Tradgedy in Vanuatu

Well we went to class this morning only to be presented with some bad news. One of our fellow Peace Corps Volunteers in Vanuatu was killed yesterday. He was helping the village do some clean up work. They were apparently cutting down some branches out of a tree. A young boy was in the tree cutting a small branch that fell and knocked down a larger branch. That branch fell on top of both John (PCV) and a local NiVan from the village. Both of them were killed instantly. John will be flown back to the United States on Sunday. His body will be accompanied by Jane our Peace Corps Medical Officer.

The village is mourning the death of both of their brothers. When our PCMO went out by helicopter the village had already dressed John in his best clothes and have given traditional mats and flowers for the his parents back home. They also tried to give them the biggest pig in their village (this is a huge deal in Vanuatu, pigs are a sign of wealth and status, so giving one away is about the ultimate sign of respect here), The helicopter pilot had to refuse though.

As is custom in Vanuatu, no work or play is to happen until the body is buried. The teachers have canceled all of our classes for the day. We sat around talking about what had happened for about an hour and then said a short prayer for John and his family. The PCMO then pulled me a aside to go for a short walk to storion.

Even though I have not met John, I probably know more about him then anyone else in my group. John is the Peace Corps Volunteer that I was to replace in Erromango. SO every chance I have had to talk to a volunteer about where I am going I would always ask about John and the village. They would always laugh and say “oh john…” and then tell me some funny story about him. The PCMO is concerned about how I feel going there after all of this and that if I have any real concerns that I need to voice them before I go.

I know from the Peace Corps point of view they are going to want to get some one in there. The villagers are already concerned that this will ruin their relationship with the Peace Corps. I was to be the last phase of the 3 phase project in South River, Erromango. It is a pretty heavy weight to bear. I have a lot to think about. It will be some big shoes to fill and I worry about how the villagers will respond to me after this tragedy. Deep down I already know the answer. When I interviewed with the Peace Corps I had refused to put down where I would like to go, or not go for that matter, because I wanted to go where ever the Peace Corps felt like I was needed. Well that seems to becoming obvious here.

Tomorrow we will go into Vila to have a memorial for John and storion with other PCVs that knew John best. I have talked to the PCMO and we both agreed that it may be good for me to write a letter to John’s parents and let them know about the stories I have heard about John and that if they need a liaison between them and the villagers of South River, Erromango that I would be honored to do so.

I am not sure if this will make the news back home or not. I am sure that in a couple of days that you will be able to google it and find some stories. There are already people from Washington heading this way to talk to the volunteers. There are about 3-4 deaths a year in the Peace Corps, that is out of about 8,000 volunteers.