We're Volunteers!

M81s, pre- Swear In

Taking our Peace Corps Oath

Country Director Robert Reid and I

We did it! We're Volunteers!

Mortlocks Volunteers and Belinda

Jasmin, Sana, David, and Dana (her face though...)

Lisa, Lorena, Me, and Brady enjoying milkshakes and pizza

Meet the Mortlockese

A few Fridays ago, our Mortlockese teacher, Belinda, organized something incredibly special for us that I’ll remember for years to come.

She took us to meet her family.

There is a great amount of value placed on family here in the FSM and we all felt very honored that she, and her family, was willing to take us in for an afternoon and treat us like their own.

Peace Corps staff drove us an hour to Palikir, the capital of the FSM, where we met Belinda at the entrance of her family’s compound. We were shocked to see her in a tank top that showed off her shoulders and cleavage (Go Belinda! She looked GOOD!), but also pleasantly surprised that she felt comfortable wearing it around us.

She ushered us into the fal (Mortlockese meeting house) where more than 20 members of her family were waiting for us. Once we were seated, Belinda’s eldest brother stood up and welcomed us (As a woman, Belinda is not allowed to speak at meetings. Instead she has her brother speak for her.). He introduced us to the Chief (who had a cat perched on his lap), and the rest of their family.

It was then our turn to introduce ourselves, so we each stood up and thanked them in Mortlockese for having us. Talk about being nervous.

My speech was a blur, I’m not even sure if I said everything correctly:

“Laloas allem! Itai Rachel. Ngang sangei Los Angeles, California, pwal ngang ia ier ruameelu. Ipwe aiti English lon Ettal. Ike pirer fito eke, nge iiei pwapwa pwe oumi chiechiech. Ren emi etiwa amem. Killisou chapwur.”

“Good afternoon! My name is Rachel. I am from Los Angeles, California, and I am 23 years old. I will teach English on Ettal. I was nervous to come here, but now I am happy because you all are friendly. Thank you for welcoming me. Thank you very much.”

Once we finished our speeches, the family performed several Mortlockese songs and dances for us, which not only illustrated their culture’s love for musical expression, but was also a very special treat. In return, the 6 of us spontaneously decided to sing the song we had been practicing for our Swearing-In Ceremony. It was a train wreck (our voices were shaky and we sang way too low!), but her family appreciated the gesture nonetheless.

They came up to us afterwards and introduced themselves. We had been very confident in our Mortlockese-speaking abilities up until that point, but once they started talking to us individually, we were lost. They spoke so quickly and used words we hadn't learned yet. I'm pretty sure we looked like dear in the headlights. Belinda came to our rescue and helped us translate. She also offered to send parts of her body with each of us to the Mortlocks so we wouldn’t be so lost (another reason why I love her so much).

Her family had also cooked food for us, konen maai (pounded breadfruit in coconut milk) and iik apwech (grilled fish), which was incredibly kind of them. It did, however, remind me of sorority recruitment where you’d try to balance eating and talking, without making a fool of yourself. That made me laugh.

Looking back on the afternoon makes me laugh awkwardly in general, but I’ll always keep the memory close to my heart.

Ole no,

Rachel

Host Family Appreciation Day

Pahpa Pancake, Nohno Pancake, and I

Last Friday afternoon Peace Corps hosted a Host Family Appreciation Day where we were able to express our gratitude for our families.

We presented our families with vegetables from our garden in hand-woven baskets. They also received a certificate from the Peace Corps that thanked them for contributing to our success as Trainees and eventually Volunteers.

Later we showed them a video (filmed and edited by PCTs Jasmin and Kaylin) and held a small "talent show" that consisted of singing and dancing.

M81: Host Family Appreciation Video

It's crazy to think that we'll be leaving our host families and moving to our permanent sites across the FSM this weekend.

While there have certainly been frustrations living with host families, the overall experience has been positive.

And I really do feel like I've become part of my pancake family! My host sister got locally "married" last night and my Pahpa Pancake warned another menwei (white person) at the ceremony that he better not "take his other daughter (me) away!"

Here's to families, big and small, near and far.

Snorkeling In the Rain

Belinda

“Belinda, where do people have sex here? There’s never any privacy!” we asked one day in Mortlockese class.

