Weekly update

We’re in our second week of school and although things are still hectic I’m having fun. Last weekend we celebrated Ray’s birthday in Majuro so we were able to swap stories about our first week of school. Laura (Ray and Chris) is in their second week also and things are progressing over there as well. MIHS (Mariko) started in-service and I think they started classes on Monday. We haven’t heard from Wotje but I hope they’re doing well.

The program cautions all of us not to come in with any preconceived notions but I’ve already fallen into the trap. I was psyched to teach the kids on Ejit karate and a bit of jujitsu but it’s most likely going to be impossible. Karate is seen as a skill of 'elukkuun murder' or 'great murder' here because their only exposure to it is through movies. One of the most popular games in the Marshall Islands is “beat the hell out of your friends” and I foresee a disaster if I teach them how to hurt each other efficiently. It is perfectly natural for kids to have a rock fight across the street or run around throwing punches and kicks in and out of the air at each other. The kids already emulate Jet Li, Jackie Chan and the guy from Ong Bok. All it would take is one properly thrown roundhouse to the face and I'd be known as the ribelle who teaches the kids how to fight. I’m a bit disappointed but in reality this just means that I need to practice karate on my own.