Bula Vinaka...~

So for all of you who thought FIJI was paradise well let me tell you.. After your first Bucket bath and first 1000 misquito bites and the insane humidity you might not think the same !!!
It is truly an alien world here.. I go to church all the time, have no running water and live with a host family of about 7 and have about 30 cousins aunts and uncles....
I live in a small village of about 80 people called Muana I Ra(Sp?).. Its a methodist community.. I have 2 brothers 23 and 27, and 2 sisters.. not sure how old they are.. maybe 20's? And i have a cat named Mini and a dog named Tailevu... My brothers are Netava and Sekeli. My mom is Mereami and my dad is Jolame.. My sisters are Merama and Ranadi.... I have no running water so i take Bucket baths everyday and it is hot as hell and its only the cool dry season! lol(It still rains almost every day...) With all that said my new family is great.. They feed me way too much!!!!! So i run every other morning.
My address here in Fiji is :
Peace Corps/FIJI
Private Mail bag
Suva, FIJI
SOUTH PACIFIC
I hope everyone is doing good and please feel free to write me on what is new in the world as i have no idea what has been happening the last couple weeks...!!!
Sota Tale... Moce.....
Matthew
p.s. I will try to get some pictures up soon but this internet cafe connection is way too slow.....

GOODBYE U.S.

I will be leaving Mt. Vernon on Sunday and flying out of Columbus to LA. for my staging there... We start our training that day at like 2:00 pm and it ends at around 7 i think. Then wake up the next day on Monday and have training all day till about 4pm then head to the Airport to leave at around 11:30 for a nice smooth 12 hour flight non-stop to FIJI . lol As the time comes closer about a million things start inundating your head.. Things like, "What the hell am i doing?" and,
"Did i remember to buy and pack everything?" and,"Wow I'm leaving behind my friends for soo long..?" And of course the occasional Anxiety and panic attack that comes and goes. There is definitely a certain level of stress involved here. I'm still very happy about my decision and am just looking forward to meeting my fellow trainees and getting to know them and developing relationships with them. They will be my family for the next 27 months i guess along with my FIJIAN friends.
Once i get to FIJI i will make sure and let everyone know where any mail can be sent to me. And please keep the mail coming... I don't want to be the lone looser who never gets mail! lol
I will see you all in a couple years...! Wish me Luck!

Back Home for a Little......

So after a 5 day stint on the road from eugene Oregon back to Mt Vernon Ohio, i am finally back in my hometown where i grew up for about 10 more days... Its kinda nice to unwind after travelling for soo long and nice to finally not be working !!! Its a little more slow paced life back here which is just what i needed.. I am basically enjoying friends and family and getting all my things i'm gonna bring with me to FIJI figured out... If any of my Oregon friends are reading this i will def miss all you guys... I will also miss that beautiful state and the Oregon Coast...
Hopefully i will come to feel the same way about the FIJIAN coast and sunsets.... I'm having mini anxiety attacks from time to time when thinking about leaving for FIJI but hopefully those will dissipate with time! lol
Once i figure out my contact info in FIJI i will make sure to post it on here as well as my myspace account in case anyone actually reads this! lol
I'll prob update this one more time before i leave!!!

Possible Packing List????

Ok.. So everyone Keep in mind here that i may not be taking all this stuff..~! lol But if i can keep it all underweight i may just. : )I just kinda puked all these ideas onto a sheet of paper so here goes...:
-80 gig Video Ipod + mini speakers
-Sony Cybershot DSC t-100 Digital camera w/ marine Pack
-Motorola 2 way radio(walkie talkies) about a 1 to 2 mile Talking distance depending on topography
-Minolta 35mm slr Film Camera
-Laptop maybe
-Folding 6.5 watt Sunlinq Solar Panel(only weighs about 1 lb and can fit in your pocket...)
-Tent-Mask, Snorkel, + Fins
-Chaco Sandals
-Raincoat(Lightweight)
-Binoculars
-Coleman Mini LED Light
-Divers Watch
-Toiletry kit
-Leatherman-
Aqua Socks(If you have yet to wear these they come in very handy!)
-Pictures of freinds and family
-Gifts for my Fijian freinds
-Katadyn water filter
-Sea(Dry) Bags(if anyone needs an extra one i have 3 so probably will only need 1 or 2) tell me and i will bring em all
-Daypack
-2 lightweight towels
-Silica gell packets
-2 small locks
- Mini Mag Flashlight

Like i said i know this may seem like a lot but i'm not certain about some things.. I'm sure this list will shrink once i realize how much i have!!! And if anyones Hot Sauce comes up missing i had nothing to do with it!!!

A Lot Has Happened....~

So since my last post about a gazillion things have happened... I am now officially Open Water SCUBA certified and have my own set of fins, snorkel , and mask..~! lol I have completed all my Aspiration statements and all those other goodies Peace Corps Wanted From me...
I have sold about half of my stuff in my Apartment as well as SOLD my car~!!! Whoo hoooo...
Huge weight off my back , let me tell you....
I've been in touch with now 6 people who will be going with me to FIJI and they all seem great...~!
I haven't recieved my Staging kit yet but i'm assuming the staging will be in L.A. which will give me a chance to see my Friend Buddy , who i haven't seen in a long time.....
I have managed to finally work it out so that i am going to see one last TOOL concert before i leave the States!!!! It is in Reno and i am going there the day i leave Oregon for Ohio.. After i hit up some TOOL in Reno i am heading to the Tetons of Wyoming and also Yellowstone for a couple days...
After that i plan on going across wyoming into South Dakota and visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota...~ If you have not been there yet go.. they are amazing....
Then from there it is across Minnesota and the Mississippi and down into Wisconsin and into the Stinky depths of Chicago and Gary(and believe me .. both these Cities smell... You feel like you are eating the air its so polluted..) from there its Indiana and back to good ole Ohio to spend about 12 days with friends and Family before i take off for L.A.
Its been crazy trying to get ready for all this... I am shoring up my financial stuff, sell as much stuff as possible too, and working to make as much money i can before i leave..... For anyone who has gone through this , they know just how crazy it can get.....
Other than all that life is great~! lol Just getting anxious to get to Fiji and see what i am getting myself into..... And i can't wait......
So just so anyone who might be reading this knows, it will be of great help and inspiration to me if as many of you as possible write me while i am gone.. I'm sure i will miss many of you.....
So, my next 3 weeks here in oregon are now dedicated to busting my ass and working as much as possible and to learing A good deal of Fijian....
Take Care,
Matthew