“What?! There’s always privacy in the bushes!” Belinda exclaimed.

We erupted in laughter, not expecting that answer, but realizing how right she was.

because coconut wireless isn't enough...

Belinda is our Mortlockese Language and Culture Facilitator (aka teacher) who probably thinks that the 6 of us getting ready to move to the Mortlocks are weird Americans. And I don’t blame her.

At the beginning of language class every day, we walk in, exchange “Ranallem, ia usumw?” and proceed to talk about anything and everything that’s on our minds. Usually it has to do with training or Model School complaints, but other times it’s totally and completely random. Belinda will just sit there in her seia (chair) for the first 15-20 minutes, listening to us. In no way is she being chipwanglech (lazy) or not doing her job. 4 hours of language class is just too long, and even she knows that, so she gives us time to ramble, and then turns our attention to learning Mortlockese.

After about an hour of reviewing and introducing new information, Belinda will either tell us to take asese (a break; where we usually lay on the floor for 30 minutes), or she’ll let us get off topic again and speak in English.

We alternate between learning, taking asese, and getting off topic about every hour, and while it may seem like a huge waste of time, it’s not. I greatly appreciate the routine and atmosphere she has created. It’s comfortable. It’s funny. It can be serious when it needs to be. But the most important part is that we’re learning.

We’re learning not only the language, but also about the culture.

Belinda does a great job of answering any random questions we may have (like where do people have sex?). And believe me, we have a lot of them.

We’ve asked her (in relation to the Mortlocks) about gender roles, the lack of toilets and toilet paper, what women do during their periods, how bisexuality and homosexuality are viewed, and what to do for fun on specific islands, amongst many other things.

She’s been able to provide great insight, especially since she is originally from the Mortlocks, and does not sugar-coat the realities we will be facing…like walking on our knees when we have to pass through a group of talking men. No joke.

I can’t stop raving about Belinda. She a beautiful, smart, sassy 30-year old raising 3 children. She wears awesome mumus and has even better facial expressions. She comes to class and sometimes complains about being out too late playing bingo and drinking sakau. She speaks great English and is interested in our views about the US and the world. She teaches us relevant vocabulary and grammar. She makes up fun games to enhance our learning. She’s honest. She’s kind. She’s patient. She’s a great human being. And I couldn’t be doing this without her.

Killisou Belinda,

Rachel

 Kaylin, Me, Sarah, Belinda, Dana, Lisa, and David

Model School Week 2 &3

Weeks 2 and 3 of Model School were so hectic and such a blur that it’s difficult for me to reflect on them in depth. I will say however, that I am very satisfied with the overall experience for multiple reasons (not just the fact that I made it through alive).

For one, I am extremely thankful I got more hands-on experience teaching. I would loved to have even more before I moved to Ettal, but I realize how jam-packed PST is already. I was also glad to get an idea of what working with a counterpart will be like. While it can be frustrating trying to lesson plan together, it’s very rewarding when you find your rhythm.  Learning how to deal with and manage cultural differences, in regards to students, co-teachers, staff, administration, and the DOE (Department of Education), was extremely taxing, but beneficial in the long run.

Long story short, Model School opened my eyes to the education issues occurring across the FSM and presumably at my permanent site. Though many of these issues were negative, I did have some major “ah-hah!” moments as a teacher that I’ll keep in the back of my mind as I move to teach in Ettal:

-The enthusiasm you put in is the enthusiasm you’ll get out.

-Your enthusiasm has the potential to even engage and encourage your co-teacher.

Denny and Jesse acting out a story they wrote

-Targeting the different level groups of students and lesson planning with them in mind is extremely difficult.

-Station teaching is awesome if you have the resources and more than one teacher.

-Your body language can make or break a student’s confidence.

-Students love every chance they get to compete and celebrate.

Spelling Bee winners! 

First Annual Jupiter Spelling Bee

-If you’re a PCV in the FSM, you’re most likely going to be writing the lesson plans for you and your counterpart. Actually, all of them.

-You’ll also most likely have to jump in when your co-teacher is teaching and save the lesson.

-Teacher evaluations are not done efficiently or taken seriously in the FSM.

And I’m sure there will be many more take-aways during the next two years. But for now,

Cheers to a successful Model School!

Rachel

Laurel and I during our Christmas in July celebration