So for the last few months, the “C.V.’s” (U.S. Navy Civic Action Team) have been on my tiny island doing random projects. One of which was building a new restroom for the school. What the school had before was a set of outhouses that were nowhere near as nice. Since its creation back in 1945, this is the first time there have been flush toilets.
Anyways, the restrooms were finished back on Thanksgiving, but we were not allowed to use them until the official “Ribbon Cutting” has taken place. So, nearly a month later and after much preparation there was a big ceremony. Principals from the other schools, the governor of Angaur, representatives from the Ministry of Education, the C.V. Team, PTA members, representative from the U.S. Embassy, parents, teachers, and students all gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting.
Needless to say, I’m grateful for the new amenities. Enjoy the short clip of the actual ribbon cutting.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
I’ve got a green thumb!
I’ve got a green thumb! Well, not really. Here in Angaur we are far from the capitol city and so all imported foods (read: fruits & vegetables) are very hard to come by. So, I’ve expressed interest to my host mother that I wanted to start a garden. I’ve dropped enough hints to her and those in her circle of my desires that finally one day she found me some seeds, planters, and designated a part of our yard that I could use to grow.
The first step was the seeds. As of now, I’ve got 300 seedlings started. Chinese cabbage, tomatoes, snap beans, cucumber, squash, watermelon, okra, and a few other vegetables are soon going to be on my dinner plate. They are all growing decently, and should be ready for transplant soon. The part of the yard designated for my project is said to have “good soil”. Cortez and I worked to clear the land. We cleared it completely, which is no easy task. There were trees we chopped down that were at least as old as me, stumps that we had to dig out, tons of root-rich ground cover, a bunch of crabs, beetles, ants hills, and remnants of WWII (nothing interesting, just rusty scrap metal)- and everything had to go. After a gnarly sunburn (we cleared the trees providing shade before clearing the undergrowth- poor planning on my part) and nearly suffering heat stroke, we finished. I’m pretty proud of myself. I’ve got blisters on both hands from the digging, chopping, and swinging of the machete.
I’ll let you all know as soon as I can how good the veggies taste.
Before
AfterTuesday, December 8, 2009
Happy (late) Thanksgiving Everyone!
Thanksgiving is celebrated here in Palau. Although I didn’t have turkey, I did have grilled chicken- which is close and welcome substitute. No stuffing, no cranberries, no mashed potatoes, no gravy- but plenty of good food and people to share it with.
I’ve been in my site now for a month, and I cannot believe how fast the time is actually going. Every week has gone faster than the last. Nothing too notable has happened, so I’ll just share a few random thoughts:
1. I love fish now. For 23 years I’ve not eaten fish. I’ve refused, avoided, and even lied about possible allergic reactions to get away from eating it. Now I eat it every day. My parents marinate it with fresh lemon from our lemon tree and pepper and then pan fry it to perfection. Also, I’m learning to eat Sashimi (raw fish). Usually, it is caught only a few hours earlier, expertly cut, and chilled. Dip that in some lemon juice and soy sauce- and you’re set. The fish I eat is also sometimes in soups- that is my least favorite, but that’s only because, in my opinion, it’s way to hot here to eat soup.
2. Last weekend I took the 6-8 mile walk (I’m not really sure how long it was) around my island. Although I might be a little biased, I think it is awesome. There are multiple war memorials, remnants of battles, abandoned mines, and even a coast guard base that’s been aboandoned since the 1950’s. Nature is slowly reclaiming everything left behind- it is truly amazing to see. My island also has numerous beaches and rocky cliff-like shorelines that make for some amazing views- especially during sunrises and sunsets.
3. I’ve got two toothbrushes in my bathroom. One I use for brushing, the other was used to clean. There is no storage area in my bathroom except for the medicine cabinet, and every time I brush my teeth, I tell myself, “You should really move that toothbrush, you’re going to use the gross one next time”. I then get distracted and never move it. Well, Wednesday morning, it happened. While brushing I noticed the texture of the bristles were different, and was slow to realize what was actually going on. I was brushing my teeth with a toothbrush that has been on every surface in the bathroom (including toilets and drains) and was now in my mouth. Immediately, I rinsed with mouthwash and brushed again with the correct toothbrush. You would think that I’ve learned my lesson, but to this day the cleaning toothbrush is still in the medicine cabinet, only inches from the correct toothbrush.
