Sorry for the delay in getting out some sort of update to folks. The trip has been incredible in a million ways already, not to mention slightly overwhelming. I miss everyone as well and wish you all could visit and stay at some point (although no hard feelings if it's not possible, considering the distance, funds, and time it takes to reach Pohnpei.
I reached Micronesia in a whirlwind of planes and travel. The group of volunteers that came to FSM (that's the Federated States of Micronesia) with WorldTeach is an incredible group, everyone is what you would generally expect from people who would want to spend a year on a Pacific Island teaching English (and of course, so much more). We all stayed overnight in Honolulu in route and ended up with a twelve hour delay in leaving the next morning. There are worse places to be stuck for the day, and we all really enjoyed spending time together in Hawaii before we left. Our flight was "tentative" in departure on the airport reader boards, which was a new experience and quite humorous.
All in all, we finally made it in one piece (or like fifty if your counting luggage). We were greeted by our "boss" for the year (volunteer coordinator person). We all are currently staying with host families for the two-three weeks of orientation that we are being put through. In the short time we have been here, our families have been so incredibly generous in opening their homes and making truly apart of the family. It is difficult to even begin to describe the deepness and authenticity with which these folks have taken us in. Guests in Micronesian culture are treated like what feels like royalty. The kids around are incredible and I have learned so much from them already. We took a few of them tonight to the movie theater on the island (we saw variously The Hulk and Narnia 2).
Life here moves at a different pace, much more relaxed, laid back, and unconcerned with planning too far into the future. I feel the island life creeping into my mind and body already (and not just the heat and humidity). I will try and share pictures of my house, classroom, host family, and more soon. It is only five days and it feels like weeks we have been here. The journey is a bit of a roller coaster already, but I'm sure will level out after starting teaching and adjusting to what life will be like for the next year. I remain excited and scared in a thousand different ways that would be difficult to put into words.
Just a few things we have been up to... Any questions, feel free to email. I will have a phone number that you can call to chat soon enough, and email contact may be staggered until we find out if we can get internet at our house. A quick list of things though...
Swimming and snorkeling at Nett Point. There were lots of fish and coral, not to mention locals and international folks around. In particular, a group of small blue fish who would surround you while snorkeling around them. These swimming excursions will only get more exciting in the fish and coral, which I am looking forward to.
Traveling around the entire island to check out our classrooms and houses took only a few hours at most. Eating amazing fresh reef fish, the most amazing yellow fin sashimi that I have ever had (did I mention our host family feeds us amazingly incredible food, some great cooks at this house). watching movies with the family. Learning bits and pieces of Pohnpean language. Adjusting to the heat, humidity, and equatorial sun beating down on us. Loving cold showers (and wondering when I'll have a hot one again, but not wanting it now).
All for now, it's late and I need sleep.
