One year down in my Peace Corps experience and somehow I'm back at the beginning again. Since I left in July, I've said hello to my new community in Ulithi and goodbye to my old home in Woleai. Both experiences were positive yet challenging in their own ways, and it's been interesting to transition from one island home to another.
I fell in love with my new island community on Federai from the get-go. It's a very long, skinny island with open, friendly people. Long beaches line the shore and the water is invisibly clear. I'm staying with William and Andresa, two very kind and amiable people. We live right by the school and I'm staying in the coziest little local hut that was built by a previous PCV and my host brother, Frankie (who looks like a professional heavy weight boxer). 
My local hut on Federai - home sweet home!
Inside my hut at night :-)
I have found the language to be more difficult that I anticipated, but fortunately I can get by speaking English and listening to Ulithian. This made me realize what a gift a common language is because it allows room for me to really express myself and show my personality. I feel like I'm known for who I am on Federai, and this feeling is very grounding and helps energize me for the rest of my service.
Another great part of feeling energized is my daily routine of running to the end of the island in the evening and then jumping into the ocean with my 9 year old friend Nick during the sunset. It's times like these when the phrase "island paradise" floats across the brain for some reason :-)
Sunset on Federai
A weird thing happens in Federai. At night, the mosquitoes go away. That means they run rampant from sunrise to sunset, but when the moon comes out, we on Federai are blessed with cool, buzz-free night air. 
The apple tree we sit under at night to talk story
My favorite way of enjoying this phenomenon is to sit out with my host mother and father by the glow of our solar powered light. During these talk-story sessions, I get to share about who I am and the places I come from. We love to laugh and joke about funny stories, foods, customs. One of my favorite times was when I told my host mother when I owned a motorcycle. She was saying she couldn't picture me on one, and I said it wasn't like I was wearing a lavalava :-)
Speaking of lavalavas, I have successfully completed my first full lavalava, winding and weaving it from scratch, so to say :-) It was fun to sit in the women's house with Alyssa "cheating" as she coached me in English, then to laugh and joke with my host mom as she taught me to weave on the "pop," or loom, in my house. It's far from perfect, but as it was my "learning lavalava" intended for my Grannie, I think it's just swell. Besides, I remember learning about how certain Native American tribes purposefully incorporated flaws into their crafts so as to not offend the gods by feigning perfection. Let's just say no gods were offended during the making of this lavalava. I look forward to much more weaving in the future. 
Host mom Andresa and friend Joanna helping set up my first lavalava!
At the end of August, I hopped on the state ship out to Woleai. It was a great summer time adventure upon the waves shared with Gita and two other PCVs who took the ship all the way to Satawal and back. It was difficult yet good to have time to say goodbye to Falalius. 
My final boat ride from Falalius with all my stuff and yes, that is a pig :-)
My final farewell to maweshe Ashley on Falalius
There were many reasons for me to stay, and many reasons for me to go. One of the saddest parts was discovering that, I'm sad to report, Tiny the Turtle passed away. She was well-loved in her short life, an unforgetable Christmas gift and a delightful island companion. All in all, I'm very thankful for my time spent in Woleai.
Coming back to Federai I found myself in the throws of teaching full-time, a plight I blame on my genes (thanks four generations of teaching behind me!). On the first day of school we had a Back To School Party. I was just sitting on the side, minding my own business, when all of a sudden I noticed all of the students huddled together secretively and staring at me. Then they attacked me - with floral maremares, that is! Each student had made me a lei to welcome me to the school and the community. I could feel the weight of their welcome as my head towered and teetered with the most beautiful tropical flowers. I'm very blessed to be part of this community!
Being buried by maremares - one from each student!
Three cheers for my island life partner Alyssa and all the other M75 PCVs in Yap! Alyssa is officially done with her time in Federai and while I'm sad to see her go, I'm happy and excited for her future adventures and all of her "first impressions" to come. My two weeks back on Yap have been delightful and donzerly in every way. I'm healthy, happy, and excited for the future. I will come back to Yap in December before heading to Pohnpei for Mid-Service Training (MST). After MST, my travel plans look a little something like this:
Portland, Maine Dec. 19-22
Colorado Dec. 22-Jan 4
Bolivia Jan. 4-12 Then back to Yap!
In recent, exciting news, I'm getting scuba certified! I started at the beginning of the week and it's been an amazing experience that I'm so thankful for. I'll never forget my first open water dives and being brought into a whole new world :-)
That's all the time I have now for this little update. Please be in touch and let me know how you are and what adventures you are having. Mail is come and go in Federai, but I will do my best to keep in touch.
And lastly, a very special Happy Birthday today to Andrew!!
Be well! Whee! emily
