moving on from port vila.

Well, this will be my last post for awhile. Tomorrow we leave Port Vila for the training village. Once there, we'll have no email access and only one phone for emergencies. You can still email me at:

volunteer@vu.peacecorps.gov

and they will print it and bring it to me. I'll be able to respond but only by way of traditional mail.

Before leaving, I thought I'd catch you up on the past week of events...

The trip to Vanuatu was a bit tricky and we almost had to leave 4 of our group in New Zealand. Two minutes before takeoff, there was a miracle and all of us were able to fit on the plane. Whew...

Upon arrival, we were met by a group of staff and current volunteers. The wrapped us in Vanuatu lava lavas (sarongs) and handed us coconuts. We then took a tour of Port Vila and landed at our hotel (with the warning that accommodations would be diminishing as we move on). At the hotel, we had a brief conversation about safety and promptly left for our first kava experience. We were briefed on the rules of a Nakamal (kava bar)...basically, don't take pictures and shhhh! Kava was good but also gross if that makes any sense. I think you actually have to drink it to understand but picture drinking really disgusting, dirty, murky water and then going numb. That's basically kava.

The morning following our first night of kava, we met a current volunteer for the Cubs game. After the game, we walked around Port Vila a bit more and then met a group of trainees and headed to Hideaway Island. We spent the afternoon at the beach wondering if this was all real... After Hideaway, we went for kava again. You know, just to confirm that it was good/gross.

The rest of the week has been spent in training and getting to know the staff and PC policies. It's all pretty dry but necessary. We started on our malaria meds earlier this week and my dream last night is a subject for a separate post. I'm still shaking my head...

Well, I hope everyone is doing fantastic! I wish you all could see what I'm seeing. Yes, I will post some pictures eventually. This computer isn't exactly fast...

MISS YOU!