First Lesson

So today* after school, my host sister came by my house as she normally does; which I'm grateful for! This time she brought me a popo which is a papaya. It wasn't ripe but man was it good!! I like papayas more unripe than ripe. It was sweet and crunchy: kinda like the bottom of a cantaloupe slice.

Any way, I was bored and our parents were working on the schoolteacher's house because it spoiled over the break. So we sat down and I taught her tic-tac-toe. We played about 40 games but she got better as the time went on. I'm sure we will play many times.

Funnily enough as I write this my sister and a school friend are about to start playing. The kids here are super shy but also very curious so it's funny watching them trying to interact. They at least have started coming around now. I'm sure in two years my house will be full up with kids.

What other games do you think I should teach them? I'm thinking duck duck goose might be a fun one sometime.

Also feel free to send card games with numbers & letters.  Think like dollar store games.

Any who I cant wait to read your ideas when I come back to town. Lots of love.

Until next time.

Jump in the Jungle

*I actually wrote this a few days ago, but I can't post immediately!

Big Day!

So last Sunday at church my counterpart announced a community meeting the next day where I will be speaking to the collective community in Bislama. Man oh man, am I nervous!  I have my talk written out but it's a bit overwhelming. I've not even been here for a month and this could affect a lot of things over the next two years. Here's to HOPEFULLY a good first impression!

Until next time

Jump in the Jungle

First Talk

Well I addressed the community on Monday and I think it went well. I even went away from the script and spoke about some other things: like the fact that the last volunteer and I are different people, so our cultures are also different.  I talked about how well they had done with the water project and how I hope our next project is equally successful; but that in order for it to be I would need their help. I also explained that I didn't know their culture so if I did something taboo please be patient and teach me. The people here are AMAZING and I just really hope I can help them.

Also later in the day a Peace Corps rep came and talked with them as a community about peace corps. He got some key things they need to understand.  First: Peace Corps has invested a lot into the safety and security of their volunteers.  Second: Peace Corps gives us a small stipend to buy soap and things but they don't pay us. (There are some aid agencies here who pay their workers big salaries).  Third: I'm here to help empower them to do things, not do it for them. (Main reason I love Peace Corps)  Fourth: I am allergic to gluten so don't feed me Western food, feed me only things from the garden. No more. (PS someone send me gluten-free pretzels. I miss them more than ice cream! lol)  Fifth: Each volunteer is their own person so don't compare me to the last one. Work with my strengths and I'll work with theirs. Sixth: (and I think it's cool he explained this to them) In the US we treat animals kindly and it makes us cross to see them beaten. (My host family is AMAZING with animals. They feed the cat when they eat and have yet to hit it in front of me. They have 4 dogs who look thin but they are treated kind)

All in all I think they have a great understanding of Peace Corps expectations, and they have seen what community work can do. (The last Peace Corps volunteer, Jazzy, helped them get water taps which are gravity fed from the river.) Our goal is to work on toilets for every house, starting with mine!!

Until next time

Jump in the Jungle

First Night Apart from any American

So up until this point in training I've had Americans around me. After helping me settle in the night before, Kelsey went back because she had to teach Monday.  I was sad to see her go, but at the same time I knew I needed to figure out how well I would do completely cut off from Peace Corps. Because I'm just up here for a few days I didn't come with a Satellite phone, which is the only thing that works up here! Vanuatu has some places that have cell coverage and many volunteers have access to it within 30 minutes or so, but there are a few of us who don't.  I'm one of those few and let me tell you, that can be pretty dang terrifying to know you have no way to speak to anyone who might have the slightest understanding of what you're going through!  At the same time I chose to be removed so I could truly integrate and be stuck with myself. Man did I accomplish that this week! Don't get me wrong, I'm surrounded by people and one day I might feel like they are my people but right now I stick out worse then a buckeye at a gator game ;-)

Well we will see how it goes & I'll let you know!

Until next time

Jump In the Jungle

information overload

So who want to start saving to walk the dog?

