What would you bring if you could only choose 3 things??
Send responses (and updates!!) to:
Alyssa Gruett, PCV
Falalop, Ulithi
YAP, FSM 96943
Hope you all had a very merry Christmas!!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
My First Micronesian Kiss
10-27-08
I had another beautiful moment last night. The kind that you want to remember forever. One that you will always look back on and smile. One that is strong enough to give you hope in even the toughest of times. It takes place in a thunderstorm, in the middle of youth center, or to the American eye an outdoor cement basketball court. Initially I was there to spy. I was spying on my competition for the upcoming dance on Friday night, another night that I am sure will be documentation worthy. Anyways, my magic moment. As I was sitting in the shadows spying, the rain began coming down by the buckets. It was heavy, it was cold, and it was down-right scary especially if you were a three year old. While there were several other people around, three of the little children from my host family came to me. They could have gone to anyone. Everyone else there they had known their whole lives, instead they came to me, someone they had known for just a few days. I was sitting on ground and they all climbed into my lap. We all huddled together and with my arms wrapped all around them, providing protection, we swayed. Together, Clifford, Cedric, Rennet and I would be safe from the rain. Eventually the rain let up for a little bit and the music turned back on. The kids made a game of getting up to dance and then rush back to sit on my lap. At one point Cedric was running around and playing so hard that he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going and slipped on the wet pavement, bouncing his head off the concrete. Instantly there were tears. In a matter of moments he was back in my arms, my arms that Clifford never left, and shortly once the rain started again, Rennet was right back in as well. The rain seemed to last forever. My legs went numb, but we continued to sit there and sway, even after the rain had stopped. We watched the ladies begin to dance again, and both Clifford and Rennet feel asleep in my arms. The ladies danced on. Then, after awhile, Cedric turned his head to look up at me, wrapped his little arms around my head, and kissed my cheek. I melted.
I had another beautiful moment last night. The kind that you want to remember forever. One that you will always look back on and smile. One that is strong enough to give you hope in even the toughest of times. It takes place in a thunderstorm, in the middle of youth center, or to the American eye an outdoor cement basketball court. Initially I was there to spy. I was spying on my competition for the upcoming dance on Friday night, another night that I am sure will be documentation worthy. Anyways, my magic moment. As I was sitting in the shadows spying, the rain began coming down by the buckets. It was heavy, it was cold, and it was down-right scary especially if you were a three year old. While there were several other people around, three of the little children from my host family came to me. They could have gone to anyone. Everyone else there they had known their whole lives, instead they came to me, someone they had known for just a few days. I was sitting on ground and they all climbed into my lap. We all huddled together and with my arms wrapped all around them, providing protection, we swayed. Together, Clifford, Cedric, Rennet and I would be safe from the rain. Eventually the rain let up for a little bit and the music turned back on. The kids made a game of getting up to dance and then rush back to sit on my lap. At one point Cedric was running around and playing so hard that he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going and slipped on the wet pavement, bouncing his head off the concrete. Instantly there were tears. In a matter of moments he was back in my arms, my arms that Clifford never left, and shortly once the rain started again, Rennet was right back in as well. The rain seemed to last forever. My legs went numb, but we continued to sit there and sway, even after the rain had stopped. We watched the ladies begin to dance again, and both Clifford and Rennet feel asleep in my arms. The ladies danced on. Then, after awhile, Cedric turned his head to look up at me, wrapped his little arms around my head, and kissed my cheek. I melted.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
It's A Jungle, but to Her It's Paradise
10/24(ish)/08
I tell ya what (Redneck, much?) those Peace Corps people are smarter than they let on! They best thing they did when placing me, was put me on an island that is 3,000 ft at it's longest point! I wonder if they knew I was a wanderer...
Anyways, it was amazing!
I started out yesterday with the desire to walk around the island. So I got on one of the trails that I knew would take me to the shore. Then I started walking to my left. After awhile things started to look familiar- I was headed right to the cemetery! The cemetery where I was suppose to be working with all the women! We have been cleaning it everyday this week for an upcoming festival. Here, cleaning basically means using a machete and your hands to pull all of the grass, weeds, and other random things off the graves and rocks surrounding them. Mind you, we are on the equator, and we do this during the day, and there isn't always shade.
I just wanted a day to explore- not work.
I'm probably going to be punished. Sad day.
Anyway, I didn't want to walk past the cemetery, so I followed a new path, then a new one, then another one. I played the game right-left-right-left attempting to go in the direction of the loud roaring waves.
It wasn't too long before the path disappeared. I marched on, climbing over and under trees and bushes, through spider webs and ant hills. I loved it, I felt like Mowgli. So I started singing "The bear necessities of life." Augusta would have been proud! It was so beautiful!
