Christmas, New Year's, and roaches

Well first, I want to start with a list of books I have read since being here. Don’t ask me why I want to start with this, I don’t know, but I have often been asked what we do when the power goes out and it’s night time, and well, we read. I will also include a rating system where one * is pretty bad and 5 * are pretty darn good. So here is my book list:
Istanbul - Orhan Pamuk *****
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - ***
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - ***
Confessions of an Economic Hitman - John Perkins ****
A Legacy of Ashes - Tim Weiner (a history of the CIA) *****
A Fool’s Gold - Bill Merritt ***
The Fire this Side - Julian Augon (sp?) A collection of essays on Chomorro independence. ***
Soul Mountain - Gao Xingjian ****
Becoming Who You Are - James Martin S.J. ****
The Language of God - (written by the man who headed the uman genome project, I had to give the book back and I forgot to write down his name) ****
Snow - Orhan Pamuk *****
China - Enabling a New Era of Changes - World Economic Forum - Pam C.M. Mar and Frank Jurgen Richter ****
A Peace to End all Peace - Fromkin ****
The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein ***

I am currently working on The Scramble for Africa but it is so damn dense that I had to put it down for a while. Now I am reading The First Taint of Civilization: a history of the Caroline and Marshall Islands in Pre-Colonial Days, 1521 - 1885. Then I will move onto this book called A Farewell to Alms: a brief economic history of the world.
So there is my book list, pillage at your own discretion. As you can tell, I am a pretty easy grader.

Well, it’s New Year’s Eve day and the weather is beautiful. We have been on an amazing streak of power for the last month, but then the island generator broke and there was no power two nights ago and sketchy power last night. But tonight is looking optimistic. I do not know what I am going to do yet, there is not exactly a lot going on... Also, I vow to talk as minimally about basketball as possible this time because I have heard that Katie Meyers isn’t a huge basketball writing fan. And I like Katie so damn much that I could not refuse such a request, and plus it came from a pretty amazing medium.

The Pohnpei JV’s have come and gone. In between, we had a blast. It was so great to see Luke and Jo, and to finally meet Megan. I had heard rumors about how much fun Megan is and now I can spread them myself. We went to Pisar. It is a little flat island, well actually like three islands, out on the reef and they are basically uninhabited. It was great to get out there and read and swim and play. I have not laughed that hard in a long time. Our communication with Pohnpei was difficult so the organization of the retreat was not perfect, and I think Pohnpei felt under prepared because they did not find out the theme or their role until they arrived in Chuuk. But they all did very well.

Christmas went pretty well, but honestly, in my mind it is all running together. A couple packages and letters I had received from home were hidden from me by Jessie, one of my roommates, and then they showed up under the Christmas tree on the morning of the 25th. It was wonderful. I can honestly say that I am absolutely overwhelmed by the support I have received from everyone at home. I really am blessed in that way.

So I have a story, that I think is pretty interesting. The night of the 21st Michael Gall, a Peace Corps volunteer, who went to Xavier with Jessie, stayed over and he stayed in the downstairs apartment with me. Michael’s family is in the pest control business. And we have cockroaches. Michael purchased two cans of bug spray and we went to work. I use the term "we" very loosely because it was mainly Mike, I just sprayed where he told me. We tore apart the kitchen and canvassed the bathroom. By the end of the ordeal we counted 45 cocraoches, that we could see, either dying or dead. I would say that the total number is close to 90 or 100. The ants are thrilled. They had a feast. So we really cleaned up the place for Pohnpei!
Also, a sidenote, as I write this, I keep hearing more and more pigs squealing as they are slaughtered for the New Year’s feast. It is an interesting sound.

Moving on,

Jake, a Peace Corps volunteer, and myself have been working on this project. Jake started it in August, then we were talking about a month ago, about things we would like to do in Chuuk or things that we find necessary. I described to him an organization that would promote health awareness and local food. Focusing on local food as a way, a small way, to help the economy. And then Jake explained that he already had the ball rolling on that exact project. There is still some debate about the name but it sounds like it will be the Island Food Community of Chuuk. We are currently trying to become incorporated and the support from everyone in the community has been so overwhelmingly positive. We had an excellent day yesterday obtaining the signatures and support of some very knowledgeable people in the community and I am really excited to see where this goes in the next two years!

As is always the case, the holidays are never easy. And this one is no exception. It seems like everyone back home is doing something scary or important or relevant and I can’t help but find my mind wandering to their adventures. Then, inevitably, missing them. Things here can be hard, but worth it. Everything, from the island to the people are so beautiful. I am truly lucky to be able to be a part of the island community here.

For our retreat we were supposed to give oral histories, storytelling. And my story was about a time in high school where I found myself on a rocky beach after the tide had just gone out and everywhere I stepped the phosphorescence glowed blues, turquoises, greens, and cyans. But my point about all of this was light. How amazing I find light and how easy it is to be amazed and awed by light. Especially here in the islands.

The light is bright and hot, but not harsh. It is clear and crisp yet changing. It is unlike any light I have ever experienced. My point was that when I am able to stop and be amazed, when I am able to stop and admire the light, I know that things are going pretty well. And lately I have admired, almost daily, the beautiful Micronesian light. Illuminating a translucent lagoon and decorating the lush hills. I have watched it paint the clouds in broad brush strokes and puncture thousands of tiny holes in the dark blanket of night. And I have been amazed.
I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read this and for all your support and love, it really means a lot. I would also like to say that if you didn’t like my little spiel on light blame Brad Reynolds. If he wouldn’t have gotten me hooked on this whole photography thing I never would have been amazed by light in the way I am now.... So it’s all his fault. Thanks Brad!