end of 2010 update

i have a LOT to report since more than a year has passed since my last post.

first and foremost, i've decided to extend my contract with the peace corps for one more year to wrap up a few projects. it was a hard decision but learned that i am the last volunteer that will be coming to my site and i knew that i wouldn't feel comfortable leaving everything half finished. so, i made a case for myself and was granted a one year extension. i know some people think i'm crazy but two years flew by and i have a feeling that this next year will be gone in the blink of an eye...

so what has kept me so happy since my last post and what will keep me "busy" for the next year?

school: i continue to work with the rural training center (RTC) in the village. in 2010 we were awarded a grant to build our first permanent classroom! progress is slow but we hope to complete construction in february of 2011. in 2011 we'll be sending our carpentry and home care teachers to the provincial capital for training. (we've been trying to do this for 2 years so this is huge!) next year, we also hope to add a sports cirriculum which should draw more students to the school.

volcanoes: i've become OBSESSED with the volcanoes on ambrym. i've been to see them 15 times now. it's such an amazing place and i find myself in a state of perpetual grin at the volcano. i'm humbled by mother nature and so grateful for the chance to have such a close up view of the earth's core. it sounds cheesy and it is but i just don't know how else to describe what a wonderful place it is. i'll post some of my favorite photos so that you too can be in awe.

i've become so passionate about the volcano, that it seemed like a natural step to begin working with the tourism association on the island. in 2011 we're looking to upgrade the volcano camp, map all of the volcano routes, and put together some updated marketing materials. in 2010 i did some training for the volcano tour guides (thanks largely to the help of beck, australian volunteer and fellow volcano enthusiast) but this seems to be an ongoing need so we hope to provide continued training in 2011.

soccer: some of you may know that i've been playing a bit of soccer with the girls on the island. in 2009 we held the first women's tournament on the island and had 7 teams participate! it was the start of something beautiful and we've played about 4 tournaments since. in october we traveled to pentecost (an island just north of ambrym) for a week long soccer camp with some other volunteers and their teams. it was such a great experience for the girls...for some it was the first time that they'd ever left the island! at our first practice, the girls were too shy to run a warm-up lap around the field because they thought someone would see them. now they are willing to travel to another island, take the field, and compete in front of complete strangers. it's so amazing. i'm so proud to be a part of that and i hope there is much more soccer to be played in 2011.