On Safety:

After regaling you with random disease stories during a time of tumultuous weather in the Pacific, I feel that a reassurance on safety is in order. Therefore, you should know that we Pohnpei trainees had a visit from the PC Safety and Security Officer for the entire Pacific region last week, and he basically told us that where we are is the SAFEST spot in the whole of the Pacific Ocean. And here's why:

**Feel free to knock on wood during the entire reading of this post! There are always anomalies, and I do not want to tempt the fates with my self-assurance.

Geographically:
- Pohnpei is NOT in the typhoon belt.
- Pohnpei is NOT on a place where tectonic plates meet.
- Pohnpei IS surrounded by a double line of defenses -- dense mangroves instead of beaches and a sturdy ring of coral pretty much circle this little-island-that-could.
- The ocean outside of that tutu of coral is VERY deep.
Therefore, any and all earthquake/tsunami that happens in the Pacific must travel a great distance to get to Pohnpei. And once it gets anywhere near this high island, my surroundings diminish it to no more than a slightly higher tide and maybe some extra rainfall.

Socially:
- The crime rate is LOW in Pohnpei, much lower for assault or other such disquieting events than other PC countries in the area.
- Pohnpei IS a clan-centered culture, and Peace Corps volunteers are de facto protected by this tradition because we become adopted into host families for the entire time we're here.

So rest assured, dear family and friends, that I landed in the safest speck on the map, and I am very happy to call it home.