After all this time, I'm still finding life in Fiji to be a tough act to
follow! I realized I was missing the snorkeling, so I went to Hawaii for
three weeks, where I hiked and snorkeled with cousins there. Great sea
turtles, and beautiful fish, but so-so coral, compared with Fiji's! My
granddaughter and I went up to the Olympic Peninsula (Washington State)
and hiked and tide-pooled, canoed in the rain forest. I went to Michigan
for three weeks, visiting friends and old haunts from my former lives in
that state -- a great state to be in, especially in August!
When I'm here, I hike in the redwoods or on the coast, swim at the pool,
and take classes at Humboldt State U (us old folks pay $6 a semester and
get to take anything we want.) Currently, it's digital imaging- (Adobe
Illustrator, In-Design, Photoshop) and French. I'm enjoying it.
Being on the North Coast, it looked as though no one would ever come here
to visit, but suddenly after three years, I've enjoyed playing host to
Christine and Felix, Jone Aigner, Jeanne Jones, and Reggie and Scott I'd
love to be going back to visit Fiji with those two!
HSU holds the record of recruiting the highest percentage of PCVs of any
univ. in all the U.S.! Last spring, out of their graduating class, they
had 50 recruits (entire student population 7,000+). The U has its own
recruiter! There was a reception for the invitees, attended by their
families, the swarm of RPCVs that live here, and the Peace Corps Director,
no less! It was a real kick seeing some new volunteers getting their
invitations!