Friday, July 6, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
100 Dei blo Mommy
It's taken me awhile to write a blog about this, but I think I've finally found the right time...
When you decide to join the Peace Corps, you plan on leaving you family and friends for at least 2 years of your life. Before the journey, we wonder about the new people that we'll meet or the new friends that we're bound to make as we all travel down the same 2 year path (less traveled by for sure). What we don't expect is the fact that we could loose that new somebody to something as tragic as death.
I'm not an emotional person at all, but having to cope with the death of my host-mother, somebody who had taken me in as one of her own daughters from the beginning, was so emotionally devastating for me. My reaction was complete shock (still is today), as it was for my family here on Ambae. I feel a great loss, but I feel for my sisters and brothers who have lost their mommy to an illness still this day unknown.
The death shook everything up in my life, as well as my family's. Since I was not on the island when she passed away, I missed the beginning. I came back about 25 days after and really felt as If things were completely different. Going to the family's house for dinner and small story times with mom were over - "no more simboro blong mommy", my sisters would say. The house that once was filled with singing and laughter were now filled with tears and long moments of silence. I really miss her.
We celebrated the 100th day on April 26th at the family's village. The hoas blong mommy (grave) was almost complete and family from all the surrounding villages were there to say their final farewells. At bongies on Ambae, everybody gets together for large kakaes and kava drinking. My family had held these bongies every 5th day since the death of my mom - that is a lot of laplap and kava! It was always good to see people that I hadn't since Christmas or even before the holidays, but I knew that after this main day, the bongies would end and things would go back to their normal ways.
Normal way, hmm..... I still am uncertain as to what will happen with my family. Will my dad send my sisters off to school in Port Vila, will my brothers be sent to live in the village with other mommies - mi no save now. I just hope for the best and send my thoughts to my family. I know things will never be the same now that she is gone, but I can still make the most of the remaining time I have here and try to help whenever I can.
I did get to take part in a kastom the day before the 100 days. I killed two pigs which came with a new kastom name - Molimataravi. The pig killing was just one of many events that took place the day before and the day of the 100th day. I'm grateful that my family let me be part of this custom ceremony - a memory that I will truly remember for a lifetime!
When you decide to join the Peace Corps, you plan on leaving you family and friends for at least 2 years of your life. Before the journey, we wonder about the new people that we'll meet or the new friends that we're bound to make as we all travel down the same 2 year path (less traveled by for sure). What we don't expect is the fact that we could loose that new somebody to something as tragic as death.
I'm not an emotional person at all, but having to cope with the death of my host-mother, somebody who had taken me in as one of her own daughters from the beginning, was so emotionally devastating for me. My reaction was complete shock (still is today), as it was for my family here on Ambae. I feel a great loss, but I feel for my sisters and brothers who have lost their mommy to an illness still this day unknown.
The death shook everything up in my life, as well as my family's. Since I was not on the island when she passed away, I missed the beginning. I came back about 25 days after and really felt as If things were completely different. Going to the family's house for dinner and small story times with mom were over - "no more simboro blong mommy", my sisters would say. The house that once was filled with singing and laughter were now filled with tears and long moments of silence. I really miss her.
We celebrated the 100th day on April 26th at the family's village. The hoas blong mommy (grave) was almost complete and family from all the surrounding villages were there to say their final farewells. At bongies on Ambae, everybody gets together for large kakaes and kava drinking. My family had held these bongies every 5th day since the death of my mom - that is a lot of laplap and kava! It was always good to see people that I hadn't since Christmas or even before the holidays, but I knew that after this main day, the bongies would end and things would go back to their normal ways.
Normal way, hmm..... I still am uncertain as to what will happen with my family. Will my dad send my sisters off to school in Port Vila, will my brothers be sent to live in the village with other mommies - mi no save now. I just hope for the best and send my thoughts to my family. I know things will never be the same now that she is gone, but I can still make the most of the remaining time I have here and try to help whenever I can.
I did get to take part in a kastom the day before the 100 days. I killed two pigs which came with a new kastom name - Molimataravi. The pig killing was just one of many events that took place the day before and the day of the 100th day. I'm grateful that my family let me be part of this custom ceremony - a memory that I will truly remember for a lifetime!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Happy Easter
My Easter, this year, was spent in Santo once again. The easily accessible island near Ambae is a perfect getaway for those well-needed and well-deserved walkabouts. It's always great coming to Santa and getting a chance to see friends. After the past few months at school, I was very ready to get on that plane and head over the big blue ocean.
Why would I say that I'm ready to getaway? Well, lets just say the past few months have been very stressful and tiring. Our power at the school has been out which has in turn made my teaching computers extremely difficult. I don't think there is anything worse for a student than sitting in front of a computer and not even getting to use them for weeks on end. I think the hardest thing I've had to endure would be the constant planning and developing lessons that can be taught without power, but still be enjoyable. Just last week, I had two classes (both double periods) in the afternoon. The students were full from lunch, the room was hot and there I w as talking about the difference between system software and application software and computer impacts on our society. I've noticed that these two subjects are just the thing if your looking to put your students to sleep.
