week one

I have now been living at my permanent site for a little over one week. Just when I thought that I had adjusted to living in Micronesia, I was proven wrong. Not seeing other Americans on a daily basis is a big adjustment. Not having a jam packed schedule from 8AM to 6PM everyday is different. Not having snack time at our training site at 10AM and 3PM everyday is missed. And my status change from PCT (Peace Corps Trainee) to PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) means that people expect a lot more of me, especially when it comes to speaking Pohnpeian. And speaking Pohnpeian in my language class is a lot different than it is out in the real world. My new host family and co-workers realize that I am not fluent, but they sure want me to be. So for every conversation I have, I need to decide if I am just going to nod along and laugh when it seems appropriate or ask for a translation. Translations are always given, but I can tell that people think that I should only need this for a little while. So one day soon, I will hopefully be able to hold my own in Pohnpeian.

Next week I will begin teaching and also celebrate my first Thanksgiving abroad! The Country Director has kindly invited all of the volunteers on Pohnpei to his house for dinner so I will be enjoying at least some American dishes (I think? I hope?).

Happy Thanksgiving! I'll be thinking of all of you!

Swear In

Mollie and Ruthanne

Amber and Kate

Micro 76 Pohnpei being sworn in

Nate, me, our language teacher Anterro and Amanda

I'm a Volunteer!

I am now officially a Peace Corps Volunteer. I was sworn in yesterday with the 9 other volunteers who make up Micro 76 Pohnpei. We are the 76th class of volunteers to serve in Micronesia since the Peace Corps came here in 1966. Our swear-in was held at our training center and our training host families, permanent host families, principals, co-teachers and the current volunteers all attended. Our country director and program assistant made short speeches and the country director gave us the oath of service. At the end we performed a traditional Micronesian stick dance. I have a video of it which I will hopefully be able to post soon.
I am very happy to be done with training and to begin my service. My house in my permanent community is very nice and it is great to be fully unpacked finally. Next week I will go to my school and meet my class! I am nervous but I am not going to begin teaching right away, I will observe for a few weeks to see what the kids know and what they need help with. We also have Monday and Wednesday off next week, so it is good to know I will be eased in to the school week. Pohnpei has a lot of holidays in November. :)
I will write again soon about how my first week at school went. Today I am meeting up with the volunteers who are leaving for outer islands on Monday to say goodbye. We won't see each other for at least 3 months and probably will not be able to talk either.