I’ve been in my site now for a month, and I cannot believe how fast the time is actually going. Every week has gone faster than the last. Nothing too notable has happened, so I’ll just share a few random thoughts:
1. I love fish now. For 23 years I’ve not eaten fish. I’ve refused, avoided, and even lied about possible allergic reactions to get away from eating it. Now I eat it every day. My parents marinate it with fresh lemon from our lemon tree and pepper and then pan fry it to perfection. Also, I’m learning to eat Sashimi (raw fish). Usually, it is caught only a few hours earlier, expertly cut, and chilled. Dip that in some lemon juice and soy sauce- and you’re set. The fish I eat is also sometimes in soups- that is my least favorite, but that’s only because, in my opinion, it’s way to hot here to eat soup.
2. Last weekend I took the 6-8 mile walk (I’m not really sure how long it was) around my island. Although I might be a little biased, I think it is awesome. There are multiple war memorials, remnants of battles, abandoned mines, and even a coast guard base that’s been aboandoned since the 1950’s. Nature is slowly reclaiming everything left behind- it is truly amazing to see. My island also has numerous beaches and rocky cliff-like shorelines that make for some amazing views- especially during sunrises and sunsets.
3. I’ve got two toothbrushes in my bathroom. One I use for brushing, the other was used to clean. There is no storage area in my bathroom except for the medicine cabinet, and every time I brush my teeth, I tell myself, “You should really move that toothbrush, you’re going to use the gross one next time”. I then get distracted and never move it. Well, Wednesday morning, it happened. While brushing I noticed the texture of the bristles were different, and was slow to realize what was actually going on. I was brushing my teeth with a toothbrush that has been on every surface in the bathroom (including toilets and drains) and was now in my mouth. Immediately, I rinsed with mouthwash and brushed again with the correct toothbrush. You would think that I’ve learned my lesson, but to this day the cleaning toothbrush is still in the medicine cabinet, only inches from the correct toothbrush.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
In Angaur
I’ve arrived in my permanent site now, and I must say- I love it. Angaur is small island about fifty miles south of the main island in Palau. This island has everything from lush forests, rocky shorelines, and sandy beaches. The population is small (about 150) but the people that do live here are awesome- very kind and welcoming to me as a guest on their island.
My host family is great as well. My dad is a fisherman and my mom manages the household, her four children (20, 16, 11, and 10), and me. She is a great cook, and I’m becoming a big fan of fried fish as well as sashimi (raw fish). The two oldest children spend the school year in Koror, the capitol city, while the youngest two live in Angaur.
I’ve been assigned a counterpart at the elementary school. She is to provide help and support during my stay here. If I have problems at home, school, or in the community- I have someone to turn to. We also team teach English classes. I think that I really lucked out with my counterpart; she has made my transition to Angaur as easy as it could possibly be.
The food here is good- lots of fish and crab. I’ve requested that my parents take me “crabbing” with them the next time that they go. I’m not sure what the process involves all I know is that they do it in the forest at night.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow and the students (all 24 of them) all have school off. I had wanted to do some exploring on the island, but the weather is not cooperating with me. I guess it is the rainy season, as is evident by the daily torrential rains. Instead of exploring, I’ll be converting a storage room at the school to a small classroom for me to teach in and do some tutoring after normal school hours. Cleaning is not nearly as fun, but at least it is productive.
Overall I’m happy and healthy. Feel free to drop me an email anytime. I don’t get mail unless I take the 4-hour boat ride into the city to check it. So, apologies if you’ve written and not gotten a response, I’ve not received your letter yet.
My host family is great as well. My dad is a fisherman and my mom manages the household, her four children (20, 16, 11, and 10), and me. She is a great cook, and I’m becoming a big fan of fried fish as well as sashimi (raw fish). The two oldest children spend the school year in Koror, the capitol city, while the youngest two live in Angaur.
I’ve been assigned a counterpart at the elementary school. She is to provide help and support during my stay here. If I have problems at home, school, or in the community- I have someone to turn to. We also team teach English classes. I think that I really lucked out with my counterpart; she has made my transition to Angaur as easy as it could possibly be.
