Week 40 - Waiting game.

(29) Monday

Went to Lope Lope with Sam, her sister and Mike Stafford. It was a Good day... nice beach weather and decent pizza... what more can you ask for... Oh pasta night at Bryan and Kate's really excited.

It is 4:17 now... supposed to go play ultimate frisby but really I want to chill for a few hours then head over for dinner.

The water at Lope Lope beach is always low and really sandy... nice and cool on top where the river flows out and under the surface it is a like a hot bath water temp. I really miss having running hot water. This was like my shower for the day and you can rinse off in the river to get the salt off the skin.

10pm
Dinner at Kate and Bryan's was great as normal... pasta, meatballs, coconut crab, ice cream, watermelon. The whole deal.

(30) Tuesday

We went to port Orly today. It was fun. The ride up was in a bus that Bryan arranged. For a while it looked as though we had no driver... but that resolved itself and we had one. I sat on the edge/ledge of the bus that spot is not so hot for a tall guy. After we got out I was happy... at the beach ride we saw the cruise ship so we avoided Champagne Beach. I sat in the shade more of the time, but eventually became drift wood like Bryan bobbing back and forth on the beach edge. I managed again to avoid being burned. How is that possible. I burn always. Not here it seems...

Well Sam sister was fun to talk with. She is a low talker or I am concert-def from too much rock shows, so I get most of what she says but it is funny.

Bryan and Kate's family is here. Kate's dad is funny and he love beer. Heh. I enjoy talking with people that know landmarks from home. He was fun to talk with.

Here is one from Port Orly:

9:30pm
OK. I am not queasy or anything but sometimes when a cockroach the size of your fist crawls out of the box you are opening... SHIT... and or... if you see a BIG rat crawling into your kitchen... I had to put on shoes and get my killing clubs ready. BOTH happened tonight 5 minutes apart. That SUCKS. Oh well, it made me jump and laugh too. I am getting weird I think. Oh Vanuatu.

Man it has been almost a month I have not had running water. I miss being able to turn on a facet, run a shower and or flush a toilet. Whew. I can't wait to move. I am sick of smelling bad all the time.

(31) Wednesday

Celerated the new years with one of my best friends Mr. Stafford. We watched some goofy movies.

(01) Thursday

I was pretty bored the majority of the day...

But was lucky in that I was able to move 50% of my stuff to the new house and I met with people at the office and heard about the way this VSA vol was designing a database and such. Interesting.

Aft I tooled around town a bit and went this kava bar the gage goes to near the gas station and just sat and chit chatted with some folks to kill time. This one guy is a gold prospector Lorenzo. Fun guy to listen to.

Then Thomas showed up and bought me a couple beers and we hungout for a while. He has a really nice game system and I tried to play it but I was all over the road crashing these race cars up badly. I am not so good at gaming anymore.

(02) Friday
Today I went into Digicel and attempted to find a way to move my internet from my college house to my new one and they might charge me 200 bucks to move it but oh well.

For half my day today I sat with my folks back home attempting to track a package that is lost... it has some important stuff in it... I hope it gets here.

• 
  International Parcels

Postal Product:

Features:

DATE & TIME	STATUS OF ITEM	LOCATION
November 17, 2014 , 3:46 pm	Customs clearance processing complete	SOLOMON ISLANDS
Your item cleared customs in SOLOMON ISLANDS at 3:46 pm on November 17, 2014.
November 17, 2014 , 3:35 pm	Customs clearance processing complete	SOLOMON ISLANDS
November 17, 2014 , 1:25 pm	Processed Through Sort Facility	SOLOMON ISLANDS
November 1, 2014 , 3:54 am	Arrived at Sort Facility	ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
November 1, 2014 , 3:54 am	Processed Through Sort Facility	ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
October 29, 2014 , 1:06 pm	Arrived at USPS Facility	CHICAGO, IL 60666
October 28, 2014 , 7:52 pm	Departed USPS Facility	SAINT PAUL, MN 55121
October 28, 2014 , 6:30 pm	Arrived at USPS Origin Facility	SAINT PAUL, MN 55121
October 28, 2014 , 5:10 pm	Departed Post Office	MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55421
October 28, 2014 , 3:58 pm	Acceptance	MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55421

7:30pm
So I ran into the Stafford... and we hungout at HQ...

His parents are trying to make it santo... they might be in Malakula for all we know.

Last nights are coming to and end at my house. Might have one last movie/BBQ at Movie house one then I fold up and move to Stafford house.

(03) Saturday

Pretty dull day. The highlight was the chicken wrap sandwich at Attar.

Played some ultimate just barely. I am in terrible shape again and have to build back up to it. How sad I fall off the workout wagon and get lazy.

(04) Sunday

Today I fought another losing battle with my rats this morning at 4-5am... they keep eating holes in my wall. As fast as I fix them they make new holes. They have chainsaws for teeth. I hate them.

But the sunrise at 5:15am was really nice. Wish they did not block off the beach with a row of trees. Oh well.

Back to sleep or continue standing with a club ready to kill these rats. Just missed one.

5:00pm
Such a dead dead day. Just killing time until I can move. Monday will make the seventh week I have not had running water. I am tired of not having water.

All night I fought to keep them out the rats... here check out my rat barricade. I used a piece of metal, some extra boards and things to make braces to hold them out. One more night of this and I am free.

Week 39 - Happy Xmas Moving week(s) ahead.

(22) Monday

I think I miss posted a date... got a haircut today. I also began a trace on my missing package... it was in the Solomon Is. Nov 17th... should be here by now. I just hope they try to trace it.

