Sensory Stimulation

If this was an audiobook, now is the time i'd tell you to close your eyes and imagine with me the scenes that are about to unfold. Unfortunately (and maybe fortunately for some), my voice will not be narrating the following events. In light of this minor problem, do your best to block out your surroundings and put yourself in my shoes as you read. What we experience on a daily basis is extraordinary, but our brains cease to process the routine information after the first few interactions. Let the following bi-weekly event be an example:

Late again, i run down the stairs, sprint after the truck and hop in. i nod at the passing church member or neighbor, wish that Ryan had driven around that puddle instead of through it, and then settle in for the drive to ACE for groceries. More head nods, some glares from a few protestants, two speed bumps, and we're on our way. i spend most of the trip staring at the surf, wishing either the swell was a better direction or the tide was high/low depending on the spot. When i can't see the waves, a few words and stories are exchanged between me and River. At ACE we run through our list, add some things not on our list, and spend too much money. We hop back in the truck for the ride back. About 100 more head nods and we're home. Simple.



The beauty (and ugly) that i'm surrounded with has been lost to the streamlined routine of life. Allow me retell the story as if it was my first time experiencing the trip:

      Late again, i struggle locking the door. The deadbolt doesn't quite line up. I fiddle with the door as Ryan and River amble down the road in our toy-like mini truck. The lock finally slides in and i turn to run down the stairs. i'm careful to not trip down the extra tall first step, reach out for the deck above and swing down the remaining 4 steps being sure to duck under the chiseled out headboard that is still a few inches too short. Grabbing onto the burnt red four-by-four i spin around and then off the foot tall cement base; right into a puddle. Barefoot, i sprint across the gravel drive skimming above the worn out concrete that is now merely left over congregate. Hopping over the newly formed puddles i take a flying leap into the back of our moving truck to join River as "captain". Ryan is left driving because he is the only one who still has a valid drivers license (sucker). The pungent smell of flowers hits my nose as we pass the bushes in front of our coconut tree. The aroma is a mix between a bold gardenia and the sweet smell of pancake syrup. It is quickly overtaken by the smell of burning leaves with the faint, lingering stench of trash. Holding my breath as we pass, i give my usual nod and "len wo" to June and he returns with his predictable blank stare. i make a comment to River about how June never acknowledges us, he agrees, turns, and waves at Nelly-Sonia (one of his students) as we pass. Ryan hit three puddles that could have been avoided if he had just turned left, right, and then left again, but at this point, what's one more bump when the driveway is filled with them?
      As we turn onto the main road, River and i head nod a few more times at the myriad of Neth family members sitting under the tin roofed "bus stop" that is actually just a place for them to sit and talk. We're then met with the condescending death glares of the protestant members who are just getting out of a church service (at 3:15 on a tuesday?). i do my best to grin and nod at each person we pass, but the judgement of a hundred women in ill-fitting (thankfully) local dresses is nearly enough for me to take the next plane home. After making our way through the herd (yes, contrary to what you thought in high school English class, the author does have a deeper meaning to their selection of words. Please read deeply into this) of people, Ryan, with copious amounts of protest from our 660cc truck engine, accelerates to our typical and blistering, cruising speed of 55kmph. My eyes bounce from the ocean, to the abandoned cement structure that used to be someone's home, back to the surf, and then to a local walking alongside the road. i nod as we pass, mutter "len wo", and proceed to duck quickly as a coconut tree branch nearly slices my face. We pass a small roadside stand; no green beans or papaya today.


The drive continues peacefully as we near Lelu (lay-luh). Ryan honks to pass a slow car, women are out sweeping leaves in their yard, a few people are cutting their grass with a weed-eater, and there are children playing in the middle of the road. The sights are picturesque, as if you were living inside of a National Geographic. The landscape and culture we live in here is like paradise, but i want to let you in on a little secret: where you live right now is paradise too. Take a moment to step outside (or look out of your window for the feint of heart). The weather, the geography, the people, and the culture you're in at this moment is amazing. The intricacies of your surroundings go unnoticed to your routine programed brain. For the sake of efficiency, you're missing out on the small nuances of your day to day life that make your life special. This week, pay attention, look, smell, feel, hear, experience something "new" that may have been there the whole time.