The food here is good- lots of fish and crab. I’ve requested that my parents take me “crabbing” with them the next time that they go. I’m not sure what the process involves all I know is that they do it in the forest at night.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow and the students (all 24 of them) all have school off. I had wanted to do some exploring on the island, but the weather is not cooperating with me. I guess it is the rainy season, as is evident by the daily torrential rains. Instead of exploring, I’ll be converting a storage room at the school to a small classroom for me to teach in and do some tutoring after normal school hours. Cleaning is not nearly as fun, but at least it is productive.
Overall I’m happy and healthy. Feel free to drop me an email anytime. I don’t get mail unless I take the 4-hour boat ride into the city to check it. So, apologies if you’ve written and not gotten a response, I’ve not received your letter yet.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
I'm In!
After nine weeks of training, I’m officially a Peace Corps Volunteer. I swore in on Monday, November 9, 2009. It was a quite an event. Our training host families, community members, permanent host families, future team-teachers, principals, representatives from the Ministry of Education, Peace Corps, US Embassy, Governors and many others all came to the ceremony to show their support. The ceremony itself was short, maybe an hour or so. We had words of wisdom from those chosen to speak. It was really nice to see such support for what we are doing in Palau. My participation in the event was to give a speech in Palauan and humiliate myself by attempting to do some contemporary Palauan dance (and a hula?).
There are supposed to be pictures below, however I'm having issues uploading them from here, so they'll have to wait until I get into the capitol city next time. I’m told that it was recorded for the local cable access channel. So, I’ll see if I can’t get a copy of that somehow.
Overall, it wasn’t that bad. I guess that it is Palauan custom for the audience to get up and dance with you and give you money- I earned $22 in a matter of minutes! After the ceremony, all of the Volunteers were whisked away with their new host families and spread across the entire country of Palau. It was a bittersweet goodbye, even though we were all excited to get to our permanent sites, we knew that it’ll be an adjustment not seeing a familiar American face everyday. I was headed for the capitol city of Koror to wait a few days for the boat to take me to my new home, the small island of Angaur.
There are supposed to be pictures below, however I'm having issues uploading them from here, so they'll have to wait until I get into the capitol city next time. I’m told that it was recorded for the local cable access channel. So, I’ll see if I can’t get a copy of that somehow.
Overall, it wasn’t that bad. I guess that it is Palauan custom for the audience to get up and dance with you and give you money- I earned $22 in a matter of minutes! After the ceremony, all of the Volunteers were whisked away with their new host families and spread across the entire country of Palau. It was a bittersweet goodbye, even though we were all excited to get to our permanent sites, we knew that it’ll be an adjustment not seeing a familiar American face everyday. I was headed for the capitol city of Koror to wait a few days for the boat to take me to my new home, the small island of Angaur.
Monday, November 9, 2009
October 4, 2009 - Update
This post (with the exception of the pictures) was written and saved to my computer- I've finally been able to get some internet access to update.
My first phase of training has completed, and my group of 30 trainees, has been separated from each other by hundreds of miles of ocean. Five other trainees and I arrived safely in Palau on Saturday, September 26. We had the longest flight from Phonapei, with stops in Chuuk, Guam, and Yap. (Luckily though, I’m racking up the frequent flier miles!)
As we arrived late in the evening, Peace Corps put us up in a hotel for the night. I think that it was a courtesy to us and the host families. After a restful nights sleep in an air conditioned room, a shower where I could completely disrobe, and a breakfast that did not include hot dogs or spam- I felt as if I was more than ready for the next phase of training.
The training site is in Ngermetengel, Ngeremlengui. It is a nice little town in a more rural state. I think that they are trying to keep us out of the main city, so we can focus on the training rather than other, more distracting things (cough:::bars:::cough). The actual training center is a community center called the “Old Age Center”. It resembles a Bai and is right on the water.
I have training every weekday from 7:45 – 5:00. The days can get pretty long- we have multiple, two-hour sessions of language. Even with that, I’m not picking it up as fast as some of the other trainees. We’ve met with the Ministry of Education, the Governor, and made multiple trips to the main city, Koror, as it has been a holiday week for Palau. I’ve been to festivals, fairs, and boat races- and the best part is that all that counts as “cultural training”. The first week is now over and I’ve got five more before I swear in as an actual Peace Corps Volunteer.
The rest of my time is spent with my host family. I lucked out, yet again, and got a really awesome family. They call me “Junior”, as my host-dad is named Robert too. I’ve got a mom, dad, three brothers (29, 24, 9) and one sister (11). My room is bigger than my room at home, and the bathroom (yup, you heard that right) is just feet from my room!
