9-Month Gush

As of July 6, 2013, I've been in this country for 9 months.  I can honestly say that it took me about 8 1/2 of those months to finally feel comfortable, adjusted, and content in my new home.  I can walk about without feeling like self-conscious, the villagers have gotten used to me, and I've gotten used to them.  After being here this long, here are some of my thoughts, observations, and feelings so far...

First off, I would have to say Vanuatu is probably one of the most gorgeous countries I have ever seen.  Being from Hawai'i I'm used to a tropical environment, but this place has a rugged beauty that is unique.  Waterfalls, lagoons, waterholes, beaches, etc. all seem to jump right out of scenes from "The Blue Lagoon".  I'm talking, I mean, it's ridiculous how beautiful this place is and I have barely even explored 1/100th of it.

The work.  I LUUUUUUUUV my job!

Teaching basic computers and applications to the kids is an amazing experience, as for them this is an all new adventure, and their energy energizes *me*.  Teaching computers to teachers has been interesting, as for them it's a scary monster that they are learning to tame.  Still need to do some documentation; a network diagram, an updated inventory list, acceptable use policy, etc. Being the sole tech supporty guy is also a challenge, but I love the fact that I have my own tech "empire" to do with as I please, to configure as I wish.  The work has been crazy because of the constant schedule changes, school closures due to a death in the village (and for a village as large as mine that can be quite often), inconsistent attendance, priority shifts, etc.  It's been crazy, tiring, frustrating, exciting, wonderful, rewarding, excruciating, stressful and relaxing all rolled up into one big emotional rubberband ball.  I am truly happy with what I'm doing, and once I complete the curricula for the year I will be able to spend more time working on my secondary projects and polishing up the stuff here in preparation for the next PCV who will come after I leave.

But the thing I want to focus on the most is the people...after all it's the people that make a country what it is.  Called Ni-Vans (short for "Ni-Vanuatu"), the people here are truly some of the friendliest people ever.  Random people would wave hello when you walk down the street. A bus driver would stop his bus on the side of the road to buy a sack of "gato" (basically frybread) and pass them out to the passengers on a whim...and people accept it like it's a normal everyday thing. A 5-minute small-talk with a stranger would inevitably lead to swapping phone numbers, inviting you over for kava and to go visit their homes for some food.  Small talk with a bus driver would result in him giving you a bunch of bananas.  It feels good to hear a random kid from my school, who isn't even a student of mine, yell out "Mista Ken! Mista Ken!" when they see me walking around. A little embarrassing though haha.

I would be walking to a bus stop in my village and some random guy would be on a "wokabaot", he smiles hello I say hello back, he asks me where I'm going, I tell him, and soon he's waiting at the bus stop with me, chatting me up.  After about 10 minutes of chit-chat the bus comes, and he invites me to his sister's wedding in a few days.

Simple. I think I just made a friend.

And when they hear you are in the Peace Corps, they are amazed and grateful at how someone would be willing to come to their little country, live among them for two years, learn their language, and help to better themselves and their lives.  I have never met a people so accepting of outsiders living among them, so shy when it comes to expressing themselves publicly yet so outgoing when sharing a laugh.

This rampant friendliness took some getting used to, and it's still hard not to feel a little weirded out by it, especially when I get recognized by someone who I had a conversation with for 3 minutes like two months ago.  I would be walking in the city, and they call out to me, and say "hey, mi no luk yu long taem! Yu gud?!" (hey, I haven't seen you for a long time, are you good?).  Of course I turn on my fakey-familiarity tone and act like "yeah good seeing you again" blah blah.  This has happened to me more times than I can count.  Being from Hawai'i, we have the "Aloha Spirit" as well, but I feel it's been tempered by American culture somewhat.  It's kind of nice to know that there is still such a strong support system here, that you are instantly "one of us" just because you're a human being, and help is only a handshake away.