The trees, the plants, the flowers, the weird electric red little beetles! I was lost in paradise. Occasionally I would come across a weird collection of rocks. I didn't know if they were the remains of an abandoned house-or some type of tomb- I liked pretending it was an ancient ruin. I also came to the point I had to climb up and down some weird slopes. Upon further exploration, I was intrigued (our island is relatively flat) I discovered that they were more like giant holes or craters in the ground. These were craters left over from the bombings of World War II.
Thank you America.
This island used to be a Japanese military base. Did I mention the whole island is covered by whole layer of concrete? Needless to say, growing food here is a little bit of a challenge. There are also other remains that decorate our shorelines- engines, vehicles, barrels, etc- giving our pristine beaches extra flare. It's sickening.
I also find it weird none of the locals ever talk about how many of them died or were hurt during the bombings/ war. It's only "So many Japanese died- so many Americans died." It's not like the locals went anywhere- or had bomb shelters to hide in! Coconut trees are amazing, but I am doubtful they can serve as adequate protection in a time of war.
All in all though, my exploration yesterday was amazing.
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Journey Begins
Monday, September 8th, 2008
The journey begins today. “All of my bags are packed and I’m ready to go,” just a couple more heartfelt goodbyes and I’ll be on with the show! Bad rhyme, I apologize. Up until today, it did not really hit me that I was leaving. I have been saying goodbye to people for weeks now, and at times I got a little worked up, but was always the hidden crier. Today, however, my emotions ran wild. I am guessing my lack of sleep the nights before may have had a little something special to add to it as well. It started when I left my house, I had to say goodbye to Ringo. Tear, tear, heaving tear. Then I picked up my Grandma who had some amazing and uplifting things to say about me and keeping my faith. Please do not tell her this, but I lied to her. She asked me if I packed my mustard seed (even with faith as small as a mustard seed, great things can be accomplished), I told her I did. Truth is, it is sitting in my special sea shell box, above my bed, in the room my dad built me after I moved to college. Please don’t tell her I physically do not have it. I carry it in my heart everyday.
On the ride to the airport, I finally figured out a way to discretely ask my Grandma about a time in her life that no one is supposed to know about. Once again, I was amazed at her story, her memory and the hardships she had to face. She is such a remarkable woman. Now if you want to know the dirt, you better find your own discrete way to ask her.....but please do not tell her that I sent you!
At the airport, mind you the small airport, I met a man who had served two terms with the Peace Corps. He was actually headed back to Bangkok to visit one of the areas he had served. He had a lot of positive things to say, as well as some that scared my mom including some fun ones about dengue fever. He also showed us some of his pictures. I would have loved to continue talking to him, but my brother and two nieces walked in, and as normal, they won my attention.
We took what felt like a million pictures and threw some pennies in the wishing fountain. Augusta wished for her Auntie to come back safe with one penny, and with another one she wished to swim around with her Auntie. Then she threw in about five more pennies to really make the wishes come true, or maybe it was just for fun – she is only three (and a half)!
We then ate breakfast at the airport, exchanged teary eyed goodbyes, bear hugs and sloppy kisses, and then I was off.
Naturally it was much more emotional then I am letting on, but I thought I would spare you the emotional details. I will however say that I cried pretty much the whole way to Minneapolis. Especially when I saw my family - my fan club, standing outside the building, by the fence next to the runway, waving and cheering me off. Mom was even jumping up and down. Bonsai!
Flying always reminds me of my Grandma. This is because the first flight that always comes to mind when I board a plane is a flight Grandma and I took from Rhinelander, WI to Minneapolis, MN. This was probably the scariest airplane ride that I have ever been on. Needless to say, Rhinelander is a tiny airport, therefore, the airplane we traveled upon was also tiny. We were also traveling through quite the storm. There was lightning and thunder and extreme turbulence. In my mind it was comparable to being in a washing machine. We moved in circles – up, down, all around, it was nauseating! I was terrified. By the time we landed safely, and got off the plane, my poor Grandma’s arms were black and blue from me squeezing her so tight! Sorry again Grandma!
While waiting for my plane in Minneapolis I decided to take a break from my last minute reading that I was supposed to have done for my Peace Corps Training, and listen to some music. (Thanks Jason for helping me figure out technology!) Anyways, I think I was still a little tired, and emotional all because I got all worked up again while listening to a Michael Jackson song. In fact I wrote down the lyrics in my journal. Yeah, I am that cool.
“If you want to make the world a better place,
take a look at yourself and then make a change”
I will be happy to send a postcard to the first person who can tell me the name of the song that is from!
