"Frodo: I can't do this, Sam. Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness, and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the … Continue reading Reflections from Mt. Doom
Author: Rachel
The Start of Something New
I wrote this blog on the plane flight over on 15 January. Just getting around to posting it now! It summarizes where I've been and where I am going over the next few months! Today officially begins my U.S. Fulbright. I am so honored to be part of the US Fulbright program and have the … Continue reading The Start of Something New
Check 1, 2…
Fieldwork Lesson #5 is one I KNOW, but for some reason, I didn't do... ALWAYS test your sound equipment. Don't just test it before you record, which I did, but after your recording, play it back and make sure it worked. I bought a new voice recorder before coming because my other one is over … Continue reading Check 1, 2…
Planes, Ships, and Motor Canoes
A few weeks ago (Nov 9-12) we took a trip to Isabel Province. We plan to return to Isabel next year for about 5-6 months of my research. The goal was to make connections in the community, share my research project, and check out the living situation. We were able to do all three, though … Continue reading Planes, Ships, and Motor Canoes
World Teacher’s Day
World Teacher's Day, or more accurately week, went by in a blur! World Teacher's Day was October 5, 2018, but I was gone from Monday, October 1 to Saturday, October 6. Below is a summary of each day and some pictures, but if you want the condensed version of what I learned and my takeaways, … Continue reading World Teacher’s Day
One Month In
One month ago (and a few days), Mike and I landed in the Solomon Islands. I can't believe we have already been here one month. Time is going quickly. So how has the last month been? It is hard to summarize in a few words so I will describe in categories. Settling in/Living/Food Our house … Continue reading One Month In
A Taste of the Island Cultures
Sometimes people ask me to describe the Solomon Islands. They often ask: What are the people like? What is their culture like? What do they eat? I always struggle to answer because the Solomon Islands are very diverse. There are nine provinces spread over 1100 kilometers, with over 70 distinct languages. Generally, the people are … Continue reading A Taste of the Island Cultures
A Rainy Afternoon
Mike and I had hoped to go on a hike today to a waterfall, but there wasn't room in the cars, so that will be an adventure for a different weekend. It turned out alright though. Since it rained all day, the friends who went were probably slipping and sliding the whole time! So what … Continue reading A Rainy Afternoon
One Week In
We have been in the Solomons now for about one and a half weeks. We spent our first few days settling into our new place, buying supplies, and orienting ourselves to Honiara. I showed Mike the central market, local shops, cafes for coffee and AC, as well as some local cuisine. We are borrowing a … Continue reading One Week In
An Extended Fiji Layover
Since coming back from the Solomon Islands last year, we both have been very busy! Mike was managing many clients and changes at work. I spent the year applying for grants, writing a research proposal and other theoretical papers to advance to candidacy. I became a Ph.D. Candidate in Anthropology on June 13! But then I … Continue reading An Extended Fiji Layover