There’s been some bad weather earlier in the week, which for Palau just means rain. They are not in the typhoon belt, or at least that’s what I’m told. Even with Palau being more developed/advanced than the other islands, I don’t have any access to internet and haven’t heard/seen a news report since we first arrived and stayed in a hotel. I have heard though, through the “coconut wireless” that there has been some bad storms over the other islands.
I’m doing well here, meeting many great people and getting to know my new community. I’m still adjusting to the heat (although I’m unsure if I’ll ever get fully adjusted to it). I’m going to leave you guys now with some Palauian phrases and some pictures- hope you enjoy them:
Good Morning: Oungil Tutau
Good Afternoon: Oungil Kbesnei
Delicious: Oisii
I’m going to bed: Ak mo mechiuau
Yes: Choi
No: Diak
How are you?: Ke Uangerang
I’m fine: Ak ma sisiich
I’m full: Ak mla mo medings
My host sister and brother in their school uniforms. They were very concerned that I did not have a picture of them in their uniforms, so they posed so nicely for one.
This is the capitol building in Palau- does it look familar?
This is one of my Palauan Language trainers, Johnny and I next to a stone monolith.
Darline, Lauren, me, and Mr. Lamb. This was at a birthday party for a relative. Mr. Lamb was one of the first Peace Corps Volunteers in Palau back in 1966.
My brother and sister on Halloween. They are ghosts.
These are the kids that are all family and stayed with us- from left to right: Casey, Coby, Kyle, Ashley, K-Tissja.
Working hard in class. We are playing a game to help us learn Palauan.
The sunset from our training site.
Fruit bat! It didn't taste that bad- although I didn't eat much of it.
Found a shark while snorkling
Jellyfish I saw while snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake-
The Palau group at the waterfall.
Beefy and Asahi- the two dogs that run the town.
Hanna, Young, and Johnny: Hanna is the PC Head Honcho here in Palau, and the Young and Johnny are language teachers.
Lauren, Kyle, Me and K-Tissja at another waterfall.
The group on a bird-watching hike. Alan (the man to my right) was a Peace Corp Volunteer in Palau back in 1966.
The group again.
My first phase of training has completed, and my group of 30 trainees, has been separated from each other by hundreds of miles of ocean. Five other trainees and I arrived safely in Palau on Saturday, September 26. We had the longest flight from Phonapei, with stops in Chuuk, Guam, and Yap. (Luckily though, I’m racking up the frequent flier miles!)
As we arrived late in the evening, Peace Corps put us up in a hotel for the night. I think that it was a courtesy to us and the host families. After a restful nights sleep in an air conditioned room, a shower where I could completely disrobe, and a breakfast that did not include hot dogs or spam- I felt as if I was more than ready for the next phase of training.
The training site is in Ngermetengel, Ngeremlengui. It is a nice little town in a more rural state. I think that they are trying to keep us out of the main city, so we can focus on the training rather than other, more distracting things (cough:::bars:::cough). The actual training center is a community center called the “Old Age Center”. It resembles a Bai and is right on the water.
I have training every weekday from 7:45 – 5:00. The days can get pretty long- we have multiple, two-hour sessions of language. Even with that, I’m not picking it up as fast as some of the other trainees. We’ve met with the Ministry of Education, the Governor, and made multiple trips to the main city, Koror, as it has been a holiday week for Palau. I’ve been to festivals, fairs, and boat races- and the best part is that all that counts as “cultural training”. The first week is now over and I’ve got five more before I swear in as an actual Peace Corps Volunteer.
The rest of my time is spent with my host family. I lucked out, yet again, and got a really awesome family. They call me “Junior”, as my host-dad is named Robert too. I’ve got a mom, dad, three brothers (29, 24, 9) and one sister (11). My room is bigger than my room at home, and the bathroom (yup, you heard that right) is just feet from my room!
There’s been some bad weather earlier in the week, which for Palau just means rain. They are not in the typhoon belt, or at least that’s what I’m told. Even with Palau being more developed/advanced than the other islands, I don’t have any access to internet and haven’t heard/seen a news report since we first arrived and stayed in a hotel. I have heard though, through the “coconut wireless” that there has been some bad storms over the other islands.
