Kosrae 2024

Lots happened during my last two weeks in Kosrae.  The College of Micronesia Kosrae Branch (COM) had a Fair, displaying its course offerings to college and high school students.  It was a midday celebration, lots of fun, festive. At the entrance, a new sidewalk!  Good thing; the ground is generally soggy. The UTWE Youth group were amazing!   Syncopated acapella singing drew standing applause. George Tilfas is the Interim Dean, one of the most admirable education leaders I have met. I happened into one of the presentations, and lo and behold it was just the class I'd been looking for! Basic Crop Production (I have to say, it is a futuristic class -- ag on Kosrae is all subsistence.)  Students were attentive.  This instructor, Tara Tara, keeps machete's at the ready.  He also teaches Ag and Natural Resources Management, and Dry Litter Piggery! Students who do well in the latter get to take a piglet home for a future dinner. The silent auction was a big s...

Coconut baskets made of banana leaves Last Saturday was Cultural Day, a celebration hosted by the 5 villages on Kosrae.  This year the elders of each village were responsible for the program.  Last year the children put on skits about cultural heritage (canoe building, fishing, cooking, growing taro) but I had to wonder how relevant any of that was or would be to those small humans, growing up in this world today.   The elders chose to display hand crafts -- this was the FIRST time I have seen traditional handcrafts on display or for sale anywhere, in the combined 6 months I've been here.  Such a delight!  Not just for me, the asset (foreigner, tourist), but for all the Kosraeans who came and bought up everything for sale with glee!   The celebration began with a lot of "sham sham" (speeches by dignitaries and organizers).  All the dignitaries were greeted with wreaths for our heads, even the men.  The keynote speaker is wearing a lei of...