My flight to L.A. was a little more dry-eyed and eventful. I slept the first couple of hours, and then read most of the rest. Note, I did not say the events were exciting! Although I did have an interesting talk with the people sitting next to me. The good looking gentleman, who hogged my armrest a little too much, was also a world traveler who’s sister served in the Peace Corps in Romania. He never went to visit her. He did however travel around the world (he just spent nine months in Moscow, living in a hotel that cost his company $500 a night!), looking for places to build new Nestle factories. In fact, he was out in the L.A. area looking for a suitable place between here and Las Vegas to build a new factory. Every time we flew over a large amount of water he thought it was funny to say “that looks like a good place to build a factory, we could suck up all that water easy!” I thought it would have been funny if I punched him in his eye. He then offered me a ride to Pasadena when I told him my ride was going to be late picking me up. Hmmmm, that sounds like a lot of fun!?!
The lady on the other side of eager arm boy was a little more exciting to talk to. She was on her way to L.A. because her daughter was a top twenty finalist on some America’s Has Talent show. Sorry mom, her daughter wasn’t the four year old. Her daughter was 25, sang, and played the guitar. Cheer her on, her mom was funny.
It is funny how traveling makes you think such random thoughts. I think everyone could probably be a poet if they traveled all the time. Not saying I am going to do poetry now, it is just a had a lot of fun thoughts while in the air. Lucky for you I did not write them down, I had other priorities, like sleep!
I did however, reminisce about my last experience in L.A. and concluded that this time around the city of smog will be totally different. For example, last time I was here I came by train, this time, by plane. Last time I left L.A. to tour our country. This time I will be moving to a new country. Last time I traveled by limo, played V.I.P. and rubbed elbows with Paris Hilton, two nights in a row. This time, I don’t know who I am going to meet, but I have a feeling they are going to be a better quality than Paris! Last time, well to put it bluntly, things got a little wild. This time the wild takes on a whole new meaning!
Well, I have been up since 4:30 (L.A. time – 6:30 WI) and it is now 10am in WI. I am going to wake up Stacy
The journey begins today. “All of my bags are packed and I’m ready to go,” just a couple more heartfelt goodbyes and I’ll be on with the show! Bad rhyme, I apologize. Up until today, it did not really hit me that I was leaving. I have been saying goodbye to people for weeks now, and at times I got a little worked up, but was always the hidden crier. Today, however, my emotions ran wild. I am guessing my lack of sleep the nights before may have had a little something special to add to it as well. It started when I left my house, I had to say goodbye to Ringo. Tear, tear, heaving tear. Then I picked up my Grandma who had some amazing and uplifting things to say about me and keeping my faith. Please do not tell her this, but I lied to her. She asked me if I packed my mustard seed (even with faith as small as a mustard seed, great things can be accomplished), I told her I did. Truth is, it is sitting in my special sea shell box, above my bed, in the room my dad built me after I moved to college. Please don’t tell her I physically do not have it. I carry it in my heart everyday.
On the ride to the airport, I finally figured out a way to discretely ask my Grandma about a time in her life that no one is supposed to know about. Once again, I was amazed at her story, her memory and the hardships she had to face. She is such a remarkable woman. Now if you want to know the dirt, you better find your own discrete way to ask her.....but please do not tell her that I sent you!
At the airport, mind you the small airport, I met a man who had served two terms with the Peace Corps. He was actually headed back to Bangkok to visit one of the areas he had served. He had a lot of positive things to say, as well as some that scared my mom including some fun ones about dengue fever. He also showed us some of his pictures. I would have loved to continue talking to him, but my brother and two nieces walked in, and as normal, they won my attention.
We took what felt like a million pictures and threw some pennies in the wishing fountain. Augusta wished for her Auntie to come back safe with one penny, and with another one she wished to swim around with her Auntie. Then she threw in about five more pennies to really make the wishes come true, or maybe it was just for fun – she is only three (and a half)!
We then ate breakfast at the airport, exchanged teary eyed goodbyes, bear hugs and sloppy kisses, and then I was off.
Naturally it was much more emotional then I am letting on, but I thought I would spare you the emotional details. I will however say that I cried pretty much the whole way to Minneapolis. Especially when I saw my family - my fan club, standing outside the building, by the fence next to the runway, waving and cheering me off. Mom was even jumping up and down. Bonsai!
