Week one is now done

So the first week is over and I am still alive. It has been quite the experience and I can hardly believe that I will be living here for a year. Life here has been simple. All of our meals include in some form rice, noodles, tofu, cabbage, mushrooms, and carrots. Also, I have only been to the store once or twice, but the selection for the most part seems to be acceptable, it looks as if I will have a wide variety food in my diet.

As compared to some of the outer island volunteers, it appears that the volunteers in the dorm may be a little spoiled. We will have air conditioning, our own bathrooms, and we get to hang around other English speakers, all of which I think will make this experience a little easier. But we will be much more dependent on our $300/month stipend for even the basic necessities.

On Friday I joined the Marshall Islands Billfish Club . It looks like a great way to get way to pass the time while I am here. They hold tournaments once a month and fish for Marlin, Yellow Fin and a few other types of large fish. The meeting was quite the show with all of the debating that went on. I feel like it was a decent example of Marshallese culture.

Saturday night was spent bowling with the orientation group. It only confirmed that I am not good at bowling. However, we were joined by some people who have been living on this island for the last 3 years, and they were pretty good. So that just means I need to live here longer if I want to become a better bowler.

Sunday was spent on an island on the other side of the atoll. We got to snorkel and see many fish, coral (though half of it seemed like it was dead or dying), and the cockpit of an old sunken plane (though it was brought to that location for tourists to see). I opened my first coconut by cracking it open on the rocks. It tasted okay, I think I like it better when it is cooked. But over all it was just a great day to relax and enjoy the new environment.

Today was a very educational day. Our sessions were about the social and economic conditions in the Marshall Islands and the effect of nuclear bomb testing on the Bikinian people. It was great to receive all of this information, but it was also a little depressing. Hopefully my time here will make things a little better.
_______________________________________________IN OTHER NEWS....

Currently there are 45 volunteers living in 3 school trailers. There is not a lot of room or privacy but we have air conditioning and sometimes we have running water....but we don't drink that. The people I have met are awesome. WorldTeach did a great job bringing in some really cool people. I am really excited about this next year.

When school starts I will be moving to a teachers dorm on my school's campus with 8 other volunteers. I like everyone, so I am sure this will be a good year.

Anyway, I am all typed out... for your enjoyment I am attached some pics of people, where I am currently living, and near perfect sunsets (I mean the clouds are kinda ruining it.). Enjoy.

PS.

Please send in your predictions about my hair length, the days I will go without cutting my hair and how much weight I will gain/lose. :) And for everyone who gave me their address, I am currently working on getting those post cards out. Enjoy!

I have arrived :) I am alive

Hello Everyone...I am writing from the future!

I have no clue what the time difference is but it is about 9:19 PM here on Tuesday, July 24, 2007(?)

I have landed in Majuro, Marshall Islands and all is well. In just my 3 days here there has been so much going on and there is so much more to do. I am very excited about everything that I will experience this year.

I will try to be more prepared and next time and have a better post. Oh by the way, Carolyn wins the prize for sending me the first piece of mail. I greatly appreciate having received it...I was actually the first volunteer to receive any mail..woohoo :) I feel so loved.

Anyway, I look forward to posting a more in-depth/entertaining entry in the near future.

In the meantime, please enjoy this lovely picture of the atoll that I flew over.

Last post from this side of the globe

Okay, so it is 12:46 AM on Friday, July 20 and I have yet to finish packing. Oh well, I am always up for a challenge.

Anyway, this is my last post until I get internet access again, and I am not sure when that will be. Oh and thanks to everyone who has been reading this blog, I appreciate the love. Let me know if you have any questions or comments, and I will try to answer them in my next post or in a personal email to you.

And if you have sent my an email and I have not responded yet, please be assured that I have read it and I am planning on responding when I get a quick second. Also, if you have sent me your mailing address you have earned yourself a postcard or something that may resemble a postcard, we will see what I can come up with.

Lastly, with regards to the "Guess Darren's Weight,' I have completed my official weigh in and I weigh...*drum roll*...218lbs (Yikes! I guess I really am turning into a fatty). Maybe it is a good thing that I am going to be moving to a third world country and am going to be poor.