I’m doing well here, meeting many great people and getting to know my new community. I’m still adjusting to the heat (although I’m unsure if I’ll ever get fully adjusted to it). I’m going to leave you guys now with some Palauian phrases and some pictures- hope you enjoy them:
Good Morning: Oungil Tutau
Good Afternoon: Oungil Kbesnei
Delicious: Oisii
I’m going to bed: Ak mo mechiuau
Yes: Choi
No: Diak
How are you?: Ke Uangerang
I’m fine: Ak ma sisiich
I’m full: Ak mla mo medings
My host sister and brother in their school uniforms. They were very concerned that I did not have a picture of them in their uniforms, so they posed so nicely for one.
This is the capitol building in Palau- does it look familar?
This is one of my Palauan Language trainers, Johnny and I next to a stone monolith.
Darline, Lauren, me, and Mr. Lamb. This was at a birthday party for a relative. Mr. Lamb was one of the first Peace Corps Volunteers in Palau back in 1966.
My brother and sister on Halloween. They are ghosts.
These are the kids that are all family and stayed with us- from left to right: Casey, Coby, Kyle, Ashley, K-Tissja.
Working hard in class. We are playing a game to help us learn Palauan.
The sunset from our training site. 
Fruit bat! It didn't taste that bad- although I didn't eat much of it.
Found a shark while snorkling
Jellyfish I saw while snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake-
The Palau group at the waterfall.
Beefy and Asahi- the two dogs that run the town. 
Hanna, Young, and Johnny: Hanna is the PC Head Honcho here in Palau, and the Young and Johnny are language teachers.
Lauren, Kyle, Me and K-Tissja at another waterfall. 
The group on a bird-watching hike. Alan (the man to my right) was a Peace Corp Volunteer in Palau back in 1966.
The group again.Sunday, September 20, 2009
I'm Here/Safe/Alive
Hello all, sorry that I haven’t been able to dedicate much time to my blog until now. The last few weeks have flown by.
All of the volunteers are living with host families in a rural community outside of the capitol. It isn’t until just now that I’ve had a chance to get back into the city, get internet connection and update my blog.
I’m currently living with a host family. I’ve got a 15 year old brother (Don) and a 14 year old sister (Darleen or Doi). My mom’s name is Lynn and my dad is Bumio, although we call him by his title, Nahlem. They are taking great care of me while I’m in Pohnpei.
I’ve had a chance to explore this community a little and have seen the ruins of Nan Madol- some call it the Venice of Micronesia. It is what is left of an ancient city that was built on the water. My brother acted as a tour guide and was able to share what he knew about it. Also, I got a chance to see one of the island’s waterfalls. It was beautiful. Have a look at the pictures below and see!
The end of this week, I will be leaving Pohnpei and the Federated States of Micronesia. I have been assigned a permanent site in an outer island of the Republic of Palau. It is a small island with only 150-200 people. I will be working at a school that only has 30 or so students. But, before I get to go there, I have another six or seven weeks of training (in Palau, but not at my site) where I’ll learn more teaching strategies and learn the local language.
Should you want to drop me a note, feel free to email or send some snail mail my way:
Robert Steffens
C/O Peace Corps
P.O. Box 158
Koror, Palau, 96940
(Palau, like the FSM, is part of the US Postal system. So a regular stamp will work)
Enjoy the pictures, and I hope to get some more updates soon.
The Palau Group- Six New Volunteers.
The whole M76 Group
Jumping into the ocean.
Me and my brother in Nan Madol
The Waterfall
My brother and sister bored at the waterfall
My host mom and dad
The view from our training site.
All of the volunteers are living with host families in a rural community outside of the capitol. It isn’t until just now that I’ve had a chance to get back into the city, get internet connection and update my blog.
I’m currently living with a host family. I’ve got a 15 year old brother (Don) and a 14 year old sister (Darleen or Doi). My mom’s name is Lynn and my dad is Bumio, although we call him by his title, Nahlem. They are taking great care of me while I’m in Pohnpei.
I’ve had a chance to explore this community a little and have seen the ruins of Nan Madol- some call it the Venice of Micronesia. It is what is left of an ancient city that was built on the water. My brother acted as a tour guide and was able to share what he knew about it. Also, I got a chance to see one of the island’s waterfalls. It was beautiful. Have a look at the pictures below and see!
