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.