natives walking around than the villages, which is always so weird for me. When I see a light skinned person I'm like, "what are you doing here?" or "did you come via the boat or plane?  Do you need help finding something?" Then I'm like...wait I'm sure that's how the locals look at me!

Another big difference is the cost of things.  The further you are from the cities the more processed items cost. This includes soap, toilet paper, and foods. However, in the villages you rarely buy local foods because almost everyone has a garden they work in. I'm looking forward to that part of village life. 

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

What Did I See? (Post Cyclonic View)

I've had a few people ask me, now that I'm back, "what does it look like?"  Well Santo looks the same as it did before. Vila and Efate not so much. There are a LOT of houses that have parts or ALL of their roof missing. Some that crumbled to the ground. Roads that were already bad?  Well, they are almost impossible to pass. I know I wouldn't try them, but the locals do and they make it with a few scary moments.  However the people of Vanuatu,  I dare say the HEART of this country, that has not changed. They laugh just as often. They help each other. They are amazing, but they are struggling.  It has rained every day since our return to Vila and yesterday locals were at relief offices begging for tarps because there just hasn't been enough time to get all the houses done yet; and the rain is making things worse and yet better at the same time. Better because the brown is a little less brown and hopefully the gardens will grow soon and revitalization of island food will take place. This will help bring money to the outer villages.  

I apologize I don't write much on this but it's hard to see and harder to share and keep a written documentation of. I'll try and do  better on this.

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

A RPCV from Vanuatu serving in Womul

I figured by now you really wanted some core emotion and information about how a person does during this time. So I have attached Jasmine's blog. She is the one who I spoke about the day I left the US.

  https://whatsnewinvanuatu.wordpress.com

Well guys, things are moving along quickly!

I hope your doing well! Peeps should be available now so have a bunny for me :-)

Until next time
JumpInTheJungle

Perspective

Wow.  So after 12 weeks, I received a bag I had in storage. I had U.S. money in it from LA. The very first thing that stuck out to me was how small and light it felt in my hands. After that, I held my dollar bills and they felt so thin, they looked too plain, and almost fake!

It just makes me wonder what else will feel so weird when I get back. I mean, we are talking about 12 weeks out of 2 years.

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

A Night Like No Other

Well, celebrate we sure did. We went to a local spot called War Horse after swear in. Man, oh man, what fun! There was a local band singing which, by the end of the night, turned into karaoke. Afta (after) dinner most of us we went to voodoo, a local night club (it was a Thursday so basically NO ONE was there but us).  We had a blast! At around 10:40 we made our way to Electric (I think that was the name).  It's another night club and again it was mainly us :-) which was perfect.  As others started coming in, we started wearing out. I was so dang tired and done with the club by midnight. It made me feel pretty old pretty fast, but meh, I outlasted some of the younger ones.

The dancing, singing, or food, wasn't the thing that made that night fun. It was the endless laughter among a group of people who were strangers less than 3 months ago, going through one of the highlights of their lives together. Despite how different we are as a group we are honestly a functioning dysfunctional family :-) that soon will be separated for months on end.  I'm sure when we do meet up in Vila again there will be many, many stories and laughs to share.  The same will be true when I get back to the States and get to see/talk to you!

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Swear In

First thing first: what is swear in?  In peace corps the first 10 weeks are training: where we learn technical skills and cultural/language skills. During this we are trainees, which was a very big deal when we were in Australia and there was talk about having to go back to the USA. 

Swear in is when, as a trainee, you have passed several test (many happen without you knowing it, these are more the cultural integration ones) and you have completed a list of hours of assigned topics. After all of this is done, then you do a final language test and, if passed, you swear in and become a VOLUNTEER! This allows you the opportunity for several things, but the most exciting part is that you get to go to your site and get to work!!! Not that as a trainee you sit on your hands BUT you're separated and not integrated. So swearing in is a BIG thing!! And, well, its happening. Woohooo!

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Growing a Salad

So if there is one thing I miss that I never thought I would, it's salads!!

There are a LOT of vegetables in Vanuatu BUT MOST of them are root crops and are very carb intense.  While I have come to enjoy a good scratches yam with coconut milk, I still miss those vibrant color foods!

So I decided (I'm sure with the help of my papa) I'm gonna grow a salad! ;-) this will be a $10 salad if I pull it off BUT it'll be the BEST dang salad I'll have in Vanuatu.

And I'm gonna eat it with out a single drop of dressing because I'm gonna squeeze a fresh lemon on top.  Mmmmmmm how I'm excited to watch the garden grow!!

Until next time

JumpintheJungle

Reality of Serving in a Developing country

So one reality of serving in a developing world is supplies are often limited and in a post-cyclonic Vanuatu those supplies are even MORE limited.  Not because they aren't being sent, but because of where Vanuatu is in the middle of the South Pacific: removed from many developed countries shipments are delayed and flights overloaded, so resources are running low. This is even true for medications and food!

