In the shower – without a shower skirt

Scandalous, right? Not really, once you read on…

On the second day of the new year, I ate Nothing for dinner.

Nothing was one of my family’s three dogs. It was black, kind of ugly, and quite tasty. I didn’t see the actually slaughtering of Nothing, but I did see a carcass roasting over a fire and figured it out pretty quickly. Dog tastes like a cross between pork and steak. Mwein (Maybe)? It’s one of those things you just have to try for yourself, like joining the Peace Corps! (HINT HINT) Is it sad that I was infinitely amused when I fed our family cat some dog? I get the same feeling whenever I throw chicken bones to the family chickens.

The first week of school was reserved for clearance and orientation, meaning that I had a whole week to plan for what I was going to do in the next semester, as well as work in the library. The vice-principal informed me that I was to co-teach two junior classes and solo teach two freshman classes. I would be teaching Language Arts III with one of my co-teachers from last semester, which was great. I would also be teaching the freshman Health Science…WHAT? I definitely needed to do a lot of planning for that! During the week I also managed to create an assessment containing grammar, writing, and reading for the juniors, exercise by running/power walking, catch up on Facebook, and do errands in Kolonia.

My first week officially back at school went pretty smoothly. Everyone was late on the first day, and I’m pretty sure my co-teacher and I were the only ones actually teaching since all the other teachers were making their students clean the classrooms. And my health classes…do you all know the three parts of the health triangle? Thank goodness I have a health textbook, but since my students do not it’s up to me to educate them about how to live healthy lives. Even if it means the occasional whack on the head for practicing unhealthy habits!

My primary assignment (English teaching) is also going well…like last semester, I am primarily in charge of writing and oral communication. I had a very fun and informative class about the different types of prewriting (I like to think so, anyway). It’s different for me, teaching juniors Language Arts instead of freshman, but this also means more possibilities for writing assignments and growth in my students as writers and speakers.

I attended my first PTA meeting this past Friday – it was basically the principal and vice informing interested parents about the progress of their children and who is teaching what this semester. I’m teaching the most classes (four classes in four periods – one period is 1½ hours, with an hour break for lunch) but my poor friend the World Teach Volunteer has to prepare for three classes while I only have to prepare for two! Teaching drains a lot out of me, though, especially when I move around and am active in the classroom in order for my students to be interested in what I’m saying. Sleep is amazing.

I was a total menwai (foreigner) this past weekend. After the PTA meeting, I went to Kolonia with my host parents to take care of more errands (like copying the almighty bathroom key). Saturday morning, I headed to Kolonia again with Team Madolenihmw so we could all celebrate another volunteer’s birthday! We hung out, watched Harry Potter (still good), ate delicious pizza, and partied it up menwai style, plenty of choice beverages and dancing included. After a crazy night, I had my first hot and absolutely GLORIOUS naked shower in over two months. All of you Americans reading this are probably laughing at how ridiculous I sound, but after experiencing daily “showers” using a small pink bowl to dump myself with COLD water collected in a former pig trough while wearing a skirt (you got that?), I definitely appreciated a hot naked shower. Sunday was a day for recovering – I ate a delicious tuna omelet and hung out in the PCV lounge with my fellow volunteers.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I asked my juniors if they knew who he was. Mind you, they just took an American History class last semester (even though it seems quite odd for them to be learning about the founding fathers when they should be learning about the history of their own country). They had no idea (“Teacher utahn sehse” – “Teacher I really don’t know”), so I launched into a mini history lesson and then a mini lecture about how they should all know what their rights as Micronesian citizens are, especially since they took civics their freshman year! I had them write about what rights they value the most and why. My health classes were all about the decision making process – do you know the six steps? MHS also hosted the Agricultural Fair, so all of the elementary schools came and students sold their locally grown produce.

“This all sounds great, but what about you personally?” You might be asking this to yourself right now. I’m doing well! My language progress is coming, slowly but surely, since my host family still uses Pohnpeian when talking to me (only using English when I really don’t understand what they’re saying). I am trying my best to speak Pohnpeian at home (using English when I lack the right words) and even at school, much to the amusement of my students. My host family is still awesome (we’re watching better movies now), the students and staff are still awesome (my co-teacher told me that she was glad I was with her – yay!), and my friends and family back in the states are still awesome (and continuously supportive).

So sohte pwunod (no worries) about me. But I am curious about all of you! What are you up to now? Write me letters or Facebook me – it may take me a while to respond but I would definitely appreciate it! I don’t think I’ve been truly homesick here, but I’ve had my fair share of low moments (I feel useless at home and at school, there’s no way I can integrate into this community, why can’t I freakin’ speak Pohnpeian, no one understands me, I’m bored!). I’ve gotten through them by reading emails from family and friends and looking at pictures. So more reading materials and more photos would be amazing and are always welcome. Kalahngan lap (Big thanks)!