Finding solid ground...

This past week has been extremely busy; however I'm gradually becoming more grounded in Pohnpei. I'm getting used to a more laid back lifestyle (it seems odd to think I need to "get used to" living a more relaxed life), and have started to view things like time and schedules as more fluid. Those of you who have known me for a while remember that I have had to work hard to become a punctual person and live a more sequential life. Living here actually makes me little anxious that a floodgate will open and my free-floating, abstract mind will come pouring out due to all the years of suppression! It also doesn't help that on one of our hikes my watch broke. I've finally gotten over the severe watch-withdrawals (I NEVER take that thing off at home), however, not having a watch to keep me "in-check" has also enabled my abstract-minded nature to drip out. Additionally, being "on-time" in Pohnpei allows for a 20-minute cushion...adjusting back to the states might be a little harder than I initially anticipated! However, why think of that now, right? :) Luckily I'll have enough responsibilities at the college to hold me accountable to things like punctuality, preparedness, etc. Other areas in which I have been surprised is how I'm WAY less absent-minded on island and that I like to clean- I know it's weird (I apologize to those of you who spit out your coffee from the shock of that last comment)! My theory is that, for once in my life, I actually have time to be more intentional with where I put things and I have time to clean while not under a tight schedule or after a long, exhausting day. Okay, enough on my personal growth and more about what I've done!

As of Wednesday, I've finally moved into my apartment, established an office at the college and received my teaching curriculum (whew!). My apartment is AMAZING! It's on the third floor overlooking the ocean and, because of the location, we get a lot of airflow to help cool down our apartment and dry our clothes. I also live near an excellent running/walking route on the airport causeway. Most mornings I wake up early to take a walk (with a cup of coffee in hand) and enjoy the sunrise. The temperature is usually much more mild in the mornings (and along the ocean) so it has proved to be an excellent way to start my day. Hopefully I'll get some pictures up tomorrow or Monday so you can get an idea of what my living arrangements look like. Michaela, my roommate, is basically a duplicate of me. She was a college heptathlete (she even got stress-fractures in the same locations as I did), she's into all types of sports, she loves hiking, and we have the same middle name (among many other similarities). She also has been living on island for a year, so that makes life much easier for me!

As a group (WorldTeach) we have gone on an exciting adventure each weekend. My favorite weekend adventure was going on a six waterfall hike with all of the WorldTeach volunteers. I've been on many different hikes but nothing has been comparable. Not only was it absolutely stunning, it was physically demanding! We alternated between climbing up steep hills on "all-fours," to sliding down muddy slopes on our butts. We had to wade through rivers on slick rocks, jump off rocks/cliffs into open water, and then swim against the current to reach the waterfalls. The “path” was literally carved by our machete-bearing guide as we progressed through the jungle. I could not stop smiling the entire time! Scott, when you get here you are going to love this hike! Other adventures have included hikes to Sokehs Ridge where you can get a 360 degree view of the island, trips to an outer island called Nahlap, and car rides along the parameter of the entire island (Michaela and I plan to walk around the entire island before we leave!).

Overall, life has been pretty nice. I'm still riding the rollercoaster, however whenever I feel down or less confident I'm learning to just stop and take a moment to look around me. It's so beautiful that feeling down almost seems silly.
Please continue to read and post on my blog! I thoroughly enjoy all of your posts! Also, on the right hand side is a list of things I could use on island. Nothing is urgent but it's kind of like a "wish list" if you are looking to send anything!