Readjusting to life in America

I have been in America for 2 weeks now. After I left the Marshall Islands, I had a layover in Hawaii for two days.  The layover was nice because Hawaii had some "island life" and is still part of America, so it was a step up from the Marshall Islands. 

Before we left, the field director warned us that readjusting to America won't be easy.  Of course, people react differently to things so it would impact some people more than others.  

When I landed in Hawaii, it was 3 am, and I was in shock that I actually am in America.  It took me a while (about 30 minutes) before I finally texted my family to let them know I that I was in Hawaii.  The airport was a little empty because of the time, so I didn't see too many people, thankfully.  I had to go to the bathroom and was shocked at the automatic flush. I had completely forgotten about that!

The next day, I had goosebumps driving around Oahu.  It was so big, so many cars and people! We drove around the east side of Oahu. I was thrilled to wear shorts! I had no problem adjusting to that!

Hanauma bay, good snorkeling place ... Didn't go because I forgot my snorkeling equipment in majuro! Haha

The "blowhole", water/mist would blow out of the hole in rocks. 

We went to the punch bowl national cemetery where all the military people are buried.  There is a memorial for world war 2, and of course Marshall Islands is on there. 

Lovely contrast.  The white is my leg and the tan is my arm.  

I visited the deaf school.  It was a small school, and met one student who is from the Marshall Islands. I was excited to see another Marshallese person.  

That evening, I had dinner with one of the former Deaf Ed teachers at my high school.  

The next day, the other deaf volunteers and I hiked to the top of diamond head. It is the rock you see right behind me. I wore a tank top and had no problems.  

It was an easy hike, mostly paved/graded walkways all the way up.  My fitness tracker said that we went up 34 stories.  It took us about 1 1/2 hours to go up and back down.  Of course, there were many people. 

The view from the top was beautiful. 

Picture of us.  I love the lovely tan lines on us. 

View on way down

Then we went to Waikiki beach.  I took off my tank top and shorts, leaving my bikini on.  It felt weird being this "naked" for about 1 hour then it went away.  I didn't put on sunscreen so I had a very bad burn on the parts that weren't exposed for the past year.  After a week, it became blisters.  I have never had a sunburn this bad. 

The friend I stayed with picked me up in her convertible.  A 1975 mgb (British car).  It was fun cruising Honolulu in this. 

I had not gone to any stores, gotten any food or drink from a restaurant while I was in Hawaii.  My first drink was from Starbucks in lax.  It took me 2 days to finally buy something.  I thought I would be thrilled to be able to drink something like that but I think I was overwhelmed.  I got some chipotle when I landed in Las Vegas.  I was starving and didn't get any food in lax because of the long lines.  

I ran around my mom's home and I saw a dog.  I debated if I should run past it or not.  In the Marshall Islands, if a dog threatened to attack me I could just pretend to pick up a rock and they will leave me alone.  I wasn't sure if that dog would leave me alone so I just turned back and ran a different way back to my mom's home. 

Since I hadn't driven in a year, and the roads in Majuro was one lane each side, I  didn't feel comfortable driving when I arrived in Las Vegas.  I finally drove to the food store about a mile from my mom's home on Friday, 2 days after I arrived.  It was along small roads so i did ok.  The food store was a completely different store. thankfully I went in with a list of stuff to buy.  I was overwhelmed by the size of the food store, the price of food and how fresh the food was.  I just went in, got what I had on my list and got out.  I went back to the food store the next Monday and I had a better experience.

I had some apartment business to take care of and my mom did not want to go with me so I drove on the freeways.  It took me 8 days after arriving in America to feel comfortable enough to drive on freeways.  

Everything I have eaten so far has been delicious.  I don't think you could give me a bad dish.  

I visited my new school while I was in Las Vegas and I had to remind myself that it's not appropriate to take shoes off before entering the classroom.  The same goes for taking shoes off before entering homes.  

I haven't gone to my favorite store, target. I will need to go soon.  

I am still getting over jet lag.  I am sure that my traveling across time zones in America isn't helping much.  I am still waking up tired and just feeling groggy during the day.  At night, it is hard to sleep. Someone told me that for each hour different between two places, it will take that amount of days to get over jet lag.  So since the Marshall Islands to Las Vegas is 19 hours different, then Las Vegas to Philadelphia is 3, I am screwed. And to think I will be going on a long plane ride again soon with 6 hours difference... I hope I will be back to normal by the time I start teaching again. 

