I Enjoyed 2 years in Solomon Islands. It was 1995 when i graduated College and was looking for work. I applied to many different companies even Philip Morris where my father worked. Now one was responding. It was a bad time in the market i was told and hiring freezes were being enacted at many corporations. I had completed my degree in Chemistry and was an average student. I got by with a 3.0 GPA and was happy. I had enjoyed my time but it was time to move on. It was mid summer when i thought about applying for the US Peace Corps. I did and was called back very soon for an interview. Wow. I though, "Another place where i can visit and learn and try to master new skills.... Little did i know the new skill would be husking a coconut with my mouth and bare teeth... Oh what great memories i want to share about the experiences.
So It can to be that I got a phone interview. Washington DC was far and I didn’t want to drive 3 hours each way for an interview of a volunteer job I wouldn’t make any money at… Well I thought that was the case! I was given a date and set the interview. It went very well. I had passed all my medical and dental check ups I was given full clearance. I thought maybe after Christmas and the New Year I will leave my home in Virginia and go Abroad. I wasn’t ready for the offer.
I had heard about so many people applying and taking months or years to get through the process. Well I figured I was fine going after the new year. I would just hang out at my parents home and enjoy my last fall and winter…
Well one day the phone rang, it was the US Peace Corps and they were calling to offer my a position. It was October and the date to leave was November 7th. I thought it was too early. I wanted one more Christmas and Happy News at home but alas, I accepted the adventure of a lifetime over one more family holiday! I was sad to go early but excited to see what I would see!
The last month wentby quickly, I was told my country of assignment was the Solomon Islands, this is the land of cannibalism. Even today some local disputes may end up this way! An old belief if you ate the flesh of your adversary you will gain his strength and power… Also probably not much meat on these islands in the past and a wild pig is similar to a human one they must have thought. Well this is not quiet the truth but just some here say I heard!
I prepared to leave, packed up for two years into two bags and had a going away party. The tickets had arrived in the mail and I was to meet in San Francisco for a 2 day staging event before we would depart to the Solomons. Excited since I had neved been to California I booked my flight a few days earlier and went to San Fran to sight see! I remember a cashier in a quck shop, say he liked my necklace. It was an all inclusive religious design. He invited my to visit the Thai temple and have some free food and meditation. Little did I know Thailand is where I would end up 15 years later! I took the cashier advice and visited the Thai temple it was an amazing place. I have seen similar artwork when I grew up. In my bedroom on the wall I hung some paper mache masks. I bought at the dollar and never new what or where they came from. It turned out the were the Thai spirits in the story of Buddhism. Well I enjoyed my time at the temple and speaking to the people. I spent the next day sight seeing an taking on tour on the golden gate bridge. My tour guide who had written a book was a great guy and told my of his stories as we drove around. The next day was the staging and I had to move to the hotel and check in. At the hotel I met new people 25 other who had just like I signed up for two years of service. It was a neat experience and over the next two days we got familiar. Had last minute shot and vaccines and got the first of any training session to prepare us for what was next.
It was great!
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