The end of this week, I will be leaving Pohnpei and the Federated States of Micronesia. I have been assigned a permanent site in an outer island of the Republic of Palau. It is a small island with only 150-200 people. I will be working at a school that only has 30 or so students. But, before I get to go there, I have another six or seven weeks of training (in Palau, but not at my site) where I’ll learn more teaching strategies and learn the local language.
Should you want to drop me a note, feel free to email or send some snail mail my way:
Robert Steffens
C/O Peace Corps
P.O. Box 158
Koror, Palau, 96940
(Palau, like the FSM, is part of the US Postal system. So a regular stamp will work)
Enjoy the pictures, and I hope to get some more updates soon.
The Palau Group- Six New Volunteers.
The whole M76 Group
Jumping into the ocean.
Me and my brother in Nan Madol
The Waterfall
My brother and sister bored at the waterfall
My host mom and dad
The view from our training site.Wednesday, September 2, 2009
I'm Off...
It’s here, the experience I’ve been waiting nearly a year for. In a few short hours I’ll be on a plane to Los Angles to begin my Peace Corps journey. What was excitement and anticipation a few days ago has changed into anxiety and apprehension. The “good-byes” from the last few weeks are really starting to set in. Luckily, the Peace Corps literature says that this is normal. I’m certain that once I set foot on the airplane things will be different. By then all the “good-byes” will have been said and I will start doing just the opposite, meeting new people.
I do believe that I owe everyone a big thank you- I really couldn’t do this without the love and support from my family and friends. These last few weeks really reaffirmed how lucky I am to have you all in my life. From the baked goods to the help shopping/packing- thank you, thank you, and thank you.
Not knowing exactly what the near future holds for me, I don’t know when the next time I’ll be able to update my blog will be. I will do my best to update as soon as I can.
I do believe that I owe everyone a big thank you- I really couldn’t do this without the love and support from my family and friends. These last few weeks really reaffirmed how lucky I am to have you all in my life. From the baked goods to the help shopping/packing- thank you, thank you, and thank you.
Not knowing exactly what the near future holds for me, I don’t know when the next time I’ll be able to update my blog will be. I will do my best to update as soon as I can.
Monday, August 31, 2009
MN State Fair, How I Will Miss You…
Being a Minnesota native, I have never missed attending our “Great Minnesota Get-Together”. I have many good memories of going to the fair with friends and family. This year, I’ve done something I’ve never done before- I went three times in three days.
In those three days I saw the birthing of a cow, discovered my blood type (A+), won my sister an oversized stuffed animal, listed to a Frank Sinatra impersonator, and ate. “Just how much did you eat?” you might ask. Well, here’s a list of all the foods I tried:
BBQ Pork Sandwich
Big Fat Bacon
Cheese Curds
Chocolate Covered Bacon
Chocolate Covered Salted Nut Roll
Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
Corn on the Cob
Cotton Candy
Cream Cheese Wontons
Deep Fried Veggies on a Stick
Egg rolls
Foot-Long Hot Dog
French Fries
Gyro
Hamburgers
Ice Cream
Kettle Corn
Krumkake
Mini Donuts
Perfect Pickle (w/ ranch dressing)
Pickle Wraps
Pizza
Potato Chips
Potato Lefsa
Pronto Pup
Salt Water Taffy
SPAM bites
Sweet Martha's Cookies
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
So here I lie in bed the morning after my last excursion, reflecting on my recent three day fair binge. I have mixed feelings. One the one hand, I had a great time- on the other hand is the unsavory gut rot. Overall, I’m satisfied- I’m pretty sure (although not certain) that these fair foods will not be available while in Micronesia.
In those three days I saw the birthing of a cow, discovered my blood type (A+), won my sister an oversized stuffed animal, listed to a Frank Sinatra impersonator, and ate. “Just how much did you eat?” you might ask. Well, here’s a list of all the foods I tried:
BBQ Pork Sandwich
Big Fat Bacon
Cheese Curds
Chocolate Covered Bacon
Chocolate Covered Salted Nut Roll
Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
Corn on the Cob
Cotton Candy
Cream Cheese Wontons
Deep Fried Veggies on a Stick
Egg rolls
Foot-Long Hot Dog
French Fries
Gyro
Hamburgers
Ice Cream
Kettle Corn
Krumkake
Mini Donuts
Perfect Pickle (w/ ranch dressing)
Pickle Wraps
Pizza
Potato Chips
Potato Lefsa
Pronto Pup
Salt Water Taffy
SPAM bites
Sweet Martha's Cookies
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
So here I lie in bed the morning after my last excursion, reflecting on my recent three day fair binge. I have mixed feelings. One the one hand, I had a great time- on the other hand is the unsavory gut rot. Overall, I’m satisfied- I’m pretty sure (although not certain) that these fair foods will not be available while in Micronesia.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Dolla Dolla Bill Y'all
Just found this information this morning- according to recovery.gov (the site that tracks all the stimulus spending) the Federal States of Micronesia and Palau are each getting a nice little chunk of cash for their respective departments of education.
