Up up and away!

Hawaii from the air.

Approaching Majuro! 

Yokwe from Marshall Islands!

Well, I have arrived to Majuro!  The airport is basically a runway with a "house" without walls.  They have a passport ststion, baggage claim and then customs  inspection, and then you are free to explore! 

Majuro is very hot and humid. I never thought I would love the rain so much. When it rains, it is very cool and breezy.  

The first day we were here, there was no power on this part of the island so we had no power for the first day. We couldn't flush the toilet, and had to manually flush the toilet using a bucket of water to force it to flush. The power came back on the next morning, 12 hours after the promised time.  😄  we have had power since then.  I have also learned how to do showers using a bucket.  It is not bad, actually.  The water is lukewarm and very refreshing.  

Yesterday (Saturday), a bunch of us walked to a beach nearby and swam in the rain.  It the water was very warm!  It was my first time swimming in Majuro! 

There was a local little boy and girl who decided to join us.  They walked into the water with no shoes on and all of us had to have shoes on because of the coral.  I got two small cuts when trying to get out of the water even though I had shoes on.  

I am doing very good here, going through orientation and meeting the other volunteers. They are very interested in learning sign language and communicating with us! 

The time is here!

After a month of farewells, the time is here to depart to the Marshall Islands!  I am here at the airport waiting for my flight to Hawaii.  It felt like a long time ago when I started preparing for the adventure (moving out of my apt, cleaning my office at work, saying good byes, visiting family and friends, etc) and now finally it is time for me to go.  Now that it is here, it feels like it went by in a flash! I am sure the same will happen when I am on the island!

I have been getting the last of my favorite stuff before I depart. I have also been wearing shorts.  I will really miss being able to wear shorts and whatever I feel like, especially swimsuits. Ah, I will live. 

I am looking forward to adding one more state to "visited" category-Hawaii and adding more stamps to my passport! 

More shopping

On Friday, Abby and I went on a shopping spree at toys r us... 

We got $300 worth of toys (dolls, puzzles, some infant toys, foam blocks, etc... See pic below). It was like Christmas morning trying to take the toys out of the boxes, etc. Why do they have so many fasteners on them toys!?!?

I packed them all up and mailed them.  It cost $175 (yikes!)

That night I also went to wal mart (at 11:30 pm, good times with the slowest cashier) for school supplies.  

I am done shopping here in the states.  If I need anything else, I can ask one of my sisters or parents to get it for me and mail it over. There were some items that I wanted to get but weren't sure about such as kitchen items since they don't eat the same food as we do... 

So far I have spent:

Books $150

Ship box of books $100

Toys (wooden toys) $66

Toys r us $300

Walmart-school supplies $70

Ship boxes $175

Total: $861 

Shopping spree

Yesterday, I decided to go to Barnes n Noble bookstore to buy some books for the kiddos in Majuro... 

This is what $150 in books look like.  I did not get some of my favorite books because I thought that the books would not relate to their lives.  For example, I love "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" but I figured that it wouldn't be a good idea since there doesn't seem to be any caterpillars or butterflies there and the children there do not eat the food listed in the book.  Another favorite is "Snowmen at Night" about what snowmen do at night when we are sleeping.  I didn't get it for obvious reasons (it doesn't snow there).  I will be mailing a box of books tomorrow.  

I also ordered some Marshallese books that are on their way to me now.  

I am planning to get some toys and dolls to either bring with me or mail there.  I got a list of items that the early intervention program needs, so I will get some items on the list.  

Almost to my goal!

I have been collecting donations since I had the idea to buy supplies for the Deaf school there... So far, I have raised $1,820.. Close to my goal of $2,000. I didn't think I would reach my goal, and I am very close to it. If I do not reach the goal, I am satisfied with what I have raised so far, it is much more than I ever thought I would raise... Many thanks to family, friends and organizations for your donations!  (I am still collecting donations if you would like to donate).  The website is www.youcaring.com/suzyteachrmi. 

Please see previous post for some stuff that I have already started to buy... I mailed the box of books already, and any new supplies I buy will be coming with me on the plane, when I leave for Marshall Islands in a week!  So exciting! I plan to do some more shopping and will post a picture of what I get.