Which pretty much brings me up to date

I leave tomorrow on the plane to return to Federai. Looking back on all the wonderful events and experiences during my vacation, I’m nothing but grateful.

First there was Mid-Service Training for the Peace Corps in Pohnpei. It was the first time the whole of our group came together since we began in the fall of 2009 and it was delightful to reconnect, catch up, and deepen relationships. I know this is often claimed of many groups, but we really do have a strong group dynamic based on friendship, love, and support. It all began when the Palau volunteers flew into Yap and we all went to Guam for a 13 hour lay-over. Despite being sleep-deprived and unaware of the hotel room PC paid for us, the ten of us navigated our time in Guam wonderfully and never once got cranky or mutinous. After visiting one of the world’s largest K-marts and feasting on American fast food (eeek culture shock!), we flew to Chuuk for yet another reunion with Porter, Andrea, Trevor, Kirby, and Dan. Still without any sleep, we flew into Pohnpei and headed up to our hotel. Everyone in the Yap and Palau group had been up since Saturday Morning and so went to bed…well, not everyone. By some unknown power I was able to stay up all night, laughing, joking, and talking until the cloudy sunrise. I knew I could sleep every other night of my life, but that the moment that night was a once in a lifetime opportunity – it was the looking forward to this reconnection that helped keep me going during the hard times the previous year, and it was our laughter that seem to make it all worthwhile.

Laughter was the signature throughout the rest of my time at MST. There was drinking cocoa and crocheting like old ladies, my first toga party, a do-or-die dance party, accidentally missing the staff/volunteer softball game, and watching movies and telling poop stories. Our final night together, us M76s went to dinner. At the suggestion of the fabulous and beautiful Gita Drew, each person stood up and shared a reflection on how amazing, dynamic, and supportive we are as a group (ding ding goes our own bell). I shared on the beauty of each member, another shared about how her door will always and unconditionally be open to us in the future as we continue to be friends. Although we were missing a few people who had already left for their sites, the sense of unity, friendship, and frankly family was life-motivating. Allow me to say this group of people jazzes me to be alive. It really is a beautiful thing.

As are my friends and family back home. For the first time in three years I was able to spend Christmas with my family. On the way home from Guam, I passed over Colorado as I flew the plenty plenty hours to the east coast. It seems my thirst for wintery weather helped provoke the first snows to Maine this season. Over a very quick (and COLD!) two days in Maine I reconnected with a good number of great friends. Unfortunately, two days is not a lot of time to catch up on almost two years away, so the next time I’ll have to visit longer 

I had such a lovely reunion with my family when I landed in Denver. My plane was late which allowed my parents to stake out prime real estate at the “waiting area” bar in DIA. My parents had both angles covered and I was delighted to see my dad as I came up the escalator and then hear my mom cry out from the other side when she saw me. And thanks be to the customs gods that I got all my bags through! Then it was into the family jeep on straight on to dinner. Along the way my brother Noah asked me what was one thing I wanted to make sure I did while I was home. Tired and hungry, the first thing that came to my mind was “Mexican food.” Lo and behold we were en route to meet my other brother Nate at none other than a Mexican restaurant. It was wonderful after so long away to simply be in the presence of my family, not to mention sharing a meal and stories together.

The highlight of my vacation was Christmas dinner at Grannie’s house with the whole family, laughing, joking, eating. While home I also helped make cookies, volunteered with my hardworking and amazing parents with their food pantry project, attended our candle light Christmas Eve service, and went to my friends’ golden birthday party…Oh yeah, and the dentist. Here’s my advice. The best way to approach your first root canal is mid brewery tour with your brother, sister, and friends. Not a bad itinerary for a snowy afternoon: Left Hand Brewery, Comfort Dental, Mountain Sun.

And what better way to follow-up a wonderful trip home to the family than to head to South America to visit your bosom friend? Well, check out my previous post on this one.

Which pretty much brings me up to date. Yap, lost bags, head colds, barrels of oil, host brother’s birthday, PCV friends, and planning for the future. Right now I’m looking at coming in for a quick resource trip after graduation in May. Then there’s our official Close of Service Conference around the beginning of August. Then I’m pretty much in the home stretch. Now, I’m sure many of you are asking, what then, after Peace Corps? Well, try this on for size. Jordan. Just sayin’.

