Someone contacted me on mspace asking some questions about PC and what it's like to be one- for a research paper and as a prospective volunteer.  Here's my response:

I joined Peace Corps for pretty practical reasons.  I was looking for a change in my life that allowed me to defer school loans and travel abroad while using my skills to do something productive for others.  There are a lot of NGO’s that travel abroad, but I believe Peace Corps is one of the only, if not the only, that allows government loan deferment.  In addition to loan deferment, PC provides medical coverage and care during and for a period of time after your service.  Should there be an issue in my country of service, PC would have the means to look after my safety and security.  It has a long history and from what I can tell a good reputation in the states and abroad, not to mention my mother was more comfortable with my joining Peace Corps than a grant dependant NGO.  I have a guaranteed flight to and from my country of service, whether I stay for the two years or early terminate.  Basically, there’s a lot of stability and security. 

Peace Corps also provides training in the language and culture of the country you will serve in.  My training consisted of 3 months of pretty rigorous language and culture instruction from a host country national as well as “job” training by various local agencies and PC counterparts.   As a result of learning language and cultural customs, I have been able to integrate myself to a position where I am able to help.  Gaining the respect of people who have lived in their culture for thousands of years is difficult.  PC helps you help others by providing local counterparts, host families, and wonderful training staff all aimed at integrating you fully into the culture to be an effective volunteer in the community.  

Joining Peace Corps is the biggest step.  Taking the challenge to physically get on a plane and fly thousands of miles away from everyone and everything that you know is the hardest part, and I believe that most people change the most in that time.  There are a lot of mental hurdles that you will get over in the first period of your service.  You will adjust to smells and tastes pretty quickly and attitudes over a longer period of time.  Sometimes it’s hard for me to remember exactly how I was before I joined PC and came to Yap State to serve.  Two years seems such a long time in the beginning, but in the grand scheme of things it’s just a drop in the bucket, as they say.  It’s hard to make a difference in such a short amount of time, and there is a misconception that PC volunteers have about the ability to effect change in cultures that have been forging on without them for, sometimes, many centuries.  

I would suggest PC to people who aren’t planning to “change the world.”  Peace Corps is a personal challenge to live with, work with, and be a part of a totally different life.  You will not have time to change people.  You will have time to learn from them and change yourself.  I would suggest PC to people who aren’t ambitious, but have patience and caring and a strong work ethic.  If you have no expectations of PC life, it’s for you.

I’m a Natural Resources and Conservation Development volunteer in Yap State of the Federated States of Micronesia.  I live with a host family, work at the Yap State Division of Agriculture and Forestry.  My primary projects are Geographic Information Systems and Conservation Education.  I’ve taught people I work with in addition to classes at the local national college and elementary school children.  I am in my third year, I was approved for an extension of 13 months.  I love it here and will more than likely stay [or "go and come back"] after my service is completed.  I haven’t had any issues here outside of personal adjustment.  I tried my best to integrate quickly into the culture after training and I believe that has prevented a lot of confusion and distress that I see with other volunteers.  Changing yourself is mandatory and you can’t come into PC saying you have an open mind, yet not willing to change yourself to fit in.  I am proud of those volunteers that can realize their limitations and have moved on.  Knowing your limits is important. 

I hope I’ve answered some of your questions, and keep in mind that everyone’s experience is different.  A lot of my friends on myspace are PCVs here in Micronesia or came in with me and are now RPCVs in the states.  Feel free to contact them for more info.  If you have anymore questions or need me to clarify more, let me know.  Hope your report goes well!

-megan   

Good lord, I sound like an advertisement... maybe I should be a PC staff member.  ahhhhhhhh!  hehe.  Here's a quick pic of Gachogaw from this past weekend to lighten the mood...

when i came to peace corps i was not a coffee drinker. i prefer tea with a little milk, but here on the island not many people can go without their morning and afternoon doses of caffeinated instant roast. my host mom is an exception. she loves tea and we share a weekend tea making ritual that i have grown very fond of. i know how many sugars she likes and which mug is her favorite- warm and fuzzies.

since being here, there have been coffee days, mornings that require more than the common tea can offer. even though i have had few and far between experiences of the coffee persuasion, i've never tasted the true joy of addiction, until now.

thanks to a very short person, which i am sure is from her years of drinking coffee (my grandma warned me), my entire existence cries out for you: the tall, iced, special with whip cream, Caramel Macchiato. it is beyond me how this all started. i've stripped myself of the dignity i once had for your chilled, sweet, drizzly caramel goodness. i've tried to resist the mainstream, but even now as i look at your shiny plastic cup in the photo i found on google images, my pupils dilate. i am in love. is it wrong? will this love fade with time? will i move on to the chai tea latte?

we had a good long month together, sometimes i had you hot, sometimes cold, but always tall and with whip cream. i did falter once with a white chocolate something or other and that other holiday special harlot, but i always came back to you. let's grow old together, or rather, i will grow old, stunted and have stained teeth because of you- but i know you will always be fresh. wait for me.

-megan

I know, I know, it's time for an update. I’ve been traveling the world and seen people and have stories to tell, YET I’ve not updated for those with whom I did not have the pleasure of visiting (wow, that was some great formal talk, no?).

