Officially a volunteer

As the title plainly points out, I am now an official Peace Corps Volunteer. No longer will I be subject to the diminutive form of being a trainee. We had our swearing-in ceremony Thursday June 26th, on a not so sunny day. But it still turned out to be a great time, even though it did seem to drag on at times. It was apparently longer than usual swearing-in ceremonies, in large part due to the presence of some special guests, the president of Vanuatu His Excellency Kalkot Mataskelekele and the First Lady, as well as the U.S. Ambassador of PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It was the first time that the President had come to a PCV swearing-in ceremony, so it feels like quite an honor. As an official introduction, and a common custom here in Vanuatu, the President, his wife, other government officials, all the PC staff and current PCVs, and the U.S. Ambassador were welcomed down the walkway that the villagers had been preparing all morning long. They went down the line shaking the hands of all the host families and other villagers, eventually reaching the end where the President, our CD, the U.S. Ambassador and I briefly talked with him but more with his wife, the First Lady, who was a really down to earth person, very friendly. And talking with the President, if even for a short time was pretty cool too, even though his initial presence was somewhat intimidating because his austere look diction throughout the ceremony. It was also a very important and rather unique ceremony because it was the last swearing-in ceremony for our current but soon-to-be former PC country director after 7 good years in Vanuatu, a very gnarly guy. Bittersweet to be the group sending him off because it's definitely an honor for us to be his last group of new volunteers, but sorry that we only had a few months under his guidance and leadership rather than two years. Oh well. I'm sure the next CD will be interesting, so now looking forward to meeting him one of these days, or months.
Anyway, the ceremony was interesting too because there were many other recognitions besides us volunteers, like people of the community of Epau and some of the chiefs and presentation of gifts from the community to the president and ambassador and of course recognition and gifts for our CD. We had all planned a bunch of things to do for the ceremony like skits and songs and speeches, some of which worked while others were just plain left out due to lack of time and attention span in the audience, us included. I had written a speech which I was supposed to give after swearing in which I was quite excited/nervous about, but that didn't end up make the list with a couple other skits and songs we wanted to do. Even with the skits we did do, it was like pulling teeth sometimes...humor here among the locals is not easy sometimes because the culture of humor here doesn't revolve around a lot of pun or punchlines or witty jest, its usually pretty straight forward and to the point, the simple obvious little things. But that also makes it really easy to relate to people and simply interact and be-friend anyone and vis versa. So it has its pleasures and simplicities when you just want to get an easy laugh out of people during conversation, as well as its frustrations at times when you think you're being funny and clever. But after hours of sitting and looking good in our matching island attire we were done and went and had a big "las kakae" and some kava and then did some dancing and singing. A "las kakae" is just like a last dinner or meal shared between an individual and a larger group of people, like a family or community. Volunteers usually have a lot of them around their COS, or close of service, usually with their villages and various families of close relationship.



Okay, this has been a sort of ongoing post because I started it when I got into Vila and now I am finishing today as I am about to leave for Tanna this afternoon. The past few days here in Vila have been fun, crazy, busy (seemingly but not really), lazy wan wan taem (occasionally). Been shopping for things that will be useful for the next two years like tools and hardware, pots and pans, utensils, spices and all that good stuff. Also bought a variety of seeds from the Agriculture Supply...got plenty of vegetables like tomatoes, pumpkin, carrots, sweet corn, capsicum and a few other vegetables. Then I got some herbs to try and make tea and use for food preparation...big aspirations, I know. But apparently anything can grow on Tanna, I've seen a little and heard a lot, we shall see!



Now I am definitely ready to get to my village down in Tanna and get immersed in what will be my way of life for the next two years...root crops (yams, taro, manioc), kava, custom ceremonies, storian, drop toilets, volcano, gigantic nambanga trees, plenty of walking and exploring the island, meeting new people and seeing new villages, pick-up trucks and bumpy dirt roads, trying to cook for myself and for other people, with the crops that I hope to be growing eventually, and of course working with my community and neighboring ones to target needs and wants, particularly water supply needs as well as sanitation and agri-business, other smale scale business enterprises and I definitely look forward to working with youth to address certain issues and capitalize on opportunities for healthy growth and development. I know it sounds a little vague but detail is something that I can't afford for the time being one reason being that I am leaving VERY soon and need some time to tie up loose ends with my luggage and transport. The other reason being that there are some things that I don't have specific details on that will sort of present themselves along the way over the next few months in order to gain a clearer understanding on what works and what doesn't work and what's available and what's not and other things of that nature when you're talking about development and change, especially from a different cultural lense. So all in due time.



