KAVA

As many of you know, I’ve been so excited about kava. Two of the current volunteers…the president and vice president of the Peace Corps Kava Guild gave us a run down…here are a few details and rules about drinking kava.

• Made of a root that is ground up…sometimes through a meat grinder but best when chewed up (ewh but better and potency can depend on this) then strained.
• Served in bowls called shells.
• Tastes and looks pretty terrible…like green, muddy water.
• You should drink an entire shell in one gulp and should drink with someone.
• You should drink to something or someone.
• The first sensation is numbness of your mouth.
• Spitting is accepted and expected.
• You become sensitive to sound and light so conversations are quiet, no flash photography or light.
• Kava bars are called nakamals consists of outside benches, chairs with little to no lighting and soft voices.

We took a few shells of kava, enjoyed each others company and especially drilled the current PCVs with questions. Overall, we’ve been told again and again that Vanuatu is one of the most amazing locations to serve though not without its challenges.

Pics to come...