Still in Majuro

Well, I wasn't going to post anymore, but given that our visa has been delayed again and again and again, it looks like we will not be leaving sooner than anybody else might be.  Nothing is really being expedited.  Apparently, Manila generally takes 5-7 days to process the visa paperwork.  Our paperwork was delivered to Manila on Wednesday.  Opened on Thursday and assigned to an agent which was then going to be process "in the order in which it was received."  As in, it is not being expedited, despite assurances from Manila that they would.  Now it is a holiday weekend.  Everybody had Friday off.  So, we are still waiting.

We are hoping to get our child seen by the hearing specialists from Hawaii when they come this week.  She has not been seen by a doctor since we discovered that she had hearing loss, as there is nobody here that can do that.  So sad for her, but also so very sad for all the other children here with inadequate medical care!  Just breaks my heart.

While we wait, we are trying to stay busy.  We now have a list of suggested activities for other families heading out here:

--day trip to Eneko Island (arranged through RRE.  They leave daily at 10am.  $30/adult; kids free)
--rent a car to visit Laura Beach ($70/day for the rental)
--walk through the ocean to neighboring islands on the atoll from Rita at low tide
--picnic and swim at Stone House beach (where the now closed Stone House Restaurant is)
--swimming at Long Island Hotel Beach (where the now closed Long Island Hotel and Restaurant is)
--swimming at Delap Beach Park
--Alele library (next to the courthouse.  Air-conditioned.  Children's reading room.)
--Alele museum (small but interesting.  Underneath the library)
--Canoe House (actually a skills program for youngsters that teaches wood working skills, including canoe making)
--Scuba diving (arranged through the dive shop at MIR.  $150/person for 1-2 people, $50 for each additional person.  Includes all equipment)
--Clam Farm
--Copra Factory
--Rubar Beach (BBQ and snack shack on site with covered picnic tables; good tidepools but not swimming)

As for restauarants, here is our recommendations:

Best Atmosphere: Chit Chat Room at the Marshall Islands Hotel
Best Pizza: Marshall Islands Resort.  Go during lunch.  Their lunch menu is way more extensive and reasonable compared to their dinner menu
Best Chinese: Enno's Restaurant (on right hand side, towards Rita from RRE)
Best American: Tide Table at RRE

The internet at the apartment works MUCH better now.  Somebody from NTA came out and did something.  Now we get a decent signal.  Set up your NTA wireless for $35/month.  Well worth the $5 charge to do so.  Unlimited wireless all over the island, and even covers Eneko Island!   To set it up, you need to bring your device, $40 cash, and a photo ID.  They set it up within one hour, Monday-Friday.