On Top of the World

…or at least Pohnpei!

One reason I joined the Peace Corps was to get out of my “comfort zone” and experience more of what the world has to offer. Well, my hike up Nahnalaud certainly fulfilled that. Mind you, I have never been “real camping” up to this point in my life. I’ve done plenty of hikes, for sure, during my travels (America, Canada, Japan, Korea) and I’ve been to sleepaway camps, but I’ve never actually been camping. I am more of an indoors person, preferring a good fantasy book or a Super Smash Brothers smackdown to the wonderful outdoors.

So when the text message came from one of my friends (there are cell phones here, albeit very sketchy ones) asking if anyone wanted to climb up Pohnpei’s tallest peak, I hesitated. Did I really want to go on this hike instead of having a relaxing weekend doing nothing? Then I remembered why I was here in Pohnpei in the first place and decided to just go ahead and do it. Four PCVs also came and luckily our guide (Pohnpeian Super Man) just so happened to be the pahpa of one of the PCVs.

After a relaxing night of conversations and Merlin (the BBC series), we set forth on the hike. And it was probably the most physically demanding activity that I’ve ever had to do (not that I regularly do physical activity, but still). I stumbled through dense jungle by both sunlight and flashlight, crossed countless rivers (and almost fell in one), climbed up the mountain using my hands and feet and slide down it using my fifth appendage, and slept in a five-star cave (complete with leafy bedding and running water). I fell twenty six times, accumulated numerous cuts, scratches, bruises, and blisters, got all of my clothes really muddy, and drove myself crazy having Miley Cyrus’ The Climb stuck in my head for half the time.

Yet it was all worth it. The view was amazing, incredible, breathtaking. I could see my church from where I was standing! We had lunch on top of Pohnpei – how cool is that?

It took me about a week to fully recover from this hike (a.k.a. from the cuts, scratches, bruises, and blisters). My nohno and the rest of my host family all thought me crazy for having gone in the first place but nevertheless helped me heal. This will definitely be one of the highlights of my Peace Corps experience, a reminder that going out of my “comfort zone” is indeed worth it.

What else have I been up to, you may be wondering. Well, setting up the MHS Library is in full swing. I stack and sort books with the help of various students and my host sisters (which has been great fun). I also sweep the floor to get rid of never-ending gecko poop, wipe down the book shelves, and ponder ways to get the Trade and Industry students to build me more of them.

One of the highlights of my summer thus far has been the Summer Reading Program sponsored by the Pohnpei Public Library. Approximately 100 kids come in every Wednesday to participate in activities relating to “One World, Many Places.” The kids listen to stories, make fun crafts, and check out books to read at home. Their enthusiasm is infectious – every week they are so excited to travel to a different continent (they even have passports made by the library’s PCV) and find new books to take back with them, and I get excited to help read a story or supervise book check out. Plus they are all adorable. :)

I have also been planning for Library Camp’s Library Skills sessions, supervising banner making with GLOW girls (MHS represent!), attending my school’s graduation (the singing!), guest reading at Story Hour (what can we use our hands for?), commemorating the end of one PCV’s service (we all miss you!), swimming at Kepirohi Falls (yay being touristy), getting lost in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, hanging out with peeps, hanging out with the family, doing chores (what?), and eating fried bread fruit (delicious).

Today I am off to the Philippines (my flight is this afternoon). Thank you all for your continuous support and don’t forget to update me on your own lives!