NOTES FROM WALKABOUT

Some random notes from other PCV's experiences on walkabout during training:

Jess Porter - Seeing a beaten woman being carried off the boat she was about to get on. She was carried in a "stretcher" made of woven pandanas leaves. It was later learned that she died from her wounds and was the wife of the province President (sort of like a governor) who was last heard to be in hiding. This is also home to a newly released rapist. Malo island, just south of Santo.

Ryan McGee - Who was asked my PC to take up a long stalled water project for two nearby villages on east Epi Island. Upon arrival he learns the two villages hate each other, don't speak to each other, and each lay claim to a local man that "controls" the powers of the Lopevi volcano with black magic so the other village better watch out. On his first night he is led to a swim-house (shower stall) and told to shower while the entire village watched and waited. Later he is lead to another village he will be serving and upon sight of the white man every single native ran and hid from view. He's on east Epi, opposite the Lopevi volcano.

Eddie Ruhland - Enters his village to be greeted by... no one. They don't know who he is and have never heard of Peace Corps. They have no house for him and he is invited to sleep in one of the huge 25-person houses this village uses. They keep men and women completely seperated at all times. There are no toilets of any variety - just shit anywhere in the bush. There are no plates or cutlery of any kind. But when they finally do get him a plate they wash it for him by taking a large mouthful of water and spraying onto the plate before proudly handing it to him.

Katie Tompson - Signed on as a marine conservation volunteer and trained to do "reef check" and was then sent to a coastal village that boasts the single largest shark breeding corridor. They also have numerous reports of people being pulled right out of their canoes while crossing this body of water. Needless to say she is now serving in Lelepa - our beloved training village.

Brett & Matt - ate ice cream in an Aussie resort and got drunk on Vodka while celebrating our good fortune. haahahaha.