On the one hand, however, part of me misses some of that anonymity of just being an anonymous stranger in a crowd, minding my own business.  But then again, I do see a stark contrast when I see the wealthy Australian tourists in Port Vila.  They're friendly, sure, but when they say "hello" it feels like it's from a place of formality, rather than from the HEART as it is when you talk to a Ni-Van.  So then I gravitate back to the Ni-Van way of living.

Alot of this friendliness and brotherly love that is so easily and openly expressed is wonderful, but it also scares me.  I'm scared for THEM.  There is an innocense and naivite among the people here that is unquestionably endearing, but could also bite them in the ass if they aren't careful.  As they become more open to ouside influences and they start to reap their rewards, the dark side of these influences also inevitably encroach into their world as well...drugs, alcohol abuse, stress, violence, materialism, STIs, etc. are already rearing its ugly head.  And the people here do the best they can to deal with it the way they know how; using traditional practices such as community-based intervention, "Sorry" ceremonies, etc. to try to minimize the damage that these influences may bring.  The problem with this approach is that it focuses on the symptoms without dealing with the underlying problems head-on: education, corruption, a national lack of self-esteem...

Oh God the self-esteem issues.  I have heard SO MANY TIMES about how "Black Man" (themselves) are incapable of doing what "White Man" (the rest of us) can do.  When a Ni-Van commits a crime, for example, it's because he's a "black man", never mind what socio-economic issues may have contributed to the person doing what he did!

There's a saying: "When so many people are trying to help you, you start to feel kinda helpless."

And that's what I see happening here...there are so many international aid organizations at work here...Peace Corps, Aus Aid, China Aid, JICA, missionaries, tourists from Australia visiting villages (including mine) to donate money and supplies.  While their hearts may be in the right place (and I include the Peace Corps in this criticism), it has created a culture of dependancy here, a thinking among the Ni-Vans that they can't do anything unless "Waet Man" gives it to them or does it for them.  Even the majority of the businesses in this country are owned by outsiders, not them.  They never look to their own people when they need a solution, they look to *us* first.  A fellow volunteer even told me how she had heard someone say that they want to follow the "Waet Man" into Heaven.

*Head Desk*

I really feel that the change in attitude and feelings of self-worth need to come from a deliberate attempt country-wide.This needs to be encouraged by their leaders; community leaders, village Chiefs, the government.  The ultimate goal for all of us outsider organizations should be to put ourselves out of business...that one day, this country won't need us anymore. That's what I hope to impart in my own small way...to show them what they are capable of, that they can possess the tools to do great things on their OWN.  That we "Waet Man" are no better than they are, that "Black Man" are just as capable, just as worthy of making a trip to Heaven without riding on our coat-tails.

I want those kids who call me "Mista Ken" to know that "Mista Ken" is not a celebrity, but just another guy, like them. I have my flaws, insecurities and weaknesses, just as they do.  And that in many ways, they are better than I could ever be.  The world needs countries like this, people like these. There is so much Ni-Vans can contribute to the world, to teach us things at a human-level.

I guess I'm starting to fall in love with this country.



But I still hate kava.

Signing off til nex time,

Aloha and a hui hou :)

Just realized

Do you realize it's been 5 months since we arrived in this country (we're in our 6th month now!)? Sometimes it's felt like a year, other times it's like time just flew by. Sometimes it's just so surreal that we left everything to do this... Lots of ups and downs in that short time, and alot more to go, I'm sure! Livin the adventure, and savoring every minute of the experience!

Some more random pics of my school and me!

Enjoy!

Morning Prayers during Monday Assembly

My class, Year 8-English! They aren't as snobby as the Year 8-French students ;p

My Counterpart, Mista Ben!

Me!

A random chicken that was STARING into my house for some reason...was kinda creepy

School Days

Well 2 weeks have passed for me at my school, and I must say it's been fun, interesting, chaotic, confusing, stressful...and am having a blast! It's been a challenge juggling rotating classes., endless revolving-door students, and inconsistent standards, but it's been really really fun testing myself.



