ESPN highlights Kosrae Skateboarders

About a week ago, ESPN the magazine ran a story on the Skateboarding project that has been going on for the past several months. It appeared on the electronic version accessed by IPad. Having seen IPad's in person upon my trip home to New Mexico last month, I know how popular they are now. I can just imagine people glancing at the picture wondering, where in the world is Kosrae?

http://www.micronesiaproject.org/2011/06/kosrae-skateboard-team-on-espn-the-magazine-ipod.html

A Recent Family Photo

I took this picture about 3 weeks ago at the request of Papa Aaron and Ninac Fam (both sitting down). My actual host parents Remos and Torro are pictured in the background. Beside them is Simeon (wearing Church clothes) and Joshua Phillip.

Skateboarding Project

For the past 3 months I have been helping out Nathan Fitch, a former Peace Corps Volunteer from 4 or 5 years ago teach kids how to skateboard. We have met regularly on Saturdays and it has been a lot of fun. While I don't know how to skate it has certainly been exilerating watching the kids learn how...Nathan is pictured above with the kids when we took them to skate around the High School complex about a month ago.

Micronesia Project

So I know that this blog has been very sparse over the past 6 months. If you are interested a former Peace Corps from about 5 years ago, Nathan Fitch, has returned to the island and is working on a Video Project. He is a master skate boarder and brought around a dozen skateboards to the island. I have helped him organize a weekly practice session for youth in my village. We recently were recognized in the Kaselelieh press and its possible ESPN might feature a story on our kids.

Much more media savvy than myself, Nathan has kept a very engaging blog which he posts on daily. If you are looking for pitcures of me and/or a more accurate representation of life here please see his blog.,.

www.micronesiaproject.org

New Administration

Last November on the same day that Americans went to the Polls, Kosraen's voted for a new Governor and State Legistlature. After the run off election in December and January every one was sworn in (pictured below) by February. My host dad, Remos was an honored guest by the State Senator closest in the picture.

Christmas Marching in March...

One of my 1st grade students getting ready outside the church.

The rival marching group YataYata sporting Vests so everyone can admire...

So I know it has been a very long time since I have shot out a post to the outside world from my secluded island. I'm completed the final installment of christmas marching for peace corps service last year. I Marched with only two groups: Walunga (my "team" where I live in Malem) and Etawi Fwasr (youth members). Here are some pictures above from that day..

Latest books read...

So I have finally surpassed the 50 book mark. It took over a year, what my grandfather used to do on a regular semester basis when he was in school...

The Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski

The Satanic Verses by Saluman Rushdie

Obama's Wars by Bob Woodward

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin

Island of Angels by Elden Buck

The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli

The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green and Timothy Gallwey