Beginning with my June 2008 post "It's Been Five Years," the following is the continuing story of my travels from the United States into Micronesia ~ Pohnpei, Guam and Saipan ~ and my life since June 2003.
Friday, September 12, 2003 ~ Pohnpei
I'm not sure what all we're doing tomorrow, but Sunday, Lynn has a cousin who's being Christened (Lynn's Catholic, whatever that means here), that we're attending, then taking my colleague, Anthony, and his wife Maryanne, to the falls, the one I think Mom's been to, that I've sent recent pictures of.
Lynn and her girls, and her 11 yr. old cousin are over tonight. The cousin is here to watch the girls for us, while we're all out and about tomorrow together, the five of us. No idea what we're doing, but it's about time we get the girls used to me. The oldest, Brined, likes me; the youngest, Renay, just cries all the time, especially when she sees me and Lynn close. Very jealous. Except when she's being fed. They're sleeping now. Lynn's holding Renay. Her family gives her crap about neglecting the kids, especially on weekends like this, when Lynn and I are together, usually alone. So they can't really argue about this, I wouldn't think.
Interesting how they "train" young girls or prepare them for motherhood. ("Interesting," "fascinating," I've run out of adjectives). The 11 year old, Leilani (Nani), is perfectly comfortable picking them up, propping them on a hip, and caring and looking after them. Essentially, what we have is a "nanny" to keep a third eye on the girls if we all go out and go to the store, or whatever.
I throw leftovers out in the front yard. Always gone the next day. Couldn't bring myself to do it at first, but it's fine, and doesn't attract bugs or rodents. Tonight's leftovers was Lobster shells from a lobster one of Lynn's brothers speared for us last night. We had squid, too, lightly sauteed in oil with onions. Very good. This was a big one, two. Fed all five of us, with a little extra.
Lynn's brothers and uncle (who catches mangrove crab) have been very nice to me. Such things would be very expensive in a restaurant here, and I get them for free. I have to find a way to reciprocate. I may buy Lynn's brother a mask, or some fishing line, though I don't know what to buy with regards to the latter.
I need a professional haircut. People here don't care about looks, but the men do have nice haircuts. My thought was to grow mine long and tie it back, which I'll probably do, but it's in that unattractive stage.
Renay, Brined ("Brin-nette") and Nani are sleeping on the futon, where Lynn and I usually sleep (the bed's too soft). I'm on the edge of it, writing this.
I'm really adjusting. I sense that the local people like me for who I am, and that they sense I have no agenda other than to be their lawyer, not to impose some American sense of values and "justice" on them. That's the big, obvious, mistake that certain mehn why make. And they make many. Not that I haven't made a few of my own, I'm sure. But they know I'm trying. To learn the language, the culture(s), etc.
I went to a conference/seminar on counter-terrorism today and yesterday, sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's Office from Guam. It was for law enforcement, police, but very informative in many ways for me. Some parts were downright wrong, where the lawyers talked about the USA Patriot Act, or US money-laundering statutes (which have no bearing on local cops here, that's what my office would do). But it's been a very educational couple of weeks, combined with the "Law of the Sea" course. So much learning going on for me. What opportunity.
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