It doesn't exactly have the same ring as "Back in the USSR" but it's the best I could do. Readjusting has been . . . ok. There are things that made me smile as soon as I stepped off the plane (the big, genuine smiles of the Air Vanuatu employees and the simple baggage/customs process) and moments when I thought, "Oh yeah. The burning trash smell" or I experienced some similar kind of unpleasant reminder of what life in Vanuatu can be like. There were several volunteers from my group in town as well; they were also returning from visits to the states. And I had 2 training sessions to polish and present almost as soon as I got back from home. Those were nice distractions while my mind got back into thinking Vanuatu-fashion. Overall, it has been a smoother transition than I expected, thankfully.
I have just returned from a visit to my host family in Mangaliliu. This is my family from those first few months of training. My host father owns a taxi and shuttles a couple of regulars from the village to Vila and back again each day so he was able to pick me up without making an extra trip. We had fried fish and laplap for dinner--my first aelan kakae since returning--and had a really nice evening catching up. My first born sister, Juliette, did very well on her year 8 exams, placed first in her class, and was assigned to a prestigious secondary school in Vila. The second born sister is proving to be a natural entrepreneur. She has been making shell jewelry to sell in town and I was able to support her efforts by purchasing a really nice pair of earrings. Micah, my brother, is 6 and will be starting primary school this year. He talked and talked and talked while I was visiting. These days, though, I can actually catch most of what he's saying in direct contrast to my early days there when I just nodded and said the Bislama equivalent of "Oh, really?" over and over again.
Today is my last day in Vila and I just have a few things to take care of before heading to Ambae tomorrow. I am looking forward to unpacking my suitcases, to seeing my Ambae host family, to seeing Mai, and to reclaiming my garden from the weeds and overgrown island cabbage. It is hot and humid here--in the 90s each day with at least 80% humidity--and it doesn't cool down much at night. But that actually helps me enjoy those cold water showers rather than just endure them like I do all winter. There are also two new sets of volunteers, married couples, who live near me on Ambae. One is a couple from Kentucky who live about 40 minutes away by truck. I will probably see them every couple of weeks. And a couple from New Zealand arrived just before I left and will be living at the rural training center between my community and the bank/post office. I think this year will be a very different experience with so many volunteers nearby.
I'm not sure when I'll be able to post again. I don't think I'll be in Vila again until May so I'll try to put something together for Mom and Dad to post in the meantime.
Malpong
No comments:
Post a Comment