My classroom!

First I was told I would have one one-hour class on Wednesdays, who were nmy Counterpart, Mr. Ben's students. Then I was told I would have another one on Fridays. Then the French teacher said his students would see me on Thursdays. See, at my school computer class is basically an optional course, not required for graduation and such. People just show up when they feel like it.  Which kinda takes pressure off of me, as I now have the freedom to prepare class materials the way I want, teach them how I wish, and basically make class as fun as possible!

Class has been interesting and challenging to prepare for. Most classes here (English, Math, etc.) involve alot of lecturing on the part of teachers with students taking notes, then they take tests, etc. I want to break away from that and make computer class fun, interactive, and less formal. I already play music on the computer speakers when they enter the room, and have allowed students to see and touch real computer equipment and other "types" of computers (ie the tablet I brought from the States, my no-longer-working smart phone, my mp3 player. etc.).  It's been challenging as on the first day of class, four of the workstations wouldn't boot up, my intro presentation froze, the projector wouldn't work properly, and the students came in a half-hour late to class (which in retrospect was good because the material that I thought would take an hour only took 20+ minutes ;p.

My Wednesday class is made up of Year-8 Anglophones (English-speakers), Thursday is a mix of Year-7 & 8 Anglophone and Francophones, and Friday are Year-8 Francophones. Interestngly, I found the Francophone students to be more mature than the Anglophones, behavior-wise. Dunno why *shrug*
The teachers here are great (mostly), and some are really dedicated to the task. I'm fortunate in that my Counterpart is very very enthusiastic about IT and is willing to learn whatever he can. He's even taking IT courses at the University of South Pacific.  I told him after 2016 there may not be any more IT Peace Corps volunteers in Vanuatu due to budget reasons, so I hope that lights a fire under the school's ass to get him to a full-time position as strictly IT. Currently he teaches Math, English, and Science, and is coach of the girl's soccer team. This keeps him very busy, and as an IT teacher, when he's not teaching, he will also be the IT maintenance guy. Hell, I probably spend 1/4 of my time installing GAMES onto teacher laptops. I also hope to spend some time getting to know the IT setup here better. It's been a bit hard since I just inherited it from my predecessor, but I'm slowly but surely making it my own.

We have a new Headmaster at our school, a young guy from Eton, another village, while our good-for-nothing headmaster moved over to Eton. Basically a Headmaster-swap. Speaking to the PCV in Eton, he says that yeah the new Headmaster sucks, he's never at the school, always drinking, etc. Thankfully our new Headmaster is very good, he's there everyday, and seems pretty hands-on. Sucks for Eton though.

Looks like the Community in Erakor is interested in having adult workshops sometime during Spell time in May. So we'll see how that goes, I knda wanted to spend the free time travelling to the other islands where the other PCVs are, but oh well. There's also a "World ICt Day" in May so  we'll see if I can get Erakor to participate in that somehow.

Oh they started giving out school lunches at our school. VT 50 and I can get a big plate of rice, Island Cabbage, etc. Not bad. Oh and for another 50 I can get an ice cream cone ;p

Oh yeah and there was this huuuuge celebration in our village for the recent election of one of our ministers, and the big-ass fancy bus he managed to get donated to the school. It was donated by the Chinese governent, and has AC, a TV monitor, etc. I should move outta my house and in there lol  Honestly I have no idea what they're gonna use it for though, all the kids who attend the school come from the surrounding village which is in walking distance. We don't even have a proper parking space! I guess they could use it for fieldtrips?

this is why you shouldn't give me the keys to the school bus lol

Personally I think they should just sell the monster, and use the money to upgrade our IT equipment.