Along the Path, A Library

Andy’s death was and is a very difficult and surreal experience. The news came days after from a friend in England (of all places) and I was not able to simply get on a plane to give or get support. Life, love, mortality, the ocean. All these basic concepts flooded my usually basic reality on island. Soon they got jumbled and bumped up against each other and often led to a condition I generally term “a bad case of the mucky mucks.” Spiritual and emotional frustrations ebbed and flowed during October and November for me, though they were usually under the surface, not lethal but unpleasant.

It seemed to come to a head one Sunday afternoon while I was doing some last-minute lesson planning. Kids trickled in from the nearby weekly volleyball game and it seemed, as usual, all bets were off. They were running and screaming and pushing and fighting, all the while dishelving the library. One swear word, explicit drawing, and writing on the wall too many, I snapped and shouted for all the kids to leave immediately. Thus commenced Library Lock Down - NOT my finest moment.

Talking to the principle, I decided to close the library for the next week, both as punishment and preparation. What I really needed to do was make sure that the students and I were on the same page - that the school's expecations for the library and appropriate behavior were well-known and aligned with the expecations of the students.

So over the course of the following week, I worked hard to "refurbish" the library, cleaning shelves, organizing, creating activity cabinets and teaching resource centers. And, above, all, I dug out and dusted off the old library rules that had long since fallen by the wayside. Once everything was in place as far as the library rules, procedures, and philosophy, it was time to bring back the students - to unlock the library.

The next Monday I held an orientation with each class throughout the day. "We want Happy Books," I said, "as well as Happy Students and Happy Teachers." We learned together what the rules and expectations are in the library and by the end of the day our Library Club was full of eager and excited members.

Since then, the library has been a happy place for both the students and me. With the Library Club we explore and maintain the library - because let's be honest, libraries are just so darn cool. Certain days students can check out games and activities - kites and yo-yos seem to be the hot ticket.

The most wonderful feeling of pride and success came one day when I had a staff meeting and had to leave the Library Monitors in charge. Not only did the students play and work quietly, they even cleaned and closed up entirely on their own! I couldn't say who was prouder, me watching the kids walk away from a job well done or the students having done the job!


(Pictures are being persnickety and may or not make an appearance.)

Endings

My last post regarding island life talked about a new beginning. Now I am beginning to learn about endings.

November 6th, 2011. That’s the finish line. When I joined the Peace Corps, I dreamed ahead to the distant future, a time far off in the year 2011 and the age of 26. Lo and behold I am 26 and it is 2011. T minus 10 months to go.

It’s strange how 10 months can feel both solid, immovable, forever and like it could disappear in a blink.

October 15th, 2010. Another finish line none of us were prepared for.

And it’s strange how the past, which was so heavily present at the time, is now to be looked back upon and recounted for you today. Sitting down now, Tuesday January 25th at 10:20 am, I stare at my tumbling laundry hoping it will tell me where to begin. But, I smile as I remind myself, I’ve already begun and I’m well on my way. And I guess that’s where I started the last post. And so that’s where I will pick up, grateful that I can.

At the beginning of October I returned to Yap for a resource trip where I resupplied on many levels. There was shopping for the basics (mosquito coils, oatmeal, TP) and utilizing communication with friends and family thousands of miles away. Then there were also the joys and wonders of my host family and friends here on Yap, plus the adventure of becoming SCUBA certified. Birthday celebrations, ice cream indulgences, reconnecting and catching up – simple things that sustain and rejuvenate me to return to island life.

Back on Fedreay, life fell back into place that first week with lesson planning, talk story, and starting weaving projects. Plus I was delighted to hear the ship was returning to the island by the end of the week, bringing with it my dear friend Gita and news of her life on Fais over the last few months.

Normally the ship anchors for hours off the island while it delivers its services and supplies. Yet since we expected it, we got the opposite; Gita and I had maybe half an hour to catch up as she showered at my house and “freshened up” from the ship (if you’ve ever traveled on the H-1 you’ll understand the use of quotation marks). So much life to share in such a short space of time. And we had no idea that so much of life could change so totally so quickly.

The next day our dear friend Andy Buth drowned off the shores of Fais Island.

