Island Life and Celebration

Island life is continuing to be quite enjoyable.  I love the new experiences that each day seems to bring.  Of course teaching is never a dull life.  You never know what students will do or say.  We had a grand time this week in my College Algebra class as they got to see my nerdy side get so excited about completing the square.  Completing the square to solve quadratic equations was the lesson of the day.  Laurel had just shown me how you can demonstrate completing the square with blocks, rods, and cubes.  You can see it literally complete the square.  I thought it was the coolest thing so I showed it to my class.  They thought it was hilarious that I found it so fascinating and I think they were quite fascinated themselves.  That day also included me singing my quadratic formula song for them.  Some of them were kind enough to sing along with me the 2nd time, but there was some good laughter in the class that day.  I feel like I get to know them a little bit better each day and they are also becoming more comfortable with me.

At home we have a little garden growing.  Laurel was so thoughtful and brought seeds from home to plant when she got here.  She has been working on a little garden on our porch since we got here.  It's really taking off, so I wanted to show it off.

We have cilantro, basil, leafy greens, radishes, onions, and
even a tomato plant.  I'm hoping to plant a few small things
in my dried out coconut shells :)

This is a Pohnpei pepper plant.  They're tiny by HOT!!!

I would really like to be able to do more things like a local, so I just keep trying.  One day after a nice run I was kindly offered coconuts by Lori's neighbors.  I drank a young one (Uhp) and then took the old one (Mangas) home for cooking.  So I took it home and decided that I was going to make my own coconut milk.  A local would proceed with a special grinding method to get the meat out, but not having the tools for that, I proceeded with a knife.  1 deep cut to the finger,3 little cuts to the hand and 1 hour later I had a pretty good bowl of coconut shavings. 

 Any Pohnpeian would be laughing hysterically at how I went about this, but I was still quite pleased with my accomplishment.  I let it soak in water and then blended it in my blender from the garage sale and voila, I had my own coconut milk!  And then I used it to make my Coconut Chicken dish for the Brazilian Potluck night!  

She's holding the Brazilian flag

Once a month a lady from the embassy organizes an international potluck.  This was my first one and the theme was Brazil.  Luckily we had a few Brazilians in the group who really went all out with the Brazilian food.  It was so much fun!  I loved meeting so many people, sharing stories, sharing what they know about the island, and much more.  And the food was very delicious!!!  (Udahn yo!) 

Pao de queijo, feijoada, brigadeiros, goiabada, and more!

 Then just last night I was invited over to my host family's house for a birthday party.  Paula's dad turned 73!  I got the impression that I was just coming over to have dinner with the family and maybe sing happy birthday.  I even made 12 funfetti cupcakes thinking that would be plenty for everyone.  Oh was I mistaken.  This was a Pohnpeian Birthday PARTY!  The WHOLE family was there.  There were 3 sakau pounding stones going, a whole pig cooked in the uhm, food trays galore, food takeouts galore, and lots of people.  I loved it!  I love being part of the culture and experiencing the celebration.  Everyone is just hanging out enjoying the company of others. 

Everyone's hanging around the nahs passing the sakau.

Everyone gets a tray and we eat up (mwenge).

That's my portion of the pig in the bag.  My takeout
had (top left clockwise) sashimi, banana, spaghetti over rice
tapioca (already eaten), pink banana sweet, hot dog, watermelon
and potato salad.

The sakau ceremony continues all through the party and
into the night.  Someone is giving a birthday speech at this
point.

Great cake!  It has the Pohnpei flag at the top and
Happy 73rd Birthday Papa Aron!

I think the boys blew out the candles before Papa Aron
had a chance :)

I love my Pohnpeian family!  I got to see Gradley and Paula and hung-out with Grace for a while as well as one of my students.  It's crazy to realize we're all about the same age, but it also makes it pretty fun to be able to relate to one another. 

Well I'm off for a long weekend.  You had Labor Day last weekend, but we have Liberation Day this weekend!  Yay for 3 day weekends!

These are a few of my favorite things...

