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.  

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. :-)

WAM (waan aelōñ in majel)

I have seen those traditional Marshallese canoes around and always wondered how it worked. I finally got the opportunity to ride in a canoe and it was really interesting.

Setting up the sail

Ready to go

4 of us could ride at same time along with two men to "drive" the boat.. On one side, Ariel and Joann

Other side, thu and myself.  Why do my eyes always look like they are closed..

We sat on the "canoe" part with a sail attached to it.  On the other side is this

The two guys who took us out on the water... The guy with black hat controlled the sail by holding on to a rope, tightening/loosening it as needed and the guy behind him used an oar to steer the boat.

We went past many tuna boats 

We reached the end and instead of turning around, the guys moved the sail over to the front of the boat.

Going back

Again with the closed eyes 

Better..

How the sail is connected to the boat

Sailing through the water

We saw a bunch of people riding in their boat to get to their tuna boat.  Mom was wondering how people in the tuna boat get to shore.  This! :-)

Close up of a tuna boat with helicopter on top of the boat

Close up of helicopter

Sailing back to shore

Getting off the boat

Group photo (sorry about the water drop making the picture blurry)

Entire canoe.. We sat in the white part where the sail is...

Guys' turn

This is where they make the boats...

Workshop and classes.. They train people on how to make and sail the canoes.

Frame for a 26 foot canoe.. It takes about a month to make a complete canoe from start to finish.  We rode on a 20 foot canoe.  They once took a 26 foot canoe to Aur, it took 2 days.  On a motorboat, it takes 14 hours... For comparison..

Canoes... They use breadfruit tree parts to make the canoe

Interesting architecture

My favorite pictures:

I am glad I finally got the chance to ride in the canoe.  I wish I knew about this when Abby and Jenny were here.