July 11, 2005
My friend Matt has been working for the Peace Corps in Vanuatu, located in the South Pacific (they filmed Survivor there). Over the past few years he's sent many great emails describing his adventures. Matt's time with the Peace Corps is nearing an end and I felt it would be good, for the sake of reflection, to go back through these emails, relive the adventures, and share them with others. With his permission I'm posting these emails on the Mugblog. It's my hope that you, the reader, might get a laugh, learn something new, or get a better appreciation for what an organization like the Peace Corps is all about and how commited and attached the volunteers become to the communities to which they're assigned. All photos are taken by the man himself.
Monday, January 17, 2005 5:42 PM
Halo Frens,
Just got back from 3 weeks on the south
island of NZ and a few days in Brisbane. It was pretty
good, I went fishing, backpacking, sea kayaking, and
exploring. It was pretty bad weather, but we had some nice
days in the backcountry. Definitely got a little annoyed
with lots of mundane, uninteresting people bumbling before
a beautiful backdrop. It seems the path there is too safe
and well worn. Anyway, New Zealand is still an awesome
place and there’s still lots more I want to do there that I
didn’t have time to do. While we were there we bought this
piece of shit car that kept breaking down, I got some
friends down there trying to sell it right now, I hope they
succeed, or at least send me photos of it on fire going
over the edge of a cliff. Brisbane was nice too, though it
seemed like a Hollywood movie set, too clean and non-
descript.
So lots of crazy stuff’s been happening in Vanuatu
before and after my little holiday, I’m getting worn out,
but amused. This Filipino girl I’m friends with just
proposed marriage, she’s pretty cute, but I had to turn her
down. It was strictly for immigration purposes, but I
spoke with a lawyer-friend who said it wouldn’t really help
her situation unless I was willing to put in a few years
work. Last month I was going down a steep “road” on the
volcano when the brakes in the truck when out, we crashed
into a tree right before we went off a step embankment. A
few guys ended up in the hospital, but I was all right.
The Chief of my village stole a pineapple from this woman
who in turn worked custom magic on him and his scrotum
swole up like a balloon. He had to get the leaf back that
she used to cast the spell before his cacahuates went back
to normal. There was also this huge fight during one of my
workshops, but when guys started swinging sticks I got
outta there (and immediately got in that car wreck).
Anyway, the stories go on and on; but seem less strange as
time goes by.
Work’s been good, my solar powered battery charging
system has finally arrived and will be installed next
month. When the project opens I think the German
Ambassador is coming (since they’re the ones that ended up
giving me funding). Got lots of taro growing for export
and I’m completely restructuring the way farmers market
their cocoa and I think we may even start selling to
Starbucks. The Peace Corps has started flying me to lots
of different islands to teach workshops and do site visits
for other volunteers. I’m actually going to Ambrym on Sat.
for a course, but when it’s finished, I should have time to
visit 2 out of their 3 volcanoes before going back to
Ambae. Also, I’m currently exploring US markets for a new
kava juice we’re making for export, it tastes like tropical
fruit juice, but has all the kick of Vanuatu kava,
(anything you find called kava in the US is a joke). I’ll
be pitching to Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and probably some
smaller ones like Rainbow Blossom, Earth Fare, etc. But if
any of you have any other ideas or contacts, let me know.
There’s a company talking about flying me to the US in
March or April to follow up on this, small chance, but
still a chance.
I was pretty much 100% gonna stay a third year here, but on
Espirito Santo, but I’m starting to have some doubts. I
kinda miss living for myself, though I’m sure that will get
boring quickly enough. Also, my main goal is to buy a
piece of land with some friends, which should happen in
Western Carolina in the next 2 years, so money is an
unfortunate consideration. If I stayed I’d get trained as
a dive master for free, get free wine making equipment, and
do lots more traveling. But I’m just feeling a bit run
down. Although I’ve had a beautiful couple days back in
Vanuatu, quite glad to be back actually, I’ve been sea
kayaking everyday and hanging at some beautiful beaches and
drinking lots of kava. I’ve also vowed not to work so hard
and enjoy my time here a bit more, the last 6 months I’ve
been working too hard and neglecting my needs. I just bit
off more than I could chew and had to work my way through
it. I’m at the point in my service where I help maintain
and nurture projects, not start new ones.
Other news from Vanuatu, our Prime Minister slapped the
Prime Minister of China (and has since been dismissed), we
did get hit by another cyclone, but it only got a few
islands and wasn’t too strong, and satellite number 174
went down last week and Vanuatu had no telephone or
internet contact with the rest the world for a week. I’ve
been doing some work on my website and should
continue to do so till next week when I leave for the outer
islands. It would also be great to hear from y’all before
I go off a disappear for awhile again. Got to run, it’s
too nice a day to be behind a computer.
- Matt