Kaselehlia!

After a grueling 2-day journey across the pacific, including stops in the Marshall Islands, a US military base who’s name I can not even begin to guess the spelling, and Kosrae (the most eastern of the FSM islands), our group of 28 Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) deplaned in the “Garden Island” of Micronesia – Pohnpei. Initial reactions: humid, covered in mangroves, beautiful, and green as far as the eye can see. That was Saturday September 13, and marked the beginning of the 9-week testing period peace corps fondly calles Pre-Service Training (PST – oh how they love those acronyms). After a 2-day stay in a local hotel we were herded onto a tour bus and shipped out to the eastern side of the island to Madolenihmw, apparently the most traditional of Pohnpei’s 5 municipalities.

Upon arrival we went through a hilariously awkward “meet and greet” during which we were ceremoniously paired up with our host families. I am very happy to say that I had the good fortune to be assigned the BEST host family on Pohnpei. When they asked me where I was from and I told them Hawaii they promptly answered, “oh you are a local! We are the luckiest family in Madolenihmw.” Needless to say, the last 2 weeks have been awesome – a near effortless transition.

For instance I wake up every morning and have to remind myself that it’s not actually Kauai that I’m looking at out my window. Between the roosters, the ti leaf plants, the coconut, banana, breadfruit, mango and starfruit trees I feel at home. There are, however, the village feasts with 7+ squealing then roasted pigs, the ancient ruins of Nan Madol, and the perpetual hum of foreign languages to act as a constant reminder that, Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.

Yes, I’ve tried betelnut – twice. No, my teeth are not red – yet.

I’ve also been introduced to the wonderful tradition of sakau. Here in Pohnpei sakau – or kava – is magical, on many different levels. Its preparation and consumption will forgive even the most grievous of offenses between individuals or families; its calming effects will cure high blood pressure and anxiety – so they say; and no where else in the world will you watch the intricate yet delicate process of pounding the root with a stone, wrapping it up in hibiscus bark and squeezing out the mud like substance into coconuts to be shared by all.

It will most definitely be one aspect of Pohnpei that I will thoroughly miss when I ship off to my permanent site at the end of the week. The Peace Corps Micronesia program is unique in that us trainees are assigned permanent sites within the first 2 weeks of their PST. Because most FSM islands have their own unique language and the language training consumes such a large part of the PST, we get to be split up early in order to begin the grueling language training process. I found out last Wednesday that I will be placed on the island of...drum roll...Kosrae! I leave this Friday with 2 other people to begin the next 6 weeks of training.

According to my site folder, which is “subject to change” and “requires flexibility” (2 peace corps mantras one gets quite used to hearing and accepting), I will be teaching 9th grade english. Rumor has it that Kosrae has the most beautiful beaches, hikes and coral reefs, and that there are yoga classes, cable tv, bicycles and kayaks at the volunteers’ disposal. I will be sure to let you know which is fact and which is wishful thinking.

Seeing as it is now 11:25 pm and my typical bedtime these days is no later than 9:30, I can barely keep my eyes open and must end here. I hope you are doing well in your respective locations.
My new address is:

Ashley Jones, PCV
U.S. Peace Corps
Kosrae Field Office
P.O. Box 98
Tofol, Kosrae, FSM 96944

Love to all.