Last weekend was the staff retreat. Instead of going back to Pisar, which I would have preferred, we went to Blue Lagoon. It ended up working out since we were evidently on the outskirts of a typhoon, and it poured the entire weekend. We were stuck on the road for a few hours in Penia - the bus broke down and even though we were frustratingly close to Xavier, it took forever to get us up and running with another vehicle. While at the resort on Saturday, we did a couple of short “reflections” and played a staff bonding game (which the chick team won, of course!) but mostly just hung out on the porch drinking $.50 coffee and swimming in the rain off the resort’s beach, which was waveless and shallow. It was nice having a warm shower, but only because the rooms were treacherously cold with air conditioning, something I’m not sure I expected myself to think while living in Micronesia. We played cards, went to the bar, and then for another night swim in which the water was warmer than the air outside. Besides the resort breakfast, today was much like any Sunday – working and watching the weather from the porch while chatting or playing guitar. When there’s nothing specific to occupy your time, the days creep slowly by while the weeks are over in a flash.

On Tuesday night, it was my turn to lead porch prayer. I’m never crazy for forced or mandatory prayer, but I like having a time set aside each week to come together. I told a story about heaven and hell that Jonathon used to tell us every year at Arts Camp. I also recited a Shabbat prayer which I’m not sure our director was too happy with, but if working in a completely different country within a completely different culture teaches you anything, it should be to open your mind.

Thursday was Thanksgiving, a day I really missed spending with my family, especially since Xavier doesn’t do much to observe it. We had a ceremony for KDDI, a Japanese technology corporation that donated 22 new computers to us. Joyful’s father, the Chuuk Supreme Court Chief Justice, came to present the Japanese ambassador and KDDI representatives. The juniors sang the Japanese national anthem, and the rest of the school sang the FSM anthem. 22 computers will make a huge difference for our school, plus the ones we will eventually receive from NYU. Thanksgiving itself was nice – everyone ate turkey, pasta, mashed potatoes and stuffing. But no pie!! The food was good, and it was nice to be together, but obviously it wasn’t the same as being home with my family. Of course, it’s one step closer to the holidays though, which is a comforting thought. As quickly as time is flying by, it’s still hard to believe I have another semester here since all I’m anticipating is going to Guam – it feels like a homecoming since I’ll be with my family, even though I’ll still be so far away. Friends and family are already planning things for when I return. I know I’ll look forward to going home, but after seeing people come and go here, I also realize it will be a sad, surreal event to leave.

Today has been quiet. The power was out all day except for a couple of midday hours. I did some grading and chatting, and then Meg and I went to the Korean Research Center to visit our host dad for a few hours. We sat in lounge chairs drinking soda and talking as best with could with the language barrier. Getting off campus, if just for a little while, can be so relieving and refreshing. Mr. Kim invited us to go diving with him tomorrow, but there is so much to do now that we’re nearing the end of the semester that I’m not sure I can spare the time, as much as I wish that I could. Even still, I manage to put things off. Right now, I’m sitting on the porch with the cook, surrounded by the smoke of barbecue and watching the dusky sky rapidly churn into darkness. Yesterday I sat in this same spot drinking a coconut and looking out at a massive rainbow scan the entire length of the horizon, and darkened silhouettes of boys running around the field, or sitting in the rec house playing ukulele. I spend a lot of time sitting and thinking, or watching – which is how the Chuukese spend a lot of their time in general, but when I finally have to move, those periods of quiet always seem so rushed.

A note from my student

One of my students affectionately left this note on the back of her test paper, and it made me smile so I thought I'd share it:

Ms. Lydia/Mama Dia -
Sorry if I fail! thanx for the fun classes... we should play more games! and you should try wearing mumu's (Chuukese dresses) to class sometime! :)
love always, Gayhalla 234

She didn't fail, by the way. She got 97.
I'll try to update for real sometime this weekend.

Things have been quiet here at Xavier which is why I haven’t been writing as often. I’ve settled into a groove of teaching which occupies most of my time, and sadly I’m not able to experience as much of the culture as I’d like to. I’ll frequently take runs or drives into town where I’ll meet a few people, but generally, the Xavier community is isolated from the general population of Chuuk.

There are a couple of events coming up in the next few weeks. Greg is coming to visit in the beginning of December right after Xavier Day, a field day type event for the students where teams compete against each other in certain sports (I think mostly track/field and softball). I’m still unsure if teachers are involved or just kind of watch, but either way it will be interesting. Staff retreat was supposed to be last weekend, again on Pisar, but because of weather and general disorganization, it didn’t happen. It might be this upcoming Saturday into Sunday, but again, things like this are usually decided last minute. There seems also to be a general lull among a good portion of the faculty; relaxation and quiet time seems to now be a greater priority than traveling all over the place, which is fair. Trying to have adventures every weekend is an exhausting ambition, especially considering our weeks are anything but laid back. I did manage a journey to the Japanese Lighthouse last week with Tom and his family, who are currently visiting. It was a much easier and faster walk than up to Witipwon, but the view might be even more spectacular than it was from the mountain. As usual, my going was a snap decision and I didn’t have time to grab my camera which was a shame since it was a beautiful, but exceptionally hot day, and the panorama view from the lighthouse was extraordinary.

Although times have become a little more uneventful in some senses, we still fill the daylight hours with as much activity as possible. Yesterday we watched the first home game of the boys’ basketball team. Xavier games aren’t that popular since we only have a concrete, outdoor court, but Saram agreed to come up and play anyway. The game was close – the score was often only one or two points difference, but eventually, in overtime, Saram beat us 62-60. It was really fun to watch – this is the second time I’ve seen Xavier play – and even more fun to hear the spirit of the rest of the students; another aspect of Xavier Day to look forward to.
With only four more weeks left of classes, I’m getting more and more excited for Christmas vacation in Guam. I can’t wait to see my family, and maybe more so enjoy a relatively luxurious two weeks away. Part of me wishes my family could come to Chuuk and see where I’ve actually been living and meet the people I’ve been spending all my time with, but I can’t help the excitement of going somewhere new, and somewhere with amenities. A part of me is also eager to temporarily escape the tensions and lack of privacy that naturally come along with sharing space with a small group of people 24/7. I think I’ll appreciate everyone and everything more after being away for a little while – I’ll also be excited to meet all of the new volunteers coming in January!