Teachin' in Pohnpei: Happy New Year!

Parakapw Mwahu (Happy New Year!) from the South Pacific. Just as in the States, Christmas in Pohnpei is a time for bringing family and friends together. Feasts and parties are abundant! Since we're without family on the island, we teamed up with another World Teach Volunteer (Ben) for Christmas dinner and some island hiking. We'll start with a few pictures of the staff Christmas feast, move to student activities and parties, and then describe some pictures from our holiday island explorations. Kauno en ketket rehmwi nan parh 2008! (May God bless you in 2008).

This is the preferred form of "hot dog" here in Pohnpei. We hope that while we are here no one eats our favorite (living) canine visitors: Rusty, Otie, Blackie, Cocoa, etc.

The carving of the dog begins. Even Rihner, our host mom (the woman to the right) looks a bit grossed out!

Pohnpeian hospitality is expressed through food. There is never a shortage of it at a feast--especially desserts. Many people (from 4-year-olds to 84-year-olds) eat 6-8 pieces of cake during a feast. Diabetes (due to the types of imported foods ingested) is now a huge problem in Pohnpei.

Children of the staff enjoying skipping school to be at Owha's resort (the site of the staff party.)

Making sakau (the traditional local drink) from pepper plant roots, mud, and water. It's commonly drunk from carved out coconut shells.

Language Arts seniors in their (read-through) production of Dicken's "Christmas Carol."

The student Christmas party--an eclectic collection of student-performed Pohnpeian and English Christmas Carols, dancing, candy-throwing, speeches, and plenty of food. Here the 12B students are led by Tricia Hinga in a rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

One of 30 chickens that commonly runs through our yard. This hen happens to perusing our landlord's waste pile of old coconuts. The idea that roosters crow only at daybreak is definitely a myth (they crow all day and night long!)

The view from Nahlap, a resort on the other side of the island.

Snorkeling at Nahlap is usually great; because we're in the "winter storm" season, visibility isn't as good as normal right now.

Ben, a Kolonia World Teach volunteer, accompanied us on many of our Christmas ventures. He was very helpful as he had just toured most places when his parents visited back in November.

A good view of Nahlap from the ocean. (Kayak rentals are $1 an hour.)

There are no sand beaches on the main island of Pohnpei--just a lot of coral and mangrove swamps.

The restaurant at "The Village" (a hotel composed of 20 thatch-roofed bungalows where we stayed on Christmas Eve).

Carrie heads to the beach from our bungalow.

The view from the Village restaurant (the cliff in the distance is Pohnpei's most famous geographical feature, Sokehs Rock.)

Thomas enjoys an ocean breeze in the restaurant "look-out." At night they'll bring kerosene lamps out there if you want them (a bit reminiscent of Orealla).

Reading in the "look-out" at the Village.

The inside of our room at the village (comfy beds and hot showers!!!)

A view of PahnTakai, one of the waterfalls that we hiked to. Its name means "under the rock."

Enjoying the water at Liduduhniap Falls, one of the few waterfalls safe to swim in.
(The rest are polluted by run-off from the many pigs people raised for feasts and funerals.)

After waiting 1 1/2 hrs in the rain (after a hike) for the prearranged taxi, Carrie tried to break into the Kitti World Teach house to "call" the cab company. Of course, right as Carrie was preparing to climb down inside, the taxi showed up and she had to back out. (Very painful!)

The start of the hike to Nan Madol, the site of an ancient Pohnpeian fortress. Archaeologists believe that people began constructing this site around 50 AD. It was abandoned in the 1500s after its ruler was overtaken by an invader from outer islands.

"The Throne Room" at Nan Madol.

One of the windows, or perhaps an old sewer drain??, in the namwarke's (king's) chamber.

Nan Mandol as seen from the ocean.

A Mangrove and its roots. (You can see why no one lays on the beaches here--ouch!)

One of the many reptiles that lives here--they possess vibrant blue-tails. We still haven't managed to get a picture of the geckos that drink Thomas' soda or eat our freshly baked brownies.