Here are some highlights of my trip from Island home to Mainland home and back:

• Talking to a Kosraean woman in the Guam Airport for a while
• Seeing my mom and brother at the end of the longest escalator ride in the Atlanta Airport- it felt like 20 hours…
• Seeing Becca in her car rockin’ out
• Running to Becca’s car as she waited for a light in Newnan, and forgetting it probably is illegal to run into traffic, even if you are deliriously tired from 20 hour travels and deliriously happy to see your best friend after a year
• Cooking for my local party despite being deliriously tired from my 20 hour travels
• Becca freaking out, a little, as I chopped a large tuna and had to break the neck to get the head off- I am a skilled fish head remover, who knew
• Seeing Miss Kitty and Tux, sweet sweet kitties :)
• Seeing little Clarita, Josh, Chris, Andrew and Phil
• Watching, but not really remembering- due to the delirious state- friends and family enjoy the local food and entertainment?
• Seeing Jennifer- yeah, I cried, what’s it to ya?
• Seeing Lisa, who apparently doesn’t really know how long it takes to get from FL to GA… island style, all the way
• Taking food and meat and cookies to Judy and Mino in Atlanta
• Having a not so good, yet sooo good, chew with Judy and Lisa
• Speaking a little, though I should have said more, Yapese with Judy and Lisa
• Looking at pictures of Fadarai with Mino, Judy, Jen, and Lisa
• Seeing the delight on a Yapese woman’s face when she discovered the taro we brought
• Eating Mexican food, a lot of Mexican food
• Getting my hair done after a year of tangles and one bad do-it-yourself cut
• Having Jen and Lisa stay with me for a week
• Talking to Teya on speaker phone
• Listening to Mino’s message on Jen’s cell, over, and over, and over again
• Discovering Starbucks Tall Iced Caramel Macchiato
• Discovering Starbucks Tall Iced Caramel Macchiato, special with whip cream
• Riding with my mom
• Talking with my mom
• Riding to FL with my brother
• Getting a little lost in Florida with my brother- damn the toll booths!
• Seeing my family in FL and sharing Yap with them
• Hugging my grandma
• Riding back to GA with my brother
• Meeting Corey, Julie, and Pauly
• Listening to good music that I can sing all the words to, loudly
• Visiting and having dinner with Rochelle, Cathie, Miss Nancy, Kim, Kim’s Partner, Preston, Danny, Andrew’s Dad, and all the animals 
• Seeing Rochelle and Cathie’s beautiful wedding photos!
• Meeting Seth, again
• Having Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with my mother and brother
• Watching Pride and Prejudice with my mom- “Mr. Darcy!”
• Going to the Theatre
• Riding with Becca
• Seeing Mandy for the first time in years!
• Having a cell phone that makes free calls to close and far-away places
• Seeing my mom and Tony happy
• Eating baby Arugula on a bed of dried beef strips with lime sauce at some really nice restaurant with my mom and Tony
• Seeing the Crucials, LIVE! at the EARL
• Sharing New Years with Claire, Rob, Kristy, Beth, Laurel, Graham, Becca, Chris, Joe, Josh, Phil, Andrew, TJ, Mary, Emily, Katherine, and Nicole
• Seeing Apocalyptico with Seth, overall a very nice gory experience
• Traveling with Lisa over large distances
• Visiting the world-renowned National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
• Dressing Lisa up in Chaps
• Getting a cowboy hat, then wearing it to Texas Roadhouse
• Seeing Children of Men with Garrett, Jen, and Lisa
• Meeting Jen’s Granddad, mom, Brother and sister-in law, and nephew
• Giving Tuxy away to a loving family with a sweet baby boy
• Eating the best Tex-Mex in the world, FREE CHEESE DIP, what what
• “Visiting” Graceland on Elvis’ birthday
• Listening to Science Friday and all things NPR with Lisa and talking about belief in aliens, amongst other topics
• Visiting, albeit briefly, a Thai restaurant
• Talking about Curse of the Golden Flower characters and the beauty of Kung-fu
• Eating some damn good Greek Veggie Gyros and Potatoes with Rochelle and Cathie
• Giving and receiving “Sexy Texts”
• Watching Anime with Subtitles
• Sleeping under many covers and finally being warm
• Listening to Tori Amos in my dreams
• Laughing and hugging
• Visiting Mercer and reconnecting with Dr. Karim and Dr. Smith
• Having a Mexican lunch with Dr. Moore
• Laughing and hand shakes
• Booty dancing at Dea with Claire and Kristy
• Listening to a Cracker Barrel waitress’s problems and leaving a big tip
• Getting back to Atlanta to see Becca
• A semi-lazy Sunday morning with showers and no soap
• Hugging goodbye
• Talking to Stevie and Jen and Lisa, calming
• Crying
• Remembering that Garrett once said “Planes are meant to fly”
• Meeting Liz, who works in Palau, on the plane
• Getting to Hawaii and discovering I still have a signal and minutes and calling Becca, mom, Jen, Lisa, and Seth
• Seeing Paul and Maggie at the Haaaamon Loop
• Riding first class for an hour and 15 minutes next to Maria Laaw and discovering I can still speak Yapese
• Seeing Ish, Tinmad, and Jess at the airport
• Having a Yapese Chew
• Getting the gossip in the car on the ride home
• Giving a chiko’ to my host mom
• Giving Christmas gifts
• Dreaming about traveling, warm covers, laughing, hugging, anime, the tall caramel macchiato, songs sung loud enough to hear through neighbor’s walls, chew, blue skies, cowboys, my mom’s smile, rides to FL, family, and Yap

another trip to the states is looming in the very near future... 5 more days to go and i'm feeling nervous and uncomfortable. part of me is so excited to see my family and friends and precious animals, but there's this other part that is afraid of seeing them. my comfort right now is remembering last year and being more prepared to adjust. i hate flying, right, but leaving here is more frightening than the "in the air" time. boarding the plane and saying i'm going and coming back freaks me out. knowing i'll be missing things going on here. and i know what the folks in the states are thinking, well, you did it to us and did you think that? were you more afraid of the leaving than the arriving in some random place in the middle of the Pacific. Yes. sometimes it's hard for me to remember that. the emotions i am feeling, the leaving, are the same. i lived my whole life in one place. i have lived in Yap for 2 years, and suddenly it rates the same emotional attachment as my mother, my brother, becca, andrew? is that fair? i've experienced a lot here. i have changed and adapted to life in a completely different place. when people visit here for the first time, i cannot relate to their attitude, i don't remember what mine was when i was them.

there is always this period of time in the starting of a new endeavor where you have no clue how things really work. i like the obliviousness (is that a word?) of that time. and the trasition to knowing, really understanding whatever it is that you are doing is never definite. you can only look back and remember what it was that you used to think, although in this situation it isn't understanding a form for a job or that the cook you work with hates it when you ask him how his day is. here, it is your entire life that is changing. the way i think changed and it is difficult to remember the way i thought before.

everyone is expecting me. that's a tall order when you aren't sure who that person was and if you do remember who they were, what if you don't like them? will everyone like the new you? will i even be new to them, or is the change detectable? i'm not growing a third arm here, right.

i've been growing out my nails. not intentionally at first. something clicked, and i haven't bitten or felt the need to bite them in over two months. i first started to notice it when i was typing and i thought the keyboard was messed up. then i looked. this is something i've always had an issue with. my mother hates it, friends have, on occasion, told me to stop biting. i've always been a nail biter. then it stopped. merry Christmas mom.

