I graduated at 18 and came over to Rarotonga to work in a small christian school  - Imanuela Aketemia - as a volunteer teacher for the year. It was a wonderful experience. Parts of the year were very difficult as the principal died in the middle of the year and i was left with far more responsibility than i ever expected.

During this year I met Tere and Yvonne marsters [the island secretary and principal of Palmerston] who said they would like some help with the school in Palmerston. 

I  encouraged my 17 year old brother Luke to think about going to help their school when he had finished up. Little did I know a few months later through a series of unforseen circumstances I would be heading out to the tiny island in the middle of nowhere to help again as a volunteer teacher for the term. My brother Luke was now 18 and myself 19.

The 2 day boat trip to Palmerston turned into 3 weeks when our boat got a hole and we switched to the most dirty and digusting cargo boat. I thought i was going to die before i saw land again !

It wasn't all bad and parts were very exciting and adventuous we went the 'long' way round t the northern group so stopped at Manihiki, Rakahanga, Nassau, Pukpuka, Penrhyn and finally Palmerston. The trip was full of new experiences like eating whole fish with there eyes still in, visiting pearl farms, being seasick, swimming with sharks and many other things. I remember one night a passenger fell overboard and one of the crew jumped over and saved her. Though they will probably never see it i would just like to say thank you to all the Cook Island families that took us in as though we were family and hosted us...the hospitality just kept getting better ! Also to the captian and crew of our boat the Manu Nui. If you visit Rarotonga you can often see her sitting in the harbor....our journey would not have been the same with out you all !

Finally arriving in Palmerston we shared life with one of the local families: Edward and Shirley Marsters. They were also wonderful hosts and we were well cared for...we had both though we might come back to Raro half starved...but instead came back with over 10 kgs extra each !

Luke and I both helped at the school and afternoons were spent helping fish, or on the 'fish bench', swimming, cooking, planing taro or numerous other island activties...you cannot explain life there, it is incredible, amazing and special. The Palmerston people and their children are one of a kind and will be in our hearts and memories forever. I was there 3 months and my brother Luke nearly 8 months before returning to Rarotonga.