Still able to cause drama, even way over here. . .

While mom and Reese were visiting I experienced a bit of – well – drama if you will. Upon my return from Majuro I found out that while I was gone someone had convinced my father that the reason I was going to Majuro, other than to get my mother, was so that I could start a family – and the reason JunJun was also going was so that he could come get my mother with me and I would introduce them because that is apparently who I was starting the family with! Nice, huh? So Whelor, the vice chairman of the PTA always jokes around – and since JunJun and I are friends, and he is single, he apparently made a joke about that to someone, and this being the Marshalls it traveled back to my father. When he heard about this he took it very seriously and called a meeting to discuss finding a new host family for me because he no longer wanted me living on the Christian Campus because that would be against the laws since we aren’t married. Sweet. Anyways, when I heard about this I was shocked. (Marshallese culture if you talk publicly with someone who is single it means you will be dating. Most people understand its not the same for ribelle, but apparently some don’t…aka family.) I went into lunch one day and confronted my dad about the situation, and it was almost like he wasn’t expecting me to deny that I wanted to start a family or that that was the reason I went to Majuro. He said the whole town was complaining to him about me living on the Church campus and having people come to my house and talk to me and they told him to call a meeting and look for a new house for me. Upon hearing this I was in a completely horrible mood, thinking everyone thought I was a bad person – because that’s essentially what he told me – and was about ready to pack up and go home with my mom.

After talking to many people, however, I found out he had lied about the whole situation and he was the only person making any deal of it. No one had gone and talked to him, and everyone was very surprised when HE called a meeting to discuss this issue because no one knew there was even an issue.

Extremely long story short, I decided that regardless, because of all past issues and for sake of my happiness I thought it would just be better if I moved. So – I asked Lona if I could move in with her, she said yes, Lauren came back from Majuro with me when I had gone in to bring mom and Reese back, and we moved!

I wish I could say it was a breeze…but it was far from it. While Lauren was in Lukoj the family acted very nice and understanding and they agreed it would be a fine idea. They said it was very important to watch the church and they thought it would be good if they just did that…but I would definitely still be part of the family, I could come over if I ever needed anything, they would be there. Yeah…right. Lauren and I packed up my things and moved Monday after school. It was beginning to be nighttime and was about to rain so we were in a hurry and didn’t have time to bring all the stuff to the school. There was quite a bit of stuff, so when I left I put a lock on the door and planned to come back the next day. At the time I left my mom was conducting church and dad was nowhere to be found, so I just left. Didn’t think it would be a big deal. Wrong. OHHH so wrong.

The next morning I came to school at the normal time and went over to the house to drop Lauren’s stuff off. Apparently they hadn’t liked that I put a lock on and had broken it off and gone it. Their stuff was on the ground and my stuff was all moved around and kids were running around with my things. Not wanting to get all worked up – I didn’t say anything and just went to school. During break I brought some students over to the house, went inside and took out the rest of the stuff. Ohhhhh man was that a horrible thing to do. After school I was sitting working in the garden and Mama comes over and starts SCREAMING at me in front of the entire school. “Who said you could enter our house. You had no right to go inside my house and get your things. You need to ask before entering that house. My contract is over, is it not? I was done last night, that is no longer your house anymore. Its MINE and you did not ask before entering.” I attempted to ask her why she broke the lock of, but that went no where, I was clearly not going to get a word it. She stood there yelling at me in Marshallese for a good 5 minutes before Anderson come over and told her to go home and not go back to the school. Papa called a meeting with all the parents after school to discuss the issue, yelled at Lona and me for about 10 minutes while waiting, and simply made no sense. (Not even worth trying to write about it.) The meeting, however – that was funny. He was expecting it to be, OH dear, she was way wrong – but it turned into the town basically being like, “What are you doing. Why did you lie to her and tell her we complained and wanted a meeting. You called the meeting. Why didn’t you tell her about it? Why are you being dishonest, you are supposed to be the reverend of this town. What kind of person are you?” He was a bit flabbergasted and felt embarrassed I think… as he should for doing what he did.

Now, I am living down the street with Lona, her husband Jeffery, Tarri and Telene who just came over from Majruo. It is so relaxing, a much better house, and simply great. There are no kids around really, which is a fabulous change – I have a nice walk to school in the morning – I get to have a blast with Lona – I get to do work and actually be treated like an adult and have responsibilities – and I just get to do whatever I want without being treated like I am 10. It is amazing. The only downgrade…no bathroom. Haha its ok though, according to the entire town I am a Marshallese girl now – no longer American – so its not a big deal.

Ok – well I think that is the majority of what has happened in the past month…not bad only 3 pages. Ha sorry. Oh – school has gotten a bit better – Movie is taking initiative, keeping a time sheet and enforcing some rules finally – and the garden is going well. We should be eating our first batch of tomatoes in the next week or so! Delicious.

My writing break is now over though and I am going to try and get back to writing on a regular basis so I don’t have to do these crazy long catch ups.

I hope all is well with everyone back at home. Don’t forget to keep writing lettersssssss ☺ Like I’ve said a million times, letters are like Christmas presents here. They never get old and are the best thing ever.

Miss you all lots.