Saturday Aug 15

This is from an email Heidi sent us and wanted it posted to update everyone.

Hi! I am in Majuro for an unknown amount of time and I'm okay with it. Initially I was bummed to not be leaving but Cornelia didn't make it to her island as planned either so she is here for the next week (scheduled to fly on Saturday). I'm not leaving till one of 2 things happens (or both, who knows): first, my principal is prego's (she is about 50!!!) and isn't going back to our island until she has her baby so her husband said he would be the acting pricnipal but he doesn't know when he is going back either so I will go back when he goes (since school won't start until he get's there anyway even though it is supposed to start on Monday), or I have to wait for a drum of gas to get to the main island of my atoll so when I get there I can hire a boat to take me to Kaben but they don't know when the gas will arrive (even though they sent it on a boat about a week ago). Anyway, it is hard not knowing when I will be leaving but I'm enjoying my time in "the city."

Yesterday I went scuba diving!!! It was so great!!! Friday night we were all hanging out at a restaurant and Sarah (yes Sheila, I do have a friend named Sarah here) told me they were going out diving tomorrow and said I should come because we only had to pay for equipment. There is an Aussie here who said he would take some of us out so I jumped on the chance. I spend $25 to rent all my gear and we headed out. I was disappointed though because we didn't get to go to the reef he wanted to take us cause it was stormy yesterday (as it is most days actually) and he said it would be too dangerous (it sounded like we were going to a pass between to reefs and the water was really choppy so when we came up it would be pretty challenging) so he took us to a wreck instead. Now, I love diving and I'm happy to go whenever, but there is only so much to see of an old boat on the ocean floor (we went about 25 meters which I think is around 60+ feet) and I can only imagine the sea life by the coral (since I've snorkeled in the shallows and seen amazing things!!!). So maybe in December if he is still around he will take us out again.

While I'm in town, I'm also going to go see Harry Potter this very afternoon! Someone heard there were a bunch of American's in town and rushed to get the reel out here so it is here in the theater that is very near my new residence and it is a whopping 3 bucks! :) I'm excited. (and we heard Sunday matinees are only 2 so we'll see)

So, mail hasn't gotten out for a long time because I was told I was leaving for Kaben a day before I was supposed to go and didn't have anything ready so I was busy. Then I was told I wasn't going. Then the whole group was told we were moving out of our elementary school earlier than they originally said so we were busy cleaning and packing. Then we were moved into 4 different locations in town (I'm with one of the field directors with Cornelia and 2 other girls!) and other people started leaving so we've been having almost daily "last days" together. It's been a lot of fun but very busy! I will get my letters out that are almost a week old so keep in mind everything has changed since I wrote them. Let me update everyone. I now live in a 2 bedroom apartment that is SMALL!! With all of our luggage and wonderful sleeping mats, there is just enough room to get in the door and get to whatever area you are sleeping. It's fun! We also share the apartment with an army of cockroaches that really gross me out. We have a cockroach bowl that we just catch them under then slide the bowl to the door and kick the roaches out. Fun, fun, fun! As I said, my date of departure is still unknown! I'm going to try and email updates instead of writing, but we'll see how that goes!

Love,
Heidi