Hi everybody!

It's bright and early here... I got up at 5:30 this morning to come into Vila for the first time in over two weeks for the all-Vol conference. We begged and pleaded for our trainers to let us come earlier so that we could have computer access, and they agreed that it was good for us to have contact with the outside world.

Hmm... it's been a few weeks, so here's a few things that have happened to me:
I met my host family! The Lango family is very large (6 pikininis!) and very active, and take very good care of me. Sometimes I'm not relly sure what to do around them, and they have pretty much stopped speaking slow Bislama to me, so I laugh a lot and am really confused. But the Bislama is coming, although slowly.

I also know where I'm going! I found out on Friday - the PC wanted us to know our sites before we come in for all-Vol so that we can talk to other volunteers on our islands, and in my case, the volunteer we're replacing. I will be working at an Aid post in the village of Malvalsi, located on the island of Epi. I'm excited about it, but since I haven't talked to the volunteer I'm replacing yet, I don't know too much. If you want to look on a map, Malvalsi is a little west of Lamen Bay, which is on the northern tip of the island. I'm very excited to have a name to go with my location; now I can pay attention when we talk about the islands, since I know what information applies to me.

I've had several visits from different creatures. The most memorable is the rat that was investigating my room in the middle of the night (darn thing woke me up), but the first attached picture is of a frog that was taking a nap in some laundry my mama had taken off the line for me. I was attempting to fold my clothes, and I saw two eyes looking back at me! It's really strange - people here are scared of frogs, but not scared of geckos, rats, or cockroaches. The frog seems pretty benign compared to the rats and cockroaches to me!

The second picture was taken while we were still staying in Vila. That's my friend Kristin and I holding our drinking coconuts outside the Vila market. Kristin is also going to Epi, although her village is much farther away from the airport than mine, and in the other direction. But I'm glad that someone I know is going to be relatively close to me - Kristin and I are the geeks of the group together.

The third picture is of me and Sarah. Sarah is another health volunteer from Alaska. Her site is the only one that is still up in the air right now - she'll either go to Tongariki, a very small island, or Epi with me, depending on which site is ready first. The picture was taken during our second snorkeling trip, when we went out on a boat to learn some water safety.

Training recently has not been as much fun and games - we get about 2 hours of language instruction a day, then at least two other sessions on something else that is important for us to know. Lunch is made by the mamas, each mama brings one dish, and our plates and silverware, and we all go to the clubhouse to eat. It's like a giant buffet every school day, but I'm starting to miss American food. I've discovered that my body does not like manioc (cassava) the way it is prepared here, especially in laplap form.

But the fourth picture is taken while we were in class. Yep, the beach is our classroom! (or any other spot that is shady and gets a breeze). The picture shows one of the satellite islands of Efate, the island of Nguna. I don't have many other pictures taken since we got to the training village since I don't want to seem too "flas" (I know mom, I'll work on it, give me three weeks, and you'll get plenty of pictures - Amanda, another health volunteer has a blog that has some pictures on it if you want to check it out: http://amanda-abroad.blogspot.com)

I discovered a few days ago that my solar charger doesn't work. The prospect of going two years without music seems a little depressing, but it is ironic that my technology doesn't work here. I think I did something to the battery of the solar charger when I charged it with electricity - I can hook it up to something, it works for less than a minute, and then it stops. I'm wondering if I replace the battery if it'll work... or I'll just buy a personal cd player and get some cds to listen to.

I should go now, since the rest of my group is waiting to use the computers. I really enjoy getting emails (volunteer@vu.peacecorps.gov), even if it's a short one. Yes, Meg, you can send pictures, but the person printing them out is using her small printer, so if you do send pictures, format them so that they are small and don't use too much ink. I really enjoy getting little notes :) Oh, and I was a doofus and accidentally packed my address book away and left it here in Vila in a storage container (long story), so when you send emails, send your address, too, and I'll send you a response! You'll get it eventually - it'll be a surprise when my answer will get to you!

snail mail is pretty sweet, too. I got some snail mail last week - a package of books from Mom, a note from Grandma, and a card from my parents. Anything else you might have sent is still MIA, although I'm sure it'll appear soon.

Stephanie Oegema
Peace Corps/Vanuatu
PMB 9097
Port Vila
Republic of Vanuatu
SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN

Steph