A while back I posted a Foto Friday called "Island Toys," featuring a local "truck" made of wood and water buoys. Today's post features a couple more island toys that kids use to entertain themselves. Recently, the boys have been playing "sniper." The gist of the game is simple. Run around the village with your … Continue reading Foto Friday: “Island Toys Part 2”
Recently, I came across a book titled "Ears, Eyes, and Mouth: A shared story," by Helen M. Kilsby. Miss Kilsby is the great, great niece of Connie Hill, a woman who married Chris Hill of Wellington, New South Wales. Together, the Hills bought and managed a coconut plantation on Emae. The pair died two years … Continue reading Foto Friday: “Ears, Eyes, and Mouth”
When I first became vegan, baking was always an adventure. I had to learn how to substitute everyday ingredients for vegan-friendly alternatives, which inevitably led me to a plethora of new and unusual food discoveries. One such food was arrowroot powder. Many vegan recipes call for arrowroot powder because it acts as a thickening agent … Continue reading How to make arrowroot powder
Happy Good Friday! Yesterday was Good Friday for us here in Vanuatu. We didn't have a big village-wide celebration, but my friends invited me to picnic with them a short ways down from our beach. We gathered up some food, mats, cooking irons, knives, speakers, and swim gear, then headed off down a bush trail … Continue reading Foto Friday: “Good Friday”
Many people in Vanuatu like keeping parrots as pets. But, they can't just go to the nearest pet store and pick one up. Typically, they'll stone the parrot with a slingshot. When it falls from the tree, it's either injured, stunned, or dead. If still alive, they'll pick it up and take it home, plucking … Continue reading Jackie the Parrot
A couple weeks ago, Imran was told a story in his village so crazy/ unbelievable that I just had to share it with you. We were talking on the phone when he excitedly told me: "Taylor, I think Steve Irwin (RIP) came to Maewo!" He expanded, saying that he was talking with some friends when … Continue reading That one time Steve Irwin wrestled a crocodile in Vanuatu…
As we discussed last week in "Foto Friday: 20 Vatu," Emae doesn't have a real market system, but we do have a couple small, local stores. The Mama's Cooperative runs the most established store in our village. It sells a variety of packaged and processed food items, very few of which offer any real nutritional … Continue reading Foto Friday: “Local Stores”
*This post is inspired by #peacecorpsproblems, or in other words, all of the crazy, scary, gross, funny, sad, or downright outrageous things that happen to volunteers during their service. We have our own #peacecorpsproblems tag here in Vanuatu, but I’ve compiled all of my problems in one place for your viewing pleasure with the added … Continue reading Peace corps problems, Pet Edition: Cats
Many communities in Vanuatu have established market systems where men and women can sell produce, crops, and/or plates of food from their garden. It's a great way for them to earn income, and a cheap and sustainable way for families to supplement their diets. Emae has one official market house located in Annalisa's village, near … Continue reading Foto Friday: “20 Vatu”
When you live on an island, you have to invent your own entertainment. 7 Lock is a card game known and loved by people of all ages throughout Vanuatu. I've been to many different islands, and have yet to find a community that doesn't know 7 Lock. I've also yet to meet a community that … Continue reading Foto Friday: “7 Lock”
Peace Corps In Paradise 