Well, signing off from Portland, Oregon, USA....have a good night!

So long Bay Area

So I'm on my way out of Mountain View. It has been good. I will return in the future. I will miss everyone I have met in the area.

The Final Countdown (cue the music by the Swedish hard rock band 'Europe')

So I have completed all prerequisite requirements for my trip and all I am left with is packing up my life in California and heading home to Oregon, which will leave me three days to pack for the whole year abroad. I mean how much could I really need in a tropical, third world country?

Since I will be living on the other side of the world in extreme conditions, I thought it'd be fun to play some games. I expect every reader of this blog to participate.

Game 1: How much weight will Darren lose (or gain) while in the Marshall Islands. I will do my initial weigh-in on a bathroom scale in Oregon within the next week.

Game 2: How many days will Darren go without cutting his hair, (if at all)?

Game 3: How long will Darren's hair get?

Things to keep in mind when making educated guesses:

• Common foods of the Marshall Islands: breadfruit, pandanus, coconut, rice, fish and canned meat (I am told the food is very bland)
  
• Previously, the longest I have gone without cutting my hair is 6 months (between Oct '02-March '03 as seen in the pic below)
• The weather is hot and humid year round, with highs about 88 degrees, although there is a pleasant "windy" season as well.
• In February '07 I shaved my head with a razor, currently my hair is approximately 3 inches long

Prizes will be awarded for the best guesses!

So What exactly is Darren doing?

So what is Darren doing? That is a good question. I have been told by a couple people that I am crazy. I have been told by some other people that they do not approve of where I am going. But in all reality, I don't really know what I am getting myself into, but I will do my best to try and explain it.

On July 21, 2oo7 I will be leaving the USA for approximately one year to teach English and various other skills to high school aged students in the Marshall Islands.

You may ask, "Where are the Marshall Islands?"
The Marshall Islands is a small country located in the middle of nowhere Pacific Ocean. Literally, the middle of nowhere. You can find more info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_islands & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_islands

Then you will want to know "So Darren, how did you even hear about this thing that you are doing?"
I found out about WorldTeach from a friend I have know since kindergarten (sorry no actual name shout-outs here, it's policy) From there, I did a little bit of research, applied for a placement, and now the rest is history, well at least recent history.

For more information about WorldTeach, a non-profit, non-governmental organization please visit http://www.worldteach.org

The next question is usually, "Well, where will you be living? And, what will you be doing?"
Well no matter where I am placed I will be teaching students in a public school. Until two days ago, I could have been living a in a grass hut without electricity, running water, or internet! (Super Eek!) However, I recently learned that I will be living and teaching in Majuro, the capitol of the Marshall Islands. I will be a teaching high school aged students at National Vocational Technical/Training Institute. (I am not quite sure what the name of the school is, but I am sure I will find out soon. <-I NOW KNOW MY SCHOOL!) So major advantages of living in Majuro--I will have electricity, running water, internet (though it is super slow dial-up speeds) and air conditioning in my room and my classroom!
Well anyway, I am reading a book called The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific. Yeah, I know it is an interesting title, so I am sure it will be a good one.

Furthermore, I am tired and have totally lost my train of thought. I am spending my last few days with family singing karaoke and packing before I leave for good.

Even though I will have access to internet, I will still accept letters and packages sent to me at

Darren Nakata
c/o WorldTeach
P.O. Box 627
Majuro, MH 96960
Republic of the Marshall Islands

I do not know the current rates, but you can use USPS and things will get to me. Also, if you send a package, send it priority mail and with a customs form, or it may take 6 months or a year to reach me, yikes!

Well this is me signing off from Winchester (AKA The Desert), CA.

First Post

http://dtnakata.googlepages.com/keepdarrenalive2

Hi,

Please visit the link I have provided.

Since you have found this blog, you probably already know that I am teaching English in the Marshall Islands from July 2007-June 2008. I plan on using this blog as a way to keep my sanity and as a way to keep in touch with the outside world.