Not sure what happened with the moving day... so far it is on hold.

We also are close to pay day. I am dead broke and would love to see my account filled again. I have some really silly book to finish reading.

There was a tiny earthquake this morning about about 9am. Had not felt much of an shake for months and months.

(23) Tuesday 

Xmas is close... I hope we have our paycheck. I am dead broke would be nice to have a buck or two this week.

Finally a miracle happened... my counterpart and a friend scratched the junk paint off the lab floor so we can paint it with the good concrete paint. This is something I wanted done 6 months ago but gave up because I figured it was hopeless to get locals involved in the work... unless it is everything else. Maybe it is because they think it will keep me from leaving the site. Who knows.

10:46 am
WOOHoo we got paid.

4:00 pm
PC people showed up and we watched the real Twin Peaks Movie... not the fake movie (aka tv outtakes I downloaded wrongly 3 times) and it ended with some conclusion but not really.

Had some steaks and chips. Stafford crashed the night.

(24) Wednesday

Xmas eve... not much going on either. It just rained a little. It is hot but not terrible compared to the last few days. I did not go up and paint the lab floor with my counterpart. He seems proud that they finally cleaned the floor and was excited to get me to help him. I said good job and sure I will see you tomorrow and pain the floor on xmas eve, yeah right.

Stafford is going to visit with his host family from his village days. I am debating going to the post office and checking if they can find the package that was mailed over 2 months ago. Every box so far had made it here in one month. I fear my important package is lost, with it goes 4oo bucks in new rayban, polarized dark grey, green front rimmed glasses. I am crying about their loss and the other hundreds of dollars worth of trinkets in the box, mini dehumidifier for my camera... and other cool shit. I asked the lady at the post office to trace it with the customs id I got from the solomon islands... it was there nov 17th... that is a long time to sit and wait to get a hop skip over to Vanuatu.

I suppose I should go check... but I somehow doubt that she actually tried to find it. It would be a miracle if she did. I think asking people to put any effort into a job means that likely it won't be done and you are just disappointed if you expect actually diligence in their labor. So best think nothing at all of their promises and if a small effort has been made then a miracle has happened.

It has now been three weeks and no water. I am getting pretty tired of no water.

11:30am
Just got back from town, it is a total nuthouse zoo... so many people jamming into LCM and other stores, all the registers running with long long lines behind them, as everyone pushes into mobs of people making moving around difficult and annoying. Had to run away from there asap.

(25) Thursday

In review: xmas was really great. We planned on going to Aore island but when we were at the dock we discovered you needed to make reservations the day before which we had not. So we (Laura, Pete, Kate, Bryan and I) went to Beachfront and ate and swam... I had a pretty decent pizza, it showed up after everyone elses came and was mostly eaten but Laura and Pete shared on slice of theirs and would take one back if mine ever showed up.

After eating we swam in the hot pool blue ceramic tiled pool, surrounded by by one round of square dark brown tiles about a square foot, then around this on the deck is this fake wood, or it is so heavily treated and cut oddly with these deep grooves in them, surrounding the outer rim of the pool are little dining areas with thatched roofs. When I entered the pool I walked straight in without stopping hitting the water slightly leaning.

We swam for hours it seemed but then their was the shock and horror of discovering..... A FLOATER!!! yes a Floater, you know what I mean, no NOT a dead body heh. It was probably a remnant of poop (2 in sq) emitted accidentally from one of the little kids playing in the shallower area. This make us leave and find soap and water and shower in the stall out front... Yeah, Shit happens.

After the gross departure and walk across the beach to my (so not to be) place we ran into my counterparts. Heh. I kind of want to avoid that bit. I excused myself quickly because they start talking about work projects that no longer apply to me.

I retreat to my house and Stafford shows up. Stafford is awesome. So we just shoot the shit for a while and I almost fall asleep the pool took out a ton of energy.

Then we started watching some movies. I don't even fully understand what I was watching. Hm. I can't recall the movie title. A mystery at least it was a mystery... makes sense why I was confused. Woman sets up her husband to be the killer of herself, as she disappears, but then gets discovered because no plan is ever perfect. So she executes the plan nearly flawlessly and the media picks up on it and crucifies the husband for the suspected murder but the wife is discovered alive by an ex-boyfriend, who is still obsessed with her... then because the husband finally gets wise to the game plays a card well on a tv interview which the public support shifts from pro angel, pregnant, best selling children's book writer wife, to THE adoring but foolishly cheating on his wife with a college student he's teaching, blundering idiot of a husband. She then kills the ex-stalker, comes out of hiding and makes her husband play along with her sick game or she will do something even more evil than she's done already. It was a fun movie. Strong female character. Jes would like it. I would call that a chick flick and she would roll her eyes frustrated.

A great night... nice food, company and I even got a gift... Xmas 2014.

(26) Friday

A very slow day after xmas... nothing is going on. I took a shower and ate played FTL for a bit. Really really boring but it is only like 9:30. Will report back later.

Thankful that there was rain to fill my buckets since I have no running water. Useful for doing dishes and such.

(27) Saturday

Mostly on Saturday I hung out with Stafford... went into town got a few food item, then we camped at my place and played video games and watched movies, then cooked some steaks. Really nice day. The Fury is a pretty intense movie.

(28) Sunday

Looking really dead. Went into town no one there, everything closed. Back home and internet. Boring day.

