September 11: Day 10

Makansi speaks English very well, so I speak with him the most in my family. He has been telling me about the Nan Marquee (high chief) that lives on a nearby island. There are 5 municipalities in Pohnpei and each one has a Nan Marquee that is kind of like the king. Everyone respects him and gives him money and honor. Apparently each Nan Marquee of this municipality has lived in a “palace” like place that was built n the 30’s. He has 2 sons, but they do not inherit the thrown. It is already decided who is the next Nan Marquee and there is a whole line of people with special titles that no one seems to be able to explain to us. This is typical of Micronesians though, they never really give you the whole story.
Today was liberation day! The day that Micronesia broke free from the Japanese! I am pretty sure that the US helped them too. Go us! It is a pretty big deal around here so they had a special event in the village’s Nas. Every family has a Nas, which is a special place for celebrations and ceremonies. It is also where they pound the Sa Kau. Sa Kau is a special drink that is incredibly important to Pohnpeians. Sa Kau comes from the root of the Kava plant and takes special preparation to pound it to make the juice. It looks like muddy water and tastes just a little bit worse, plus it feels like a loogie going down. Even Pohnpeians say its gross, but they ALL drink it.
Another thing they all do here is chew betel nut. They are these green nuts that grow on a tall skinny tree that looks like a palm tree. EVERY ONE chews them here and I am not exactly sure why because it rots their teeth like it is nobodies business! I think the only nice teeth that I have seen here have been on the kids! And even some of them are chewing betel nut! But I guess it is a cultural thing and it is just what everyone does!