Here it is people.... I am having a party. You wanna come? Well, damn... email me and come have some taro and fish and betelnut and whatever your heart desires (within Yapese reason, of course)... I'm coming home for "home leave" Dec 10... with 1, possibly 2, large coolers of all that is good in Yap... no, not hot boys in thus, food! AND music! it's going to be great! You should come! But make sure you write to me first, so I can count out a fish or two for you :)

- the management

The morning is waning away. I’m sitting at work typing this instead of some progress reports on grant fund usage. Oh well… Productivity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, or I wouldn’t be here, right? Anyway, it had occurred to me that I hadn’t posted anything in a while and many things have been going on.

Work is smooth sailing, as always, making our way into another fiscal year. Looking forward to spending some money on a stage and mat board for shadow puppets. It will be my first shadow puppet show, wish me luck.

We have ordered a *very* expensive piece of GPS equipment, that once it arrives will serve as my third hand and an extra brain. Hopefully I won’t break it.

In a few days, the newest versions of Peace Corps Volunteers will be arriving, all doe-eyed and happy. What joy is mine to teach them the ways of life here and crush their innocence! Ok, really I’m looking forward to them a little. This time around I have organized a lot of the training and know pretty much all there is to know about the Peace Corps admin side of things and a decent amount of the Yapese side. I feel like I’ll actually be able to impart some kind of good advice on them. But, of course, I’ll have to get over the initial meetings and awkwardness; that always takes time.

We’ve (the current Yap PCVs) had meetings and tried to discuss what is going on with the new folk. I have been so annoyed lately with these meetings. I just want to get this stuff done and out of the way, but I keep being told we all must discuss these things, and when we sit down to discuss them, there are personalities from every extreme and nothing is accomplished. From people who couldn’t possibly give a damn, to the hostile to idea making, to constant jokesters, to utterly blasé, to the overly-excited out in left field idea makers, to the meeting Nazi (me)… it’s all driving me crazy. I know everyone means well and that I should let go a little, but damn! How hard is it to have a meeting with a fucking smiling face and just listen and input things to keep the meeting going. It’s a meeting, not pizza & beer nite at the local pub! Argh!

I always feel like I am fighting to say something and on the flipside fighting not to say anything. Can’t I just learn when to shut up? I’m starting to see this part of myself that’s been growing ever since we’ve gotten here. I don’t like it, and the only time I have it is when I am with other Americans. It reminds me a little of the original training in Pohnpei. There, I was able to remove myself and have a little self reflection time. I could ignore people and their advice and “knowledge” of all things.

Here, at this stage, I feel that I have experienced something and can hand out information that I learned from the personal reflection, but it comes across as angry or G.O. [read: know-it-all]. That’s not the point. I’m learning that the only way to better myself now is to remove myself from those situations, namely Peace Corps functions. Great revelation now that I will be spending 90% of my time for the next six weeks in Peace Corps functions making an ass of myself.

I think, at some point in my life people looked to me for advice or comfort. Where did that time go? When did I become so angry and distant? What happened to my stability? I can see it sometimes with locals here. I am soft with them. What is up with that?

SO, what I’ve learned from this post. It’s good to get things out, even generally and not making much sense. I shouldn’t spend too much time with other Peace Corps. I take meetings and friendships too seriously. Anger is taking over my life. AND Work is good.

It’s that time again; a new group of Peace Corps coming on island. Didn’t I just get here? But then, haven’t I been here forever? The foreign life is the one they are coming from. I am out of touch. They will be in the “shiny happy new” phase of Peace Corps life, and I’m not sure how well I will relate with them. I think it’ll be better than the first time around- hopefully.

(about a year ago)
Joe (M72): so Megan, where are you from in the states?
Me: Georgia.
Joe: ummm, so where in Georgia?
Me: Atlanta area.
Joe: Great…. Sooo, did you go to school there?
Me: where?
Joe: Atlanta?
Me: no.
Joe: You worked there?
Me: Yeah.
Joe: What did you do?
Me: in Atlanta?
Joe: Umm, yeah, what was your work?
Me: You know, work.
Joe: Ok. So, I heard you date someone here, how’s that going?
Me: (backing away) It’s hard for me to have the small talk. I should check on the chicken.
Joe: Good talking to you.
Me: k.

Yeah, that’s no good; I need to work on my new-Americans-coming-to-live-here conversation skills. At least this time we’ll all know how to deal with American guys. Last year was frightening, having made the office our unofficial sorority house, then abruptly changed into a messy, smelly, boy-infested frat.

I think I’ve pinned down what it is that is so unnerving about dating a local here (or at least my loco-local). It’s the idea that they don’t believe you when you say you are through. I’ve broken up with people before. You say, “It’s not working out. I’m not happy. We should see other people.” They say, “Yeah, I agree, it’s not working. Maybe we are better as friends.” Then you cry for a couple weeks, eat a lot of ice cream (or drink and smoke), watch a lot of Colin Firth and convince yourself that there is someone like him out there for you. Simple. A few months later, you are over it and someone new catches your eye, life goes on.