Week 38 - Hot Tumas

(15) Monday
I was supposed to go on the West Coast this week of Santo but I think my counterpart just went without me. I am not sure how that came to be. I tried calling him but never got a reply. Maybe he forgot or thought I was coming back Saturday and I was delayed until Sunday.

Oh well... another time. Today has been raining and stick all day. Tried reading and planning my move into Mike Staffords house.  I have a lot to pack up and move in the next couple weeks. If we get a truck probably 3 trips and it will be done.


(16) Tuesday
Another hot day... must be 80 and it is so humid. It barely rained yesterday. And all day there was a crew of people working on the basketball court, pouring concrete and evening it out. A job I would have loved to help with if I were staying on with the school but since I am moving on I went over and talked with them and said good work.

Trying to pack my things into boxes and and not sure where to start. Well boxes acquiring more is a start. I should go to some of the local stores and see if they have some empty boxes.

It is ok that I did not end up going up the west coast of santo... maybe after I am moved and setup at Staffords house I can then be assigned a new trip or something.

I don't know how these guys to it... work in the rain all day long, Even concrete work. That is a lesson is disaster though because if you continue to work concrete in a rain storm the concrete will not get the right water to mixture and it will be weaker, crumbly and break apart much faster than if it were mixed and cured. You need to stop working concrete and cover it with plastic and let it dry before continuing. They are making a very bad choice. I would have urged them not to try this kind of project in the rainy season... wait until dry season for higher rate of conditions for proper concrete work. Oh well.

I just hope the music changes a bit. I literally heard the same song last night 40 times in a row. The same one... and now I am going on two weeks of no water. Ugh, looking forward to moving into the new house.

(17) Wednesday
Rain or not these guys at my school keep working away. And 3 days with of tons of rain. Concrete work in the middle of s rain storm is a bad idea. Same annoying french song for the last 3 hours. I am going a little insane from the music.

Had to take a photo of this:

Eight hours of the same song... the same song. It is torture. They are torturing my brain. Eight hours.

(19) Thursday
It rained most of the day. I was home packing. We had a dinner over at Maria's house it was curry beef. Grace had her parents visiting. Jeff was her fathers name, pretty funny guy. Wanted to know about my tattoo. He liked the artistry... aka the breasts.

I looked at the concrete court to see how badly the rainfall had messed up their work. It appears ok. I wonder how much the rain will make the concrete brittle or something. There are reasons not to mix and pour concrete in the middle of a rain storm.

(20) Friday
Today I guess I will host a movie night. Maybe we will finish off the Twin Peaks with the real movie.
I still have no water.

7:31... just started this entry at 7:31... that is my birth month and day. Ever notice small details like that when you are doing something. I bet everyone notices something odd like this but never says anything about it. I notice 7.31 patterns happen a lot but I bet they mean nothing. I am only aware of it because those number mean something to me. Ok sorry went on a rant.

(21) Saturday
Not much went on during the day... it was only the grill party/movie night that was interesting.

Had some good food and a weird space movie.

(22) Sunday
So far a another slow day. I got a haircut. Nice and light for all the heat we get.

Not sure what is going on today. I want to watch the end of Twin Peaks with the Fire walk movie... Fingers crossed. Beat FTL more ways and times than i can count. Not the most challenging game but still really fun.

Week 37 - Adventure to Vila

Dec 8th -14

(08) Monday
Here we go back again to Vila... I don't like it but I need to be there to get my new assignment. I fear that I will not be able to control myself and spend a bunch of money and come back to Santo broke like every time I have been to Vila.

The sunrise is beautiful this morning... I have not packed at all... but I don't need much. Small bag with a few shirts and such should do it. Really looking forward to a hot shower been months since I had one.

I really need to finish my short story now since I am having a two part one go into the next van am. Hmm... new job, new home. Lots going on. Plus the best news I have a new renter in my condo so I won't go broke anymore paying rent on an empty condo. Lots of good things going on. Can't wait to get a pizza at Chill. Not sure who is in town maybe I can hangout with a few PC's this week too.

(09) Tuesday
I met the new counterpart and learned a bit about NDMO... I received some valued advice from people in town. This place is so different from Santo. I am looking forward to a new start at this Peace Corps thing.

I had an appointment with the dentist in Vila. I was impressed. I was a bit afraid to go because if you saw the teeth of people here man... scary. But they had super modern machines and the cleaning took only 15 minutes. The are going to fix a chip on my tooth Friday. Then I am going back to Santo.

(10) Wednesday
Woah... 3am I am getting alive by mosquitos at Hibiscus... it is not as nice of hotel as PacPar... but oh well, they have a shower and compared to my house that has had the water shut off for the last 3 days, having running water is an nice life improvement.

Met with PC and my counterpart everything is looking great. I heard about going to the west side of Santo next week on a boat for 24 hours to do some land surveys, and soil sampling. Should be pretty wild. I like the water and have been a viking for weeks at a time when I was younger with my dad in canada but this is not a fishing trip it will be ocean and small boat. Wild times are coming.

(11) Thursday
Today is the final day of the conference... then I can get a few things done in town and return back to Santo Friday. I hope I can find some canvas to paint on. I have a bunch of oils and nickel knives thirsty for use. It's been a year since I scratched anything on canvas, I miss it.

(12) Friday
I survived the week woohoo and I am not totally broke. Fly back to Santo tomorrow then on Sunday I take a 24 hour boat ride up the West Coast of Santo to so some NDMO work. Exciting.

Just hanging out in the resource room getting some books, going to search for a canvas to paint on, then a dental appointment I think I need a new filling and a tooth was chipped so I am not sure how they fix that. Pain doesn't hurt... is a line from a movie I forget which... oh No Maybe it was Road House, yeah a 90's movie with Patrick Swayze.