But, before getting straight into the my village life I will be hanging out down by the coast in Lenekal and Isangel to do get some small living supplies and attend a 4th of July party for all of us Tanna volunteers. Tanna volunteers are well known for being a fun and close knit bunch, which we will continue to do so over the next two years and however long after. So if any of you ever need a vacation to the South Pacific and don't know where to go I can tell you that there's a place here for you out on Tanna in the small Pacific island nation of Vanuatu...I'll put you up. Or you can stay down on the coast at a bungalow resort which is owned by my one of my brothers up in the village, your choice! But if you wanna go to Africa and experience that exotic safari and expansive desert and grasslands, get in touch with Jaclyn...she's got an open door policy going on over there at her site too, and hopefully I'll be able to take advantage of that as well, mbae yumi luk (we'll see).

Well it's been nice and I hope all is well with everyone. I hope you all are enjoying the summer months, it's hot as hell in Baltimore right now. Not so much here because we are getting into the cooler months and there is more of a regular breeze throughout the day coming off the ocean. But it won't be long until those mangoes start fruiting, because now they're flowering everywhere, and the humidity that my training group only caught the tail end of creeps back into the air, and the cyclones start brewing once again. So until then I will enjoy the cooler months and the chilly nights down on Tanna under the blankets under my mosquito net, and hopefully the mosquitoes won't be as prevelant during these next few months too.

Love you all and stay healthy
Tim

A day in Vila...

Hey all! Just got a day in Vila today for everyone to do some shopping for gifts for our host families because we will be finished with training in less than two weeks, in which time we will be sworn in as official volunteers and begin our two years of service, awesome. It's nice to come into Vila and get things that you won't find out in village stores which are very small, usually just selling small scale household products like soap and batteries and snacks and cigarettes and maybe some drinks (unrefrigerated). And of course there is internet access in Vila, so I thought I'd take advantage, even though I'll be back in a couple of weeks after swearing in. But going into Vila also has it's frustrations, especially if you go on the weekend when most shops close after lunch time, and of course every time we seem to come into Vila to get stuff done it is on a Saturday, so people are scrambling around town to buy this or find that or use this or talk to this person. So you really start to appreciate some of the simplicities and even luxuries of the village life, especially the insignificance of money in the village life where the barter system or "custom economy" is still very prevalent. But I do like Vila, and now I don't feel like a tourist anymore while I'm here because I always speak Bislama at the markets and at the stores and I see many locals from around the villages that I know and they will take the time to call out to me or any of us and talk for a bit, in Bislama of course, so that is definitely nice. Many people who see a bunch of "white people" or anyone who looks like a tourist think that they don't know Bislama and are just here for vacation or something of the sort, which is true much of the time. But they are also familiar with PC volunteers and once you start speaking Bislama they either ask you how long you've lived here (usually meaning how many years) or they ask if you are here with the PC. Although Bislama is a relatively easy language to learn you won't see or hear many outsiders speaking it because they don't take the time to learn, which is understandable I suppose if you are only visiting for a short time, but I've seen ex-pats (usually Aussies and Kiwis) that have lived here for years and either don't take the time to learn the language that well or don't make the effort to speak the language if they know it...but I'm not speaking for all ex-pats of course, only what I've seen or heard. I think that because the language is so close to English many people who speak English just use English instead, especially in Vila because it is an urban center with much more outsider influence and more Ni-Van that speak English. And I also understand that many Ni-Van would maybe prefer English sometimes to better there language and use it if they got it. However, in my experience so far people around here, especially at the markets, really like it when you speak in Bislama and they are so thrilled sometimes to know that you have taken the time to learn Bislama and talk in it. They really seem to think of you in a different light when you take the time and effort, and that is definitely one reason why the PC is so respected and held in high regard around here and all throughout Vanuatu. And when you learn local language (there are over a hundred local languages spoken throughout Vanuatu, one of the most diverse areas of language in the world if not the most relatively speaking for its area) they will love it, I mean you can just learn a few phrases or words and they will literally go crazy sometimes, but I'm aiming to learn the language fluently down on Tanna in my village, we'll see. I already learned a few phrases during walkabout week: Ravit lakap nepin - good morning, ravit lanaeu - good night...there's a couple for you to try and pronounce.
So after a long day of shopping and talking and running around in Vila I'm now sitting here in the cyber cafe using the computer and waiting for our ride back to the village. My mama is having a fundraising tonight at our house to raise money from the community for schools fees for my brothers. So hopefully we'll be back in time for some of that food and of course, kava. I consider it a productive day in Vila and now I'm ready to return to the village and spel smol(relax, or "spill small" in English).
My next post will prob be in a couple of weeks when we come back to Vila for a week after swearing in. We'll have a week here to get things together for site and talk to various government depts. or officials and purchase materials and maybe even have some get togethers with everyone because we won't be seeing each other in a group setting like this for months, possibly up to a year, so we'll make the best of what's around as Dave Matthews once put it in a song.
So until the next post you all...Health, Love and Peace

