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.
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:
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.
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Pohnpei Department of Education Director  
Madolenihmw High School Singing Teachers
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Hi you two. Great blog! My name is Michelle, and my husband and I were among the PC Blog It Home contest winners a couple years ago. I’d like to invite you to an online project I’m working on called Blogging Abroad, with the aim of helping bloggers to promote cross-cultural understanding. First, if you haven’t already submitted your blog to be featured on the site, you can do that here: http://bloggingabroad.org/blogs-around-the-world. I’d be honored if you would also check out the tools and resources I’ve been creating for bloggers like you (there's a monthly photo challenge and 10-week blog challenge). Those can be found here: http://bloggingabroad.org/tools.
ReplyDeleteTake care and happy blogging!
~ Michelle C.