As I said earlier, Malakula is locally know as the dog & Womul is at its head. Unlike some villages, Womul has a tour going right through the village and has lunch with our chief.  So come do the Dog Heads walk and have lunch with my village!

http://vanuatuinformation.com/things-to-see-do/eco-tours/dogs-head-walk-malekula-vanuatu/

Until next time
JumpInTheJungle

A weekend together

Well most of the volunteers on Malakula, the island I'll be serving on, all came in this weekend and man oh man has it been crazy! We've cooked burgers with fries (yummers) and we've done what is called a kava crawl (This is where you start at one nakamal and drink a few shell's of kava, walk or truck to another one, then finish the night at another one.) This morning we walked to the saltwater and swam for a few hours even during an intense raining storm, which we then walked home in. It was amazing because for the first time since coming here we felt cold! Now we are sitting around sharing photos and stories about home and our site visits. Later tonight there will be more kava and a great meal again before we head back to our training villages for another 3 weeks of language and cultural training. The nice thing is all the community health people will be together.  At our previous one we were separated and only saw each other one day a week.

I feel like some of these things are short BUT hey some news is better then no news right?  Well most times. Any way, how are you all doing? I would love to hear from you. (PS hearing from you means letters because it's really the only way here)

Until Next Time

Jump in the Jungle

First Dead

In Vanuatu, when someone dies, it's called a dead.  It's a LOT more then a funeral back in the states and is unlike ANYTHING I've ever dealt with before.  My first Dead was a tough one though because it was a fellow peace corps volunteer's Mama.

Her mama was laid to rest the day before we could come, but upon arrival the first thing I heard was crying.  But not a soft cry, it was wailing! The custom, as far as I understand right now (remember I'm new here), is that they grab your arm and weep loudly, saying sorry. Also there was a room full of women crying and praying. I guess it's where the body was before it was placed in the ground. You also shake hands with everyone; kind of like a viewing back home. Another similarity to southern funerals is everyone eats and everyone brings food. But the difference here is things like beef are mainly used for deads & marrieds (weddings). Another difference from the states is the fact that deads last some time with ceremonies at different times up until the annual mark of the death.

I'm sure I'll experience more and when I have been to a few I will be able to explain them a little better I hope.

Until next time

 Jump in the Jungle

The Road Up!

A worry of mine since I got to Vanuatu is not being fit enough to handle some of the muddy roads. Meri showed me just how much of a reality that would be! Walking around in back county bush roads proved to be a struggle for me, both physically and even more so emotionally.  So when finding out the road to my village was 4 times as long as the road in Meri I wanted nothing more then 3 dry days so the truck could make it up. Well 3 dry days turned into 3 down pours and even though we chartered the truck (which is beyond freaking expensive! Think $200) the truck got stuck in the mud after 15 minutes.  Leaving us a 2 hour hike in the rain to get to the village. But man what a hike! One of the guys went and got us a banana leaf.  Custom umbrella. It was funny and after a while more of a headache; so I ditched mine and just enjoyed the feeling of the rain on me. But after two AMAZING hours I was in Womul! Kelsey and I laughed so hard on the way up. It was one of the coolest Valentines Days I've ever had! Maybe I'll walk it next year on Valentines day to help settle someone into their new site, like the previous volunteer here in Womul did for Kelsey. Gotta love the circles life brings sometimes.

PS I have no signal for anything up here in the village so if you're emailing me I'll see it in a few months.  If you write me a letter I will see it in a month *hint hint hint*

Until next time

Jump In the Jungle

The Dead of Night

I was in Mantavant at Laura's house on walkabout week and at midnight I woke up wide awake with the song "Putting on the Ritz" playing in my head. If you don't know this song I'm so sorry!  YouTube it immediately! Any who, that's the song I would put on repeat the last week I was home driving around in my mom's car.  I fought to go back to sleep as that morning was going to be a very very long but fun day.  (I get to meet some of G26, the group who came a year before us). Any way I just couldn't sleep so I FINALLY pulled myself from under the  mosquito net and out of Laura's amazing hammock and went to the small house aka toilet (which hers is a cool hole in the ground.  It's shaped like the lock a skeleton key would go in. Man oh man how my standard for cool toilets has changed!)