Back from "walkabout"...

Hey everyone! It's been something like 6 weeks now and just in those few weeks much has happened. We all just got back from walkabout week which is where we all go out to our future sites and get to know the village, the area and all that good stuff. I'm gonna be going to Tanna, one of the islands in the southern most province, Tafea...look it up online! I'm glad to be giong to Tanna because it's got a bunch of good stuff about it like the huge active volcano Mt. Yasur, the biggest Nabanga tree in the southern hemisphere (amazing, I got to see it just the other day because its only about 20 minute walk from my village), strong custom practices, amazingly fertile ground because of the volcano, and heaps more which I have yet to discover. We're getting into the cooler months here in Vanuatu so it's been nice, and actually a little chilly some nights, especially down in the Tafea province because it's further away from the equator. So before I tell you a little about my village in Tanna I will just say that training up until walkabout week has been going great. My Bislama is fine now and I already moved on to trying to topple some local language, which is definitely much more difficult, but more interesting too. About a week and a half ago I slashed my finger open out in the bush during tech training and now I'm going around with 6 stitches in my right pointer finger trying to nurse my wound and steer clear of infection, because in this type of climate and place it aint too hard to get an infection from even the slightest cut or scratch. It's funny because when most people see tyhe stitches they immediately assume that I was using the bush knife with my left hand and sliced my right. That would be the logical explanation most of the time, but I'm right handed, so how did I slash my own right hand while holding the bushknife in my right hand. Well, it had been raining so everything was wet of course, including the bushknife that I was using (which I had borrowed from a local b/c I lost mine, and they keep their knives sharp, whereas mine probably would not have done nearly as much damage). So while standing up in a tree and chopping some posts for a tree nursery that we were making the whole knife just slipped down through my hands and like cutting through butter it just opened up my finger like that, but I won't get into any more details than that. But its cool though, I still got 10 fingers and now I will hopefully have a permanent mark from Vanuatu. It was bound to happen to someone in our group, and I was that person, an honor indeed!

I'm really ikeing my training village, especially my family who I know I will miss when training is over and I'm down on Tanna, but I'll visit when able. My birthday's coming up too, 23 years! Exciting! I just got my first package from back in the States last week, and it was a big one, for my birthday of course. Thanks everyone, Mom, Mike, Nicole, Nana...I loved it, especially the CD you all made for me. So that was nice.

So I am beginning to realize that this blog may not be what I had hoped for or what you all had expected because after going to site on Tanna I think that my internet resources will not be that readily available. Also, I feel that I'm not such a good blogger or letter writer, but that's just me. If you all like it then great. I'm also totally down with you all emailing me with some ideas of what you'd like to know about, any thing really. This might give me a better idea of what to put up when I do make posts, because my posts will be sporatic and may have large gaps of time from one to the next, so when I do have the opportunity to post I can put up my own thoughts and experiences in my own way but also try to cater to any specific details you all might want to know...just a thought.

