Manuia le Kirisimasi!

Merry Christmas!
I hope this finds everyone well after the holiday. I had a great holiday. Christmas Eve Bob and I hung out with the Japanese Volunteer, Moto, who lives on the compound with us, eating dinner and laughing at Bob while he washed his laundry using a big bucket and a hammer to stir it in. Good thing too because that water was pretty nasty when he was done. As you can see, I have included a few pictures. Some are of Christmas Eve and the rest are just pictures taken throughout training that I thought were nice pictures. Later Christmas Eve Bob and I ended up watching a movie Moto left us. It was a Japanese Animated movie, Spirited Away. Not bad actually, I liked it.

Christmas Day Bob and I headed over to Josh and La La’s place where we talked with our parents on the phone they have, we are still without a phone. It was nice; I got to chat with a lot of my extended family. It was comforting to know that everyone is still doing the same old thing. It was hard talking to everyone for such a short period of time, I wish we could have chatted a lot longer. Then after that, the 4 of us headed back to my place and we started the chili cook off. I think we were all bias about our chili. Bob and Josh would say theirs was great and that they won and that ours wasn’t chili-esque. La La and I think that ours was the best, different flavors and different ingredients (plus it was the first time the 2 of us had made chili). So there you go. We watched Ghost Busters… Who could ask for a better Christmas? J If I couldn’t be with family, these volunteers are the next closest thing to it. The 4 of us, will be living near each other for the next 2 years (one with La La).

This week I am looking forward to exploring the area a little bit better. I am going on a hike with La La around the water front. Holly is coming out to visit and explore. Then it’s New Years and I’m off to spend that with other volunteers.

I know my last entry didn’t sound too promising, but rest assured I am doing well. It is taking awhile adjusting to the slower pace out here, but I am starting to like it. Sitting around reading, I am really starting to like baking and cooking. I made fudge (which didn’t set well), pineapple jam, peanut butter scones… I’m turning girly. That’s what this country is doing to me. J Cooking, wearing skirts, sewing, who would have guessed. The pace is growing on me. Very laid back. And the people are so hospitable. They take you in as family after just meeting you. I think I will fair well. I don’t start teaching until the end of January, so I have no idea what it will be like yet. I am looking forward to living out here, becoming a part of my village, getting to know the other teachers, and the other volunteers who live out here on this island that I don’t know well yet.
Until next time. –Tala