Woman Lelepa
After another delay after my last post I finally made it to site and am 'woman Lelepa' officially.
The arrival back was a little anti-climatic. I think after so many days where I was supposed to be coming people just ended up giving up and not believing that I was actually coming. I did have a little welcome meeting though with the council of chiefs. The assistant chief gave me rights to live and work on Lelepa and to become a part of the community.
Probobly the most exciting day of the week was this past Sunday - we celebrated Children's Day in church. Children's Day - which was actually Monday - is a national holiday in Vanuautu - all offices are closed to celebrate. All the parents of group 4 - a little section of our Church - decided to celebrate Children's Day they would make all of their kids matching island dresses and island shirts - this time instead of green we had a bright orange calico - and instead of being with a bunch of other peace corps volunteers it was me and a bunch of ni-Van kids. In celebration all of us group 4 kids got up in front of Church and sang a song to our parents about how they should take care of us and teach us like Papa God takes care of us and teaches us. After we all went and had a kakae (food) at one of the families house. A kakae in Vanuatu has a very specific order in how things happen. First, island time - people just slowly trickle in - if it starts at two o'clock everyone might trickle in by 3-ish. Once everyone arrives and the men settle down on the benches on one side and the women and kids settle down on the mats on the other side the ceremony begins. First, who ever organizes the kakae gives a small toktok (talk) thanks everyone for coming, for preparing food, and sometimes gives a little history about the day. After he invites someone to grace the food. After that the organizer calls on one or two people to start the food line. We eat. Once that is done it is time for toktoks back again. Slowly different people stand up and tell stories or sing songs. Usually at least one person from each group represented has to give a toktok. It's slow going at first but soon everyone is giving a toktok. After that and everyone has storiond finish, the organizer stands up once again. Usually picks someone to lead us in a worship song or two. Offers a final closing prayer and than gives final thanks. The whole process lasts a few hours. It's fun and it makes any occassion feel like a special ordeal.
Well life is good. The pictures on top - the first is of my two new puppy dogs. The brown/white one is Pie and the black one is Ruth. The are 4 weeks old and a handful - a little young to be away from their mom, but their mom ate a poison fish and died so now I am bringing them up. They are adorable and are a good distraction on the island. The second picture I just took this morning while I was waiting for the boat driver to show up and take us over to the mainland to come back to Vila today. July 30 is Vanuatu Independence Day. I am in to see the celebrations. I think it will be exciting to hear about Independence and see a celebration where most people remember the time where France and Britain were the ruling powers under their joint condominium (Vanuatu just got independence in 1980).
Well that's all for now. I miss you all --- keep writing!!!