Farewells

As time came closer for me to leave the island, I became busier doing things for the last time.

I had several farewell parties. The first one was with re early intervention families that I worked with doing home visits.

The families brought food to share (different kinds of chicken, fish, breadfruit, bwiro (preserved breadfruit), and of course rice.  

We all sat around chatting and playing with the children. Then it was time to eat.  Someone said a prayer then we ate. 

(He slept through the entire party... Party pooper haha)

Food time!

After we ate, I was told to sit in a chair facing all the people who were standing up.  They sang two Marshallese songs and then gave me their gifts while singing and dancing.

They couldn't decide who would start so I put my head on the table while they discussed. 

The two videos below are of them singing their farewell songs.

Early intervention families (missing one)

Then the last day of school was our Laura beach day where we all went to Laura to swim and have a bbq.  It was good to spend some time together.  We swam, ate, and just chatted until it was almost time to go, the parents and children gave us gifts. They also sang and danced while giving us gifts. 

Cooking the food

One of my students' mothers took my phone and took pictures with it.  When I looked at the pictures later, I found this gem.... It is a video of one of my students dancing to music, then another joins him, then another student join them... It is 3 minutes long, but adorable!!! Click on the blue link below. 

Video of students dancing 

In the middle of receiving gifts

Two of my students' mothers and myself

Family

Three of my students

Gifts

On the way back from Laura, the buses was full so we hitchhiked and got a ride on the back of a truck.  It was so much fun.  My last time riding in the back of a truck for a long time :( 

Finally, on my last full day on the island, my Marshallese family gave me a farewell party.  Of course, there was food, a prayer and gifts. After the gifts, we went to see Chinilla's niece graduate from high school.  I borrowed her dress to go to the graduation because I did not bring anything "nice" to wear (I did not know about the plan after the party).  Like the dress! 

Kaile and Kima (Chinilla's younger brother) giving me a gift

Chenille's step mother giving me a gift

Chinilla's cousin giving me earrings (her husband and son is in the background)

Olya (Chinilla's youngest sister)

Rimajol baamle (Marshallese Family)

On the way to graduation with my new bling (Chinilla, Olya, and myself)

Chinilla's nieces and I.

Poster size pictures of all the graduates were above the graduates.  I enjoyed looking at the pictures. 

People line up to give them gifts.  One guy's neck was covered with gifts.  Poor him! 

Chinilla's husband's baamle (sisters and mother)

I admired one of the women's crowns and she gave it to me.  

I have so many Marshallese handicraft, and am excited to decorate my new apartment with them.  I also have so many earrings and every time I wear one, I get at least one compliment about it.  

Nearing the end (10 months)

As I sat in the boat waiting for a bite from the brightly colored fish swimming around underneath me, I think about my adventure during the past year and how we are nearing the end. 

I vividly remember driving to LAX with my mom and wondering if I made a mistake deciding to come here.  I would have two more days left in America, having seen family and friends across America.  I felt nervous, excited, and full of wonder.  The time got closer and closer, and finally it was time to go to LAX.  I got to my gate, sat down and waited for the other volunteers to arrive.  I recognized some of them from Facebook.  We all arrived with excitement on our faces, eager to meet the other people who would have a similar experience.  I sat back and just observed the scene in front of me.  Their faces, their clothing, their interactions.  I also wondered where the other Deaf volunteers were and how I would find them.  All of a sudden, I saw hands fly not too far from where I was sitting.  I felt relieved and walked over to meet them.  We introduced each other and made small talk while waiting to board the plane to Honolulu.  

We arrived in Honolulu at some crazy time late in the night and had to find the shuttle to our hotel.  We all walked together and people assumed roles on their own-the leader, the follower, and the skeptic who questioned whether we were going the right way.  And the rest of us who just wanted to go to bed and didn't care where we were going as long as we would reach the hotel.  We arrived the hotel and checked in, allowing us 4 hours of sleep before having to be at the airport "bright and early".  Again, people assumed different roles. 