Many people didn’t know who he was, perhaps except as the tall white guy with nipple rings who brought his own spears and knives when he came out on the Voyager in April. In Woleai he was known as the guy who “goes where the fish have seen no man.” To me, he was a new friend. To Gita, he was a life-long friend and fellow adventurer in life and love. What more can I say than the truth -

His life was an adventure, and he died happy and in love.

Andy, may you continue to soar and explore. Thank you for sharing your time with us. We love you and will think of you often while continuing the adventure. Rest in a wild, free, and open peace Andy.

Double Dipping

I was asked by a student at my old school to reflect on my Peace Corps service. Since I'm egregiously behind on updates, I figured this would do for a post :-)


1. What work are you doing right now with the Peace Corps?

I am currently a volunteer in the Federated States of Micronesia. I'm in my second year serving on a small outer island in the island state of Yap (my current island is called Federai, Ulithi. Previously I was on Falalius, Woleai). The Peace Corps project plan in the FSM focuses on TESOL and Community Development. Personally that means I am teaching the upper grades in my local elementary school as well as creating projects with the community that address certain needs. I'm working on developing a sustainable waste management system that fosters environmental stewardship, communal responsibility, and creativity.


2. What made you decide to do volunteer work with the peace corps?

Even while I was at Whitworth I knew that I wanted to do some kind of service work abroad for a long period of time. Peace Corps is a great financially viable way to do this. It's two years of service work, plus training, that I don't have to pay for out of pocket. I'm given a small stipend that allows me adequate food, shelter, and other basic needs. Moreover, I have the wonderful opportunity to live in and explore another culture and really become part of the local community. I eat fish and taro, I wear lavalavas (and no shirt!), I weave and I cook and I speak the local language. I am used to palm trees and rolling waves and rainbow fish and clear water. My service is my reality; this tiny speck of land in the great big Pacific ocean is my whole world. Peace Corps allows for time and place to seep into me as I seep into my service.

3. How has your experience at Whitworth shaped, helped or impacted your work as a volunteer?

Whitworth focuses on service. Service is at the core of the Peace Corps. The interesting twist is that I am a non-Christian who attended a Christian institution. At the center of Whitworth's service is Christ. At the center of my service is my personal philosophy discovered and honed during my four years in Whitworth's Philosophy program. It was also during these four years that I honed my appreciation for community and support, especially in light of common or core differences. During my time at Whitworth I developed deep relationships with people whose values or beliefs deeply differed from my own. And yet it was (and still is) in those relationships that the most meaning and growth happened. So it is during my time in the Peace Corps, where I find myself literally as far from my own milieu as possible. The distances I've come and the differences I've encountered only strengthen the similarities we find together, where sometimes the only important commonality is laughter or food.

4. How have your experiences so far impacted your life and worldview?

In a sense the whole point of two years of service abroad is to change one's worldview as literally and physically possible. In my case it is total immersion. I am on a tiny tiny tiny (I don't think most people can even conceive of it) island in the ocean hundreds of miles from any substantial land mass. I have no phone. No Internet. Power comes from the sun. Water comes from the sky. Food comes from the sea. In a very real way, I am out there totally on my own. And yet I'm not alone. Peace Corps for me is people. It's relationship. It's the community on my island (less than 100 people). It's my students (less than 20). It's my host family. Time becomes a very strange concept when you join the Peace Corps, join a new community and culture and language, and then are simply there. There has never been a better way to learn the lesson of being present than when you're a PCV on a tiny island in the big blue ocean! And yet time passes. The people around me change. The island changes. I change. The world's longest hour can somehow turn itself into a month passed, then two. Then I find myself more than a year in and less than a year to go, and time, which has seemingly just rushed passed me, slips on just as slowly, just as quickly as ever. That's the only way to mark change, impact, experience, with subtlety and awareness, with gratitude for the past and openness towards the future. And that is for me, in a coconut shell, what I've learned thus far.

As you can see, I'm very tangential and like to sway between topics. If you have any more questions or need clarifications (I'm sure you have no doubt that I'm a PH major after all my abstractions), please let me know. I'm always happy to hear from friends.

Bolivia!

As part of a wonderful travel Christmas present/blessing from my family, I got to visit my dear bossom friend Katie in Bolivia for a week. Below is a smattering of pictures. There are lots more fun ones on Facebook should you have access and like to take a peek :-)

Videos

Here are a few belated videos from my time throughout my service. I hope a.) they are rather self explanatory and/or enjoyable and b.) that they work!