Here the response is “lol… you’re just mad right now… slow down… don’t make any hasty decisions.” This comes from someone who just can’t accept reality and I continue to let myself be strung along, thinking that they will come around to my side of the relationship. No one can be changed, and the cycle repeats itself. For instance, today I sent a text that read “I want a boyfriend, and u r not it.” Simple, to the point, and I get back the “u r just mad, calm down.” Like I am the crazy one. I just want someone who doesn’t play games and use people, but he’s like one of those bouncy balls tied to the paddle, it just keeps bouncing back. I need some scissors. Really sharp scissors.

And it’s not just the bouncing back, it’s the fact that I keep hitting the ball, putting it in motion. If I could just learn to leave it alone. I guess I’ve never been with someone who keeps the game going, cause I’ve never played the game. It’s always just been over. I remember wanting them to call me, but it never happening, because we needed to get over it all. I even had something to get over, usually. I had learned things about them, or lived in their lives to a certain extent and the breakup actually hurt because I was losing someone’s influence on my life, like a death. Mr. Loco recently turned to me and asked “do you like music?” I have been seeing him longer than most all of my relationships and he is oblivious to who I am. Nice, Megan, good choice.

TO: Governor

FROM: Director R&D

DATE: August 18, 2006

SUBJECT: Request of Waiver

I, Director of the Department of Resources and Development, hereby apply for a waiver of the bidding law requirements under 9 YSC 523 as follows:

1. Name of Project: Division of Agriculture and Forestry Ongoing Projects (i.e. Invasive Eradication, Community Forestry, Avian Influenza, Livestock)

2. Description of Project:

The various ongoing projects (see above) within the Division of Agriculture and Forestry will be utilizing A Trimble Global Positioning System Unit to track and analyze progress daily in each as well as keep up to date with global technology and initiatives related to terrestrial ecosystems.

3. The source(s) of funding for the contract and the date when the funds became available for the contract:

Environmental Private Sector Grants & US Forestry Grants; August 17, 2006

4. The nature of emergency and danger to public health, safety, or convenience competitive bidding delay will cause:

The requested equipment is specific to the daily needs of the DAF and is designed to provide the optimum results for its purposes; however, it is not available on-island. If the materials were to be ordered through a local vendor the cost would be above what the project is allotted in both time and money. Purchasing directly from the manufacturer allows the money to be utilized more efficiently and the shipment of the much-needed tools to be expedited in a timelier manner.



5. Brief summary of the planning background and implementation projections for the contract:

The general trend in vegetation on Yap has been deforestation as a result of degradation of forests to Invasive vegetation. There is great need to reverse this trend by locating and eradicating those harmful species and rehabilitating degraded lands and forests. Yap State in conjunction with the Western Executive Invasive Council has placed priority on the eradication of Invasive Weed species to reestablish native forests of Yap. A major part of this undertaking is keeping track of and analyzing every step in the process to remain alert to changes on a daily, rather than once-a-year, basis.

In addition to Invasive Weed projects, Communities on Yap are undertaking projects supported by DAF and the US Forest Service to protect shorelines from erosion, and to enhance villages through the planting of trees and shrubs for shade, food, beauty, fibers and medicines. There is a need to physically locate and map those locations through GIS to support funding received from the US Forest Service.

A world-wide livestock and human population concern is that of Avian Influenza. Keeping records and locations of injured or sick livestock is of great importance to DAF as it is to the whole state to combat the possibilities of this devastating disease.

Lastly, DAF maintains a livestock program, providing genetically superior livestock to strengthen the local populations of livestock as well as providing castration and basic medical services to local livestock. There is a need to track and display local piggery information as a means to evaluate the status of the island’s local livestock populations.

In each of the above named projects, the Trimble GPS unit would prove vital. Most importantly it would allow DAF to continue with daily monitoring and collection of data rather than relying on YapCap or Queens University to supply this much needed equipment. In addition, the Trimble unit would allow DAF to more readily share information collected with related agencies.

6. Brief explanation of the relevant and anticipated difficulties if the contract is not exempted from competitive bidding:

The specific tools that are requested will not be available through local vendors and lesser equipment will be provided at a higher cost; causing, in the long run, more money and time to be spent on the procurement of proper equipment to run related projects efficiently.

7. Brief statement of the benefits to gain from exempting the contract from competitive bidding:

Purchasing directly from the manufacturer allows the money to be utilized more efficiently and the shipment of the much-needed tools to be expedited in a timelier manner.

Thank you very much for your consideration,


_______________________
Director


Governor’s Review and Action on the Application


Department/Officer/Agency:
Resources & Development/Division of Agriculture & Forestry

Name of Project:
Division of Agriculture and Forestry Ongoing Projects
(i.e. Invasive Eradication, Community Forestry, Avian Influenza, Livestock)

Based on the information provided and the requirements of the bidding law, I hereby

( ) Disapprove the Application for lack of emergency. Therefore, submit the project for competitive bidding.

( ) Approve the Application and hereby declare that there is an emergency affecting public health, safety or convenience as justified in the application and the contract may therefore be let to the extend requested to meet the emergency without public advertisement.

Copies of the Application and my approval shall immediately be made public by the Applicant via the Radio Station, local newspapers and postings in at least four prominent public places in Colonia. Such public notices shall constitute notices required by the bidding law.

Thank you,



_____________________
Robert A. Ruecho’
Governor
The State of Yap

Lately I’ve been into hip-hop and rap. I would now like to retract statements I’ve made about not liking rap. I like it. The base and background tracks are really addictive. It really is an amazing form of poetry. Lyrical masters. I know I’m a young white chick, but does that mean I can’t listen? Does that mean I can’t truly appreciate the message? It’s not like I’m going to go out and buy Daytons for my Lac, and start calling my friends “bitches” and “niggas”, it’s just that I have grown a partiality towards the genre.

So many young boys here emulate the rap culture of America and I worry about when they leave the island for the first time to actually witness life outside. Most of the social problems they hear through the music aren’t present here and are taken out of context. There aren’t Parental Advisories here or bad connotations associated with lyrics that leave nothing to the imagination and employ the worst of English four letter words. Some of the elders don’t speak English well and the younger kids take advantage of that and walk around speaking straight out of Friday.