I hope everything is ok back in Santo. Would suck if my house was messed with. Fingers crossed.

Grabbed a bunch of new movie content... hope Kate and Bryan likes what I got.

(13) Saturday

Back to Santo today...

                            ELECTRONIC TICKET

                       PASSENGER ITINERARY RECEIPT

 AIR.VANUATU.RESERVATIONS.&         DATE: 08 DEC 2014

 AIR VANUATU HOUSE                 AGENT: 3817

 PARIS STREET                       NAME: BEKKERUS/DAIVD MR

 PORT VILA

 IATA       : 233 91060

 TELEPHONE  : 678 23848

 ISSUING AIRLINE                        : AIR VANUATU

 TICKET NUMBER                          : ETKT 218 2420856449

 BOOKING REF : AMADEUS: 6YPSH3, AIRLINE: NF/6YPSH3

 FROM /TO        FLIGHT  CL DATE   DEP      FARE BASIS    NVB   NVA   BAG  ST

 LUGANVILLE      NF 211  Y  08DEC  0855     Y/ID10                    10K  OK

 SANTO PEKOA

 INTL

 PORT VILA                        ARRIVAL TIME: 0945

 BAUERFIELD INTL

 CHECK IN TIME VILA:-              04:00PM

 PORT VILA       NF 208  Y  13DEC  1805     Y/ID10                    10K  OK

 BAUERFIELD INTL

 LUGANVILLE                       ARRIVAL TIME: 1855

 SANTO PEKOA

 INTL

Week 36 - Less and less

Dec 1-7

(01) Monday

Once the ball gets rolling it becomes hard to stop it... mine started the week I arrived in Vanuatu. That unrelenting force was/is the culture of this nation clashing with my own. I am not sure what is best to do at this point. I just don't fit into this place. I am still determined to finish the project on Malo. In part it will be my way of beating the principal at my school at his game. And the other part is I believe it will be a meaningful project that might help a great many people for years and years.

I am curious to see if this disaster relief job has anything to offer that might be interesting. It would be great if there was something that could keep me busy and that would likely reduce the depression I am feeling.

It was a pretty great day... Amanda and I had breakfast then headed over to beachfront for a swim. We played with a kid and his toy boat in the pool... elija not sure if that is correct... and then my friend Daria showed up and she sat and worked on her computer. I think she's got a cold so felt badly for her.

After Beachfront Amanda and I met up with Kate and borrowed a bike (bought off Rich) to then meet up with Mike Stafford to make a run out to Riri blue hole... photos will be posted.

The ride was quite easy... I recall when those bike rides felt long and hard but not anymore... The blue hole was quite busy. Some of the baby docs were there even though they were about to leave. And we swam took videos and goofed off a while. The beautiful thing was Thomas offered us a ride back on his flatbed truck so Amanda being quite spent from the ride, we agreed. Once we were dropped off at Stafford's place I asked to look over his house since it could be mine next year. It was not so bad. I was told it was shoe box. It's longer and narrower than my place but overall it is nice. I could see fixing it up. It really needs a sun shield to reduce the blazing sun from heating it up and to change the bathroom door because it is really poorly executed... but I digress.

After a short visit at Stafford's we went to Bryan and Kate's place rested a minute then I sent Amanda by cab as I biked my ass off home to get ready to meet Mike and company at endblocoltar for his last shells of kava with us before he goes home. I brought mike a bottle of my home brew as a gift. Anyway it was fun and I had a symbolic shell with him as my way of saying sorry.

After kava we started walking to town looking for a cab. There was some dude named Frances from Central America in our group and he was very interested in talking to Amanda. He kind of clung to her like wet shirt. I was a little annoyed at him, but oh well.

After ten minutes we found a couple cabs and decided to eat some chinese food... Mike, Amanda this Frances dude and this German girl who's name escapes me. The waiter at the Chinese place was a bit of a dick but that is ok the food was alright.

We headed out and Mike caught a ride to Sam's house where he was staying and that might be the last time I see him. I felt kind of sad that he is going because he was so in love with this place and I have pretty much no love for it at all yet I am here another year and he is being sent home. Not quite right.

After Mike Hawkins left Amanda, Frances and I walked towards the middle of town. He is staying at the Tropicana. He shared a bit of story about being an aimless traveler and whatever. He made a stab at me about being a gold digger or something stupid to slam me in front of Amanda. Then I shared with him a story or two to make him aware of the fact that as hard as he tried to manipulate and charm Amanda I would be watching out for her and this dude's subtle douchebag advances.

Once home we both went to sleep pretty quickly. It was a long day.

(02) Tuesday
So today we plan to go to Towac near champaign beach. It should be quite the adventure. Last night Amanda seemed to charm Bryan and Kate into joining the party. So the four of us will go.

I hope that it does not rain today or tomorrow. The last time we camped on the beach the fly on the tent was not setup right.... buckets of water flooded the tent. That sucked.

We headed out to Champaign beach and picked Kate up on the way... Bryan Biked up there. I want to try it.

Here are some photos of the beach:

(03) Wednesday
So here is beautiful sunny Vanuatu... A miracle.

Checkout the beach:

(04) Thursday
Amanda and I made some pasta and had Maria over to indulge in some of Amanda's great cooking.

Tonight is my school's going away for break teacher's party. I will make an appearance and then go home and rest.