The plane took off and we were over the big blue ocean for 5 hours.  Finally, we saw land!  Photos were taken, from cameras and camera phones.  People who were lucky enough to sit in the middle (yours truly) got a brief glimpse of the place we would call home for the next year.  The water was different shades of turquoise clear, you could see the coral beneath the water.  We landed and got off the plane like tourists, taking pictures of everything.  The plane, the "yokwe" sign, and waited in line to get our passports stamped.  I was shocked. The time has finally arrived and I am here!   It felt like a dream. 

We got to know each other, learn about Marshallese culture, Marshallese lifestyle, and just get used to living in a developing country while living in an elementary school classroom. Each room had about 12 volunteers sleeping on the floor.  As time went on, the shock that of being here wore off.  

School started, I got into routine of teaching and finding stuff to do on the weekends, such as watching what is going on in front of my own eyes and face timing with family and friends back in America.  

During Christmas break, we had mid service training when all the volunteers got together to get a break from volunteering and just enjoy being around other ribelles (some volunteers were the only ribelle on their island and there was no one else who could speak English).  It was time to decide when we wanted to fly back home.  We had a choice of June 1, 3, 5, or 8.  I picked the first, thinking that I would want to get out of here as quickly as possible.  

Now, I have a week left here, the place that I have called home for the past year. It is hard to even imagine leaving.  This magical place in the pacific has grown on me.  

I am not sure what happened during break, but I started the second semester feeling different.  I felt like I was a part of this island rather than an outsider.  The Marshallese people consider me one of them for the most part.  They have opened up to me, showing their true colors and the amazing culture that they own.  I know that I will always have a "home" here. 

I do not even think about my answer when people offer me fish (raw or cooked).  Children walking around naked make me laugh to myself.  Dogs no longer scare me.  I know secrets to staying cool under a thousand layers of clothing.  I automatically stand in the shade while waiting for a taxi.  I am not shocked when kids arrive to school without shoes.  I get one glass of water for my class and remind them not to drink the entire glass because there are other students waiting for some water.

I will definitely miss this place and the laid back life. 

Off to make the most of my last week here!

And if anyone was wondering, I made the right decision coming here. 

Names

Names are how people identify themselves.  Here it is no different.  However, what is different is the fact that everyone has two names... The one that is on their birth certificate and one that is given by the people.  

I know that many people around the world have nicknames.  Heck, even I have one.  I use my nick name almost all the time.  The only time I use my full name is for official business.  

Here it seems that no one knows other people's full names and only use their nicknames.  I have one story that clearly represents that. 

I needed to make a call so I asked Chinilla to call a number for me and to ask for a certain person.  I gave her the name.  After the call, she told me that the person was a relative and she didn't realize that until she found out his nickname.  

Now, I have a Marshallese name In addition to my full and nick names.  It was given to me by Chinilla.  it is... Get ready for this... Juji... Which also means kick.. So Juji bidum means kick your ass. :-)

Arno

I went to Arno last weekend.  I typed a long blog post but then my old phone ran out of battery and died when I was close to finishing! Argh so I lost everything.  Finally getting around to typing it again.  I will try to remember everything that I typed. 

There are several volunteers living in Arno and since it's the closest atoll to majuro, a few of us wanted to go there for a visit. It is a hour long boat ride that goes there and comes back every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  The limited schedule means that we would be missing some days of school so we had to get approval to go.  We got approval and waited for the day to come. The day finally came and we took off to the dock to board the boat.  It cost $13 one way.  

  The boat that goes to Arno. 

Ariel and I on the hull waiting to go 

Thu 

People boarding the boat.  The boat was full of people and their cargo (food, drinks, and jugs of gas).  Arno does not really have a food store or gas station.  They have mom and pop shops that sell a few things like rice and spam but not food stores. 

Loading the truck with copra (coconut from the outer islands that is made into coconut oil or coconut items here). 

Close up of tuna boat.  You can see the net hanging from the back of the boat and the helicopter on the front of the boat.

We went under the bridge. I was so excited to go under the bridge!

Then it was the big blue ocean as far as the eye can see.  I wanted to sit on the hull of the boat for the entire trip but after about 5 minutes I decided to go to the middle of the boat because it was too rocky and water would splash on me. 

Sitting in the middle of the boat.  I was still getting wet and becoming cold because of the shade.  

The other passengers of the boat 

See the video of the rocky boat ride 

Finally, Arno in the horizon!