There is no urban decay in Yap. There is no Urban, period. It only exists in the imaginations of young Yapese boys reaching out for some other identity.

One morning during my Close of Service Séance, as Jen and I were enjoying some delectable hash browns from the 730 AM buffet, Jen spotted my first grey hair. I know, most people freak out and worry about life going down hill, “My first grey hair, the first step into the grave, oh lament… blah blah blah.”

I found it encouraging. It was beautiful. Not too white, kind of silvery, I am going to look nice as an old lady.

This may be kind of morbid and strange to some, but I kept the hair. It may not have been my first grey, but it was the first ever recognized, and I think that deserves some kind of esteem.

I fear death because it will prevent me from living and learning, but I look forward to old age because it will someday bring me closer to accepting death after I’ve lived.

The big news is that I won a large bottle of Wild Turkey for being "most likely to become a Peace Corps staff member"... although I really think I won it being "most likely to share my prize with Garrett if he nominates me"... and I did leave the bottle with the PC boys to drink up while I returned to the real world of responsibility, who am I kiding, I live on an island...


I did get approved for my third year extension as well, so I probably should have kept the bottle of Bourbon for the lonely nights... I'll know for sure by the end of August if there is enough in our budget and if Peace Corps Washington is happy with me extending... more to come on life happenings here soon...

I haven't been too satisfied with my recent postings, but I did score a package from my mom, and I think that my increased communication and efforts at writing something decent are starting to come back to me, so that's good times...

Many months ago, a tragedy struck Yap Island. One Thursday, wait maybe Wednesday or Monday… Jennifer, Lisa, and I made our way to the street below the Peace Corps office, consumed by thoughts of milky alcoholic beverages and girly chatter with light background music of our choosing. Lisa and Jennifer turned left to procure some extra goods from the shop further down the main drag, and I departed right to secure our table at the only Bar of choice, Okeefee’s Kanteen.

Known to all of Yap as “Okeefee,” it is primarily a bar for Peace Corps and tourists; however, every Friday after 10 or so, the bar is transformed into a swinging local dance club. The 3-man band warms up their electric pianos and dusts off the red Christmas background lights (for ambiance). People start filing in or pulling up in their cars waiting for the music to start and for the magical night to… I digress…

I walked to the front of the Old-Savannah Style building, but something was wrong. I checked my clock, and seeing it was after 5 pm and all the buses were gone* I was astounded to see that the windows and doors were closed. I figured that Dennis or John** were running late. Then a small gust of wind popped the door open a little. I stepped inside and was met by Don, the owner. Then he told me the horrible news.

“I’m sorry, I just can’t afford to keep the band and bar open. People can buy beer cheaper at the stores and bring it in their cars. It’s just not working out. An era is coming to an end.”

As I walked away, completely dumbfounded, I felt a strange loss (probably for my budding career as an alcoholic). I met Jen and Lisa along the road and they immediately asked me what was wrong. I tried to explain without drama (or tears) and watched their faces drain of color. We walked together aimlessly trying to think of where we would go, how will we drink in comfort…

Along our walk Lisa noticed a gasoline spill on the water*** and this environmental travesty enhanced our sadness. What is the world coming to?

* It is extremely important that one wait for the buses to depart as the bar is directly across from the bus park where most of Yap waits in the afternoons to go home. If you are spotted at the bar before bus time, plenty people will talk about you. We used to wait for the bye-bye honks or at least until 5:30, when it is safe.
** The most fun, coolest bartenders ever!
*** Which we later found out from the Assistant AG comes from a wrecked ship across the bay every time high tide is really high

QUIZ 2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES FRI JUNE 30, 2006
10 POINT TOTAL

Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the best answer. 1 point each

1. If Supply of a product is low and the Price for the product is high, Demand is:
A. The same as supply
B. High
C. Low
D. None of the above

2. Succession in ecosystems lead to Climax Communities that have
A. Stable biomass
B. High Biodiversity
C. No trees
D. A & B
E. A & C

3. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a compound is. Acids measure ____ on the scale, while bases measure ____.
A. Between 0 and 7; Between 7 and 14
B. High; Low
C. Low; High
D. Between 14 and 7; Between 7 and 0
E. Both A & C

4. Abiotic factors in the environment can be considered:
A. Organic
B. Non-Living
C. Factors with Carbon in them
D. Living

5. Keystone species are
A. Organisms that live in an ecosystem
B. Organisms that reflect the health of an ecosystem
C. Special Organisms important in the cycles and relationships of an ecosystem
D. All of the above


Discussion Questions: Choose one question from the following to answer. 2 points

• Why is common property an issue in environmental pollution?
• List the steps to the scientific method in order. What is vitally important to scientists during all stages in the scientific method?
• List the stages in the life cycle of a product. Who is responsible for pollution caused by the product when we think of Extended Product Responsibility?
• The kinetic molecular theory says: (Bonus: Draw an Atom and label it’s parts)

Discussion Questions: Choose one question from the following to answer. 3 points

• Draw the paths of the two chemical reactions that occur in living organisms, Photosynthesis and Respiration.
• What does the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics state? What is a bad consequence of converting energy to a useable form? (Bonus for linking the two questions)
• How can human impact on the earth affect how ecosystems function?
• List some characteristics of the Tropical Rain Forest or Tropical Dry Forest Biome.

QUIZ 1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2006
10 POINT TOTAL

Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the best answer.
1 point each

1. A person who believes that all living things have a right to exist (some more than others) is
A. Moral
B. Biocentric
C. Sustainable Development
D. Ecocentric

2. Land that is left natural and not used by humans is
A. Wilderness
B. Ecosystem
C. Environment
D. bad for the earth

3. Environmental Science is the ________________ study of all aspects of human impact on the earth.
A. Earthly
B. Scientific
C. Interdisciplinary
D. Biological

4. Ethics are defining what is
A. Right
B. Stupid
C. Wrong
D. A & C

5. Resources are
A. What we need to survive
B. Natural things that companies use to make products and provide services
C. Trees and oil
D. All of the above


Discussion Questions: Choose one question from the following to answer.
2 points

• What does “We leave a footprint on the land” mean?
• Who is involved in environmental conflicts? How are environmental conflicts solved?
• What is the main goal or aim of a corporation? Give an example of how that goal can conflict with environmental concerns.