I have good news finally... I am going to Vila next week and then meeting paraphrased:
I will be meeting the NDMO in Luganville with the Ministry folks. A letter was drafted and will be sent to your school, but I will be in my house at the college until Mike Stafford vacates in January.  

I am excited about trying my new assignment and giving this whole thing a second shot hopefully it works out better and I have a place that is excited about working and making progress. I also hear they might want a builder which as some know is my passion. I love making things, construction of a building from foundation to completion perfect work for me... and setting up the computers and whatnot. Fingers crossed for real meaningful work.

My school had it's going away party and they wanted me there and to speak. I was nervous about both things. But I sat it out and things were ok, and then I made a speech where I thanked them for welcoming me into their school and community and how they should be proud of the accomplishments that the school with everyone working together has made this year... putting in white boards, fixing the computer lab up, installing new screens on all the dorm windows, painting many of the main builds exterior and fixing bathroom. Improving these improves the quality of life for the students. And I said they should be proud of the fact that this year the school ran without shutting down early that we've used the money to fix the shool. Next year with the basketball court repaving the students will have even more to enjoy while at the school. I thanked the principal for helping fund all the computer improvements like 5 new computers, AC and faster internet. They all seemed happy with my speech and I stayed on for a few hours to story. Funny thing is that of the ten or so people I spoke with several Nivan's told me that before I came to that college, no one ever worked on things together, that they saw how I worked with the building maintenance guy (Edward) and how I helped fix uncountable number of: teachers with their laptops, phones, tablets, and PC's... which they said to me made others want to help each other. They never did that before at the school. Seems like a pretty basic thing to me helping people. That might be my only legacy there after they lab decays again but that is a meaningful impact. I even drank 2 shells to make them feel like they showed me a good time.

(05) Friday
Amanda left for Fiji today... I am sad she is going but I made a great friend and a excellent person to visit in Brazil.

I am back to some of the basics with no water in my house it is bucket shower and bucket toilet. I wish the water tank was closer.

Mike and I watched some Twin Peaks in prep for the final Twin-a-thon  viewing with Bryan and Kate tomorrow.

I have a new renter in my condo back home so I am really happy not to be losing 1500.00  per month anymore. That takes a lot of economic pressure off my back.

Watched the sunrise and took a couple photos:

(06) Saturday
The end of an era on Santo... See you Mike Hawkins... best of luck in America.

(07) Sunday
One year ago today I went to mankato with Mary and my car died en route... well a car that I borrowed from my parents on one of the coldest day at that point negative seven below. But instead of going home Mary and I decided to take a ride with a stranger the police chief it turned out from Three rivers and go to Mankato and get the tattoo I had been wanting to get as a symbol for my leaving my status quo work and escaping the matrix for Vanuatu... One year goes fast.

Not sure what is going on today totally... I need to pack my bags for the week in vila.

We concluded the Twin Peaks Marathon at my place and grilled again... one of the last few grill parties before I move into my new place when Mike leave.

Week 35 - Status: Site swap or Staying... outcome unknown.

Nov 24 - 30

(24) Monday
So far been a slow day. I tried making a printer work on the network but the heads are dirty and it get stuck inside. Also every time I try to add it to the network and they restart it it loses it connection.

I gave up on it for a bit had a lunch with Rich and Kate and Bryan. Nice LUNCH.

Last week of hanging out with my Rich so Frisbee tonight. It is so hot out... oh well. Time for a nap.

Ended up playing some ultimate Frisbee yesterday one of the last games with Rich. Hunter showed up.

(25) Tuesday
Went into town had some french fires and a pastry at Attar. Nice lunch.

Not sure what else to do to consume the day until we have spaghetti at Bryan and Kate's tonight.

No news about my site from Keith.

I fixed a printer and now I am tempted to take a play a video game and kill time.

So I hear what is probably going to happen now.
1) I am moving from my site at college de luganville.
2) Might move to Staffords site. Not sure yet. His house is 1/3 as nice as mine... kind of a rough move in that sense.

Little depressed with this but that is what I am dealing with.

(26) Wednesday

I love this article on this : http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/french/2014-11-24/vanuatu-la-peine-de-mort-pour-les-sorciers-pourquoi-pas/1392587

=======

Vanuatu: the death penalty for wizards, why not 

Updated 24 November 2014, 5:08 p.m. AEDT 

Caroline Lafargue 

Willie Jimmy, the former finance minister, called for a law to punish the practice of black magic. 

Sorcery 

(Credit: AFP) 

Willie Jimmy spoke from torture and hanging of two men on the island of Akam in mid-November. Songi Samuel and Simion Bahvaus were suspected of killing villagers practicing black magic. The public execution was conducted by Presbyterian ministers and chiefs of the island. In all, forty people participated in the torture. They were placed in custody after the crime, but we do not yet know who was indicted. 

  

According to Willie Jimmy, witchcraft is a scourge that the current legal system does not fight. : 

"I am even ready to support a bill that would provide for the death penalty for criminals who use black magic. » 

In Vanuatu, the legal system is based on the British and French system. To convict someone, you have tangible evidence. 

"The problem we have, we who believe in black magic is that the legal system inspired by the West needed to provide concrete evidence, yet it is very difficult to prove a case of black magic. » 

  

Perhaps that is why no law punishing witchcraft has never been adopted in the country, while the debate resurfaces almost systematically with each new news story which alleged witches are the victims. On the other hand, the international community would not see a good eye restoring the death penalty for extremely hard to prove crimes. Willie Jimmy: 

"The international community does not have the same traditions as we do. Our Constitution states that Vanuatu is based above all on traditional Melanesian values ​​before Christian principles. So our Melanesian values ​​are alive and well, good and bad. » 

  

Punitive raids against suspected witches are quite common in Vanuatu. Earlier this year, police rescued in extremis a man suspected of practicing black magic in a village in eastern Efate. The villagers were about to drown.