FSM: $3,619,000
Palau: $931,000
I’ve got no idea of what this will mean (if anything) to the work I’ll be doing in the area- it will be interesting to see what comes of this.
Click here to see the spending in your area.
On another note, I’ve got just under two weeks before I leave and need to start packing!
FSM: $3,619,000
Palau: $931,000
I’ve got no idea of what this will mean (if anything) to the work I’ll be doing in the area- it will be interesting to see what comes of this.
Click here to see the spending in your area.
On another note, I’ve got just under two weeks before I leave and need to start packing!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Adiós!
I just got home from my last day of teaching at the Adult Basic Education center. Although I only started working here earlier this year, I have quickly grown to look forward to my Monday nights with this group. My role has not been too demanding, I lead a conversation class and really enjoy getting the chance to talk with people from all over the world. Enjoy the picture I was able to sneak (these are usually camera-shy folks).
Also, the staff was kind enough to get me some going-away cookies. Thanks again!
Also, the staff was kind enough to get me some going-away cookies. Thanks again!
Friday, July 24, 2009
FAQ's
So, I was reading some other blogs of people who are going to be going on the same journey as me and came across a FAQ section. I'm totally stealing his idea- so thanks Dan!
Where again are you going?
I'm going to be headed to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) for two months or so of training and then will either be stationed in FSM or Palau.
When are you going?
I'll be leaving on or around September 3, 2009
How long will you be gone?
The Peace Corp is a two year commitment. Add in the training- and I'll be away for 27 months.
Wont you miss us?
Of course I will. I cannot believe you even have to ask.
Where will you be staying?
I will be staying with a host family the entire time.
What will you be doing there?
Teaching English and being a Community Development worker.
What will you eat there?
From what I've read, a lot of fish, rice, and spam. I'll have more information on that once I'm actually there.
What's the weather like?
Lots of rain. The temperature is pretty stable year-round- with highs in the upper 80's and lows in the mid 70's.
Won't you get sunburn?
Yes, I will. Probably very badly too. Peace Corp provides sun block, so I think that I'm going to be OK.
Will you have reliable internet access?
I don’t know. I do know that there is internet access on some of the islands- but as I don't know exactly where I'm going to be stationed, we'll have to wait and see.
Can you at least call?
From what I've read, the international phone service to and from FSM and Palau is very good relative to that in other developing countries. Phone cards are available for purchase, and even though my host family may not have a phone, I should be able to find one to use should the need arise.
What if there is an emergency? How do I get a hold of you?
The Peace Corps' Office of Special Services provides assistance in handling emergencies affecting trainees and Volunteers or their families. My folks will have all the information necessary- so hit them up if there is an emergency.
What do you get to bring with you?
I wont bore you all with the recommended packing list, but I will say that it seems the list is very long and I might find some difficulty fitting it all in two suitcases.
Can you take a vacation while serving?
Each volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of service- so yes; I can take vacation.
Can we come visit?
Family and friends are welcome to visit, so long as it does not interfere with my work. The Peace Corp is not able to provide any travel assistance to my visitors- and I need to be mindful that visitors may cause a stressed situation with my host family. So if you do come, just be polite.
What is the religion there?
Mom and Dad can rest easy here- half the population in FSM is Roman Catholic and the other half belong to a variety of Protestant denominations.
What if you get sick or hurt?
I will be provided with a medical kit that I can use to self-treat most minor injuries/ailments. The Peace Corps also maintains its own health unit with a physician's assistant and a full-time nurse. If I'm stationed too far from that health unit, healthcare will be provided by professionals in the capital center. Should I become seriously ill and local resources prove to be inadequate, I'll be transported to a medical facility in Guam, Hawaii, or Washington DC.
