First Week

I just completed my first week at Madolenihmw high school. It was great overall, but I still have a lot to learn. The first couple of days I just did some get to know you activities and told them about me and my background. I teach four sections of 10th grade Algebra and one section of English. The math class is fine, but the english class I struggle with a little because of the students speaking ability. I have a english only policy in all of my classes but I find the students speaking Pohnpeian a lot and laughing, which makes me think they're talking about me. The walk to school is about 30 to 40 minutes but sometimes we get picked up by someone and we'll hope in the back of a pick up truck or onto a bus filled with students. The students refer to me as "teacher" and I think most of them have taken a liking to me, but others know that I am only temporary and foreign so the lack some respect for me. School was cancelled on Thursday because of the free medical check ups offered by the U.S. Navy on the island, so that was a nice way to break the week up. The volunteer from last year said he could count on one hand how many times there was a full week of school over the entire year. After school I'll usually play basketball with some of the locals at the court near my house. At night I lesson plan for the following day and head to bed pretty early. Life is slow but I like it, its a nice break from the past pace lifestyle in the states. The bus driver from School Wilferd Mudong had my roommate and I over to his house to drink Sakau (mildly narcotic drink made from the root of a plant) I don't really like Sakau because it tastes like mud and upsets my stomach. Sakau is very sacred here and you must respect it so when they offer it to me I just put it up to my lips and pretend to drink or just drink a little. We sat under his nask (a little hut next to the house) and he served us dinner. Next weekend I'm volunteering  with the Pohnpei surf club to help run free surf lessons for local kids on the island. Everyday is an adventure here.