A fellow traveler and friend once told me, "If you wait till the last minute, it'll only take a minute!" I'm keeping this in mind as I write this update.
As it stands, I've been back on Yap Proper since the last weeks of May - almost two months. And in those two months, I've had three days of training.
In the meanwhile, a significant change came about when the Peace Corps told the three of us Volunteers in Woleai that, due to the shabby state of the runway and a rescinded emergency contract with the local plane, we are no longer able to serve in our sites.
At the time there was some hope that the runway situation would miraculously improve, but it has become evident that the solution lies in part of the problem; no ship has been able to go out to Woleai in order to deliver the materials or workers for the improvements. As it seems to me, this is an instance of stunted potential as far as sustaining and improving life in the outer islands of Yap. There is funding, there is community and government support, and there is want, need, and drive. But there is a missing infrastructure upon which to hinge the existing systems that would address this transportation problem. From what I've seen and heard, the runway will indeed be patched up and improved soon, just not soon enough for us to remain at our sites. It seems as though we were only one ship away from being allowed to stay, and that's difficult to deal with. If only...If only the state ship hadn't been indefinitely delayed, then we'd be able to fix the runway and Porter, Gita, and I could stay in our sites. If only...
And so here I am, in the last several minutes (read: days) before I leave on Friday for my new site - Federai, Ulithi. (Said: Fed-er-eye, You-lith-ee)
Logistically speaking, I shall be taking a plane to Falalop, Ulithi and then catching a boat across the lagoon to Federai. I'll meet my new host family and community while settling into my new digs. Then, whenever the state ship is finally fit to leave, I'll hop on it from Federai out to Woleai. In the time it takes for the ship to loop around the eastern outer islands, I'll have to say goodbye to my host family, community, digs, and turtle on Falalius. Then back on the ship to be deposited again at my new site. Now let me tell you a little more about Federai.
On Federai, I will continue to be teaching in the local school, which is about the same size as my school on Falalius. The condition of the school is much less dilapidated, and there is a beautiful library already in place. At least initially, I'll be living with William, the principal, and his wife, Andresa, whom I'm told is a "shooabuuto chille," or small woman. Ulithian, the local language, is similar to Woleaian but a different dialect, and in general I should be able to also communicate more in English if I need.
Federai has power (usually) as well as (occasional) cell phone access. Across the lagoon on Falalop there is also internet (at times). There are (up to) two planes a week to Ulithi that deliver supplies, as well as mail to the local post office.
Speaking of mail...I will technically have a new address, but I can still get mail from the PC PO Box. The important thing is to note my change of site in the address so my mail doesn't get sent to Woleai - i.e. Emily, Federai instead of Emily, Falalius. (All in all, there's not much need for us to worry about this as I've spoken to the lovely women at the local PO and they know the low down to help sort things out.) So here are my two viable addresses should you ever have the inkling to write - pick whichever suits your fancy:
Emily Hurianek, Peace Corps Volunteer
Ulithi Post Office
Federai Island
Yap, FM 96943
Emily Hurianek, PCV Federai
PO Box 190
Colonia, Yap FM 96943
I feel almost as though the Fellowship of the Ring of Woleaian Islands has begun to break. Gita left Friday night for her new site on Fais (a rocky outer island in Yap past Ulithi), and Porter is sorting out how to get to his new site (Hoak Island) in the state of Chuuk. It will be very difficult to envision a future PC experience without my two companions in it. To help ease the transition is the fact that Alyssa, Federai's current PCV, will be finishing up her service sometime this fall and so we'll have some overlap. I met Alyssa on Federai in April on a stop-over to Woleai, plus we've gotten to know each other much better while she was here for a few weeks before her COS (Close of Service Conference). She's a firecracker (literally - she made her 'debut' on the 4th of July) from Wisconsin and a fellow explorer and weaver. I'm glad to have her as a friend at the beginning of this new adventure.
And now is the part of the blog post where I begin to list and ramble randomly with no sense of cohesion...much like the messages I leave on voicemails, actually. Anyway...
Speaking of voicemails (nice transition, huh? :-P)...I will still have my satellite phone that I will be checking daily and can receive mini-messages that way. I cannot, however, use the satphone to respond. Which is why I'm very excited that I also have a local cell phone. Signal and phone-card permitting, I will be able to actually communicate WITH you!
As far as where this new adventure will take me, I can't be sure. But I am optimistic, hopeful, and excited. I am hoping to take a resource trip back to Yap sometime this fall. Next along the path is Mid-Service Training, which will take place on Pohnpei in December (very likely during my birthday, actually). AND THEN! Oh, I'm so excited, my WONDERFUL parents have concocted the most fantastic travel itinerary for me. In one fell swoop, I will go from the tropics to mid-winter Maine, then dip down to Bolivia for a visit with my kindred spirit Katie, and finally fly back up to Colorado for Christmas and New Year's with the family. Let's just say there are twinkly lights on my horizon, and I love it.
As always, thank you for your love and support. This continues to be a dynamic adventure for me on many levels and I am blessed by the experiences I've had and the people I've met. I'm happy to share my adventure with you and would love to hear about yours. Thank you.