Discussion Questions: Choose one question from the following to answer.
3 points

• Describe what an Ecosystem Approach to environmental problems (ex: air pollution, acid rain, etc…) means.
• Describe the differences between the development ethic, the preservation ethic, and the conservation/management ethic.
• Risk Management (choose one): Driving a Boat or Making a fire
What are the risks? Rank the risks by how important they are. Do you need money to reduce the risks? If so, how should you spend your money? What is your plan and how will you manage risks in the task you chose?

here's an example of how I spend my days, sometimes...
It's a rough draft (hence no citations), so no snickers...

DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FY 2007


BACKGROUND

Yap State is a biologically diverse land where Forestry and Agriculture meet head on and intermingle forming a unique and distinct local environment. The natural, untouched ecology reinforces the locally grown produce and the garden structure in turn influences and maintains a healthy natural ecosystem. As more than ninety percent (90%) of land owners in Yap State rely heavily upon subsistence farming in the manner of Agro-forestry, there is a need for ecologically functional land.

Yap State is currently in the transition from a subsistence, ecologically based economy to one of the World Economy. As a result of this transition, many imported items and lifestyle options have become available to the general public. More workers, including a large percentage of technologically advanced youth, are relying upon twice monthly pay checks or off island employment than more traditional means of support. Imported meats and canned vegetables are taking the place of locally grown livestock and produce within the state. As a result, more deleterious health conditions, such as Diabetes, high blood pressure, and Vitamin A deficiency, are being reported than ever before.

In addition to the negative effects on the traditional economy and local health, the land is suffering a loss of biodiversity through the introduction of invasive species via new methods of transportation and globalization. Fires and development are complicating the invasive issue by allowing the disturbed land to be occupied by detrimental species and reduce land and produce output.

OBJECTIVES

In order to combat the above named, interconnected issues within the state, The Division of Agriculture and Forestry (DAF) proposes a number of actions be taken to ensure the survival of the invaluable ecology, local economy, and traditional lifestyle. While working in conjunction with traditional leadership, DAF intends to conduct workshops on locally integrated methods of introduced farming to maximize crop yield and emphasize nutritional benefits with an ecologically sound approach. In order to support the local market with in-state efforts, DAF aims to organize successful farmers into cooperatives or working groups.

Nutritional value in local foods is failing to be promoted within the state. As a measure to ensure the success of locally grown, highly nutritional foods DAF will conduct cooking demonstrations at the community and village levels to encourage better health through local food growth and consumption. To limit the purchase and consumption of inadequate imported goods, DAF will encourage small-scale farming within individual households via the Agriculture Extension Program. This program’s purpose is to provide and promote food security and nutritional requirements for a healthy, local lifestyle. Promotion of traditional subsistence Agro-forestry and discouragement of importing inferior goods will be further accomplished by involving the DAF objectives with those of related agencies and private businesses to encourage sector development.

As the South Pacific Commission (SPC) through the National Quarantine Office has identified 10 of the worst invasive vegetation within Yap State, DAF has been working at eradication of only 2 as funding for this objective is primarily through U.S. Forest Service soft grants shared with all 4 states within the FSM. Increased Quarantine inspections of incoming and outgoing vessels must be increased to ensure the state against detrimental invasive species issues. As globalization is a major cause of invasive species threats, DAF must increase communication within the FSM and abroad with those experiencing similar concerns. Since invasive species impact local ways of life in such harmful manners, Public awareness and involvement will be encouraged and is essential as part of the eradication efforts.

In response to increased fire and development deforestation and invasive species introductions, DAF proposes to increase reforestation, fire prevention, and educational efforts. To encourage interest in good Forestry practices and possible employment opportunities, DAF will involve more schools and communities in the propagation and tree planting activities. As much of the funding for these efforts comes from the U.S. Forestry service soft grants shared with all 4 states within the FSM, DAF remains dependant upon that agency to meet goals associated with reforestation.

So, after the local boy and I broke up many, many weeks went by. I adjusted myself to the idea that he wasn’t going to call and that he would either get married or get someone pregnant and that was how I would hear about him again. One morning as I am actually busy working on class notes for the Survey of Science Lisa and I taught for PCC, my phone rings. I get up expecting it to be Tina or maybe Jen calling from the outer islands, but it is him.

“Hi, May?”
“Yeah.”
“Um, it’s ____, I was just calling to see how you are, so how are things?”
“Fine.”
“You’re not still angry with me are you?”
“Well, I was nev-”
“Yeah, cause I saw you in the YCA, you we’re lookin all mad at the world. You shouldn’t do that, haha. Try and look nicer, huh?”
“What?”
“We’re still friends, right?”
“What?”
“Cause, you know, it would be cool, if you’re not still mad with me. We should be friends, and if you wanna call me, cause I just got this cell phone. Then we could hang out, like friends. Yeah”
“I was never mad. Anyway, you got a cell phone?”
“Yeah, the number is ----, ok”
“Ok.”
“So, well I just wanted to see how you were and give you my number, so if you want to hang out, get some drinks or whatever, you can call me. So, you’re going to call?”
“Sure, if I have time, I’ve been reall-”
“Yeah, well so you have the number. Sorry to take up your time.”
“No, it’s cool. Talk to you later.”
“Yeah, thank you. Call me if you want to hang out, and try not to look so mean, haha. Thanks. Bye”

So, after this phone call, I’m thinking he’s changed a little. He sounded nice, even a little nervous. I’m feeling the upper hand, and I’m pleasantly surprised that he called. I don’t call him, but every time I pick up my cell phone, I am tempted to text him. I hold off until about a week later.

