April: Cultural Day and Island Living

Hello!

In just a few days I’m hopping on one of the three east-bound flights per week from Kosrae to Hawaii, and then on to the continental US. I’m in for the Kaya music festival in California that Green Banana Paper is exhibiting at before a final hop and a skip over land to Massachusetts.

CULTURAL DAY was earlier this month. Here are some photos from the festivities and parade:

coconuts, bananas, breadfruit, and taro: the four key local foods


bananas!




refreshments



One of the many things I’ve learned while living in Micronesia is that while these islands are tiny specs of land in a remote part of the world, the area is highly valued and sought over for its geopolitical importance. There are various plane and shipwrecks from WWII around the region. With the Compact Agreement of Free Association, essentially 70-80% of the economy in Kosrae is funded from US aid. The Compact has influenced access to health care, education, infrastructure, and other government funding. In return, the US has military control of land and water. Because of the funding from the US and the high salary compared to jobs in Kosrae, many Kosraeans and other islanders proudly join the US military.

A Peace Corps volunteer from 2007 recently made a film to share this information with the world. A couple weeks ago he came to Kosrae and showed the film at the gym. Island Soldier itself is very well-made but heavy and intense. I found watching it with a local audience to bring to life the circumstances in a very unique and real way. Many people in the film were in there and extended family runs deep on the small island. We had previously seen Island Soldier a couple months ago at a small showing at one of restaurants, and watching it for a second time at the gym with many (a couple hundred) locals was an occasion I’m glad to have experienced.

Island Soldier at the gym

This year Peace Corps announced that this is their last year of sending volunteers to Micronesia after a 52-year long run. WorldTeach cut ties last year. But there’s a new way for volunteers/interns to come to the surprisingly accessible drop of land in the Western Pacific Ocean….Green Banana Paper!

I wrapping some things up here as I prepare to depart— crazy waves, ocean projects, beach time with JJ and Bradda, BANANAS, 50 cent coconuts, cruising with the one radio station... At the same time, however, I am becoming a real live worker! The deal (and extremely wonderful hospitality) to come to Kosrae and volunteer for an undetermined amount of time at Green Banana Paper seems to be morphing into an epic job interview. Burlington better get ready for banana paper!

More photos—

good morning

good morning part 2

morning coffee spot view

doggy walkin'

sunset on the roof

sunset cruise 101: sunglasses, a boat, and coconuts 

a truck, a trailer, and a bad alternator...then the town came out and we borrowed a battery



coconut carrying lessons with Bradda


Thanks for reading. Cheers from the Western Pacific!

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