I stret

*I stret is Bislama for 'It's all good'.

I probably never would have thought to visit the islands of Vanuatu, had it not been for my good friend Amy's Peace Corps service. She' s been there over a year and a half and since I just landed back in the States I figured I should get a move on.

After 14 of air travel, I landed in Port Vila in that oh-so-familiar green, humid, fertile climate of the tropics. I met some of her fellow Peace Corps pals and felt that mutual understanding between us of life and it's bananas (literally).

Three weeks is a short time to get to know much about a new culture/place/language, but Amy and I sojourned her present life like locals despite time constraints.

Week 1:

Mama's Market was every day but Sunday- full of fruit and typical food dishes. We ate lots of papaya, roasted peanuts and homemade sweet potato chips.

The first episode of SURVIVOR was on Efate Island, Vanuatu...looks rough. This is Lololima Falls.

Week 2:

We summited an active volcano called Maren after a tough 6 hour hike. However, the view of lava was worth it! We camped nearby and headed down the next morning.

Here's the crew post- hike: Joses in the middle was our guide and Lindsay (another Peace Corps Volunteer) to his left hosted us while we stayed on her island called Ambrym. Thanks Linds!

We drank shells of kava, a root that is prepared by mashing it up and diluting it with water. It's traditionally drunk in the evenings while the euphoric relaxation takes over and 'storying' commences lasting sometimes through the night.

Week 3:

With about 500 people on the island of Lamen where Amy lives, she interacts daily with the tight-knit community- One day, a group of girls came over to make coconut jam. We collected, peeled, and scratched the coconuts (like the girls above) before milking it and mixing it into sugary goodness.

This is Abu-Tasso, Amy's neighbor and good friend. We all went to the mainland Epi (in the distance) one day on his handmade canoe. We paddled through a myriad of blue water and got lost in conversation and the moment unshaken from the storm creeping in.

For Children's Day in July, Amy wanted to teach 5th and 6th grade girls a dance to participate. We learned the steps in Port Vila from another volunteer and then practiced with the girls 3 times while I was there...besides shooing peeking boys, they caught on so fast! It's a bit hip-hop done to M.I.A.'s song "Paper Planes". Good luck girls-

You know when you meet people and you know they've left and impression on you? Well, Sandra and Henry were two people that I wish I had more time to spend with. While I was there only 6 days, Amy and I frequently storied, ate, drank kava and sang while Henry played any song we asked for. His favorite was Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver:)

Vanuatu, you left an impression on me. Sipa Amy.