So yeah that's how it is in my school.  You know, for a long time I felt stagnant back home in Hawaii, unfulfilled, trying to figure out what I was missing...but now that I'm finally working and doing things with the freedom to explore how I want to do it, I feel totally alive and rejuvenated. It's an amazing feeling. :o)

Sitting in on a Class

My 1st two days of Primary School are done! Met and chatted with the teachers & counterpart, got my teaching schedule, observed a class today, and worked on the school computers...things are movin along! And the kids are F'n adorable, but they don't know what to make of me lol

I sat in on a Grade 5-English class, and discreetly sat in the back of the room.  The kids sang a Bible song in the beginning of class...after sittin back down, the teacher asked each of them what they did over the weekend...sooo many were reluctant to talk, simply because I was in the room. haha.

Everyone's sooo shy with me there lol

Yup, it's English class alright ;P

Peek-a-boo! (man it's like I have tentacles or something)

The teacher then asked the kids to go outside and identify the trees in English and describe them in a notebook. As they were doing so I chatted a bit with the teacher...it seems about half of the teachers (all of whom did not report to the school yet) are new to the school, including the English teacher, so I don't feel so awkward ;p.  She said she basically was focusing on gauging the school kids' language levels, and next week would split them up into groups based on reading level and assigning them work accordingly. 

passing out everyone's notebooks

Preparing to go outside

I'll sit in on my Counterpart's Grad 7 and 8 classes to see what the students are like on Monday. Then I teach my first class n Wednesday!! If they only knew how excited and scared I am at the same time!

Friday is a half-day so all the kids were out by lunch...and it was smoldering hot so I went for a swim in the ocean about a minute's walk from my school. I ♥ my job :D

Random Thoughts/Musings/Facebook Updates :)

Hooooly crap it's soooooo hot in Port Vila I've wiped my ass 10 times today and I haven't even taken a shit yet.

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Just had my toenails and fingernails painted, glitter and all (gotta pass the time somehow). I still don't get why girls think this is so much fun :-/


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3 Long Island Iced Teas + 1 Gin & Tonic + 1 Tequila Shot + a French lady asking me to take a hundred pictures of her in her bathing suit + another lady telling me her room # = an awesome birthday party lol Thanks Naseem! ;p


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Got a W-2 form from the Peace Corps today...even way out here I can't get away from the IRS :-/


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So I sprained both my ankles last week. The Peace Corps doctor says to keep them on ice, keep them raised, etc. The usual. A few days later my Host Family looks at it and tells me I should swim in the ocean at 6 in the morning, and that'll heal it right up. I tell my Dep. Headmaster and his wife this, and she looks at me like I'm crazy, then she tells me I should slice my foot open to let all the "bad blood" out, and it'll heal right up.

I think I'll stick with the ice, thanks :-S


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It started with me becoming oblivious to flies and mosquitos (sure they still itch and I swat them away, I'm just not disgusted by them anymore) ...then those giant cockroaches and big-ass spiders in the toilet...meh. And now I've hit a new plateau of dontcareitude...ants. I used to HATE seeing ants crawling on my food or crumbs, but now I would happily drop crumbs on the floor and after a few minutes watch it wiggle away from me into one of the holes in the walls. They're like nature's convenient little sweepers.

I've even eaten off a plate that ants have picked bare just cuz I was too lazy to wash it. Oh yeah. I'm bad.


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It's Friday here, which means the deputy headmaster will be by in a coupla hours sayin "Mista Ken, bae yu-mi go drink kava!" He's already said tomorrow I'll be joining in a one-year anniversary dinner of his wife's brother's death, where there will be (*big shock*) kava drinking!

I think Imma just hide in my bed this weekend 8-S


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Just realized I have an avocado tree right by my house!! Woohoo guacamole for the next 3 weeks!! lol


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Well I had kava again last night...except this time it was old-school, i.e. instead of grinding it they chewed it up and spit it out in to a ball, then strained it to make the drink...I swear I thought I was gonna catch Herpes.

My New Island Home for the next two years ;)