But my village in Tanna is called Imoklen, which is pretty much a family unit consisting of 30-40 people in a bigger village area called Lenopkamei. It's a nice area which lies up on the hill and there are some amazing lookouts just a little higher where you can see out to the ocean and much of the rest of the island, but not all the island because it's one of the bigger islands in Vanuatu, and supposedly one of the best. It's about a 45 minute trek from the main town, Lenakel, to my site. Not too far at all, especially compared to some other volunteers' site locations. So it's nice because I will have the genuine village life and experience custom ceremonies, yet I will also have somewhat of an easy access to things in town. My house is made of custom materials an was just built a couple of months ago, so it's nice. My host family seems great as well as the many other villagers that I met during my week at various times and places, especially at the Nakamals. In Tanna the kava is usually custom-made, which means that it is chewed until mush, then spit out onto a leaf, after which it can only be touched by young boys who are virgins. The youngs boys work that kava with a little water into individual shells and then you drink it...delicious! Even though it sounds a little unsettling, drinking custom kava is actually better than ready-made kava because it is smoother going down and doesn't have such a bitter aftertaste. Plus it's usually stronger because it is less diluted and more concentrated. But that's just a brief description of that, there's much more to it in a cultural sense which I can explain at a later time. Anyway I tried chewing some and I don't know if I'll do it again, but probably for special occasions or something, we'll see.

Okay I don't want this to be any longer than it is so I'm gonna stop now. Besides, my finger needs to rest, but typing is much easier to do with this finger than writing. I could go on of course, but there will be more to come. I will def put up a post after training is over because we will be here in Vila for a week to get stuff together for site. Until then I hope all of you stay happy and healthy, I'll try to do the same. Drop me an emial from time to time of you all want, they'll deliver it to me at the village. Just use the address I put on the previous post, the peace corps one. Love and Peace!

Leaving for the training village...

Hello there

Olsem wanem, i gud? (How are you, good?) Everything is good out here. After a few days of rain and overcast and a tropical depression down in the south the sun has finally broken through. It was nice and cool the past few days and a little relieving but we are ready for the hot sun again. So today we leave to travel to our training village Epau, located on the east coast of Efate, about a two hour ride. This past week has been fascinating and a little overwhelming with all the perparation and classes. We just started Bislama training a ciouple of days ago and so far its coming along very well. We had our first language practice at the market trying to figure out names of various fruits and vegetables, so many types! So funny down at the market because most of the mamas (women) know that we're learning and just laugh at us as we attempt to speak in Bislama to them, but it is all in good fun and humor, so I just laugh with them anyway, because it really is funny. But most people know that we are here with the Peace Corps and that definitely makes it much easier too. People around here are very fond of the Peace Corps and truly treat us a little differently, showing more of a liking because we learn the language and culture. Actually yesterday in the local paper there was an article about the recent arrival of the newest Peace Corps group 21A (my group name), with a picture of all of us that was taken at the airport upon our arrival in Vila. We were wondering why so many young boys selling papers kept approaching us yesterday trying to sell us papers...haha, now we know.
Yesterday we went to the house of our medical officer and had a full morning of learning about the various foods and preparation methods. It was definitely one of the best days so far. A beautiful house and property that overlooks the bay of Vila, extending out to the Pacific. I forgot my camera but other people took pictures. She has a wonderful family and we had the chance to meet them all yesterday. We also learned how to peel and open a green coconut and crack open a dry coconut and shave off the inside to make coconut cream. Peeling a green coconut aint easy let me tell you. I finally gave up and just used the machete on it to puncture a hole for the juice, but by that time all the juice had leaked out because of all the punctures I had put in it from trying to pry off the outside with a stick. So remember when you see people drinking from those coconuts that it takes a little work to get them looking that good, at least for us. But we'll get better. Shaving the coconut cream out the shell was a little easier but definitely takes longer and builds up a sweat, but afterwards, if you want, you can shave it down to nothing and keep the shell as your own personal kava shell for the nakamals. I didn't keep one but I did have a little kava last night with some others, but not much. It was a nice nakamal though, better laid out than some of the others I've seen. Yesterday we also went out on a cattermaran (I don't know how to spell that) and saw the bay of Vila while learning some water safety and practical knowledge on how to survive, as well as troubleshooting tips for the motor boats we'll be using most often. The waters were a little rough from the storm so we didn't get to snorkle or dive but we did do a little swimming which was nice. Saw our first sea snake too which was awesome, a blue and black banded snake truckin through the water, sweet colors!
So most of last night and today are just last minute emails and prepartions for training village, because we really won't have internet access for quite a while, so be patient. I've had to pack and repack a couple of times trying to figure out what to take and what to leave for storage. Most of us came with all we could bring and then we got loaded with a bunch of other stuff from the PC staff, like a life jacket and a couple of medical kits and more books and papers, as well as some other stuff we had to buy ourselves, like a bush knife (machete). Bush knives are crucial around here for a number of things. So far we've only used them to open coconuts and have sword fights (not really), but we will soon find out the other practical uses for them in the village life. I was going to get a smaller bush knife yesterday but the guy at the hardware store told me that only women buys the little ones, and the big ones are for the men. So being the manly man that I am I had to defend my honor...I succumbed, I got the bigger one!
On another note, we found out the other day about the families we will be staying with in the village. Most of us will have separate houses from our families, but still very close. My mama's name is Leitau and my papa is Kalmara. Some of us met our mamas in the market the other day. I met mine. She was very nice and her Bislama seemed pretty clear which was also reassuring. They have three sons (11,10,9) that I am very excited to meet and play with as well as learn from. Kids are the best source for knowledge sometimes.