As I've mentioned before, safety and security is a priority for Peace Corps. Malaria prevention is part of that and with the delays that are taking place, I'm down to 4 pills before I run out. The shipment won't be here for a week or longer. Not from the lack of effort. On the contrary, Peace Corps has done amazing at making sure it gets here quicker then the rest of the country is getting theirs. This just just reminds me of the American privileges we have. I call it American privileges because I HATE the term "white man privilege". It's not a white man thing. I'm a proud Native American woman.  But, man, being from a developed country sure does place my needs above others, huh? If you can't tell, I'm having a real hard time swallowing that pill of humility. Now before you get worried about me not having a physical pill, our amazing Peace Corps staff have figured out how to shuffle meds around to make sure we all have enough until the shipment comes. But even having that prevention pill is a daily reminder of the privileges I have over the people I serve. Yes I know I need to be healthy to help them and I love Peace Corps safety and security concerns, but I think you all need to see both sides of this experience!

So let me paint another privilege I have. Food! I went to the Mama's Market today to pick up food to send back to our staff in Vila because the gardens are destroyed and the food they are so used to eating (like island cabbage) is GONE; a casualty of Cyclone Pam.  Well, now the markets here in Santo are running out :'(  Meanwhile I had enough money to treat me and 3 friends to burgers with chips (fries) and pizza at a local resort tonight.  That thought kept running through my mind  as we ate.  I know me buying food at the resort helps provide employment for the workers, which helps them build their houses back again and pay their childrens' school fees. But I know they get about 10-15% while some overseas investor gets another car, piece of jewelry, some fancy dinner, or even a smart phone with 4G internet.  UGH!  Honestly don't we ever see just how much disparity in wealth there is?  Don't think I believe everyone should get hand-outs, but I don't get why a CEO has to clear so much more than those who work for him. IF (BIG IF) I ever run a business, I want to work WITH my employees, not have them work FOR me: we both work for our clients!

Anyway, this maybe a bit over-opinionated but I want to share my true perspective of this experience through my eyes because that's the lenses I'm looking through. Please know I can agree to disagree but the fact of the matter is this country is hurting.  But me, I ache. I have a place I can fly back to any second if it becomes too hard.  These people don't and that IS a FACT! It's a humbling one for me.

Until next time

JumpInTheJungle

Humidity and Hair

So it's humid here.  And I have tight, curly hair that is THICK. Most times I keep it up in a ponytail BUT I lost the two elastics I had so I had to find some solution until I could get my hands on another pack.

 

 

 

What do you think? I felt very Jane Austen like, even a little Downton Abby-ish and it was super easy. Might have found my new go to.

 

Until next time

 

JumpInTheJungle

Light in the Darkness (Ice Cream and Friends)

So I try to keep most of this blog free of religion because I want everyone to feel comfortable reading, but I HAD to share this experience.

I'm half-way around the world from my family and I got news my sister was having an emergency C-section. This is her first child and this pregnancy hasn't been an easy one. The c-section wasn't a shock given everything.  What hit me like a brick was after getting the normal baby info (7lbs 13oz, full head of brown hair, being named in honor of my grandfather Edward). I was glowing.  Then less 3 minutes later a series of events took place that all but seemed like it belonged in a movie not in my family.  Even as I type this, Edward sits in the NICU fighting to breathe.  His sugar is low and  he's not eating much. This news came in two waves and the last one was a blow. All I remember is closing myself in my room and trying to muffle my cries in a pillow without much success.  Five minutes into this emotional whirlwind, a friend came in and sat down beside me; trying to get me to breathe and to get me to sort out fact and fantasy.  As he was trying to distract me, my phone rang.  It was the elders I had met earlier that week at the grocery store, confirming we were still on for dinner.  At my friend's encouragement I said yes. Five minutes later the other set of elders called and said they had an extra couple of elders visiting, could they come too. You'd have to know me to know I LOVE feeding people; especially people who are taking time to help others. (At that moment I had no clue how much they were helping me).

I had just what I needed: something to focus on that kept me from crawling into a hole as I waited for more information about the who's, how's, what's were going on in that hospital room.

By this time the rest of the group was back from a meeting I just couldn't force my way through.  One helped me build a fire and then one of our trainers came over and helped us build an AMAZING fire. With which I grilled steak and roasted potatoes on. 

Dinner was good but the conversation was even better! I was feeling a ton better by the end of the meal, but I was craving ice cream.  I had used the rest of the salt for dinner so I wanted to go to the store, but at the same time I didn't want to go to the store.  (We all know that feeling) 

Well after they washed the dishes so I wouldn't have to (which meant a lot to me because that night was gonna be a long one with the time difference--my nights in Vanuatu are days in the USA). After they left I reached out to one sister and tried for an update.  No changes. The rest of the peace corps family had gone to the kava bar, but I wasn't up for that. I was sitting in the chair debating whether or not to go get ice cream, mainly it was the salt. Then a loud knock on the door!

I looked out on the porch and there was a bag with a note that made me laugh so hard I'm sure they must have heard me. It was so simple.  BUT to me that night, that bag was a light in the darkness. 

I will probably never see these men again but I'm so grateful they were there as my little angels and provided a spark of light and laughter on a dark day.

Whether you're religious or not, as I said on another blog, PLEASE be THAT person who finds a way to help lighten someone else's load.  You never know how much impact you have on their life.

To my fellow G27 & those 7 men: thank you for helping me through a tough moment.  I will always be grateful!

Until next time.

JumpintheJungle