Plain and Simple

**Since Elyse does not have access to internet she asked me to update her blog with excerpts from letters she sends to me.  Kathy Robertson**

No matter where you go, girls like to look pretty and wear lots of colors.  My host mama, Anti's and sister are not different than women are at home.  I pulled out my nail polish last night, and it was such a remarkable sight to see all these women sitting together "storian", or in this case they were just gossiping about anyone and anything.  Even though my colors were limited, they all found a way to make their nails unique and lovely.  After, since getting pedis and manis weren't enough, we made a braid train, and I got my hair custom braided - which was a sight to see for sure.

There is a beauty that comes from simplicity, I think.  Watching my family this past week has opened my eyes to just how much we take for granted in the U.S.  From as early as 5:00 am to the late night hours, the Ni-Van people are up enjoying the company of their families, friends and neighbors.  Yes, life here is very slow and unproductive from an onlookers perspective, but it just seems natural here.  Time literally stands still, and is non-existent for many - especially since most people don't wear/have watches or calenders.  I don't think that I will be able to fully integrate in that manner, but its a simplicity that I can only associate with "island life".

Everyday the ackwardness of host families and host living is slowly wearing off.  My family is beginning to let me do more things, and they eat meals with me, instead of me eating first and them watching.  This week I collected firewood with my Antis, using a bush knife, in the bush forest.  I learned how to open a coconut with a bush knife, it's really hard so I won't be doing that much.  I made a fire, learned about Black Magic, watched sea turtles getting tagged, learned how to milk, grate and husk a coconut and helped make Simboro.

Halloween is a few days away and I tried to explain the holiday as best I could.  My mama really liked the ideas of Jack-o-Lanterns.  I was surprised to wake up the next morning to find that my mama had shucked a pile of coconuts for jack-o-lanterns.  Now we have a nice little J-o-L coconut family outside our house!

My papa went deep sea fishing last night, so we had fresh fish for lunch today.  I never realized how good grilled anything was until all you eat is rice and boiled island veggies/fruit.  The fish was super fresh and served with scales, eyes, face and everything attached.  My family got a good laugh at me trying to carefully break open/tear apart the fish.  This was another opportunity to explain that in the U.S. we eat fresh fish but it is usually just the meat and not body.  But first time eating fish, and I didn't swallow a single bone.. success!