Can I send you a letter or package?
Yes, you can- while in training the first few months feel free to send to:
Robert Steffens, Peace Corp Trainee
Peace Corps Micronesia
PO Box 9
Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
You didn't answer my question. Where do I go for more information?
Well, you can ask me- comment here, facebook, email, or call. Otherwise you can check out this link- as that's where I got most of this information anyways.
Where again are you going?
I'm going to be headed to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) for two months or so of training and then will either be stationed in FSM or Palau.
When are you going?
I'll be leaving on or around September 3, 2009
How long will you be gone?
The Peace Corp is a two year commitment. Add in the training- and I'll be away for 27 months.
Wont you miss us?
Of course I will. I cannot believe you even have to ask.
Where will you be staying?
I will be staying with a host family the entire time.
What will you be doing there?
Teaching English and being a Community Development worker.
What will you eat there?
From what I've read, a lot of fish, rice, and spam. I'll have more information on that once I'm actually there.
What's the weather like?
Lots of rain. The temperature is pretty stable year-round- with highs in the upper 80's and lows in the mid 70's.
Won't you get sunburn?
Yes, I will. Probably very badly too. Peace Corp provides sun block, so I think that I'm going to be OK.
Will you have reliable internet access?
I don’t know. I do know that there is internet access on some of the islands- but as I don't know exactly where I'm going to be stationed, we'll have to wait and see.
Can you at least call?
From what I've read, the international phone service to and from FSM and Palau is very good relative to that in other developing countries. Phone cards are available for purchase, and even though my host family may not have a phone, I should be able to find one to use should the need arise.
What if there is an emergency? How do I get a hold of you?
The Peace Corps' Office of Special Services provides assistance in handling emergencies affecting trainees and Volunteers or their families. My folks will have all the information necessary- so hit them up if there is an emergency.
What do you get to bring with you?
I wont bore you all with the recommended packing list, but I will say that it seems the list is very long and I might find some difficulty fitting it all in two suitcases.
Can you take a vacation while serving?
Each volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of service- so yes; I can take vacation.
Can we come visit?
Family and friends are welcome to visit, so long as it does not interfere with my work. The Peace Corp is not able to provide any travel assistance to my visitors- and I need to be mindful that visitors may cause a stressed situation with my host family. So if you do come, just be polite.
What is the religion there?
Mom and Dad can rest easy here- half the population in FSM is Roman Catholic and the other half belong to a variety of Protestant denominations.
What if you get sick or hurt?
I will be provided with a medical kit that I can use to self-treat most minor injuries/ailments. The Peace Corps also maintains its own health unit with a physician's assistant and a full-time nurse. If I'm stationed too far from that health unit, healthcare will be provided by professionals in the capital center. Should I become seriously ill and local resources prove to be inadequate, I'll be transported to a medical facility in Guam, Hawaii, or Washington DC.
Can I send you a letter or package?
Yes, you can- while in training the first few months feel free to send to:
Robert Steffens, Peace Corp Trainee
Peace Corps Micronesia
PO Box 9
Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
You didn't answer my question. Where do I go for more information?
Well, you can ask me- comment here, facebook, email, or call. Otherwise you can check out this link- as that's where I got most of this information anyways.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Weather in Micronesia
While I can't write for each and every island specifically, for Pohnpei the records and averages of temperatures and precipitation can be seen below. Also, be sure to look to the right side of my blog to see the current weather conditions.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Where is Micronesia?
One of the first questions I'm asked when I share with someone that I'm going to become a Peace Corp volunteer in Micronesia is, without fail, "Where's Micronesia?".
Simple answer:
It's a bunch of islands northeast-ish of Australia.
Complex answer (courtesy of Wikipedia):
Micronesia is a sub-reigon of Oceania, comprising hundreds of small islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Philippines lie to the northwest, Indonesia, Paupa New Guinea and Melanesia to the west and south, and Polynesia to the East.
If neither of those help you out, have a look at the map:
Simple answer:
It's a bunch of islands northeast-ish of Australia.
Complex answer (courtesy of Wikipedia):
Micronesia is a sub-reigon of Oceania, comprising hundreds of small islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Philippines lie to the northwest, Indonesia, Paupa New Guinea and Melanesia to the west and south, and Polynesia to the East.
If neither of those help you out, have a look at the map:
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