29 October 2015

 I was going to try to come up with a unique title for today, but then decided a date would do. After all, there’s no real theme to today’s new developments.

I received a reservation request this morning from a travel nurse interested in renting the studio for three months. On the one hand, awesome, as that would help cover costs around here while I’m in Pohnpei. On the other hand, that’s where Dan was likely to stay when he was in the area. We discussed it, and decided to go for the rent. Dan can still keep an eye on things. Booking will be confirmed tomorrow, if it happens.

Around my various tasks today, I made my way through Settling into Pohnpei, the 50-page guide given to me by WorldTeach, covering as much of what volunteers will need to know as they could fit into a booklet. As I started into the Orientation section, it occurred to me it was describing the normal procedure. But the other new volunteer and myself will be coming in mid-stream, and I had to wonder how that would affect things. The answer: Because there are only two of us, we’ll be able to get through things faster, and would have only a one-week Orientation, as opposed to the normal three.  While the description of typical Orientation sounded pretty cool, and I’m kind of sad to miss it, I suspect we’ll also be getting a much more personalized experience.

Speaking of the other volunteer, her name is Chelsea. She’s from Nashville, but currently living in Rome, GA. We’re now connected on e-mail, and will be connected on Facebook as soon as we figure out each other’s profile. But I’m guessing she’s as busy as I am, so we haven’t done more than exchange contact info, just yet.

I have to admit, it’s been hard to get much done around a full work schedule. I’m really going to need to make some serious progress over the weekend!

Making Connections: Ethnobotany

When I was looking for information on Pohnpei, I came across Ethnobotany of Pohnpei: Plants, People and Island Culture. It’s currently out of stock at Amazon, but I managed to get it through interlibrary loan. I haven’t had a chance to do much more than flip through it, just yet (I’m only on p. 12), but I did do an internet search on the editor for the collection, Michael J. Balick. Finding his contact information, I sent him off an e-mail, telling him I was headed to Pohnpei, and asking if he could make recommendations as to people I might connect with while I’m there.

Today, I got a reply. Dr. Balick connected me to Dana Lee Ling, who teaches at the College of Micronesia – FSM in Kolonia. Dana publishes a pretty cool blog, highlighting his ethnobotany class, among other things. I’ll have to spend some time browsing there, when I get the chance. Dr. Ling also pointed me to one of his colleagues, who studies animals throughout FSM.

I’m looking forward to learning more, and perhaps having the opportunity to get involved!

Where is Pohnpei?

In case you haven’t looked it up, Micronesia is out in the Pacific Ocean. North of Australia, east of the Philippines, the islands are all small enough that, if you zoom out on Google Maps enough to see these much-larger reference points, the more than 2000 islands that make up Micronesia all disappear in a mass of blue. The spread of the islands covers an area roughly equivalent to that of the continental United States, but their total land mass is less than that of the state of Rhode Island.

There are several independent government entities within Micronesia. The one people are most likely to have heard of is probably Guam. Just to the north is the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. South of Guam, spread out from west to east are the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Pohnpei is part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Yap, Chuuk, and Kosrae. All of these governments have arrangements with the United States, and are considered Protectorates. Because of this, no special visa is required for citizens of the United States to live and work there. Also (and this will be important later, should someone decide to send me a care package), they are served by the US Postal Service.

Pohnpei is a roughly-circular island, about 15 miles in diameter. It’s main city is Kolonia, and Palikir is the capital of FSM. Madolenihmw is on the east side of the island, about an hour drive from Kolonia (I’m told travel on the roads is slow.) It’s a volcanic island, with a high point of about 2600 ft. The interior is rainforest, and can get as much as 400 inches of rain a year. The shoreline is mostly tidal flats and mangrove swamps. The island is protected by a barrier reef, and some of the neighboring small islands have sandy beaches.

So a question you may be asking is: why Pohnpei? There are a few reasons. One of the big ones is that it’s one of a handful of programs WorldTeach offers that is pretty well funded. There’s a deposit that helps to ensure volunteers meet their commitment, but that’s refunded upon successful completion of the assignment. The program provides airfare from a gateway city (in this case, LA), housing, a small stipend to help cover random expenses, and basic traveler’s health insurance.

But what really draws me to Pohnpei is that I have been to Micronesia before. Way back in 1995, I took a six-month internship through US Fish & Wildlife, studying the Mariana Crow on the island of Rota, just north of Guam. That experience still ranks as one of the highlights of my life. Pohnpei is a very different island, and this will be a very different experience. But I am eager to see more of this beautiful part of the world.

A new journey begins

About a year ago, I was looking at international teaching jobs. One of several organizations I found was WorldTeach. I attended a couple of their information sessions, for their programs in China and Micronesia. And then I got busy with other stuff, and let it go. I was tempted, for sure, but couldn’t swing a full year away, and couldn’t pay for one of the shorter programs.

Fast forward to the end of this past September. I had recently found out that Lake Washington Institute of Technology didn’t need me back this quarter. Scrambling for other work, I had just gotten hired as a substitute with Kelly Education Services, which offers placements at a number of private schools in the area, and as an after school activity leader with the YMCA. And an e-mail comes in from WorldTeach: immediate need for teachers in Micronesia.

I sent a text to my friend Dan, telling him about it. “Are you really going to go?!” “If I can figure out how to make it work? Absolutely! But,” I admitted, “that’s a BIG if.”

A couple days later, I get another text. “So what would you need?” I tell him. He presses for more details about the program. “I don’t know,” I say. “I didn’t respond, because I didn’t think I could make it work.” His reply: “Respond. We’ll make it happen.” And so I did.

I completed my application, including getting letters of reference from Kate and Leslie (Thank you!). Nothing happened for several days. Knowing WorldTeach was on a deadline, I figured that was the end of the line.

But the very next day, I get an e-mail, asking me to set up a phone interview with AJ, the field director in Pohnpei. I’d been recommended for the position, provided AJ and I both thought it was a good match. That conversation went well, and the next day, I had my official offer. And one week to decide whether to take it.

The question of just how we were going to make it work was still outstanding. I own my house, and I have three cats. All of that needs to be taken care of, and the house needs to somehow support itself while I’m gone. Dan was behind me 100%, but that felt like a lot to leave on his plate, which I knew was already pretty full with other responsibilities. Thankfully, just about the time I was convinced I was going to have to let this opportunity slip through my fingers, Matt and Peter stepped up. With their help, and Justine’s, as well as Dan’s, I think we’re going to make this happen. I sure hope so, anyway, because that decision date was today, and now I’m committed!

I’ll be leaving for the LA area on 11/22. After spending several days with my parents, I’ll be on my way, along with another volunteer, to Pohnpei. I’ll be teaching English (oral skills, reading and writing) at Madolenihmw (pronounced Mad-oh-lehn-eem) High School (MHS), which I’m told has about 500 students. I’ll be living in Kepirohi. I tried looking that up on Google Maps. It doesn’t come up with a town, but there is a waterfall with that name. I think I can deal with that.

Because I’m a field biologist by training, I looked into whether there might be projects that I can get involved with, and perhaps get my students involved with, as well. Turns out MHS has an environmental club, sponsored by the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP). They’re in need of a faculty lead for the club. I’m hoping I’ll be a good fit!

In my remaining days as a substitute teacher, before I leave, I’m looking to make contacts with classes here who might be interested in connecting to classes there. I think it would be cool to make that connection.

And so, a new adventure begins! And I’ve got a lot of preparing to do!