Geckos Geckos Everywhere

So Chuuk...I would say that if you think you're feeling the effects of the gas crisis, Chuuk is feeling it worse. Gas is almost $7/gallon here and that means that island power is very sporadic because the fuel is too expensive. I think we have had island power for a total of 9 hours since I have been here, but it is pretty easy to adjust to no power here when already there are no TV's or AC, etc.

Yesterday I was awakened by the chanting going on at the nearby elementary school- Sapuk. It is the worst elementary school in all of Chuuk (and if you looked at the pictures I had out at my Send-off, it was the school where the kids were sitting on the floor with the water). They had organized a huge running competition. So after listening to the chanting for a couple of hours, Josh, Katie, Meg, (other volunteers) and I decided to go check it out. The Chuukese quickly pulled out some of the few 20-some year old desks they had for us to sit. The competetion was pretty fun. There were 4 different teams from different villages on the island-white, yellow, blue, and red. The kids wore whatever articles of clothing they had in the color so nobody really matched and some of the girls even ran in skirts. Everyone ran barefoot, which is very common here. The track was just a grass field with cones outlining a track. The Chuukese had a lot of energy and after each kid finished their race (maybe .5 mile), the mothers (and other women) came running out to pour water on each child and hold both of their arms as they walked. It was pretty dramatic. Then again these kids are sprinting in the hottest weather I have ever experienced. No doubt at least Code Red by DC Standards. I certainly was stared at by a lot of the children as if I was an alien. So while, there have been white people on the island for over 50 years, we still stick out like a sore thumb and look out of place or novel.

I'm lucky that school related meetings don't start until the 18th so I have until then to get adjusted. My internal clock is still pretty wierd- wanting to go to bed at 8pm and wake up at 4am. I haven't really been able to sleep past 8am because it gets so hot. Yesterday we went downtown and picked up 2 local combs. They are colored plastic combs that the local women use to keep their hair up (without any hair ties, my hair isn't quite long enough for it yet). I learned that culturally you are considered sloppy if your hair isn't pulled up. We drive the Xavier (the high school I teach at) pick up truck to get downtown since we live up in the "jungle" of Weno. Pretty much everyone on the island knows that it is the Xavier truck so we can lots of hellos. We seem to be well respected by the Chuukese people because going to Xavier is a very noteable accomplishment for any Chuukese person, even if you don't graduate.

Now, I can't end the blog without mentioning the bugs! Yes, I live with bugs. Lots of them. Geckos and ants mostly, but no doubt the spiders, cockroaches, termites, and other little suckers peek their heads out too. The geckos are weird at first, but I think they are the easiest to adjust to personally. They are more scared of me than I am of them and they are harmless. Plus, they eat other bugs and spiders!! The ants, which pretty much stay in my bathroom, are my allies. Last night I was about to jump in the shower and saw a swarm of them eating at a dead cockroach (which seem to only come out at night). Since I wasn't dressed, I decided to take care of it after my shower. Well, when I came back, they were all mysteriously gone. Gone! So, the ants are cool in my boat if they clean up cockroaches and leave no mess.

The cold showers aren't bad at all. I kind of look forward to them to cool me off a little. So I'm glad to say that since that was one of my bigger worries when I left. And despite the bugs, the nature is absolutely beautiful here. Since I have now been in Hawaii as well, I can say Chuuk is as beautiful as Hawaii. There are mango, banana, coconut, and breadfruit trees in my backyard. Now the shacks aren't so beautiful, but they remind me why I am here doing what I am doing.

As for everyone that still has the luxury of watching the Olympics, please do! I wish I could. Apparently, 3 or 4 Micronesians will be represented at them, so keep me posted. I love you all.

Peace,
Steph

P.S. Dad, you will be happy to know I am teaching Sophomore Biology and Junior Chemistry.