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. 

Precautions

My vaccination site!

Today I went see a travel medicine doctor for a "consultation" and to get a vaccination.  The doctor was very nice and answered many of my questions, and for those he did not know, he looked it up and gave me the answer.  I got a vaccination for Typhoid, so now I am 65% protected against Typhoid.  (No one wants to get Typhoid Fever... CDC-Typhoid Fever)  I also got a vaccination for Hepatitis A and tetanus last month.  I need to go back to get my second dose of Hepatitis A vaccination, which is in 6 months (November)... I will be on the island.  The doctor said that I may be able to get the second dose on the island, I will need to find out.  He also gave me an antibiotic for traveler's diarrhea.  Traveler's diarrhea typically happens for 1 week, and with the antibiotic, it will go down to 1 day, yay! :)

I went to Target to get one thing that I need for my home (file box) and thought I would use the opportunity to check out some of the items that I need for the Island.  I left Target $150 poorer, without the file box, LOL!  (They did not have what I wanted).  I thought that I would have to spend the money anyways eventually, so I got a lot of what I need.  I used the Cartwheel App on my phone and got things on sale, so I saved a lot of money.

I am going crazy trying to finish things at work, pack my stuff here at home and trying not to worry about if everything will fit in my car.  Only one more week of work left!

I set up a fundraising page to raise money for books and DVDs related to books for the children in Marshall Islands.  I have raised $435 so far!  If you are interested in checking out the fundraiser, please go to Suzy's Donation Page.

Checking my list once... twice... thrice... so on...

I have been buying a lot of stuff lately, mostly maxi skirts.  I have a long list of stuff that I need to buy, YIKES!

This is from World Teach... Their suggested list of items to bring... (I crossed out the items that I already have).. I hope everything will fit in my bags...

*Flip flop, sandals or crocs
*Sneakers (if you plan to run, if not , don’t bother) (HECK YES I AM GOING TO RUN)
*Enough underwear for 10 days
*Women – skirts that cover knees and shirts that cover shoulders for teaching
*Men and Women you will have to cover up for swimming (sun protection for men and sun protection and cultural reasons for woman) Boards shorts and tshirts for men and boards shorts and t shirts for woman to wear under a guam ($6-12 dollars each) that you can purchase on Majuro.
*Snorkel gear if you plan to snorkel its sometimes hard to find here in the RMI
*rain jacket
*Hat for sun
*long sleeve shirt (you may get cold if classrooms during Orientation have A/C)
*towels ( quick dry or regular)
*Pillow (If you have room, if not you can buy here for about $20-30)
*T-Shirts – you will wear lots of them and they get dirty fast.
*Sunglasses
*flashlight (batteries)
*watch or alarm clock
*water bottles (Nalgene)
*Swiss army knife
*calendar
*journal
*vitamins, medicines and first aid kit (very necessary)
*Neosporin, creams for rashes and mosquito bites
*mosquito coils (can be bought at outdoor stores)
*Mosquito Netting
*envelopes ( DO NOT BRING STAMPS, THEY CANNOT BE USED IN THE RMI, you will have to purchase when you arrive)
*Electronics - Ipod, Camera and computer like devices (at your own risk, most placements will have a place you can charges these items, but how often you can charge will be up to the owner of the battery or solar unit)
*Insect repellent with Deet (you will get bit by mosquitos)
*Sunscreen (lots of it, you are very close to the equator)
*Glasses (bring an extra pair if you were glasses)
1 pillowcase
2 towels
1 set of bed sheets (Full for sleep mats, Twin for dorm dwellers and queen for Kwajalein vols)
1 small, compact blanket if you are placed on an air-conditioned site
Medications that you commonly use, including aspirin
Basic antibiotics
Pepto-Bismol
Waterless hand sanitizer
Medication for hay fever and other allergies
Cold/cough medications
Water purification tablets
A thermometer
A simple first-aid kit, including Band-Aids, gauze and tape
Motion-sickness tablets
Hydrocortisone creams
Feminine hygiene products (can be purchased on Majuro)
Dehydration tablets or salts
6 passport photos
Extra batteries (alkaline last longer than regular) or battery charger
A cheap watch with alarm or alarm clock
A water bottle (bring 2 or have one sent ½ way through year)
A small case to carry passport and money close to your body
Spending money in cash and traveler’s checks
A calendar
A pocket calculator
A combination lock
USB flash drive
ESL materials, classroom decoration – see Teaching Supplies below for more
Pictures of your friends and family to show people
Books, Books,Books for free time reading


Volunteer suggestions

*A list of items this years volunteers wish they brought:

• Instrument
• Ipod
• Journal
• Underwater camera
• Kindle
• Family Photos
• Back pack
• Women – leggings and long basketball shorts for under short guams
• Scissors
• Extra pair of sandals
• Raid
• Playing cards
• Sudoko
• Tablet and Hard Drive
• Movies – DVDs
• Solar power charger
• Small mirror
• Many razors

Things that this years volunteers wish they had know ahead of time:

• How much discipline I had to instill
• Taxi rates for Majuro? (.75 cents to $2.00 btwn. Rita and Airport each way)
• How long Majuro Really is? (33 miles long Rita to Laura)
• To bring a knife
• How high cost of living is on Majuro
• Electricity is never a guarantee 100% time on Majuro
• How much free time they would have
• How strong the sun really is
• Too many ants, mosquitos and cockroaches
• Classroom management issues
• Lack of school materials
• High School placements have internet access, even on outer islands
• Bring multiple watches
• Bring plenty headphones
• The need to bring more than one pair of sandals