So, having to deal with ongoing planning and having students constantly come up to me asking when the lab is going to open... well, I'm tired and I need a break. Now, my last day in Santo is here and I'm heading back to Ambae tomorrow afternoon. I'm looking forward to getting back home. Only a couple more weeks of this term left - sooooooo much to do yet! I'm hoping the power comes back before the start of term 2!
Ale for now :)
Why would I say that I'm ready to getaway? Well, lets just say the past few months have been very stressful and tiring. Our power at the school has been out which has in turn made my teaching computers extremely difficult. I don't think there is anything worse for a student than sitting in front of a computer and not even getting to use them for weeks on end. I think the hardest thing I've had to endure would be the constant planning and developing lessons that can be taught without power, but still be enjoyable. Just last week, I had two classes (both double periods) in the afternoon. The students were full from lunch, the room was hot and there I w as talking about the difference between system software and application software and computer impacts on our society. I've noticed that these two subjects are just the thing if your looking to put your students to sleep.
So, having to deal with ongoing planning and having students constantly come up to me asking when the lab is going to open... well, I'm tired and I need a break. Now, my last day in Santo is here and I'm heading back to Ambae tomorrow afternoon. I'm looking forward to getting back home. Only a couple more weeks of this term left - sooooooo much to do yet! I'm hoping the power comes back before the start of term 2!
Ale for now :)
Friday, February 3, 2012
Kangaroo Meat, McDonald's, Cider, and Museums - Sydney Australia
 |
| Dad and I on a the Manly ferry :) |
I can finally say that I have been to Australia - the trip was amazing and well worth it. We managed to eat, drink, and do pretty much everything that we planned to. My dad and step mom came and hung out with us for a few days... always good to see the family from time to time.
My good friend Jennifer made a great video, so I'll go ahead and share that we you all. Click on the link - Australia!
 |
| Mac, Jen, and Me |
Monday, January 30, 2012
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=461-052
Sunday, November 27, 2011
YEAR ONE FINISHED WITH RAIN – YEAR TWO BEGINS WITH RAIN
So, my first year is over and completed and I feel pretty darn good about it. I know the work that I did at my school and the surrounding villages have really been successful in every aspect in regards to IT. My classes all managed to run smoothly with only a few hiccups that I was able to suppress. I was able to fix pretty much every computer that came to me that either needed updates, repairs, or new installs. Also, I managed to teach the entire bit of term 3 without power and the use of my very small computer – this probably being the hardest.
Now that classes are over and I started to enjoy my spel, I’m taking the time to look back and figure out what I can do to better improve my classes, manage my time, update my computer lab, and prepare myself in case I end up without a counterpart next year. The loss of my counterpart will end up forcing me to take on years 12 and 13, letting go of years 9 and 10, and keeping year 11. I admit that I am a little sad about dropping the younger classes (which are headaches at times, but fun headaches), but I will do whatever I have to next year to make sure things go as they should. I have a total of two weeks left to figure out what all I need to do before the school officially closes – which I think will be sometime after December 2nd. As far as extending my contract, I’ve moved more to the idea of not staying and heading back home after a few months of travelling. I figure I’m not getting any older and I should probably figure out what I should do with the rest of my life – get some sort of plan in action. Then maybe I can re-apply back to PC and then serve again at a later time. Yea, I think that’s more of the way to go. Ahh, but the life of a PCV teacher – the long summer holiday off is pretty nice... give me a couple more months to make a decision on that.
After the holidays (Christmas and New Years), two of my good PCV friends and myself are taking a well deserved trip to Sydney Australia. We are staying for two weeks and during this time I will get to see my dad and step-mom. Really looking forward to the time away from the islands and eating some good white man kakae. The only thing that I’m afraid of is not having any decent clothes to wear, haha, never thought that would ever be a problem I’d have to face! The first thing on the list of things to do when we first arrive in Sydney is shopping for clothes after eating of course.
I think that’s it for now. The rest of my dad is fully planned, but completely dependent on the weather. I have a little shopping for my Secret Friend gift for our staff party this Friday, work on a virus-infested computer at the Education office, and check on the girls about Thanksgiving plans for tomorrow... oooh Thanksgiving J Rain rain go away please!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Term 2 Finished, Afta Sports and VILA!
Happy to announce that the end of term 2 has finally arrived! I'm surprised with how fast it has flown by, but at the same time sorry that it's going by so fast. Now that the students are finished with all their exams, we will head to Maewo tomorrow for the start of PISSA games. The games officially start on Sunday, so we'll have a few extra days before hand to get settled in. I'm looking forward the time on Maewo as well as the time I get to spend with the students! Also, I finally get the chance to try this strong Maewo kava I keep hearing about.
After PISSA, it's Vila time for a little training, project planning, and a little re-charging of the body and soul. A well-deserved break from the island is well over due and I'm extremely looking forward to this. I'm excited to see all my fellow pcvs as well!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)