How 1 Year in Micronesia Has Changed Me

As my one-year mark - or my halfway point of this entire service mission – approaches, I think it is important for myself, and for my faithful readers, to reflect on what’s been going on. I am pretty certain that I have changed a lot since leaving for orientation in Scranton about a year ago. On the other hand, I know that it is too early to tell, and I am also certain that a second year will really have a more significant effect on me than simply (yes, simply) being here for one year.

These past 11 months have been filled with places National Geographic desperately needs to go to (the ancient temple, Nan Madol, is definitely a location for the next Indiana Jones movie…although I’ve been saying that for almost every place I visit), beautiful and wonderful people of countless cultures, a high school that is as unique as any school can be, and a job (teaching high school) that has made me grow more than I will probably ever know. And let’s not forget the great people that I’ve been working with in my community – JVI, XHS, and more – the students that I have met along the way, and the sense of being isolated on a tiny tropical island. Mix that all in with the great support from home, the realization that I will not see home for 2 whole years, plenty of humidity, a laid back way of doing things, and long hair, and we have a pretty interesting experience so far.

The surest way to grow is through facing challenges. Some were already mentioned above: being away from home for two years; enduring simple living ($60 a month, lack of basic resources, lack of luxuries from home...no Dr. Pepper!!); trying to live in a community without going nuts; the constant humidity; the problems of trying to run a school that lacks funds, resources, teachers, etc.; teaching, even though I am NOT qualified one bit; struggling to understand a culture (or 6) when I know that I won’t come close even after being here for 2 years; living in an isolated boarding school, being surrounded by students 24/7; living on an isolating island where there is not much to do for entertainment; struggling to adjust to an “island-style” way of living, where the pace is much more lax than New England; the stress that comes from the fact that some people that I work with are not like me. There’s a lot.

Let me address that last challenge first. After getting through the “National Geographic- phase”, which includes being totally swept away by the beauty and exotic feel of the islands (I can argue that I’m still in that phase and will be for months to come…this is just one whole adventure for me), JVs tend to start missing home and getting more frustrated. Although I do miss home, I am not and have not been homesick to a serious extent. However, the last few months I have become more and more frustrated; frustrated with myself, with how the school is run, with the students, with the Chuukese, with the island pace and “work-style”. Some previous blogs may have picked up on my complaining and frustration. A good example was the Debate debacle. Nothing gets done around Chuuk, or at least that’s what it looks like to me. The truth of the matter is that the government of Chuuk has always been considered sketchy compared to the other states (traveling to Majuro and now Pohnpei has given me much greater insight to the contrasts between the island nations). It is sometimes referred to as the “Ghetto of Micronesia”. Needless to say, I got frustrated. Some of those times, I was justified.

But as a very wise friend recently told me, in response to my complaints, I was frustrated because it sounded like I wanted everyone else – the teachers, the people running debate, everyone here in the islands – to be more like me. “Why aren’t these people more like me? Why aren’t they more like Americans?” are questions that I never directly asked or thought about, but my friend interpreted it correctly. This friend also was abroad for a while, and he said that he experienced the same thing after a few months.

I think the lesson is all about appreciating the good in this place and in these people. In truth, I really do miss Xavier and Chuuk, especially the Chuukese (I've only been away for one month). They are by far the friendliest ones I’ve met. I definitely feel more at home in Chuuk. I also miss the craziness of Xavier. I am looking forward to teaching, even though it will be more hectic (is that possible?) since I will be teaching three full time classes. Very stressful. But I can’t wait for it. Xavier is a place that is so unique that I don’t think it can be matched by any other place in the world. Some of the volunteers that recently went home emailed me and said that they are having a very hard time trying to describe the life at Xavier. Hopefully I have been doing a decent job. As for the island pace of life, I am not going to try and adopt it for when I return home in a year, but I have to get used to it, and that will help me love it more. And there is nothing wrong with that. There are many values that I can – and have been – learn from being out here. I cannot voice them now, but perhaps I’ll be able to pinpoint them later on.

