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