Kathy Martin

Kathy is from an island in the Chuuk lagoon called Piis. After graduating from Saramen Chuuk Academy she earned her Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Guam. She came back to Chuuk to teach, even though many who have their degree tend to stay in Guam or head for the mainland. I asked her what she would want you all to know about Chuuk and the islands. She decided to speak about this time of year and what it reflects about the social tendencies of Chuukese culture:

“This time of year people really like to give gifts, like in the U.S. Gifts are given with your family, church, and school. On my island, Piis, we all exchange gifts-everyone on the island. There are 500 people on Piis who meet in their clans at the church and the uut (traditional meeting house). We are always sharing everything all of the time; food, kitchen supplies, clothing…and we are always taking care of each other’s children with out pay or notice. It is my job, my duty for my family. We all live in a compound together so we share living space too and just sleep where ever. There is no exclusivity. This is really shown through my student’s journals. They will write and always use the pronoun ‘we’ when they mean I or you. We…we is all over their journal. People are very communally here. Most of the Christmas and New Years traditions are similar to the ones in the U.S. People yell, and make noise during New Years (last year a JV saw three children dragging a refrigerator down the road banging on it). This is all to celebrate the New Year and go out to visit others around the island.” –Kathy Martin

There are two parts of Chuuk that Kathy speaks to which have struck me the most since being here. First, the kinship and community which provides and overwhelming social safety net for the Chuukese. Second, the extent to which the U.S. has influenced a place that most of its citizens don’t even know exists. This is logical considering that all of Micronesia only covers half the land mass of Rhode Island and spans across an area the size of the mainland of the U.S. Still, it is important to understand or at least examine the affects the U.S. has on the world. Since being here I have been the most surprised by how present U.S. culture is here in the islands.

the basics

it occurred to me the other day that many people may not really know exactly what i am up to for the next two years. so here is an over view:

where: the middle of the pacific ocean. country: federated states of micronesia. state: chuuk. island: weno. village: neppokos. residence: Saramen Chuuk Academy, across the road from the ocean where the freight boats dock- in between Holy Family Catholic church and the Sisters of Mercy. (yes, i live at a school)

what: i am doing a program called jesuit volunteers international. this program gives individuals the opportunity to do service abroad. so, i am teaching 70 tenth graders and 65 eleventh graders english skills and literature at SCA.

when: i arrived here august 2, 2007 and will stay until june 2009. no visits home, but if anyone would like to come visit you are welcome to stop by after july 2008.

who: i live with three other jvi folk: caitlin, who is a first year from long island/went to holy cross in MA-marcos, who is a second year from LA/went to loyola in CA-lincoln, who is a second year from canada/went to oberlin in OH. we are also connected to another jvi community of 4 who live and teach at the other catholic school in weno: katie, josh, ellen, and colleen. i will expand on this "who" section later with more of the people who enrich my life.

how: the way americans travel, vacation, serve, or live abroad is not an action to take lightly. considering the influence our country has in the world it is important to understand the implications of all we do as visitors in a country. how do our habits, preferences, culture, life style, attitudes, values, and beliefs affect our hosts? how does our privilege translate in these new settings? because these are important questions the way JVI sends volunteers to countries is in light of a very humble perspective. we are visiting and learning in an effort to bring equality through opening our minds. our presence should be in the spirit of solidarity, simple living, spirituality, social justice, and community living. we are not saving, leading, or correcting anything here in weno.

why: isn't this the question...why do middle class americans, right out of college have an urge to live abroad and do service for two year? everyone has different reasons ranging from a desire to see the world, a desire to help the world, a desire to do something different. really for me it was about the challenge of practicing and focusing on the four values of this program: simple living, community, social justice, and spirituality. by participating in a service program which would take me out of everything i have ever known, i could find myself in a deeper way. i wanted to understand people in a deeper way, to know God in a deeper way, and to ask questions which took me deeper.

i will attempt to post blogs of substance eventually, but for now i am going to invite some of my co-workers, students, and friends to post their thoughts. this will do the most justice to weno through providing an opportunity for a chuukese voice to ring in your ears. i hope that this blogging method brings you closer to our spear fishing, coconut grinding, harmonized singing lagoon while putting weno/ chuuk on the map in your minds.

kinamwe out

blogness

this blog is to save your e-mail accounts any extra stress they may experience over the next two years. so please feel free to check in with me when you feel like it. a few times a year i may let you know that i am still some where in the middle of the pacific eating spam, wearing mumus, "teaching", and witnessing extreme beauty.

it has been 3 weeks and has felt like 3 months. there is much to say, but right now i am heading out to a chuukese wedding. you are all in my thoughts as i unlearn many things you have taught me, but hold on to what i know is real.