Beginnings and Openings

The last week has been full of BEGINNINGS and OPENINGS for me and my fellow Peace Corps 

Response Volunteers (PCRVs).

To start off this BEGINNING, my Peace Corps Response Volunteer Swearing-In Ceremony took place on August 10.  The ceremony was held in an outdoor pavilion, which was a good thing, because, you guessed it, it rained!  The Governor of Pohnpei, the charge d’affaires of the US Embassy, the Pohnpei Director of Education, and the Peace Corps Country Director were in attendance.  All dignitaries and trainees received a colorful flower mwaramwar (my second one---I am making a collection). I, along with my thirteen fellow trainees, raised our right hand and took the PC Oath---it was nice.

Once this ceremony was finished, it was time for me to join Roger and Brian to prepare for the OPENING General Assembly for the Pohnpei schools.  The new Director of Education, Churchill Edward, asked us to participate in the General Assembly of teachers, administrators, and school staff to take place on Monday, August 15.  We were asked to speak about leadership and model schools.

The logistics in planning this assembly for 500-600 people seemed daunting, especially since teachers and staff would be coming from all over the island----some over an hour away.  To avoid tardy teachers, all staff from outlying areas were bused in, and amazingly enough, the assembly started on time.

A few highlights of the program:

• Pohnpeians love to sing; the program started with a song from the Education Chorus.
• Speakers were presented with a flower mwaramwar (another to add to my collection).
• Some speakers spoke in English, some in Pohnpeian (although English is the official language, the people are definitely more comfortable speaking their native language---I guess you can’t blame them).
• Lunch was efficiently served to all attendees…long lines but no food fights!
• During the lunch break, individual schools participated in an “Educators Got Talent” event--again some beautiful and creative singing.
• My part of our PCRV presentation went okay--I did fumble with the pronunciation of Kaselehlie (meaning hello) at the beginning, but I told the Very Large Audience, I deserved a pass as I have only been here a short time.  I thought I had practiced that word a lot but….oh well!

We were very honored to be included in this program—a sign of good things to come—cooperation and collaboration between PCRVs and the Pohnpei Department of Education.

Pohnpei Department of Education Director

Madolenihmw High School Singing Teachers

Clean-up Fix-up

With the start of classes at PICS High School one week away, the pressure to get things done is beginning to show itself.  The electricity has finally been restored to a couple of classroom buildings that have been without it for several years.  I regard this as a personal victory as I have been advocating (read being a “pain-in-the-neck”) for this since being assigned to PICS.  Yesterday, tables and chairs arrived for a new computer lab, with computers to follow shortly—all at the behest of a local Congressman who saw the need.  Perhaps most gratifying has been the role played by one of the local Mormon Churches on the island.  A faculty member approached me several weeks ago with the message that his church would be willing to donate paint, painting supplies, and labor to help clean up the campus.  Long story short, last Saturday the supplies arrived along with an army of around 75 church volunteers.  While we probably would have benefited from a drill sergeant to direct people to areas of greatest need or better connecting skills with need, the workforce was incredible.  It is hard to imagine a group of people with more smiles, more enthusiasm, or more willingness to tackle what needed to be done.  Collectively, they indeed made a significant dent in all that is required to make this campus presentable.  Even more, they all agreed to return next weekend to continue their efforts.  PICS High School owes them a debt of gratitude.  Pictures better tell the tale.

Frank, a leader in both school and church

In both church and school, all events start with a prayer.

The crew

A family event

A creative use of cardboard!

Weed whackers were the weapon of choice.

Lunch at the end of the workday