Flying always reminds me of my Grandma. This is because the first flight that always comes to mind when I board a plane is a flight Grandma and I took from Rhinelander, WI to Minneapolis, MN. This was probably the scariest airplane ride that I have ever been on. Needless to say, Rhinelander is a tiny airport, therefore, the airplane we traveled upon was also tiny. We were also traveling through quite the storm. There was lightning and thunder and extreme turbulence. In my mind it was comparable to being in a washing machine. We moved in circles – up, down, all around, it was nauseating! I was terrified. By the time we landed safely, and got off the plane, my poor Grandma’s arms were black and blue from me squeezing her so tight! Sorry again Grandma!
While waiting for my plane in Minneapolis I decided to take a break from my last minute reading that I was supposed to have done for my Peace Corps Training, and listen to some music. (Thanks Jason for helping me figure out technology!) Anyways, I think I was still a little tired, and emotional all because I got all worked up again while listening to a Michael Jackson song. In fact I wrote down the lyrics in my journal. Yeah, I am that cool.
“If you want to make the world a better place,
take a look at yourself and then make a change”
I will be happy to send a postcard to the first person who can tell me the name of the song that is from!
My flight to L.A. was a little more dry-eyed and eventful. I slept the first couple of hours, and then read most of the rest. Note, I did not say the events were exciting! Although I did have an interesting talk with the people sitting next to me. The good looking gentleman, who hogged my armrest a little too much, was also a world traveler who’s sister served in the Peace Corps in Romania. He never went to visit her. He did however travel around the world (he just spent nine months in Moscow, living in a hotel that cost his company $500 a night!), looking for places to build new Nestle factories. In fact, he was out in the L.A. area looking for a suitable place between here and Las Vegas to build a new factory. Every time we flew over a large amount of water he thought it was funny to say “that looks like a good place to build a factory, we could suck up all that water easy!” I thought it would have been funny if I punched him in his eye. He then offered me a ride to Pasadena when I told him my ride was going to be late picking me up. Hmmmm, that sounds like a lot of fun!?!
The lady on the other side of eager arm boy was a little more exciting to talk to. She was on her way to L.A. because her daughter was a top twenty finalist on some America’s Has Talent show. Sorry mom, her daughter wasn’t the four year old. Her daughter was 25, sang, and played the guitar. Cheer her on, her mom was funny.
It is funny how traveling makes you think such random thoughts. I think everyone could probably be a poet if they traveled all the time. Not saying I am going to do poetry now, it is just a had a lot of fun thoughts while in the air. Lucky for you I did not write them down, I had other priorities, like sleep!
I did however, reminisce about my last experience in L.A. and concluded that this time around the city of smog will be totally different. For example, last time I was here I came by train, this time, by plane. Last time I left L.A. to tour our country. This time I will be moving to a new country. Last time I traveled by limo, played V.I.P. and rubbed elbows with Paris Hilton, two nights in a row. This time, I don’t know who I am going to meet, but I have a feeling they are going to be a better quality than Paris! Last time, well to put it bluntly, things got a little wild. This time the wild takes on a whole new meaning!
Well, I have been up since 4:30 (L.A. time – 6:30 WI) and it is now 10am in WI. I am going to wake up Stacy
Sunday, November 9, 2008
I'm in love (with an island) and I don't care who knows it!
Hello everyone!! I am sorry it has been so long, but island life has been keeping me quite busy these days!!! It is SO amazing here, I can't believe everything I have seen and done already and I haven't even gotten to the island I will be staying on for the remainder of my time here. I have met some awesome people, and my family here is so good to me. I sometimes scare them because I want to do things like jump off cliffs into the water...I just can't help myself!! There are mountains so lush with vegetation and waterfalls and, oh, it's so great! Momma Allegra posted some pictures on Facebook, so take a peek. And thank you all so much for all your letters - I get the most out of everyone! I must go now - and you must make your travel plans to come see me and this beautiful land (and water)! And keep those letters coming ;)
Alyssa Joy
Alyssa Joy
Friday, October 17, 2008
e-mail 10/08/08
Hello friends, family, and all others who apply but don't think you fall into one of the previous categories.
My journey is finally about to begin! It has just been confirmed that the plane will finally fly, and I will be leaving tomorrow for an outer island of Yap! The island of Falalop. This is where I will be having my remaining language and technical training. I will finally be able to learn Ulithian! (I have been sitting in on the Yapese trainings for the past few days...and I am eager to start to learn something I will actually use on my island!)
Yap proper is beautiful, but I am so anxious to see what is yet in store for me! Unfortunately, I will not be on my permanent island of Federai until around the end of November( depending on when the ship/plane leave!)
