Vanuatu to the Solomon Islands

WOW! Almost a whole month has gone by since my last blog! My, how time flies - well, out here anyway, sometimes. Since leaving Fiji (which I miss so dearly and would love to return to one day), we spent a little over a week in the Islands of Vanuatu (lovely people, with very beautiful features, dark skin, and the most incredibly white and straight teeth I have ever seen - and no braces or dental care either)! The most memorable day in Vanuatu would have to be on the Island of Ambrym, where we saw a traditional Rom dance in the small village of Fanla, the boys went on a pig hunt with the locals (and got 3 pigs - one of which Karen killed by wacking it with a spear. I couldn't watch), and we had a wonderful beach dinner, complete with a real pig roast right there on the shore in front of where our boat was anchored with some of the village people (I know that sounds weird, but lets not think of Men dancing around singing YMCA just now). I met some of the young girls who were preparing our dinner and helped them set up by cutting up the vegetables and laying them all out on banana leaves on palm fronds on the sand. We feasted on taro, sweet potato, cucumbers, sweet bananas (the mini ones), coconuts, and - of course - pig, although I declined eating any of it. But I learned my lesson, and that is to stay away from the cocount cream that they put on some of the vegetables, and to not have too much coconut milk or meat (although it is really tasty)!
We finished our tour of the Vanuatu Islands by the end of October, and celebrated Halloween onboard with a fun dress up party, complete with trick-or-treating, prizes, and best costume laughs (there are many pictures, hopefully Jose will post those). We entered into the Solomons by the beginning of November, and checked into customs in Honiara, Guadalcanal, which is the capital of the Solomons. It was by far the dirtiest and "sketchiest" place we have ever been, and after being there for a couple of days, to pick up some supplies, food, and get fresh water showers, we were out of there as quickly as possible, on to more remote islands, and quiet, paradise bays! We motored onto Gizo, where I am now, and on the way stopped at a tiny Island where we went snorkeling, swimming, walked around the small Island, played volleyball, frisbee, football, and some of the guys went spear fishing. The weather continues to get hotter every day, and - if you can imagine - I think the stove is too! I must be losing weight, purely by all the sweating I'm doing! But I drink tons of water too, so I probably just gain the water weight back! I haven't seen any sharks yet, but after snorkeling today in the murkiest water, full of "floaties" and small undetected jellies (I got lots of small stings on my arms and legs, that have since disappeared) I am quite glad I didn't come across any jaws-like characters! Swimming in water that is dark and where I can't see below me or even know what is underneath me is scary enough! I still have to have someone jump in the water with me whenever I take a shower or go swimming. I need to get over that fear! But if there's any chance that someone else will get attacked before me, then I'll take it. Ha ha ha. Just kidding, Mom! It's totally safe! I'm fine, besides, I only have to swim faster than just one person, right? I also try to wear bright colours and my red mask and snorkel to make myself look most unlike any type of sea prey.
The Solomons have been wonderful so far, by the people are nowhere near as friendly as Fijians, or the people of Vanuatu, especially in the villages! They all chew this awful Betelnut stuff, which rots and stains their teeth red, and you see red splotches all over the ground from where they spit it out. Smoking and chewing are very bad habits down here, but I guess every place has it's "thing". I enjoy the swimming, snorkeling, hanging out on the boat, swinging off the ropeswing, and the occaissional venture to land, that is a quiet tiny Island where there are no people, and I can walk around the Island and dig my feet into the soft, white sand! It's heavenly! I never imagined the Solomons to be like this!
I am learning so much about their cultures down here; we visited "Skull Island", where they used to bring the heads of their dead chiefs and worship them there in the altar/grave they created for them. There were literally hundreds of skulls, but I didn't take any pictures (I felt it was a sacred place and it is a tomb, and very special to the people their). But I will never forget it. I was particularly interested in how old they were (over 100 years or more), and I enjoyed looking at the bone structures and analyzing the biology and how intact or severely broken many of the skulls were. It was really neat to see my memory of University Bio classes coming back into play at such a far away place in the world (Frontal lob, occipital lobe, etc...)! I miss that so much!
This morning we snorkeled/swam to Kennedy Island, which is aptly named after the late J.F.K., who swam to this tiny Island back in the 40s (or 50s?) when his famous U.S. boat (P.T. 109) was hit broadside by a Japanese war ship, by fluke. It was very cool to be on that Island, so small, knowing that 60 years ago JFK himself was here, and to read about and learn of WWII and how that affected the people here, what was going on, how the Japanese, Australians, Solomon Islanders, Americans, and South Pacific Islands were all involved! It's so great to learn about that time in our world's history, and to see and read about the places first hand! This experience is just so much more grander than I ever thought possible! The reading material is never short, either, on the boat!
Well, my time is almost done here, and tonight we are all invited to a live music and dance party at the yacht club, where food and drinks are cheaper for us (as honorary members) as well as laundry and showers! YAY! I already dropped my laundry off, and I will be taking a shower before dinner! VERY exciting! They have ice cold, bottled water, which is fantastic, and I am just happy to have some fresh vegetables again! Gillian and I did a bit of shopping today in "town" (Gizo) and the market, but we couldn't find eggs anywhere! It's a rare commodity here, and apparently when then come, they are sold very quickly! Oh dear, I guess it will be fruit salad and porridge tomorrow morning...which is fine with me, I love that!
Unfortunately, they don't have Skype here, or the headsets to use it anyway, so I apologize for not being able to call anyone (Matt, Mom and Dad, Amy, Jeff, EM, Jamie and Judy), but I hope you can all read this and know that I am doing well, having a good time, and enjoying myself. I am safe, tanned, and happy - when I'm not terribly homesick (I cried last night). But I am loving all that we get to do and see, and the interactions we have with others and with trainees are irreplaceable! I don't regret a single thing!
Time is going by quickly, and I am trying to make the best of each moment! I think of all of you back home very often, and I am thinking of you and praying for you, especially during this time as the Fall semester comes close to the end and exams begin, the holidays are fast approaching, the weather is no doubt getting colder, and the end of another year is ending. I hope that you are all doing well, and enjoying life, wherever you may be! I love you all, and miss you very much!

Love you and miss you, Matt! Take care, and I hope to talk to you soon! Maybe when we get to PNG, but I don't know what the internet situation will be like there either. I will try my best! I'm thinking of you and praying for you constantly! Have a great time in Edmonton for Dan and Nicholine's wedding! I wish I could be there! Give them my best wishes and please tell them I say congratulations! Say a big hello to all of your family for me too, please!

Love always, Sailor Katie