I have come to realize that I got to experience several of my favorite things this week.  First of all, there was some rumored discussion in the office that there is a mango tree growing in our yard.  Two things are great about this.  1: The fact that Sandy, one of my favorite employees at COM, knew what kind of tree is growing in my yard.  Seriously, Pohnpeians seem to know everything about the island.  2: Having a mango tree in  my yard would be a dream come true.  After some inspecting of the yard I decided which tree it should be and then I asked Pahpa Samuels.  Sure enough!  The tree right off of my porch is a Dois Mango tree.  Dream come true!  The fruit is quite a bit different from the mangoes we typically see in the states, but I'm super excited nonetheless.  Mangoes growing right off of my porch.  What more could I want?

The Dois Mango Tree

If you look really closely you might be able to see some of the
fruit.  They are green and stay green.  They should be ready
to eat soon!

To continue with the mango, I had my first student bring me a bag of mangoes.  Talk about a happy Monday morning.  She sure knows how to get on my good side :)

Thank you Saileen!

Look at those! Mmm, mmm!

Many of you know that making homemade pizza is also one of my favorite things.  After receiving a great package from my mom which included parchment paper (and sheets that fit my bed) I was set enough to attempt my first pizza in Pohnpei.  It was time to introduce Laurel to the fun of my pizza nights!

Laurel did a very good job of sticking to my rule that you
must not cross the line ;)

Success!  Homemade pizza is possible in Pohnpei!

We were quite pleased with ourselves

 Kids are also one of my favorite things.  So this week I wanted to do something fun with Jay Jay.  He's so shy around me so I wanted to make him feel like he can talk to me and we can have fun.  One day he was wearing a Cars shirt and Cars 2 was playing at the theater.  I decided that's what we should do; go to the movies!  It would be fun and he doesn't have to feel like he has to talk to me.  I told him to invite a friend along so he wouldn't feel so uncomfortable.  

Daner & Jay Jay - best buds!

Feelin' pretty cool to be at the movies

 We had a lot of fun all around.  I enjoyed seeing what they laugh at and what they find entertaining.  It's a very small theater and we had it to ourselves part of the time, so the boys were able to move around and talk freely.  Such a different experience from the states, and I have to say I kind of liked the freedom to talk and comment throughout the movie without being shushed by everyone around you.

I have one last thing that I'd like to comment on, but I'll go ahead and tell you that if you're grossed out by bugs you might want to stop right here.  If you feel like you can handle it and are okay with a little gross humor then continue on.  But you have been warned.

Our sermon last week was about how, as God's people, we should be full of thanksgiving and praise for all the great things God has done.  It was a great reminder, and there are so many serious things for which I am so thankful.  But I also came up with one of the most random things I find myself thankful for, particularly here.  As I was sitting in the living room one night reading and enjoying myself, a roach ran across my foot.  I was determined to get it.  So next time he came at me I strategically flipped him on his back with my book.  And this is what I am seriously thankful for: God did not give roaches the ability to flip themselves back over once on their backs.  It's unfortunate for them, but I am very thankful to have an easy option for dealing with them.

Sorry little guy!

He just can't do it!

Alright that is all.  I promise to try to refrain myself from ever putting up disgusting pictures of roaches ever again :)

Sokehs Ridge

Sokehs Rock is probably one of the most photographed views of Pohnpei.  The hike on Sokehs Ridge had been calling my name since I got here.  So this past weekend Mike and I decided to give it a try.  Notice there is a difference between the Rock and the Ridge.  The Rock is the portion out on the very end, and it is climbable, but I hear it's a lot more intense.  The Ridge is a trail up to the highest point on the left side of the picture.  It is much more relaxed, but still offers great views.
We hopped in a taxi and asked the driver to take us out to Sokehs Island so we could hike the ridge.  We could tell he wasn't quite sure what we were talking about, but he followed our directions.  We continued to try to explain that we wanted to get to the trail head to hike.  We had a general idea of where we were going, but everyone just kept making it sound like you will magically discover it once you're out there.  Sure enough, once we got out there the driver suddenly said, "Oh you want to hike the mountain!"  Yes, we want to hike the mountain; I guess we didn't know the right words, but it makes it all the more entertaining.
Dropped off at the end of the paved road we began the hike, so happy to be outdoors enjoying the beauty of Pohnpei. 