Dock in Arno-Arno 

Map of Arno... You can see the dock (Arno) on the left part of the map.  We went to Matolen, Ine and Japo (villages along the bottom central part of the map. Arno is more spread out than Majuro, but it is too narrow to live on for the most part. 

Unloading the boat.  You can see some of the canisters of gas and coolers.

We waited for our bags to arrive and boarded a truck that one of the volunteers sent for us.  There are no taxis in Arno like there are in majuro.  There is only one dirt road connecting the villages.

See how people work together to unload the boat.  It is always fascinating to watch how they work together. 

From the cab of the truck

Of croutes I grabbed the opportunity tosit in  the back of the truck.  It was a very bumpy and long ride. 

Remember the gas jugs that rode on the boat with us to Arno... That's how the residents get their gas since there are no gas stations. 

Road. Arno has much more trees than Majuro. 

We arrived Matolen after about 1 1/2 hours.  Of course I went to check out the beach shortly after arriving. 

The volunteer in Matolen was still at school and would be home shortly. I decided to stretch out my legs and take a Jambo (walk) to her school.  It took 20 minutes. 

Children hitching a ride 

School!  1st-8th graders go to school here. 

7/8th grade classroom.  There are 9 students in that classroom. The kids are just the kids that stayed after school, not the actual students.

Children.  They were fascinated by me, another "ribelle" (white person)

It was time to relax. I jumped (literally-it was about waist level on me) onto a hammock and just enjoyed the sights, then fell asleep for a bit. 

Catching up 

Pig sleeping 

Baby pigs

Bao (chicken)

Dinner time!

Sunset, ocean side 

Watching the sunset 

On Saturday, we spent most of the day relaxing and catching up while it rained. 

Host mother cooking us pancakes for breakfast. The coconut shells and husks are used to start fire. 

Host sister, the cutest thing around. She was fascinated with my camera. She liked to look at things through the viewfinder 

Sitting around waiting for the rain to pass 

It's not often that you find a pig on a beach!

When the rain stopped, we walked from the host family home to the end of the main island (before the small island)

Walking... 

Walking

Two guys walked past us with a bunch of fish and squid on their bike. They had just finished spear fishing. They invited us over for dinner but it was too dark by the time we walked back home. 

Wherever we go, we are sure to find Marshallese children who are curious about ribelles (Americans) and just join us for the walk. 

Big shell

Finally arrived!

The water was too high for us to walk over to the other islands so we didn't. 

Pretty large tidal pool

The sunset was starting as we started to walk back.  We walked back to the host family in the dark and were too exhausted to walk the other 45 minutes to the next village like we planned to so we all stayed over another night in Matolen.

This is how Arno gets their electricity.  All homes have solar power that was donated by Taiwan. 

Time to walk 45 minutes to the next village (Ine) for lunch. 

Beautiful water and trees 

"Kitchen" area. Most kitchens are outside of the houses,

Cooking our lunch 

Teaching another volunteer the alphabet while waiting for our lunch to be ready 

How coconuts are husked. The black thing sticking from the ground in the middle of the unhusked coconut pile has a sharp edge.  

Close up of the tool to husk coconuts.

We walked over to the third village-Japo.  

Resting after all that walking. 

Time to go swimming! 

Fido!

Fido dug a hole in the sand for its back legs to go in then lied on the beach. 

Playing with different settings on my camera and love how this pic turned out!

Getting limes from the lime tree 

Japo school

Kids

There are huge holes like this all over Arno.  Some holes like this can also be found on Majuro (not as many as on arno). People use it to burn trash.

While waiting for the truck to come drive us to the dock, I took a short walk and fido came with me!

It was raining when the truck came to get us and the cab was full so we sat in the back holding a tarp to cover ourselves and our bags. Island style, yo

Bye Arno!

Hello Majuro!

The boat ride to Majuro was much more calmer and smoother. I read my book on the boat while other people slept. 

Arno is much more cleaner and less populated than Majuro.  I enjoyed my weekend there!  

One thing I found interesting is that although 3 volunteers live on the same island, all 3 have very different living situations.  One has a bedroom inside another larger room, another has a small 2 room "apartment" while another has a room in a 3 bedroom house. Two houses have an outhouse, while one house has a bathroom inside the house.  Family dynamics is also very different for the families that I saw.  Just interesting..

Thanks for a great weekend, Arno!