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Yeah I mean it sucks that this country can't pass a law to trial people for witchcraft and execute them based on very weak evidence... that would be a really great thing if they could just start murdering the people (that probably agitate the status quo) and put them in a phoney court trial for charges of casting spells.

My friend Amanda will land in Santo today about 7pm. Last visitor I will likely be having as I am not sure where I will be living in the next few months.

Tonight we have ultimate frisbee and a going away thing for Rich and Hunter.

(27) Thursday
My couch surfer showed up last night very late. I figured she was lost or missed her plane. The gift she got me she lost so I am sad about that. Oh well. This country in general is consistent on a few things, one is constant disappointment.

Today is thanksgiving with the widdips... (not sure how to spell their name) that should be fun. I suggested that Amanda go into town and talk with a dive place to arrange going for the next few days while we send off Rich in style.

Now that I am forced to deal with considering my service in this country and decide if I want to try moving to a new site I am wondering if there will be any point to it. This place has proven a great many things to me, one of the biggest is that the locals are mostly hell bent on not doing anything when they can get away with it. I came here to help, not to do it all, if there is nothing resembling a true counterpart then who am I helping to learn something, is there any point to helping here at all or am I just basically free labor that is unwelcomed, unthanked and mostly I should stop caring about their causes. I am not sure yet.

 I am pretty close to hating this place but I am not used to feeling anger like this. Perhaps there is this sincere annoying desire that I get, that some people here try to pretend that everything here is fine and magical and that the culture is valid and does not suck shit but sadly that feels vapid to pretend such things. I find that there are so many negatives about being here I have a hard time finding any positives. They have nice beaches. I don't really like beach. They have turtles. OK true. The people are nice if you don't really need anything and want to pretend they care about you. Vanuatu is an abusive relationship I am just curious how it will backhand me today.

(28) Friday
So it is five am and my principal decided that it was a good time to play childrens pan flute music the same song over and over and over and over and over and over and over... because he is a thoughtless.

The sunrise was nice but I love this guy so much. Good morning Vanuatu!

9:00am
It was my school's graduation ceremony and I was asked to wear their shirt that fit poorly and was extremely itchy  and hot so I could walk around and take photos of my principal and all the people at my school I never got to know and that never made me feel welcome. So I took a 190 photos in the first 30 minutes of the graduation thing and then left. Which felt pretty great not being there and yet doing some work to make them happy.

1:00pm
After being freed from the bondage of my school I hung out with my friends, and we met up at deco stop and swam in the pool.

6:00pm
Amanda was tired from her diving but I went ahead and met up with the other Peace Corps at end blo coltar. I spell it wrong for sure, because it is a stupid bislama word meaning end of the cold tar road but whatever... we sat around drinking the kava drink. I went mostly to say goodbye to the friends that are leaving.

They went to beachfront after but I went home and made pasta with Amanda. Best to save money versus blowing twenty dollars on a mediocre pizza and five dollar shity beers.

(29) Saturday
Soon I can get out of here and head up north and enjoy a stay at this resort called Towoc... near champaign beach. Getting as far away from my school is the best thing possible.

I hate my site I am assigned but I should try and not be so hostile towards this place.. they are not all mean like my principal. So... sorry I went off the other day and bashed everything as much as possible. And even though I hate kava does mean I should call it crap.

5:45am
The sunrise was really beautiful this morning. And No stupid music from my cruel principal.
Double win.

7:45am
I woke from one of my strangest dreams in as long as I can remember. Maybe the hope that this whole nightmare is coming to an end is allowing me to remember my dreams again. I was in a Vanuatu wasteland of buildings some decaying and others were new ones being made. I was attacked and chased by dogs, lured into strange seductive cavernous mazes and bizarre dragon like creature again attacked me but I survived and in the end I woke up feeling like I ran the gauntlet of horrors and made it out alive.

11:30am
We had one last big group that went to Aore Island and we goofed off at the pool for hour and hours.

On the Boat with Rich and Hunter and Mike, the three returning volunteers from Santo.

This photo is me with Daria and her animal Filo... It was super sunny and I used my iphone to take this shot, so this photo got a bit blurry too bad it is blurry she's very beautiful and her dog is cute.

6:00pm
So Bryan, Kate, Amanda, this Kiwi volunteer, Rich and I hung out at my house and watched a great movie called Brazil. I can't believe they have never seen this movie before. The sound was shit on it I think my copy of the movie was with a bad sound track.

(30) Sunday

Today... I woke up and made some breakfast and now just sitting and thinking about what today might entail. One option is to go with Rich and find a place way upstream on the Saracata River and jump from cliffs into the water. I thought today we were BBQ'ing and I already invited the baby docs... but they is ok if we don't they might not show up anyway.

9:30am
Amanda my house guest is going to go Aore Island again, she forgot her special suntan lotion there and hopes to find it. I doubt it will be there.

3:30pm
Just returned from the last river plunge with Rich on the Saracata. I took some photos... here they are:

5:30pm
Going away grill party photos taken:

Week 34 - Exploring up north

Nov 17- 23

(17) Monday
Went up the coast trying to get to Port Orly. That failed but we made it to Champaign beach and camped at this Nivan owned resort called Towoc Bungalows run by this lady Jannet Toto. She is pretty great. And here are some photos of it.

