June 18, 2012

Kaselehlie


this weeks tour…Kaselehlie (hello in Pohnpeian)
*I would like to give a shout out to the best dad ever! Happy Father’s Day! Miss you, Love you!*
Kaselehlie everyone! I have arrived safe and sound!
It has been one week since my arrival in Pohnpei! There is so much to say, but so little time to say it all.
So here is the shortest version (the major highlights) I have time (and money) for…
I am part of the M78 Micronesian PC group (we are the 78th group to be sent to FSM since it started in 1966). There are 24 of us! (one married couple, 6 guys, and 16 girls). They are all so wonderful and amazing! (oh yeah there are two others from Colorado too!)
June 6, 7 – Staging in Hawaii was awesome-we did go to Waikiki one afternoon! We left our hotel at 3am to catch a 5:25am flight! (yay! I am official a PCT – Peace Corps Trainee)
June 8, 9 – We crossed the International Date Line! On our way we made 3 stops on Majuro, Kwajalein, and Kosrae. It was raining when we landed in Pohnpei so we walked from the plane to the airport with complementary umbrellas. We had a huge welcome from current PCVs. (PC does not mess around we went straight into training once they dropped us off at our hotel-tons of info my mind could not keep up!)
June 10 – I went to a Catholic church with some other PCTs, it was amazing! The Pohnpeian language is beautiful (I will not be learning too much of it because I may not stay here for my permanent site)
June 11 – I moved in with my host family! My nohno (Pohnpeian for mom) was so excited when she met me she gave me a huge hug! I feel so welcome in their home!
June 12 – I met my Pohnpeian co-teacher (I will be paired with her for a summer school with the kids)
June 13 – In the evenings we pray together as a family. Nohno prays, reads a passage, and they sing a prayer. I love this because everyone is together and participates (even though I am not sure what she is saying-I know God is in the room!)
June 14 – Experienced my first spider!!!!!!!!!!!! (he hangs out in our shower and it is so creepy because he is huge!)
June 15 – I ate reef fish and liked it! (yup that is correct I said I liked it-bet you never thought you would hear me say that!)
June 16 – Laundry (we actually have a washing machine! But it hangs out to dry…eventually!)

My typical day is spent in class/training from 8-5.
8-12 is TESL training with our co-teachers, 1:30-5 is PC training.
Most PCTs live in Kolonia, and can walk to training. I live on Sokehs Island (I have also heard it called Sokehs Rock – I do not really think it is an island because it is still connected to the main land) so my nohno drives me (a little too far to walk on my own).

Everything here is pretty expensive, so I have to decide carefully what I want to spend it on, I use it for food for lunch (I eat breakfast and dinner with the family). Calling and the internet are expensive (I bought a $5 phone card to call my parents and let them know I was alive and that was for 10 minutes of talking time!)

Here are some random things that pop into my head…
-It can rain on a moment’s notice, for anywhere from 5-15 minutes at a time. (I am talking downpour!)
-Steering wheels are on the right side of the car but they drive on the right side too-kind of weird!
-I have electricity and running water (for at least 6 weeks – yay!)

I have felt nothing but peace since my arrival! Thank you all for your prayers I can totally feel them!! (I do miss you all very much!)

I thank God everyday for the blessings He has given me so far on this amazing journey!
-a great group of new friends
-peace
-a loving and great host family
-a beautiful place to live (for 2 years anyways!)
-strength and courage to keep my head up
-all my prayer warriors back home

Until next time…Kaselehlie (it also means good-bye)

4 comments:

  1. I am so glad you are enjoying it! So is that going to be your host family for the duration or just your 3 months of training?

    We all miss you very much and pray for you every day. What you are doing is truly amazing, I'm so glad that you feel so close to where you were lead!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous19.6.12

    So glad you were able to update. It really sounds like things are going well...except the spider :) I really like to hear about all the little things you are doing. It helps me feel conected. Praying for continued peace. Love you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous19.6.12

    Elana! YAY...you made it!! I think of you often, wondering how you are adjusting to all the changes you are experiencing these days! I was very excited to read your update...it all sounds so awesome! You are in my thoughts and prayers and I always think of you reading Jesus Calling on the other side of the planet...how cool is that! :)
    Love and prayers,
    Mary F

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm so glad you made it safe and sound. It sounds like you are having a great experience. Does your host family have kids? How often do they have prayer time? What is the house like? What kind of cars do they drive? Love ya can’t wait to read more!!!

    ReplyDelete