The Flight  By now I am a seasoned air traveller, this being my second flight. I was seated next to Marty Small (and he was) with Barb Mutz at the window. After a breakfast, Marty and I got talking... He had been in Peace Corps for rural development in South America but deselected because he didn't like the work nor the training. From him I got my first idea of what it would be like. He described the long hours, the lousy living quarters, the lack of privacy, etc... We played a couple games of rummy while sipping guava juice and champange. I recall that Pam was seated behind us and she was loud as ever, getting up continually to run up and bother Alice (project leader). To the point that a stewardess told her to remain in her seat and mind her own business.
This was also my first chance to meet Barbara who would have to be described as a naive country girl entering the big world. She certainly does add much to a conversation. Her opening line inevitably was and will be: "I'm from Joliet, Illinois, that's 40 miles south of Chicago". Whoopee, three cheers for Joliet. I must admit that I did learn a lot about Joliet from her. She also was a great source for entertainment, explaining to everyone why there were ripples on her sunglasses when she looked out the window (ans. - difference in air pressure). The highlight was when we first sighted land and she exclaimed to the whole plane: "There's an island!!" and immediately started taking pictures with her instamatic.

Aloha  The big bird took us to Hawaii, arriving in Hilo at 11:30AM, received our leis (mine from Walosi) from the smiling and laughing training staff. Could've been Hawaiians for all I knew, but when they sang a song while we were waiting for our luggage I figured it was Hindi. Piled onto busses and went to the Hilo center, marched to a room and once again filled out form after form (same ones we had done in San Jose - maybe they were trying to catch a lie in our facts). We were given new name tags (in plastic case, this time). We were handed the, now infamous, first bagged lunch, and if you were secondary teacher, piled onto a bus for Ookala.
The day was beautiful and the ride magnificent. Everyone was going wild over the scenery. This is were I met Ann Arnold, bless her, the most perfect girl in the world. The hour long (33 miles) ride took us past sugar cane fields, beaches, small towns and through three large gulches with waterfalls. Ann was concerned at my lack of awe. But that's me, whether it be scenery or sports - low key response. Spent the afternoon unpacking and settling into (more like crowding in) an abandon school. The classroom I chose had 4 beds with very little space between. Terry Ford on one side and Mark Schiffer, who was extremely quiet, on the other side.

Yaqona  They started with a maddening pace and maintained it for eight weeks. We found ourselves back on the bus being brought back to Hilo. There was a slight drizzle that was causing some concern, but it ended as if by providence and things went as planned. We amassed on the front lawn and had a meke and yagona ceremony. My first taste of the drink and I was hoping they wouldn't give me seconds. Out came the guitars and ukeles to accompany a medley of Fijian songs. We then had dinner in the cafeterium and I sat with three staff - Herb Retsky, Howard Takata and Paul Sinnott. The conversation was way over my head, but I learned a lot about Fiji in that hour. I don't recall exactly what, but it was something important and I remember getting into a big discussion about it with Ann, Joan Cross and someone else while we sat out on the steps listening to some of trainees singing.