In an effort to save sea turtles in Tuvalu I’ve started biking to work. Yes, I’m that naïve to bolster my self-importance to the level of controller of all things on this planet despite the fact that there is no...
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Despite its amazing connectivity ability I’m leery of giving an organization mounds of data to make money on. Here’s an excerpt from a recent USA Today Article on the topic: To meet rising expectations, Facebook must increase its annual revenue,...
The December issue of the Foreign Service Journal has a good article on blogging in the Foreign Service. I’ve recently experienced some of the conflicting messages discussed in the piece and it resonates strongly to my beliefs in an open...
Searching for a church home in DC led us to the Eastern Market area this weekend. We visited National Theatre Church's campus located in an old single screen theater. The music was great and vibe definitely young and urban. There...
Today was the day we all found out where we would be posted on our first assignment. It was somewhat anticlimactic for the Construction Engineers as we know where we are going, Virginia, but most exciting for the other folks...
Yesterday I committed to conquering a few museums on my list but not on Kelly's. First up was the National Building Museum. The massive columns and shear magnitude of the center core was worth the trip. The exhibits however were...
I’m on Eastern time now, and Eastern TV. Being without TV since 2004 I was truly stoked to get checked in to my apartment with two flat screen TV’s to watch the Oklahoma State vs A&M game. Needless to say...
It was really hard to say goodbye today to Malosi and Kelly. Check in at the airport involved a new process for me as I checked two handguns. I thought I had the bases covered but failed to empty the...
There were a few unknowns I was worried about with the decision to join the Foreign Service in 30 days. Most of them revolved around the large assets (or liabilities if you’re a Dave Ramsey fan) related to the vehicles/house...
I’ve got 16 days, 15 of those are nights. Training starts 9/26 and I arrive in DC as early as 9/24 (still waiting on travel orders). My boss sent out a great message today of my departure. I’m really going...
Kelly and I are excited to let you know that I have accepted an appointment to the Foreign Service as a Construction Engineer. Training begins September 26th in DC. From the information we have now, we will be in DC...
Family, well most of them, know now that we are considering Foreign Service. I’ve yet to tell my side, which happens tomorrow. I’m enjoying getting back into blogging and having an interesting subject to write about. Peace Corps was always...
The security officer and I had a good chat at Denny’s today. I was rather uncertain about how to dress so Kelly outfitted me with slacks and a polo shirt. I sat down and was immediately presented a thick-rimmed coffee...
I reached a point in the security clearance process that telling my manager, Jon, was no longer avoidable. So at 10am this morning I let him know the State Department had made me a conditional offer to build Embassies. He...
I’ve done quite a bit of research over the last month. I’ve finished the book Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign Service Works for America, by Shawn Dorman. It was very thorough and thoroughly boring. I guess it was...
We got back from our five day trip to DC on Wednesday. Traveling with a four month old wasn’t as difficult as I expected. There were several lessons learned and we feel more confident in knowing how to sync Malosi’s...
Check out the video...If US newsbroadcasters could master the art of eyebrow manipulation watching the news would be much more intriguing and informative. Don't underestimate the power of the brow! The photo section has a ton of Kelly's amazing pics!...
When IBM executive Chandu Visweswariah went to Rio de Janeiro as part of a volunteer team to help city officials plan to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, he found himself immersed in a mash-up of a...
The Bilingual Advantage By CLAUDIA DREIFUS Published: May 30, 2011 via www.nytimes.com
I appreciate very much Sen. Dan Patrick’s clear explanation of the details behind our Texas budget (posted below). However, I do want to add several points. I want to make sure that all Texans realize that the Texas State Board...
Malosi and I are hanging out in the kitchen letting mom get some much needed rest, so we decided to finish our research on college savings plan. After about 4 hours of weeding through many websites and Malosi loosing her...
Years of tremendous overspending by federal, state and local governments have brought us face-to-face with an economic crisis. Federal spending will total at least $3.8 trillion this year—double what it was 10 years ago. And unlike in 2001, when there...
