Last Saturday, 6/22, the Peace Corps took us on a feild trip to Nahlap. Nahlap is a small outer island of Pohnpei; it's beautiful with sandy beaches, warm water, and a very cool reef. I borrowed a mask and and snorkel and took some video with my waterproof camera.  You can find them at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCXLORDp604 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q_HhwfIurU

I also took some pictures:

Cool blue star fish.

This ugly looking critter is sea cucumber.

Me, Mike, and Jhana ready to go snorkeling.

It was a really great trip and a good bonding experience for us all. I hope I can figure out some way to upload some videos, maybe Facebook or Youtube.

Now to put some faces to the names. Here is my family.

Lester Helgenberger, my host brother.

My host sisters Youli (on the left) and Selina (on the right.)

My host father, Luis Helgenberger.

My host mother, Serlihna Helgenberger.

The Dogs. Even though they are not really considered pets here in Microesia, I am including them anyway. 

Missile

Target

Where I am: Pohnpei, the largest state in Micronesia.

My house: I live in a small 2 bedroom house made of concrete with a metal roof.  I have my own room to myself, with a lock on my door. The floor of my room is covered with ceramic tiles and my only furniture is a very thin mattress. I have running water, a flushing toilet, an indoor "shower" (basically a basin that I put water in and use a bucket to shower with), and electricity.  No internet at home, but luckily my next door neighbor (who is related to my family) has internet.

My Family:

• My Pahpa (father) Luis: he speaks the most English in my family. He works for the power company and likes to wear cowboy boots. He is super chill and seems genuinely happy to have me staying with his family. 
• My Nohno (mother) is Serlihna. She is nice but speaks very little English. 
•  Rei-puchak (my brother) is Lester. He just graduated from high school and speaks English pretty well. We like to hang out and listen to Rap and Rock and Roll together. 
• Rei-serepein (my sister) is named Yulihna (Youli for short). I think she is younger than me, but I haven't asked her age yet. She speaks some English, but she usually just smiles and repeats whatever I say when I talk to her. My youngest sister, Selina, is 13. She is still pretty shy and speaks very little English to me despite understanding most of what I say to her. I have been bonding with her over Miyazaki movies. Finally I have an older sister named Yumileen. She is married and has a two year old boy. She has her own place so I don't see her that often.