It was a unexpected ordeal to get to the site we stayed at... I knew it could be as much as 5000 to get from town to port orly but there is a bus that brings people into town and then back home. The bus in from Port Orly is starts at 6am and costs 500vt and the bus back to Orly from luganville is around 3pm same price. We missed the first bus so then there are some trucks that go there and we tried to get a ride with one but he wanted 1000vt. Val hates it when she feels that she is being cheated or given an unfair price so we passed on that and instead looked for a vehicle that would go to Champagne Beach for 500vt. It took a while but we eventually found one. It was pretty funny the ride in this bus. We waited for about 30 minutes for some mama's to make their way back to the bus stop (if you want to call it that) which was at a gas station, Pacific Gas Station, but buses don't leave without out I guess or maybe they are such regular riders that to leave without them would hurt his business since each bus acts as an independant business. Anyway once they finally came back we made five maybe six pit stops to pick up more produce and fuel and so on... (I was waiting for a chicken to appear in the bus to make it have that whole developing world feel to it but it didn't) then we finally go toward our destination. I was worried a bit because first off we never fully booked our stay, it was getting late and there would be a chance it was full or not available for us to stay at. I was glad I bought bug spray a lighter and my head lamp in case we had to spend a night out on the beach.

We finally get there after about an hour driving... and the resort was nearly abandoned only one newly wed couple was staying there in a bungalow.  They set up our tent on the beach we walked around the point to the beach and then returned to the resort's dining house, ate a little bit of food and then pretty much crashed. Semi anti-climatic but happily so. I would have been unhappy being eaten alive by mosquitos on the beach.

(18) Tuesday
It was fun day but a shitty night because of the rainstorm that soaked the tent I was sleeping in. Oh well. Not that big a deal.

I took a bunch of photos so I will post them up now and let that work for a few hours and then backfill some stories about this trip

(19) Wednesday
I just got back home and I was a little stressed but things are ok. The internet problem was all TVL's fault and my counterpart was able to resolve it... WOOHOO... that was a good thing because it means he is learning some stuff from me.

I sat and watched a little of the football game but ran home to get my soaking wet clothing washed and then check on my fam back home... today is my Niece's birthday. She turned 11. Happy birthday Mila.


Oh this photo I took as well and had to post it too:

(20) Thursday
My couch surfer has headed off to her final dive today and I wish her the best on her journey's... she was fun.

So today is Hunters going away kava thing. I offered hosting a BBQ for him in the afternoon via Stafford but have not heard if he wants to do that or not. If he does cool if not whatever. So we will go to his place near his house and that is cool nokemal.

Might be working out with Rich in a bit at about 9am it is 8:17 now.

And I am curious how this whole talk with my principal will go down with Peace Corps admins. He (my Head Master) does not want to allow me to work on secondary sites.

1:00pm
After a workout with rich I went up to get money from the accountant at the school so I could pick up the power supply and fix a PC... then my principal asked to talk with me... the conversation was a bit confusing. What I understood from it was in bits and pieces... He Barthélémy (my principal) is of these beliefs

1) There will be a meeting to discuss my working at Malo (Isabelle, Peace Corps and Barthélémy )
2) I might move to a different site early next year after I finish work at College de Luganville
3) My Principal said I need to ask permission for doing secondary project work
4) My principal said Antoine agreed with him that I need to say I am sorry.

So few more conversations I corrected these statements with Peace Corps informing them that:
1) I have had meetings with Isabelle and my principal about work on malo / no sneaking off business
2) I have only gone there 4-5 times and only once have I not informed him of going there
3) I have only done evaluation "work" not actual construction and these were half days
4) Work at Malo has not interfered with work at the college
5) My Peace Corps admin Antoine should help defend me and not fold like a dead fish.
6) I ask the school to help me perform some sustainable work 10 or 20 times at the school and they FAIL to engage in any work... so I sit and wait for them to come and look for me. I am losing faith they will ever be willing to do the work.
7) Peace Corps encourages secondary projects. I should NOT have to ask permission to work on them... it should only be a courtesy that I inform them of my whereabouts for safety reasons...
8) As long as secondary projects do not interfere with my work at the school there should be no problem. BUT my principal does not want to allow me to do any work outside his location even if there is no impact to work at his school.

These all lead me to thinking that this site is not really an ideal location for a Peace Corps Volunteer.

And my Country Director Agrees. So next we will try and give them one last chance to get their act together or I will move sites.

6:00pm
It was one of the last big kava gathering of peace corps in Santo everyone but Jes who is already back home or going home... Sam, Mike and Mike, Bryan & Kate, Hunter (an hour late), Maureen was there, Rich, myself. It was an interesting time hearing about how Mike Hawkins is no longer extending because he was denied his extension... I was looking forward to hanging out with him next year. He put it this sort this way... "you know you feel after being in a unhealthy relationship and then getting dumped... you see how bad it was and the magical cloud that was around you is gone and you see it for what it was worth... it feels like Vanuatu dumped me."

So mike is out. Then My shit.

It was an interesting kava.

(21) Friday
Well today is the earliest date possible to get our pay in the bank I have seen it deposited on the 21st before and as late as the 27th. Let's hope it shows up today because I am broke again.

Hope nothing ugly goes down today but I know the CD (country director Keith Honda) is talking to my school and trying to resolve the problems I am having there.