So tomorrow is the day I say good bye to electricity, cars, internet, phones and all the other little luxuries I have become so accustomed to in my 24 years. I cannot wait. I have already been wearing my outer island lava lava (traditional women's skirt) the shirt that I will be wearing every moment for the next 2 years. Just one of the new customs I am attempting to get used to (there are so many rules that go along with this skirt! The way I can or cannot sit, how I walk, how I wear it, even how I fold it and carry it!! It is crazy!!!)
The way my life is about to change I cannot fully even begin to understand, or try to explain.. Therefore, your just going to have to wait for the updates and learn as I go. On that note, I will stop rambling for now and get back to my training....this afternoon we are having a cultural training....we will be learning all about coconuts!!! I am very excited.....Love you all ....more to follow...Alyssa
My journey is finally about to begin! It has just been confirmed that the plane will finally fly, and I will be leaving tomorrow for an outer island of Yap! The island of Falalop. This is where I will be having my remaining language and technical training. I will finally be able to learn Ulithian! (I have been sitting in on the Yapese trainings for the past few days...and I am eager to start to learn something I will actually use on my island!)
Yap proper is beautiful, but I am so anxious to see what is yet in store for me! Unfortunately, I will not be on my permanent island of Federai until around the end of November( depending on when the ship/plane leave!)
So tomorrow is the day I say good bye to electricity, cars, internet, phones and all the other little luxuries I have become so accustomed to in my 24 years. I cannot wait. I have already been wearing my outer island lava lava (traditional women's skirt) the shirt that I will be wearing every moment for the next 2 years. Just one of the new customs I am attempting to get used to (there are so many rules that go along with this skirt! The way I can or cannot sit, how I walk, how I wear it, even how I fold it and carry it!! It is crazy!!!)
The way my life is about to change I cannot fully even begin to understand, or try to explain.. Therefore, your just going to have to wait for the updates and learn as I go. On that note, I will stop rambling for now and get back to my training....this afternoon we are having a cultural training....we will be learning all about coconuts!!! I am very excited.....Love you all ....more to follow...Alyssa
E-mail news
9/30/08
Hello Y'all! Greetings from Pohnpei, Micronesia!!!
Wow has it been a busy, crazy couple of weeks! So far some of my highlights include jumping off a cliff into shark infested water, fish and rice every meal(yum), exploring the ancient ruins of Nan Madol, climbing and swimming in a waterfall, snorkeling coral reefs-and seeing the largest manta ray of my life! , learning how to cut grass with a machete, meeting the American Ambassador, sakkau, attending church with my family, rafting out to islands, an outdoor toliet full of hundreds of cockroaches, sleeping on a mat on the floor, ants everywhere...and I mean everywhere!! , bucket showers, attending a ladies festival where pigs were definitely sacrificed, boating with the host fam, ...I promise pictures will come!
I am in love with Micronesia!!!! I am still in shock that the U.S. gov is paying for me to do this! I love America!!!
I also learned this last week of my permanent placement... I will be placed on an outer island of Yap call Ulithi....I am very excited . This island does have electricity ...sometimes, but no phones or computers. So other then snail mail I will only be in contact every three or four months.
It is one of the most cultural places to be in Micronesia - meaning lavalava's and thu's all around.(Lavalava = lady skirts and Thu = loin cloth!!!) I will be learning how to weave....This is truly going to be an amazing place to be, and I promise to tell you more at a later date.....
Kaselehie!! Alyssa Joy
Hello Y'all! Greetings from Pohnpei, Micronesia!!!
Wow has it been a busy, crazy couple of weeks! So far some of my highlights include jumping off a cliff into shark infested water, fish and rice every meal(yum), exploring the ancient ruins of Nan Madol, climbing and swimming in a waterfall, snorkeling coral reefs-and seeing the largest manta ray of my life! , learning how to cut grass with a machete, meeting the American Ambassador, sakkau, attending church with my family, rafting out to islands, an outdoor toliet full of hundreds of cockroaches, sleeping on a mat on the floor, ants everywhere...and I mean everywhere!! , bucket showers, attending a ladies festival where pigs were definitely sacrificed, boating with the host fam, ...I promise pictures will come!
I am in love with Micronesia!!!! I am still in shock that the U.S. gov is paying for me to do this! I love America!!!
I also learned this last week of my permanent placement... I will be placed on an outer island of Yap call Ulithi....I am very excited . This island does have electricity ...sometimes, but no phones or computers. So other then snail mail I will only be in contact every three or four months.
It is one of the most cultural places to be in Micronesia - meaning lavalava's and thu's all around.(Lavalava = lady skirts and Thu = loin cloth!!!) I will be learning how to weave....This is truly going to be an amazing place to be, and I promise to tell you more at a later date.....
Kaselehie!! Alyssa Joy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
