7-12

I started today with a run out to the bridge, which is the highest point on the island. Majuro Atoll consists of a number of long, skinny islands. The largest two are connected by a bridge and so have come to be considered the main island. At both ends of Majuro, there are a number of smaller islands. When the tide is out, you can walk across the coral to some of them, but there are a number you need a boat to reach. Anyway, I am happy to report that we were not attacked by any of the numerous dogs that roam the streets when we were out running. We went out fairly early, so as to avoid the heat and avoid being seen by many Marshallese people. They don’t really get out and exercise, so people usually stare when there are ri belle (white people) running by.

Today I was also reintroduced to the joys of rain in the Marshall Islands. It rained 3 or 4 times, but each time it didn’t last very long (luckily). The rainstorms here can be long and violent, but they can also pass through in a couple of minutes. You can usually see them coming. It’ll be a nice sunny day, but if you look off to the ocean side of the island, there will be a wall of dark gray clouds. I rather like the rain here as long as I am close enough to a building to be able to run for cover before the storm hits. What I don’t like is how wet and dirty the road gets. There are no sidewalks here, so when you walk (as I prefer to do), you have to walk on the side of the road, which is just dirt. When it rains, however, this dirt gets wet and kicks up along the back of your calves as you walk. Whenever I walk after it has rained, I usually have to clean off my legs whenever I get to where I’m going.

I also went grocery shopping for the first time. On Sunday, I sat down to make a shopping list, but then I realized that I didn’t know what was in the stores here. They have to fly most things in, so while you can usually count on there being certain canned goods, you really don’t know what kind of produce will be in the stores or if it will be fresh. Plus, while the stores here sell many of the same products, it’s often the case that some products will only be found in certain stores. So you have to know which store to go to to find certain items. I guess I’ll just have to learn it all again over the next few weeks.

The apartment I am staying in is right next to the lagoon side of the island, and I am being lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves. I think I’ll go try and get some sleep. More tomorrow.