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Mike Roman: Former OSU Peace Corps Representative 2003-2004 Elementary Education Volunteer, Republic of Kiribati 2000-2002 (Central Pacific Ocean)

Kam na bene ni mauri-o! (Hello everyone!) My name is Mike Roman. I was an Elementary Education Peace Corps Volunteer on Tamana Island in the Republic of Kiribati (Kee-ree-bas). Besides my home in the United States, Kiribati is one of my favorite places in the world!

Kiribati is made up of three different island chains. The Gilbert Chain is the most populated chain. Tamana Island is the smallest island in the Gilbert Chain. The other two chains are the Phoenix Chain and the Line Chain. The Line Chain has two islands which you may have heard of, Christmas Island and the newly named, Millennium Island. Millennium Island was the first to greet the new millennium! That's right, time starts here!

Tamana Island has one church, one primary school, one junior high school and one health clinic. There are three villages: North, Central, and South. It takes about one hour to bike around the entire island and one minute and 41 seconds to bike across it.

My primary job on Tamana was to serve as a resource teacher for the local primary school. Here is glimpse of what my schedule looked like:

Monday-Friday: I taught students from grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 English. Usually I taught from my house because there weren't enough classrooms.

Tuesday & Thursday evenings: I taught adult English to youth.

Wednesday & Saturday evenings: I attended exercise classes with other teachers and neighbors. The Health Peace Corps Volunteer on the island taught this class.

Friday & Saturday evenings: I participated in singing class with other villagers. Singing is very important in Kiribati. It's one way I-Kiribati people show appreciation.

Sunday: I slept!!!

Before I joined the Peace Corps, I was a student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I graduated in the year 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. My last few months in the U.S. were spent teaching 6th grade in Cincinnati, Ohio.