Painfully slow day. Tried to get a old school printer onto the network but the touch screen interface is not working... and locked up on the password screen. I wish they did not have that stupid password screen. I mean the printer is in the office... why do you need a password.

(22) Saturday
Today was one of the better days I have had in a while... started off slow just made some breakfast and then I hung out with Daria and we went to beach front. It was really nice.

After that I met up with Rich and Kate and Bryan... and we headed off to Ban Ban... to meet with with his host family and eat a little food. It was supposed to be a marriage celebration and to check on if they guy would buy his bike... turns out no. But after we went to the coolidge dive site to look at the bioluminescent algae and it was scary being in the water at night but we found them and they were amazing. Cool stuff.

(23) Sunday
Just spoke with my parents about the condo back home and things are looking good.

Then Rich came over and I made him a wheat pancake and scrambled egg with pork, tomatoes, onion and a bit of curry and potatoes... and that was a hit. I like to put a bit of strawberry on top with syrup and butter. Almost made him pass out from being so stuffed. I wonder where MIke Hawkins is.

This afternoon we are having a small BBQ and watch some movies.

6:42pm
It was a nice day... weather was great a little hot but sunny and beautiful sunset... we started grilling some steaks potatoes pineapples. Bryan surprised us with some kool aid, grape flavor.

After that Dari showed up and went to Beachfront, Rich Kate, Bryan Daria and myself. Then we returned to my place and watched a really weird movie called the Rover. Not sure I would recommend it. Slow moving. Kind of pointless. Rich feel asleep but he had a dog sleeping next to him so I think it was better he slept than watch the movie.

Week 33 - A new visitor

(10) Monday

Very slow day... just reading and playing some video games. But this friday a new friend will visiting Valerie should be fun.

Not sure what to write about, with Tim's visit over and only myself at the house it is suddenly less lively. It was fun having a group of guy's just goofing off and watching movies until late for days on end and grilling. Those are great memories.

I made a decent meal at least I should experiment more with some stir frying.

6:00pm
Missing ultimate frisbee but had an excellent day of sleeping and doing nothing much at all. Managed to hit LCM and restock on things but until I have to I am trying to not spend a single vatu.

I have to pray my condo gets rented soon... If not I am just going to bleed money to death. Please please please Metro god of rental units... please find me a renter soon.

Other than worrying about going broke I read some and thought about writing which is not as good as writing.

(11) Tuesday

What to do... read, maybe? Go to my lab and transfer money to pay off mortgage yeah fun times... I need a renter stat or I am going to suffer financially soon. I guess it snowed a ton back home too making moving into a place less exciting for people... Oh god... why did I ever buy that property.

Workman came and took the concrete drill I was using for all the fix ups on my house. With only one or two left to go I figure I don't really care if he takes it now.

My brother is visiting my parents house this week with my niece being there too I wish I was able to skype with them. I will try now...

(12) Wednesday
It was pretty close to a do nothing day. I did the pushup challenge with Rich which seemed pretty hard 250 push ups.

After that I did nothing really... ate a little read a little. Played FTL a bunch and killed time but really it was an extremely boring day.

(13) Thursday
Slow day as well. I let my neighbor use my computer for a skype session for an application for a university in New Zealand. I think her odd are slim at best. She has no connections in New Zealand, not place to stay, no job, no grants. I think they would like her to come but there seems no way to make that a reality. Fingers crossed for her.

Valerie is in town and I would like to run into her today if possible but if not that is ok too.

Went into town saw mike hawkins... but not much else was going on.

I would like to get a new power supply for a burned out one.

(14) Friday
I woke up and was considering doing something then read and fell back to sleep. About 7:45 a rap at my door woke me and it was my deputy principal. He asked me in the typical vanuatu way of asking by telling me to come with him and and bring my camera. I am literally reduced to a man with a camera. So I figured following him might break up the monotonous day. We went into town and behind LCM there is some kind of conference room called the VNPF. Inside there were a ton of people. It was a graduation ceremony for some year 8 kids. I took some photos and listened to their speeches. They were pretty funny.

One lady said some especially funny stuff... she asked what is the value of your life. No one answers of course so she went on her ramble. It was funny because she got all scientific on them... She told them the body if 70 percent water, then some carbon and fat and iron and other elements and so on... but that the value of those raw materials is about 8000vt about 80 bucks. She then asked are you only worth 80 dollars. It as a trick question. She then said her next blerb on her fun rant. She told them the body is composed of some 8 with 27 zeros of atoms. With that little science fact she pulled out a bag of peas. And said imagine each one of these peas as an atom. If we covered the whole planet 4 feet deep in peas, that would not be as many atoms in your body. It would take hundreds of planets covered in feet of peas to equal your amount of atoms. Then she added one more science fact about how much electrical energy a body creates in our lifetime and how much that equates in power / cost, some 77 million dollars. All this and more in a short little congrats speech she used to try inspire these kids to feel like their lives are important. It was an unexpected speech.

Then I ducked out and went and ate a pizza. After which I got an estimate for a power supply and then walked home to take a nap.

(16) Saturday
So we had a slow start Valerie and myself... but after a few episodes of Broad City and some breakfast we headed for the wharf and took a boat to Aore Islands and walked about for a few hours there to the hidden beach.

Took only a couple photos:

(17) Sunday

Not sure what the plan is for today. We just woke up it is 6:34am and the weather appears nicer than yesterday. Several option 1) Go to a blue hole 2) Millennium caves 3) go South Santo to visit Hawkins and I am not sure which one we will attempt to do.

We ended up going to beach front and swimming then having a grill party later. Pretty small get together.