A typical training week goes something like this- Bislama language lessons every morning for two hours. It is a fairly easy language to pick up (the basics, at least), so instead of spending hours in a class the trainers/staff would rather us go out in the village and practice our language skills.
We then have SDL (self directed learning time) and lunch at 12ish. Mondays I travel to another village with fellow SHREP (the education group) folks to have technical training. This is when we are supposed to learn more about what we will actually be doing for a job. The most I have learned from this so far is that I am going to wait until I actually get to my site before really knowing what I will be doing.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are Bislama and then we get SDL time after lunch.
Wednesday I travel to another village after lunch where we have a safety and medical session. We’ve covered everything from travel safety and natural disasters to first aid and nutrition. Mental health, incident reporting, and general Peace Corps guidelines were also discussed. This is also a time where they pass out any extra bug spray, sun block, meds, or shots we might need.
Fridays we have a Bislama assessment and then all the other volunteers come to my village and we have technical sessions, as well as a group meeting with our Country Director.
Saturdays and Sundays are self-directed time. As with the overall feeling of Vanuatu, these meetings are all extremely laid back and informal feeling, even if we are focusing on really important stuff. The trainees sit on woven mats and often meet by the ocean where it is coolest. We pass around cookies, bananas, and pamplomus (grapefruit) during language class. This feeling throughout training within our groups and within the village is what has made me stay, and made me love it here. While I am learning so much that my brain is about to pop and occasionally attend what would be a “bleh” meeting, I just take a look around me or just lay down on the mat and look up at the trees, I remind myself of what a unique situation I am in and what a beautiful Country I was assigned to. Yee-haw!