That week I am attending a party for Mafel’s birthday. Side story: I found out that I am actually a pretty decent cake icing decorator, who knew. As we serve up food, the ladies are chatting and I catch part of a story about a boy who was recently in a car accident. Part of his name is mentioned and it is similar to my local friend’s name. I think nothing of it because it was in the south (he’s from the north) and there are plenty of people here with the same name.

Later, after teeth have been picked and skirts loosened, the conversation again falls to this accident. I listen a little better and it is my local friend! That morning, he and some of his friends from the north were driving (probably drunk and or high and definitely tired) around a corner close to the old airport in the south. As they came around this notoriously sharp corner, he hit the front right (driver’s side here) of his car into their side. His friends took off* and he was left to defend himself. He had hit a car with an entire family, kids and all, heading back home. He damaged the car, but (and all the ladies agreed it was a “towath” gift) no one was hurt. The driver of the other car checked on him to see if he was alright** and the police eventually showed up. My friend was taken to jail for DUI; very common scene here.

At this news I ask if he is alright*** and the laughter and jokes begin. “Ngam mil’ nga aspital fa calibus me fek e gaan pi ngak?” (Are you going to run to the hospital or the jail and bring him some food?). Finally, Garog says he’s probably ok and that his family will probably go there and check on him. The next day is Monday, and I make a mental note to text him and see if he is ok. Tinmad then laughs and says maybe he was coming to check on me. More laughter ensues and similar comments are passed around and other ladies not in on why I am connected to this boy are filled in by Gachogaw and my host sisters. I can’t deny that I enjoy it when people speculate that someone thinking or cares about me; it makes me feel good.

Monday morning takes forever to roll around and I finally get to send my text. Around 2 PM that day I get a text back from him saying thanks and that he is alright. Then I get a second text that says “who is this” and it’s from his mom’s phone. I send back “megan” and wonder how he could know my cell number for almost a year and not know that it is mine? After that he went to the Philippines with his father and I enjoyed a couple weeks without him on island to think about or run into.

When he returns, I wait a week or so and then I call him at his work on a Monday morning.

“Siro, riyog ni gu non ku ____?”
“Eh, riyog, gabe shun, gu check nag. Gur mini****?”
“I gag Megan.”
Then I am on hold for a while. Then he picks up.
“This is ____.”
“Hey”
“Hey, how are you?”
“Good, listen, I know you might be busy, but I was wondering if you’d like to go to lunch with me tomorrow.”
“Sure, but I’m supposed to go with Paul [PC] to Wolei [Outer Island] Wednesday.”
“Oh, so you’re busy?”
“Hey, wait, we can get that place.”
“What?”
“Yeah, can you call that place we went to that one time and get that one room? I’ll pay 20, you pay 20.”*****
“What?!”
“Yeah, then we can knock out there and then I can catch a taxi in the morning to the airport early.”
“What?! ____, I am calling to see if you, my friend, would like to have LUNCH with me, your friend. You know what lunch is, right? Where FRIENDS sit together and eat and drink non-alcoholic beverages and chat about their lives. Do you want to go to lunch with me tomorrow?”
“Yeah… I don’t think I can, but can you call that place and we can hang out?”
“Are you on crack rock?!”
“I can’t call, cause you know I’m related, but can you call them and see if they have a room?”
(Extended silence, I am thinking he’s the biggest a-hole of all time. Then for a split second that I will call. I miss him, who knows why?! Then I come back to reality)
“No, I am asking you to lunch as a friend, if you can’t go to lunch, then never mind.”
“Um. Yeah. I can’t, sorry.”
“Never mind you.” I hang up

What an A**HOLE! I guess I thought that he would be cooler, you know since he called me with his cell phone number and was asking to be my friend.

Many more weeks go by and I hear through the coconut wireless that there is a possibility that someone else maybe interested in me. I check it out and he looks interesting. It turns out that he is from the same village as the previous friend, and I decide this cannot be good island etiquette, so that plan is out the window.

While I am mulling the possibility that I may have to go off island to find someone willing to live in Yap with me or get one of those mail-order men, I get another phone call. This time I am hanging with Stevie in the Peace Corps office working on SOS Camp stuff. He texts my phone wanting to know how I am and I write something completely random and unrelated back. He calls me and I am cold. He asks if he can come pick me up and we can hang out, but I blow him off and tell him I’m busy. I hang up and I’m all shaky and jumpy. Stupid boys.

I write him an email. The last line is:

“Maybe you should do something more productive with your time instead of calling me looking for a piece. I’m not your bitch; there are plenty of other girls that can fill that position.”

I think it’s pretty obvious how I feel. The next afternoon, I am waiting in the Office for Panin to pick me up and go back to the village (no bus, I have a large foam mat). My cell phone beeps the familiar tone and I feel a little jittery. It’s him. I call him. I am rude and crude and he is trying. I tell him to make up his mind. He says he wants to be my friend, so I confront him about the lunch conversation. He gives me a lame answer, I belittle him. He tells me a little about the accident, I soften up. He jokes with me and tells me he is going to Japan in a couple of days for a month. I sigh with relief. He asks me to hang out with him when he gets back. I know that that week I will be alone on island. All the other PCVs will be in Palau and I will join them the following Wednesday, the day after my birthday. I am looking forward to a little party with my family for my birthday, but all of my “my-age” friends will be off island, except for him. He says he’ll pick me up and we can hang out, just the two of us and talk. He won’t cross the line. Then I am thinking that the week before my birthday last year was our first date. Stupid memories.

So now I find myself waiting on a phone call that I half hope will come and half hope won’t. I am not looking forward to Palau and all that holds for me, and I found for the past month that I’ve been thinking a lot about my local friend and that maybe I’ll have a good, quiet, friendly birthday with him and that we can actually be friends. Delusions of grandeur, I know. But I guess I am also relying on him to bring me back to reality, he plays the part of a jerk really well.


