So the big day finally came last Tuesday and I was offically sworn in as a Peace Corps volunteer. The Peace Corps Country Director from Pohnpei, Kevin Carley flew in to swear us in. To my right is Michael Wang. He is from San Diego and is working at Tafunsak Elementary School. We unfourtunately lost a trainee who decided to go home to Indiana so now we are the only new volunteers. This brings the total number to 4 on Kosrae. We are the smallest main island staff but boy are we motivated...
Teaching has gone smooth. For the past 9 days I have been teaching 3 Sections each of 8th grade Reading and Writing. There are only 6 sections in a day so I have certainly been kept buisy. Things are always in influx and it turns out I will also be teaching 9th grade Writing. Not sure how I will be in two places at once yet. Things will work themselves out.
As it turns out Kosraen's celebrate Thanksgiving. There are no turkeys, only turkey tail. There is lots and lots of singing in each village. I am part of the Malem Choir belching away some base arpegios. (In Kosrae all women sing soprano, alto, and tenor and all men sing only bass. There is no exceptions.) To do otherwise I would be labeled an Elahn Muhtan which in Kosraen is to call me a sissy.
I continue to pick up the language. Kosraen is not as complicated as English or Spanish. However pronounciation is the trick. Some of the worst curse words in English form the foundation for about 90% or Kosraen words. Till next time...Kuht Fah Ohsun
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