Simple living and being away from luxury has been tough, but very manageable and rewarding. I’m sure that there are many things that I thought I missed, but probably don’t. Example: we have TV here in the Jesuit House in Pohnpei. Other than the NBA Finals, which are now over, there is nothing good on TV or really even worth watching. I actually get sleepy, extremely bored very quickly, headaches, or a feeling of complete worthlessness when I am sitting to watch something even for a little while. I wasn’t a big fan of TV before, but I have a whole new perspective towards that. I honestly wonder what else I will feel differently towards when I get home. Probably tons of things. Things that I thought I couldn’t live without, but in reality, I don’t need them at all. Living the simple life makes you appreciate so many more things, and I definitely like to cherish things that I didn’t necessarily want to cherish before. Take conversations. Yes, simple sitting down and talking. Not idle chit chat. I would rather do that than sooo many other things. And certain normal things in life, especially food, are now considered luxuries. Cheese? I’d pay 1/5 of my salary to get some good, sharp cheddar. Quality pasta sauce, which I love so much? Only if I make it from scratch, when the ingredients are on-island. Steak? Nope, not until summer 07. Dr. Pepper? I had one, when a friend sent it to me in a package, and it was great, but now that I’ve had it, I’m not that fixed on it any more. It’s weird.

Teaching has made me more confident in myself, by far. I was not the one to speak in front of crowds. I did it daily, and I love it now. Making a lesson plan, and even entire curriculum, with limit resources, power very sporadic, internet less reliable, pages sticking together from the humidity, no formal training…I can do that now, and although I was so terrified the first week of school (I took a nap EVERY day after teaching just for an hour or two I was so mentally exhausted), I do it now with more ease, and look forward to making my lessons and course goals better.

I don’t know how I can ever really explain what’s going on out here. What is starting to be “normal” for me may be the craziest thought or action from someone back home. What?! You mean not everyone rides on the back of a pickup truck back home? You mean you don’t use a cooler as your luggage? It’s 70 degrees and you’re not freezing? Yes, I’ve (barely) picked up on two, maybe three major stories from the news media, and I’m still alive and well. There are no smoke detectors and fire drills at the school, and rain pours in the windows and some class rooms don’t have doors and everyone walks around barefoot…yet the school still functions and there are no complaints there. The power went out? Oh well, business is closed, stop doing work. No problem. You’re thirsty? I’ll have my 6 year old son climb up a 40 foot tree, with a machete in his mouth, to get you all some coconuts. Cavity, gum disease, chipped tooth? Fill it in with gold. It looks good. It’s time for the girls to run track and field, and all of them are running with skirts that go past their knees. I don’t know you, but you’re Americans? Come to my house and I’ll feed you a huge meal! We’re going downtown, everyone pile on top of the truck. No more room? Sit on the roof. I’m going to go swim in the lagoon that’s 80 degrees where there are beautiful coral and fish, and if I go far enough, I might see some reef sharks. Want to come? It poured 4 times today, but it’s been sunny the entire day. There are a bunch of kids walking around the street, playing, and I made their day by making a funny face at them. It is always great to make them laugh.

It goes on. There are so many little things. And as these little things become part of my life even more, I hope to understand this place and these people a whole lot more in the coming year. I honestly cannot even think of what I will be like in one more year. I do know that when I do come home, it will be very weird…actually, that’s a huge understatement. Even saying that it will be surreal is an understatement. But we will cross that bridge when we get there.

I guess you would have to really see me and spend time with me to see if I’ve changed. I know deep down inside I have not, which is (hopefully) a good thing. But I know I have been effected for the better. Other than my freakishly long, Antonio Banderes hair, I am not sure if it will be easy to see if I’ve truly grown. All I know is that I’m glad I signed up for two years, because the second year will be as fruitful as the first, and there is still a lot more to learn from.

My next blog will be about my teaching experience so far here on Pohnpei, and the visit from my friend since 7th grade, Campbell.

I also am putting up a link in my blog called "Micronesian Seminar". It's a website that is run by the actual place by the same name, which was started by Fr. Francis Hezel, the leading expert on Micronesia. It has amazing articles and discussions and links about everything and anything regarding Micronesian issues. This link will give anyone who is interested a more in depth look and feel about how Micronesia deals with real world problems like every place else on Earth.

I love everyone at home, and I miss you all. I love Micronesia. Keep the questions coming in. Peace.