We are delighted to announce the birth of our daughter Born February 16th at 7:09pm 7 pounds, 4 ounces 19 inches long Thank you for your prayers & support Love ~ Matt & Kelly Roy
LATEST NEWS via www.fijilive.com This is how oppression begins. We in the U.S. need to wake up to the reality that our freedom to fart is very fragile and should not be taken for granted.
Despite being a stone's throw from Central Market and being able to by as many leafy greens as I want any time of day for half the price I paid in Fiji I still have the garden bug implanted in...
Two of Fiji’s resorts have made the top ten Bargain Hotels in the South Pacific, according to the Travelers' Choice Hotel Awards 2011. via www.fijilive.com These folks are first class. The owner toured me through his hydro/solar/wind systems and gave...
The slow insidious displacement of home cooked and communally shared family meals by the industrial food system has fattened our nation and weakened our family ties. In 1900, 2 percent of meals were eaten outside the home. In 2010, 50...
+ Enlarge this imageMahendra Prasad with his gigantic pawpaw. Picture: JAI PRASADWHEN Lautoka farmer Mahendra Prasad bought a giant pawpaw last year, he thought he'd try his luck and shed the seeds for planting.To his surprise, one of the trees...
Kelly and I finished up our goal planning for 2011 a couple of weeks ago and a recent quote by Mr. Driscoll (“You won’t make changes in your life unless you’re tracking it, keeping an accounting & a reckoning of...
FIJI should not rule out the possibility of a scenario similar to that of the Queensland floods because two of three contributing weather phenomena loom over the country, said meteorology consultant Neville Koop. via www.fijitimes.com
There’s a snake in my drain. One of the joys of owning an 82 year old home are daily plumbing repairs. Often these are simple fixes and not too problematic. For example, flush valves. I discovered both of my where...
I was attacked today by swarms of mosquitoes. As I swatted the little beasts my mind raced back to the yonder years of Fiji. It seems like decades since I was applying mosquito repellant three times a day and always...
Often I chuckled at Fiji Times’ stories for their bad writing and humorous subjects. I can’t think of any specific examples off hand at the moment but rest assured there were plenty. Since being home I have enjoyed getting back...
After twenty hours of traveling, 15 of which where in the air, we finally made it back to the United States of America. The trip on the whole was rather uneventful. The most excitement we had was when the Nadi...
Things I will miss: • Never having a case of the ‘Mondays’ • Sound of the ocean as our backyard • July weather • Freedom from August in Texas • Kioan Church Choir • Isopo, the Pastor’s smile • Ofati’s...
We are on our last leg of the close of service process and nearing the final day in Fiji. The last few days have been a blur of goodbyes, celebrations, long talks, excitement, sadness, paper work, frustrations, travel, sickness, tears,...
Kelly is pregnant! We found out Friday, June 25th. I’ve been thinking about how to describe my feelings the past few days and haven’t landed on anything solid. I guess I figured I would be more euphoric or ecstatic. But...
Today Kelly and I made our final day trip to Savusavu. I had to get quotes for a toilet and shower addition to the Kioa Women’s Guest House and a quote for finishing the water tank in the middle of...
It is Sunday and I am at the Labasa Airport awaiting my flight to Suva for the connect conference. In this trip, which started Friday, I have been constantly reminded of my sinful desire of seeking comfort above all else....
Kelly and I were in Suva to assist with training the FRE-8s (Fiji Re-Entry #8 since coup #1) and decided to check out the movie Prince of Persia. I typically try and avoid the movie theater as it is prime...
Apologies for the delay, it has been crazy the last 2 months! I have been on other 3 islands training the new volunteers and then doing workshops in other Peace Corps villages. I put together some family budgeting and small...
We love you Marshall and miss you very much! This photo helps me endure because I know you are taking care of everyone! But it sure makes me miss your hugs!!
Here is what Kelly designed and uses during her workshops at different villages. Download Family Budgeting The Family Budgeting workshop is two-part, the first part is as a large group and then the second is with the individual family creating...
Here is what we have compiled the last year ... it is unfortunate that our memories aren't as good as our computers! Download Gana Tuvalu Download Tuvaluan Dictionary
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