Arrival

Hello Vanuatu, I have arrived!
My Peace Corps journey started in LA with a two day tedious staging in a fairly posh hotel. Even though it was difficult at times to endure, it was great meeting my training group. No longer was I telling people where I was going with blank stares. Instead, everyone around me was going and we were all very excited to finally be getting the show on the road. About 2/3 of us are forestry/environment/agroindustry types and its comforting to be surrounded by bio-geeks like myself. The other third are small business and health volunteers. The real shocker in staging came when I looked across the room and saw a familiar face. Amanda said she was from California but I couldn't quite place her. I asked her if she went to Poway High with a yes answer prompting us to both look at each other like who the hell are you? The staging session went on but I knew that I knew her from somewhere else. Here's where it gets really weird. We were both Wildlife majors at Humboldt and around the same graduating year. We even took a few classes together. Just to give you guys a scale, a wildlife graduating class at HSU is only about 20 people. Small world!!
So... staging ended and our whole group was silent on the plane as the wheels of our plane left the tarmac at LAX and our journey lay ahead. We had some Bio-check point nazis that irritated all of us in New Zealand even though we explained to them that we weren't even entering their damn country! Then we all did the luggage musical chairs as people tried to get their bags under weight without getting fined. I just barely made it by throwing a couple small items in a volunteer's bag whose own bag was underweight. We got on our little 737 to Vanuatu and even had a full meal for a 3 hr flight from Auckland, NZ to Port Vila.
Our Arrival in Vila was awesome! We stepped right down onto the tarmac and were waved at by a seemingly caged in crowd about 200m from us in the airport. It was almost like a positive version of the plane scene in "The Year of the Living Dangerously." We went through customs and met the country director which was funny because we all were cracked out and smelled like we'd been camping for four days. We were then layed and skirted and given coconuts with straws in them (pictures soon to come). We were in paradise sipping coconut milk and listening to the national band jam on their ukuleles and string bass.
We arrived on a Saturday and headed straight out to the kava bar where the country director bought the first round. How cool is that?! Kava is definitely unlike any drug I've tried. You get relaxed like pot, but not anxious and you're still very social. Also after a few shells, foot and hand motor function goes out the window. Then you get very light sensitive where anything resembling a bright light is obnoxious and down right rude. Needless to say nakamals (kava bars), are very dark places.
On Sunday we had the day off so some us enjoyed a super active day of soccer (which included some talented local boys), volleyball, and snorkeling. I had to remind myself I wasn't on vacation. Could've fooled me! The weather here is like a Florida summer and we're moving into winter. The people are surprisingly friendly and greet you as you walk by.
This week we are doing our first week of training which is mostly medical, cultural, and administrative stuff. Next week we head to our training village which means no electricity for 9 weeks. I actually can't wait. Port Vila is surprisingly modern, fully equipped with new trucks, everything under the sun in grocery stores, and Internet cafes. Most of us have agreed that this city is not why we're here and hope not to be placed here. With my job position, I don't think that's an issue. Its probably boonies for me.
Everyone in the group has been getting along well with no clear cliques forming which is good to see. There are people from all around the US and a real mixed bag of personalities. Although ethnically we are definitely lacking in diversity. One vol is half latino and one is an Alaskan native, but other than that its white folks.
I just got out of a meeting with the director and it looks like i'll be doing something with coastal conservation but not really wildlife as there isn't much focus on that out here. Doesn't mean I won't be out bird nerding with my binoculars though. This weekend we are going out on a catamaran and enjoying a traditional feast before we leave for the training village. I can't wait! Also, I may be playing baseball of all things on Saturday as the director started a baseball league-ish thing for kids and adults alike. I guess he got the equipment donated (maybe something I'll do for a secondary project?). I should be blogging here and there in the future because we will headed back to Vila occasionally.

Last Snow

Well its April 4th... about a week from my departure date to the South Pacific. I am in New Hampshire now and its snowing. I'd have to say that I'm happy to see white all around me as this will probably be the last snow I'll see in at least two years. My last month before I take off has been a great cross-country trip visiting family and friends along the way. I thank all of you that have let me crash at your respective homes or sacrificed sleep or good health to see me off. I think its really staring to sink in now. This is it, no turning back now!
I've spent the better part of this week getting last minute items and configuring them into my luggage. Its pretty crazy to think that I am packing 80lbs for over two years. At least I'm going to a warm climate. I could probably get by with a leaf and some string if I really had to. I went to the post office in Hooksett here to weigh my bags. My brother and I threw the luggage up on those small scales to make sure I would not be charged extra at the airport. I couldn't tell if the people in line were pissed that I was holding up the line for this or confused at what we were doing (maybe both).
Tomorrow is going to be the last time I see my parents and my little brother in quite a while, gonna be tough. It was already sad saying goodbye to my older sister and girlfriend in Chicago. Next stop is goodbyes in San Diego. That might be when I break down. My sister, brother, and brother-in-law are pretty much dropping me off at the gate to my new life for two years. Wow!