It's a fairly steep climb...

and obviously very green all around!

Do you think we have an invasive vine problem?

 When I got back I was asked how long it takes and I wasn't sure what to say because we were so caught up in taking pictures all along the way.  There's so many things to see!  Like crazy flowers:

Doesn't it look like it's out of a Dr. Seuss book?

We eventually did make it to the top and were able to enjoy the great views.  You could overlook the lagoon, the ocean, Kolonia, and even see some of the distant atolls.  

the backside of Sokehs Rock

our airport - precision is key for take-off and landing!

all the fishing boats just off the island

a birds-eye view of town - I live somewhere out there :)

Sokehs Ridge - check!

 It was a great little adventure that I'd definitely do again.  It's actually within walking distance of town, so it's an easy way to get out and enjoy the great outdoors when you're feeling the need.  There's so much beauty all around!

The Real Reason I'm Here

It might be hard to tell from all the previous posts, but I really am here for a job.  I did not come to Pohnpei just for the awesome views and adventures.  They are simply a nice bonus feature.  I am indeed here to teach at the College of Micronesia - Pohnpei Campus.  Classes started 2 weeks ago, and I am so happy to be teaching here.  Even after the first day or two I could tell this was going to be a good fit for me.  After 2 weeks it has been  confirmed even more that I love working with these students.  All my life I thought I was definitely meant to be an elementary teacher.  I thought wrong.  I am completely shocked at  how much I enjoy having older students.  Not once have I had a students tell me their shoe was untied, that someone cut in front of them in line, that someone was mean to them, or that they didn't have the right color crayon.  They take care of themselves!  It's amazing!  So here was my first day of school:

At the main entrance to campus

A few students coming out of the main hangout area

 I took a picture of each student, but it would take the rest of the year to get 100 pictures uploaded.  Just trust me that they are absolutely wonderful individuals and great to work with.  I am teaching 4 sections this semester.  I have Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, and 2 sections of Business Math.  I love teaching all math since it's always been my strongest subject.  And it feels great to finally use my degree to teach the Business Math.  I get to teach them all about reconciling bank statements, calculating inventory levels, and other very useful business concepts. 
I share an office with everyone in the math and science department.  They are all great and I really enjoy our office.

My very own desk where I can work and
have students come for office hours!!!

We are VERY privileged to have air conditioning computers, a printer, and a copier.  It makes teaching way easier for us.  We also have a very nice campus with great classrooms, also equipped with air conditioners and white boards.  I'm pretty happy to not be using chalk!  They keep the grounds really nice too.

One of the 3 classrooms I teach in

Administrative building with offices, conference room, library,
computer labs and bathrooms.

A shot of a strip of classrooms.  The second door is the
classroom I spend most of my time in.

My office building

The Nahs - where all the students hangout during the day
when they're not in class

COM-PNI

Another great feature of working on the island and on such a small campus is that you get to do a lot of things that you probably wouldn't get to do in the states.  Like this past Friday, I also got to take on the role of aerobics instructor.  Laurel teaches a health class, so she asked me to do an aerobics demonstration for them.  I chose kickboxing because it's my favorite and great for guys and girls.  We had a blast!!!  We were punching and kicking, getting our heart pumping, and having so much fun!

Jab

Act like you're punching someone!

Now knee them!

Sidekick - make sure you use the heel

Boxer shuffle - they really thought this was hilarious

You're making us do jumping jacks?!?!

I made sure to follow the rules of a good workout - warm up,
workout, and cool down with stretching

They use to have aerobics classes on campus, but there's no one to lead them any more.  They've told me I can take over.  After how much fun we had, I really think I might want to do it.  College professor and aerobics instructor?  This is great!
 I came here unsure of how I would like working with big kids after working with the little ones for 2 years.  I think I've made it pretty obvious that I'm a big fan of this college professor thing.  I'm not sure I'll ever be able to go back to teaching elementary.  I'm so thankful for this opportunity to figure that out and realize how much I can love being in the classroom!
This time I will not leave you with a flower.  Instead I will leave you with this little blessing I had on my walk home from the market.

I am always with you!
Love,
God