Updates: i need to blog more. School is in full swing again (a little routine is nice). Construction has started on the school! i'll be working on a short video to send to GMM (Guam-Micronesia Mission) as a report on our progress: woo. SPEAKING OF VIDEOS: we finally uploaded a video of Kosrae. Watch here. i'm wearing a hoodie and have goosebumps, acclimation is complete. Had a sore throat for 2.5 weeks, nothing a little amoxicillin can't fix. Thank you to whoever donated a complete collection of NatGeos to the school here (or Sam Robinson), our kids LOVE them (if you know who the donor was, thank them for us).


Enjoy your surroundings, keep exploring,

Tyler

The Cost of Simplicity

i'd awoken that morning sweating profusely, head pounding, body aching. My low grade fever from the day before had progressed to a full on raging inferno. i got up to turn on the fan; no electricity. For eight hours i lay awake, drenched in sweat, unable to find comfort and rest.

The congregation closed their evening worship with "How Great Thou Art", and i sat, slumped weakly outside, shivering as the cool breeze passed by me, feeling too sick to join them. As i sat there, i intently watched three geckos methodically catch insects as they flew towards the light on the front of the church. It was a curious thing. Not a single insect that flew into that light came out alive. No longer masked by the darkness of night, the light illuminated the bugs as they flew closer to the tin roof entrance. Without fail, the winged fiend would take a kamikaze dive bomb straight for the awaiting tongue of the the geckos below.

The simplicity of the gecko's life intrigued me. Their sole purpose in life is to eat, poop, and have offspring. How nice it seemed to not have the worries of being a human. i was envious. They didn't have to worry about sickness, or the hours of grading they'd procrastinated on. There was no church infighting or competition to deal with, no long worship meetings, no lesson plans to be made, no laundry, dishes, or housework. It was black and white simple.

The longer i sat, however, the less i desired their lives. The simplicity i craved came at a price, one that i'm not willing to pay. While i was procrastinating on grading, i was out surfing, snorkeling, camping, paddle boarding on Christmas day, climbing the tallest mountain in Micronesia, getting SCUBA certified, and paddle boarding fifteen miles around part of the island. While i worry about the church's interpersonal struggles, i get to hear their natural born talent of singing filling the church. Making lesson plans is in preparation of having my students back again, and the chores are something i'll take for granted in a few weeks as our house is torn down and rebuilt. The complications we face are the price we pay for having the enjoyment of life. To lead a life on autopilot defeats the purpose of enjoying the world that was created for me. As much as i'd like for my "hardships" to go away, i'll gladly keep them around if it means that i can continue exploring and adventuring through life.



Updates: i'm sick, yay. SO MANY PACKAGES, SO MUCH SUGAR. i picked up seven boxes today and we had twelve boxes a few days ago, thank you to everyone who has taken their time and money to send us something.  Surf here was triple overhead a few weeks ago, on a completely unrelated swell size, i got my first barrel of the year. i'd also like to thank a guy named Jake for giving me his surfboard, thanks Jake. While many of you enjoyed a white Christmas, we enjoyed the ever predictable 88 degrees and sunny, best gift ever? Our church is suffering from family feuding (partly cultural? mostly each family just wants their family to benefit the most), prayers for them please. School starts Monday, is it weird that i'm excited? Only five months left, time is about to fly. The builder is scheduled to arrive in just 17 days!

Please share my blog with your friends, Kosrae is relatively unknown and we'd love to get the word out! Also, i've added an email subscription box on the right side of the page so you can be informed by email when i post an update! ---->


Live complicated,
Tyler