Kaselehlia maing ko! Hello everyone!
This is Pete writing from the beautiful pacific island of Pohnpei. Though it's only been a week since we left it feels more like a month. Umm... I have absolutely no idea where to start.
I guess the biggest difference (cultural or otherwise) that I've observed so far is the local perception of time. Time is viewed totally differently here and I'm only beginning to understand it. Here, time is not seen as limited and thus a commodoty like money, here it is an unlimitedly abundant rescource to be used liberally without worry. What this amounts to is a lot of sitting out: sitting out on the nahs (open aired space with thatch roof), sitting out in the shop, sitting out at the Sakau rock, sitting out on the street. Just sitting and talking, or just sitting. It is not weird or awkward here for a group of friends to just sit around together in silence with perhaps an occational remark about something that happened today. I like it. I could continue about time and silence for hours, but in the interest of covering more ground, I will move on.
Let's see... kids are WAY independant here from a very young age. It is not uncommon to see one or more children walking on the street or playing in the field with no supervision. It is not because they do not have families, but rather it's because the whole society of the island is SO close knit that wherever they go they can't be far from caring hands (that's my guess at least). Also kids get their own machete hear pretty much as soon as there hans are big enough to hold it. It is a staple particularly for procuring coconuts.
Umm... There's soooo much more, but I've sort of got to hurry. Our host family (with whom we will be staying for the next 2 weeks) is AWESOME! They are sweet and they walk slowly, like everyone, and care about us and are teaching us lots of Pohnpeian. Once we move to Madolenihmw, we will be in a very rural area in a house with just the two of us. It rains really hard 2 or 3 times a day here and it scorches all the other times.
Ok, the battery on this computer is dying so I've gotta go, there will be more to come.
Kaselehlia!
It is great to hear anything you have to say about your new home, since we know nothing! So glad you guys are diving right in. (Do you have a choice? :-) ) Do post pictures when you are able.
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom/Nina
Hi Taylor and Pete! I miss you! I'm so glad to hear you both are doing well, I can't wait to read more updates! Let me know you address when you move to your own house (how cute!) Love you both!
ReplyDeleteLove, Anakristen
Taylor and Pete -
ReplyDeleteHi from Sardinia! We heard there was a total eclipse in Asia and the Pacific yesterday - did you see it? Eclipses are cool!
Keep us posted on all the details of your new life! Interested to hear what you are eating, how much rain there really is, how the beaches are, the weather, everything!
Take care, Love from Bob/Dad and Delia
Wow, Pete! So glad to hear every word of this! Must be so amazing. Interesting that the weather is so hugely different. And the time thing... myohmy...... fascinating. Thinking of you two!! Love, Margie
ReplyDeleteso happy you've blogged up, my darlings. what an amazing trip you're on! the time culture is a little bit like how i live here, and people do not appreciate or understand it. hope you'll learn to relax there since you've both been pushing hard academically lately. lots and lots of love, robin
ReplyDeletePete! I am fastinated by this sitting in silence thing. I have always wanted to feel completely comfortable doing that. To me that is the ultimate confidence. Have you and Tayor played much music there? And is there anything you miss?
ReplyDeletenice thought..
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