So I hope all is good with everyone and wish you all well. I need to go eat some food before we leave this afternoon. Will be in touch eventually but until then I will resort to snail mail, exciting! If anyone wants to email me you can send emails to: volunteer@vu.peacecorps.gov. Just put my name in the Subject line so that they know who it's for. They will deliver the emails to me at the training village every so often, as well as packages if you want to send them. But I don't really need anything as of now...but some non-parishable treats would be nice to snack on and share with others. Love and peace...ale, lukim yu!

Greetings

Halo evriwan

Arrived in Vanuatu yesterday in the early afternoon. Walked off the plane into a wave of humidity, not unlike a hot summer day in Maryland, except that it is like this most of the time. But just to give a quick rundown: Got into LA on Wednesday the 9th, left on Thursday the 10th, got into Auckland NZ at early in the morning on the 12th....skipped a whole day crossing the IDL. Then got into Port Vila, Vanuatu with a big welcome from other PC volunteers and staff, and some good island music...all in all over 24 hours of being in airports and on planes. But even with the exhaustation arriving in Vanuatu seemed to revitalize all of us, for a while at least. So overwhelming seeing all of the trees and plant life of the island, especially as we were flying in. Spectacular scenery! Had some time to chill for a bit in our hotel that we'll be in for the next week, but then went out with some other volunteers for our first kava drink at a local kava bar, or "nakamal." Very different atmosphere, very mellow. Drink bowls of kava (not tasty) and talk. Went to bed not too long afterwards...long day(s). Today was just a day off for time to relax and adjust to island time (aelan taem). Went out and bought a guitar....very pleased with my purchase. We all went snorkeling out on a small island...absolutely amazing coral reef! So many fish and so much plant life...colors are extraodinary. Had dinner down on the water tonight at a restaurant while they showed a movie outside (50 First Dates)....good time. Pretty tired now though and need the sleep for the week ahead, just for the day ahead actually. Training starts tomorrow...time for more information. But truly glad to be here finally and beginning the on the road to life for the next two years out here. I would write more, because obviously there is so much to tell just about these past two days, but I am tired, sticky, and paying money for this computer usage as we speak. So there will be more to come, I swear...love you all.

My Son

Tim, I want to echo the lovely and well stated thoughts of your sister. You have become a wonderful young man; one who we are all proud of. As you embark on this chapter of your life, may you keep your American family and friends in your heart. You know you will be in ours. We know, and soon the people of Vanuatu will know, just how much you care about those around you; how you are a hard worker, a devoted friend, and how you are committed to whatever cause you take up. And, they'll get to benefit from your musical skills too. :)

The Peace Corps made a good decision when they accepted your application. We know, and they will soon learn how you will be a shining example for our country as you dedicate your time to educating and assisting others less fortunate so that their lives may be enhanced, and hopefully, their quality of life may be improved.

We love you, Tim. God bless you.

Mom and the whole family!!

My Little Bro

This is to you Tim. I am so proud of you and what you are doing. It takes a special type of person to do what you are doing. Words cannot express how happy this makes me. You have grown up to be a truly magnificent person, and I am proud to tell people that you are my brother. I pray for your safety and well being while you are away as well as your safe return. I wish you the best in your travels and your experience in general. I love you so much and will miss you dearly. It helps though to know that you will helping others. You are awesome. I love you.