Day 12 • 7 July 2016 • Pohnpei to Guam

The planned morning jungle walk fell victim to a rainstorm, and so there finally was an opportunity for all of us to catch up on our writing—or to do laundry, as some of us smelled a bit ripe! We went to the airport for an early check-in and then returned to the hotel one more time to have lunch. On the way back to the airport, we stopped at a carving center, where local artists come together to create woodcarvings for the tourist trade. All stages of the process, complete with tools, were visible, from the wooden block and the chain saw to the nearly finished carving with sandpaper and varnish. Since this is as close to the source of woodcarving artistry one can get, we were pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices and supported the local economy.

This is a proper Micronesian lunch plate, including veggies, taro root (purple, at left), breadfruit (center), and yams (right). And, it appears, I found Dory. 

The carving establishment. We had heard about this artisan work area at our hotel and had expected some kind of warehouse where different artists could display and sell their wares. We did not expect to find a real workshop, complete with tools and sawdust everywhere. Here are, from left, Mindy Hull, Mitzia Zambada, Morgan Lewis, Alex Mitchell, Ruby Resendez, Jose Huerta, and Amanda Callahan appraising the proffered wares.

 

Shown here is the intermediate stage of one of the fish carvings. The block was cut by chainsaw, then the basic shape was rendered by hammer and mallet, and then the surface was shaped by an adze (below the fish). This is a labor-intensive process, and it requires careful choice of wood and handling of tools, since a small error might break off a fin!

This is a progression from the previous image, where now the shape has been completed and the sanding has begun. Once again, this is a laborious process requiring exacting work. Varnishing would be next, and then the piece could sell for $50 here, or over $100 at the airport.

We one again boarded United Airlines flight 154, this time on the last two legs of its island-hopping tour. We first spent just over an hour in the air to get to Chuuk (formerly Truk), a separate state of the Federated States of Micronesia and an atoll with one of the largest lagoons in the world. This island archipelago was the location of a fierce WWII battle, with the many sunken vessels lining the bottom of the lagoon having now become important dive sites. We landed on Weno Island, the main island of Chuuk, but on account of the delayed flight we were unable to leave the aircraft to facilitate as quick a turnaround of the aircraft as possible.

A last glimpse of Pohnpei across the engine and wing of our Boeing 737-800 island hopper. What a beautiful place!

The eastern edge of Chuuk Lagoon, showing the fringing reef that once upon a time surrounded a huge volcano. The volcano had been formed on the edge of the Pacific Plate and, over eons, sank back into the ocean—leaving only the corals that once grew on the volcano's shores. As is shown here, while many of the islands surrounding Chuuk Lagoon are very small, the reef forms a formidable barrier to shipping. If you don't know where you are going, it is easy to run aground!

These three ladies joining us in Chuuk were such a beautiful sight, I could not resist taking the photo. They are ready to travel, with their pretty floral head bands, and their wardrobe offers a further glimpse into the incredible color diversity of Micronesia. It's a feast for the eyes!

Our arrival on Guam occurred just before sunset, and we were able to catch a glimpse of the island as we landed. Guam has an interesting history, which is rooted in the local Chamorro culture but which has been molded by Spanish colonialism and more recently by a political status as a territory of the United States. We learned that there are five U.S. overseas political units, each with their own, specific, treaty-anchored status derived from interesting historical serendipities. For those interested in our country’s history, it is interesting to read up on how each of these islands became part of the U.S. political sphere, without being considered “colonies”: the Territory of American Samoa, the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. You would encounter events like the Spanish-American War, the League of Nations, the Second World War, and even, in more recent times, the potential loss of the U.S. military presence on Okinawa—all shaping the fate of these overseas entities.

I am still learning the art of the selfie, and the intricacies of Instagram, and Snapchat, and Pokémon Go. Traveling alongside a group of enthusiastic students is infectious, and this photo captures some of that slightly innane atmosphere that sometimes surfaces—even in "old" instructors. From left: Kaitlin Rickerl, Alex Mitchell, and Schawna Mitchell in Row 9, with Sensei Kaiser in Seat 8A.

When entering Guam, as shown here by the wall adjacent to the customs area, there is no doubt that one is arriving in the U.S. of A. Yet, as tomorrow's report will show, there are some lingering questions...

We ended our day in one of the beachside high-rise hotels in Guam, the Verona Resort & Spa, which is within easy reach of the airport. We concluded the day with a family-style chicken and ribs dinner at the Jamaican Grill. One comment on that note: This trip really does feel like a family affair, with everyone getting along and chipping in, and nobody having turned into a pesky annoyance. It is SO nice as an instructor to be able to lead a group of well-balanced people who are not ego-driven or possessed by attitude but who “gel” as time passes. It’s a testament to the high caliber of students we have at Victor Valley College, and it is also proof that my recruitment process works!