Weather Wonders

   So we have had an interesting few days. Yesterday, (Sunday for us)  we were under a tsunami warning because of the earthquake off of Chile.  This is the first time staff seemed to think that we should take action.  (Ponhpei isn't usually hit by anything severe like that because of its barrier reef).  We had another volunteer at our house with us at the time.  We informed our host families so that they could take precautions, but all opted not to.  We put on sunblock and hats and took water and binoculars and climbed all the steps to the top of the hill near our house.  Absolutely nothing happened.  We watched people going about their daily business, some of it in boats on the water.  Finally we called to check in and the warning was off.  It was really funny to people around here that we were even taking precautions.  Oh well, it provided a new twist to our same old, same old routine.

  As I think we mentioned in another post, Pohnpei is experiencing a drought.  We have been lucky and have had water even though the water pressure has dropped sometimes.  Our luck has run out, or should I say evaporated. (ha, ha bad joke, I know.)  I forgot my keys and was sitting outside waiting for Nate.  He missed a ride today and had to make the hour walk.  He got home and was drenched.  I walked to the sink, soaped up my hands and no water.  We had a trickle in the bathroom that we used to wash some dishes and collect more drinking water with and then that too stopped.  All over it is "sohte pil" (no water.)  There is confusion over whether or not the well has been shut off.  We have our doubts about that, I mean why wouldn't they have been rationing for the past month.  There isn't a whole lot of knowledge about water conservation here, but surely someone would have considered that if it was possible.  Our doubts our increasing because it is nearly time for people to start dinner and as rice and soup are popular dinner dishes it is going to be challenging to cook them without any pil. 

  We have informed our PC staff of our water issues.  I imagine something will be done and we may have interesting things to report.  (It will probably be interesting to us because it will change the routine, but may not in fact be that interesting to you.)

  So the next time you go for a glass of water, to flush the toilet, wash your hands, etc. think of us.  It's amazing how many times you reach for the tap even when you know it doesn't work. (It's kind of like how we always try to turn on the lights during our power outages.)  I really wish I could wash the road off my feet today.  Wish us luck!