My New Favorite Song...Ever

Well..other than "Like A Prayer."



This is a group called Rupa and the April Fishes. I really like this song becuase it reminds me of me life in NC and of my Dad. She is a Dr. and a muscian and really gives it all in her songs. She is one of my new favorites. I ordered her CD and I hope it comes really soon! Give it a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGcAp3GBk6k

I used to dream of my red ship
That would take me away from here
To the open sea to the biggest blue
Complete with the cast of unsavory crew
That would show me things
That I shouldn't do

Well the masts were tall and impressive
And the old wood creaked perfectly too
And the full sails held promises of something true
And when we get bored of the way treat you--> (not sure of the words here..if someone knows)
We'll simply set a course for the moon

To my suprise as I've grown older
Living these days like dreams with you
I've discovered this ship waits inside my chest
And the winds fill its sail of the days I like best
Well it takes me it takes me alone
To this strange world that I've never known

Now I don't know when tides will call me
Away from the sweet life with you
And I wish...I wish I could stay forever
But since I was young I knew that was never
Such a thing but this wishful thinking

And so our stories rising while our lives are sinking
In time I will kiss you goodbye
On my way I will kiss you goodbye
Don't wanna go but I'll kiss you goodbye

wow....that is just a GREAT song! I hope you guys listen and like it too!!

Miss you,

D

"I take weapon and sut Defngad."---> sut =shoot

or

"The person that is most wisdom is Deven. i like him becuase he has lots of cash." -->Do I?!!?

There are some prime examples of the work I got today. The prompt was, "Write a paragraph about the wisest person you know. Use four vocabulary words in the paragraph."

My favorite:
"Devin is the wisest person I know. I am fond of the way he teaches us. Sometime he threatened us to do our work in classwork. He is nice because he lend us his arasus" (erasers..which we fixed later by sounding it out).

So...I just thought I would share with you a small taste of school here. Sometimes it's so funny! For example: One time I asked the students where their thighs were. Yapese women are NOT supposed to show their thighs...it's dirty. Well..they didn't know. I ask a student Defngad to stand. "Defngad...touch your thighs." The look on his face...he thought I asked him to touch something he shouldn't right in front of the whole class. Trust me...my Yapese counterparts and I laughed about that one for days.

Other times....Yap is odd. My principal, who is white and American, showed me a note from the last principle to all the staff saying, "I know we are not Americans. We will never be Americans and we can't work like Americans." He and I just sighed and shook our heads. How are people supposed to take your seriously when you place yourself in that kind of position? Very weird.

Other times, especially with drunken friends, it's hilarious here. Tori, who is great, said it best. We were playing a game of Battle of the Sexes. A card game that girls ask boys--GIRL questions and boys and girls--BOY questions. Complete gender stereotyping came...I am sure you can imagine.

One of the questions Tori asked while drinking, "What type of orGASim is a truffle?" All of us looked at each other...I quickly thought to myself, "I didn't know those had a name!!" Then I yelled out, "Oh No...you mean OrGANism!!" We all just died...especially Tori. She wasn't even phased as she was reading and she was waiting for the answer! What a fun day that was.

Other times, it's just sad. There are things I can't talk about on here...because it's just not appropriate...but...if you ever want to know I can tell you stories that make the eyes water. Sometimes this job is hard and not because of the teaching.

Mostly, it's an interesting journey. I have dreamed of being in the Peace Corps since high school. The idealism is tarnished for me now. I am trying my best yet, one thing I learned: Not all dreams that come true are happy ones. It's been an interesting juxtaposition for me. I have way too much time to think too..which doesn't help!

Anyway, just finished reading, Hannibal by Thomas Harris. Man...did the movie version change or what?!?! The plot is essentially the same...but wow....some of the changes were crazy! Anway...as I always say: I miss you all.

Perhaps some interesting news in the near future. I will keep you posted.

Yap Day is coming up, March 1st and 2nd. I will dress traditionally again! Lots of pictures, I promise.

Be good!

Love,
D

You Must Be My Lucky Star/All She Wants to Do is Dance!

So...gross/fun combo for you all!!

As you know the water to my home was broken over the weekend. Well..during the weekend...nature came calling and I had to GO! It was nighttime and under the most amazing sky that I have ever seen in my life...I did the business!

It was the weirdest feeling ever...not being an avid camper...or ever really going to the bathroom outside of the house much. So...when I was done...I just sat on the overhanging rocks and watched the sky until is was too cloudy to see anything.

Since light pollution is so little here you can see hundred of stars. This is also the first time I have ever really seen a star twinkle. I know we have all heard the old song..."Twinkle, Twinkle" but it take on a whole new meaning when you actually see it. I will take pictures of our over the ocean toilet for you all to see. The toilet paper was newspaper and I just had to laugh. At first I thought it was reading material but Yap is not the place to lounge in the toilet area.

Some of you may be thinking, "Good God! Why on earth is he sharing this"?!!? Well...it's a part of the culture here. Not everyone has flush toilets. In fact, few do. I found it to be great that ours was outside and didn't have the festering smell like in Pohnpei!

Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo! Gross but fun!

Then...on Sunday I went to a village dance! What a great dance. Screaming, yelling, dancing, topless people all around. Followed by a huge meal complete with a roasted pig. They cook it in an underground pit and serve it with skin, fat, and all. It gives a new meaning to the words: Pig Picking. Man...I was doing some picking.

The dance was a "stick dance" with bamboo people use to swing around and make crashing noises and yell at the top of their lungs. It is really loud and the feeling is amazing. Everyone is in traditional attire: thuw, turmeric with coconut oils, nu-nus (flower leis), ankle coverings. It was awesome. I really liked wearing all that stuff for swear in. So it's really interesting to see the Yapese people wearing it. The turmeric turns their skin to this golden brown...like honey coated chocolate (GO India.Arie). I got some video and I doubt I will be able to post it...but I will at least put up some pictures in the next few days.

Anyway, no more poop news...just thought I would share!! I miss you all...and my toilet too!

Much Love,
D