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!

hello from port vila, vanuatu!

Wow, things are much more modern here than I expected. I'm in a cyber cafe right now and you can find just about anything at the grocery store across the street. On Sunday morning, we were able to watch the Cubs clinch (LIVE) and later that day I even found a GOLF COURSE! This place really is paradise...

Later this week we leave the modern comforts to head out to our training village. I have a feeling that things there will look much more like we expected. We'll meet our host families and start to truly learn about Ni-Vanuatu culture. Until then, I will enjoy the baby steps, continue to explore, and keep bugging the current Volunteers with strange questions.

Speaking of strange, I am wearing a skirt right now. This is going to take some getting used to...

wait, i really have to shut off my phone? like now?

Hello from LA! After a day and a half of staging, we are ready to depart for Vanuatu. The sessions have been great so far...a lot of getting to know you with the other trainees. We have a great group and have had a ton of laughs already. I have to admit that it is really amazing to meet 20 other strangers who are experiencing the same range of emotions.

Well, I'm off to the airport with my 80+ lbs of luggage (oops). First stop New Zealand and then on to Port Vila, Vanuatu. My phone is officially hibernating but I wanted to let you know that throughout the next 3 months of training emails can be sent to me by way of the following address:

volunteer@vu.peacecorps.gov

Just put my name in the subject line and the email will be printed and delivered to me. Please write! For all of you funny kids out there, please keep in mind that these could be read by other eyes before they actually get to me.

Hope all is well where you are. Miss you!