So after doing what had to be done I felt like I really needed to call home and talk with my mom. The call went close to this:

Hi mom! 

Hi baby (I love that no matter how old I am I'm always my momma's baby) 

Mom what's wrong? I can't sleep and I feel like something is wrong!

Well things are going well but Mia (my oldest sister who is very prego at the moment) is in the hospital. 

Ok, Why?

Just monitoring the baby, trying to keep them both safe. (My mom is amazing at telling me just enough without worrying me badly)

Ok, how are you?

I'm doing good

I'm sorry I don't call more.  It's hard and costly.

I know baby, I love you.

I love you too Mom.

I'll talk to you later.

Ok love you.  Bye

I share all that with you for 3 reasons:

#1: I don't have signal at my site in Womul,  I couldn't have called if I was up there. 

#2: I shouldn't have had the credit to call but a very good friend figured out how to top up my phone credit so I could and I didn't know it until I went to make the call. ( A million THANKS!)

#3: It's so reassuring to me to know that I can be so very far away from my family and know just when I need to call and the way is provided for me to do so. I call those my tender mercies and I'm sure the next 2+ years will be filled with them.

By the way, I'm adding to the info page a way to top me up, if you do decide to do it (which you so don't have too) it's best to do it Wednesday or Thursday U.S. time frame and 1000 VT (about $10) because most times they are running a special to double the credit.  Here's the website: https://online-top-up.digicelgroup.com/en-VU/signup/  Use the number: 6785422075

Until next time

Jump in the Jungle

Information overload

I really love this article because it shows how the basic things become so appreciated!!

Also, her blog is cool!

Abby's 5 Things I Couldn't Live Without. In a few months I'll make my list!

http://abbyexplores.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-five-things-i-couldnt-live-without.html


Until Next Time!
JumpInTheJungle

First Rain/Swim

So in Vanuatu they call washing your body swimming. The other night I was playing classic Jenny: getting stuff done for others that no one asked me to get but I figured it would be easier then 6 people trying to figure it out. As I was walking up and down the hill bare foot, to prevent falling as easily (note I didn't say not to fall as I know that is wishful thinking at this point), I was covered in mud and walking all around the village.  To some I looked crazy; others tough and cool; my sister just laughed and helped me finish my tasks. After, she looks at me and says, "Well, you wanna finish swimming in the rain?" To which I said, half joking, "sure," since by this point I looked like an island rat. She brings me a bucket, soap, and a towel and says, "I think I'll do the same tonight."  We laughed as I picked up the container and started pouring cold water on myself.  But in that moment I didn't feel cold, I didn't feel sore, I didn't feel any negativity at all.  It's like the water cascading over me like a waterfall, aided by the rain, washed away both the mud and stress. It was amazing to wash in the rain and I think it will always be a favorite of mine.

First Fall

Friday marked 4 days in a row of rain and mud. So far I have been okay, but today my shoes were so covered in mud they just kept walking after I stopped and I landed ass first in the mud in my Sunday dress. (By Sunday dress I mean the only one I hadn't stained by this point because I was only wearing it to church and back) BUT it rained for 2 days so none of my other clothes were dry yet :/ That dress now has a nice brown spot on the butt and the bottom hem looks like a picture from Sense & Sensibility. The trim was earth color instead of its normal pink and white.  To top off the event, I did it right in front of the other volunteers before class.  My sister saw it across the village, so she came about 5 minutes later to check on me.

Information overload

Here is a cool Buzzfeed article on 13 reasons to join the Peace Corps.

If you your wondering what I'm doing right now, well I'm learning how to survive without internet,  phones, toilets, AC!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peacecorps/13-reasons-to-join-peace-corps-nvuy

Until next time
JumpInTheJungle

information overload

So I said I would keep information rolling across the blog even when I was away from the internet.  So as promised...here is an amazing article I read that I thought you might find interesting!

This article talks about the differences and similarities between military service and Peace Corps service.

RPCV Veterans share their take on service.

http://passport.peacecorps.gov/2014/11/10/rpcv-veterans-share-their-take-on-service/

Until Next Time!
JumpInTheJungle