Last year I wrote about Devin Mara’s work as a Peace Corps Volunteer on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). I wanted to catch you all up on what’s been happening with Devin. The photo above shows a Yap traditional stick dance performed by elementary students.
I’ve been following Devin’s Facebook posts and Devin sends wonderful email missives that include all of the news of her life in Pohnpei. This year she has been very busy teaching, keeping everyone in shape with her Zumba classes and traveling to local islands with other Peace Corps volunteers.
I recently exchanged emails with Devin to get the latest news about her Peace Corps experience. I had a few questions for Devin and here’s what she shared with me.
A lot has happened since I blogged about you. I understand that things have changed with your Micronesia posting. What is new?
In November, not long after the first post, we got the devastating news that Peace Corps was closing the program in the country effective this June. This was a big shock personally. I’d just been starting to wrap my head around being here two years, but the real tragedy is for the country which really relies on volunteers in the education system. Peace Corps has been consistently working in FSM for over 50 years now and every Pohnpeian I’ve spoken to is disappointed that we’re leaving. The US financial compact with the country, which the economy is very dependent on, is also set to expire in 2023 so it’s an unsettled time.
Before my next question, I would like to say how sorry I am that this is happening to the people of Micronesia and to you and the other Peace Corps volunteers. It sounds like the Peace Corps has done so much good in the FSM (as they have in many parts of the world).
You’ve been doing some traveling around the islands. Would you tell us about that?
Since getting here last June I’ve been off my 129 square mile island twice. In February I took the aptly named “Island Hopper” 45-minute flight to the next state to the East, Kosrae, where my boyfriend is a volunteer. Kosrae is much smaller than Pohnpei, and therefore much quieter and more peaceful, but other than that they feel very similar. However, Kosrae has beautiful sandy beaches, which we do not have here and which I very much enjoyed. Then in April all of the current volunteers across the FSM met in the furthest West state, Yap, to attend our close of service conference. This was only the second time we’ve all been together since our training ended in August and it was a lot of fun. The conference dealt with topics like adjusting to life back home and applying skills learned during service to the job market. I didn’t see much of Yap because we were so busy, but it’s a lot flatter and cooler than both Pohnpei and Kosrae. The highlight of that trip was getting matching tattoos with 8 of my fellow volunteers!
What are your days like now?
My days are mostly the same, just with an increased comfortability with my routine. I wake up around sunrise (about 6:30am), get ready for school, eat breakfast with my family and walk my 10 minute commute to school. I teach first and second grade from 8 to noon, and either 3rd or 4th in the afternoon depending on the day. Two days a week I run a dance club with my students and most nights I also do Zumba at 6pm with my host mom and ladies from the village. Aside from that I read a lot and watch a fair bit of TV too. Any weekend I don’t have plans with my host family I spend hanging out in Kolonia, the main town, with other volunteers watching movies, playing board games and eating food that’s hard to get at our sites.
How do you feel about leaving your post?
As excited as I am to get home and start the next phase of my life, I know I’ll miss this place dearly. Pohnpei itself is beautiful and I’ve gotten used to it being 85 degrees everyday. I’m so glad that I got the chance to teach for a year to fully appreciate what hard work it is and how not cut out I am to teach long term. Really though it’s the people I’ve met that will make Pohnpei so hard to leave. I’ve experienced overwhelming generosity and kindness from everyone I’ve interacted with and hope to bring some of the lessons in community back with me.
What do you think your impact has been?
One of the hardest things about leaving early is that a central tenet of the Peace Corps model is that is takes a year just to integrate and the second is when you’re supposed to get real projects done. Since I’m only here one year, what is the point? While I may not have accomplished as much as my idealistic self would have hoped, there are still accomplishments I’m proud of. My host mom will certainly continue our women’s fitness club without me. Although none of the teachers at school have been quite as willing as she was to learn and co-teach Zumba they all love the activity and hopefully someone steps up to fill the gap once I’m gone. In the classroom, I know that I’ve left a years worth of game and activity ideas for my co-teachers that require more than plain memorizing or copying, and that my students have benefitted from a year of hearing a native English speaker.
What are your future plans?
I’m very excited to be heading home to start a masters degree in Sustainable International Development at the Heller School of Brandeis University. Through Peace Corps I was eligible for the Coverdell program which awarded me a generous scholarship. I was hesitant about graduate school before coming here but my year of service introduced me to this career path I’m really interested in and also showed me what skills I need to get there. First though, I plan to spend the summer thoroughly relaxing, including a month on the Vineyard and a quick trip back to where I went to college, Edinburgh. I will also be eating my weight daily in all the foods I’ve been missing and snuggling every dog I come into contact with.
Do you have any final last words about your Peace Corps experience?
The Peace Corps catchphrase “toughest job you’ll ever love” has indeed proven true. I’m so thankful I got this experience, for all the good and bad moments.
Thanks Devin!
Thank you so much for sharing your feelings about your Peace Corps experience! It has been a pleasure to follow your journey. I am sure that I am not alone in being so grateful to people who volunteer and do so much to help others and make the world a better place. You are amazing!
Have a wonderful summer and good luck with your studies in Sustainable International Development at Brandeis University. It sounds like you are going to continue to make a difference!
Do you know a volunteer?
If you know of someone willing to share her or his volunteer experience, please let me know (dottie@seasaltandsailorstripes.com).