*This is a common practice for one to take the blame for all.
**He later told me that the wife was a little hysterical yelling at him.
***I know with certainty that the women will give me a hard time for asking, but I ask anyway, because I am genuinely concerned.
****The secretary asked me who I am, I hate this. I do it too, but when you are trying to be a little discrete, letting people know who you are allows them to shout your name across the office where any number of relatives, friends, peace corps, or gossip mongers can hear.
*****He is referring to a time when we halved a room at a local extended stay while we were dating.

This weekend in the garden, Garog and I finished the cleaning that she had begun and looked to plant new cabbage sprouts and some soft taro she had brought with her. There is a section of the garden where a lot of bamboo had grown (which doesn’t take 4 years, by the way NHS people). She had previously burned the roots of the bamboo and cut the top stalk part for Yam trellises. She turned to me and pointed to the area and asked me to replant the cabbage there. She handed me a small wasai (flat spade trowel) and told me to dig it up with that. Not thinking, I interpreted her “it” to be dug up as the roots of the bamboo as well as the cabbage. We had a chew and she descended into the pit below me to work on the soft taro.

I looked at the small trowel in my hand and thought of asking Garog what the Yapese method was for pulling up bamboo roots, as there is always a local way to do it easier than what I would think. I could see that she was busy and thought I’d try to figure it out. I’ve never seen anyone do it and there isn’t a lot in Yap similar to bamboo roots, so I had no basis for comparison. I did, however, have the knowledge that Garog handed me the small trowel and seemed confident that I could accomplish the job with that. I sat on the muddy, ash-covered ground and started my task.

After the first 50 or so hits against the most stubborn root system on the planet with my little hand wasai, I resolved to find the large shovel. Garog is hard core, so I should start out with a larger tool. After 30, maybe 45 minutes of immense struggle and nearly slipping off the edge of the pit on top of the newly planted soft taro numerous times, I emerged from the muck with my feet splayed out on the sides of my zorries and a hefty chunk of root dangling from my exhausted hands. I threw it on the ground with a satisfied thud and turned to face the next mound before me.

As I surveyed the interlaced roots from hell and chewed my buw, I realized that there wasn’t enough strength in my body to even think about moving the shovel. Right about the time I was thinking of naming Garog a goddess among men to be able to pull that crap up, she looks toward me and smiles, then notices what I am attempting to accomplish. She laughs a little and begins to thank me, like REALLY thank me for my insane hard work. Then she says “kayog may. Kremmagar tow, machene darifan e binir.” Yeah, that means, “Enough may (that’s me). Thank you so so much, but never mind those.” Then she goes on to say that that is too much work and no one ever tries to remove those. Just plant the cabbage around the roots.

And that is how I learned the local method for pulling up bamboo roots.

I’ve recently finished The Red Tent by Anita Diamant which is a fabulous novel recounting the tumultuous life of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob’s (IsraEl) four wives. It details aspects of the life of women of that time and their monthly rituals that brought them all together. Sometimes, I wish for something similar to have grown up in. It makes me a little sad to not have had lots of aunts fussing over me and living in close quarters, but I suppose the grass is greener.

Early this morning, I came to work and Cyril, a new employee here and son of a well-respected man in Yap, asked if he could read the novel in his spare time. Seeing it on my desk yesterday afternoon, he had been intrigued with the cover and began to read the first chapter. For such a “chick” book, I was surprised and impressed that he asked to borrow it. All day today, during his breaks, he has stopped by my desk to pick up the story again. When he was finished and called back to work, he would stop by my desk to drop the book off again. Who knew that men were so interested in the lives of women.

Below is what I have submitted to Peace Corps inthe hopes of having a third year extension here. I was told by my country director that it is "strong"... I'll find out in a week or so if I get it or not. Wish me luck!

When I was asked to write a personal statement explaining why I would be a good candidate for extension here in Micronesia, I revisited my original thoughts on Peace Corps. The pull of the unknown and everything that I experienced from the moment I stepped onto the plane in Atlanta, GA through a majority of my first year, was so fresh and unique to anything I had ever experienced in my entire life. A lot of my time in the beginning was consumed with observation and no action; the study of my new life. As time went on, I experienced what a lot of my fellow volunteers have, the dulling of everyday life. I watched more than half of my PST group leave, mostly with a feeling of confusion at their reasoning. Peace Corps life can become monotonous, just as life in America, or possibly anywhere people choose to live. I’ve found that keeping an open mind and loose future expectations keeps life here lively.

As I progressed into island life and saw where I fit, I became more motivated to accomplish something useful for the people here. I have worked on projects ranging from village agricultural labor to elementary level Conservation Education to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to college level science courses. I have tried to provide services wherever I am needed. Three of my projects are ongoing, and at this point having someone new come in and start afresh would set them back considerably. It has taken many meetings and a lot of faith in “island time,” for a mutual collaboration on Conservation Education which will ensure that no subsequent volunteer will have to start from where I did. The GIS municipal plan has reached a head, and I am certain that I have gained the understanding to produce a preliminary project within the extension year. The beautification project for the southern road, “Nunu ko Kanawo’ ”, is in the beginning stages of planting and as the initiator, I would like to see it through to the end. In addition to these, I have finally been allowed to prepare and plant new taro, and as any self-respecting Yapese knows, you cannot harvest early.

Although I do not have glamorous projects that would fit well into a Peace Corps recruitment video, I am a successful volunteer. I speak the local language. I participate on a daily basis with my family. I work alongside my agency counterparts as a peer. I eased myself into all aspects of life here. These seem like simple tasks, but many before me never learned how to live simply. I understand life here on Yap. I work within my agency without asking how. I live with my family and know that I am a part of them, not just looking in. I know that I am successful because what I have written here was told to me by people in my family, my agency, and within Peace Corps. I want the opportunity to continue to represent Peace Corps Micronesia in a positive light for fellow volunteers both current and future, for my agency, for my family, and most importantly for the Island of Yap.