Kaselehlia! {Pohnpein greeting similar to ALOHA!]

After SEVERAL flights, over three days, I'M IN MICRONESIA with my Peace Corps group beginning training.

I flew to LA on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and met the group at our 'staging' event. I got to see Katie O. and met people who will definitely be longtime friends. On Sept. 3, we flew to Honolulu, stayed in the Ohana Hotel near the airport, rode a bus to Waikiki Beach to watch the sunset, and then got a little sleep. We got up at 3 AM and took off on an 'island hopping' trip to Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

We spent a couple of nights and a day, figuring out how to communicate with family and friends, having our first interviews, and catching up on sleep. (Somewhere over the Pacific, we "lost" a day and several hours of sleep.)

Now, we're at the Training Center. We'll be in this area for 6 - 9 weeks staying with our first host families. I will have VERY limited phone or email access. So, the best way to communicate with me is by USPS mail. FSM and Palua use a postal system similar to the U.S. - costs of mailing letters and packages are the same. Airmail takes about two weeks (things that go by sea take months.) My address is:

Emily Hurianek, Peace Corps Trainee

Peace Corps / Micronesia

PO BOX 9

Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941

I'd LOVE to hear from you!!!

THANKS for all of your support! The adventure is has truly begun!!

Emily [posted by MOM]