Last week was probably one of the
greatest adventures I have experienced thus far during my wonderful time on
Yap. Last week I was blessed to have two
very different, yet very significant parts of my life come together. Last week, my Mom and Dad (nina nge papa rog –
in Yapese) were able to meet my Yapese family.
That
is right – the Wienceks traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to spend a week
on the Island of Stone Money. They could
not have picked a more perfect week. For
about a month or two before they arrived, everyone was constantly asking me
about them. It seemed to be the hot
topic of the village as everyone I passed seemed to want to tell me how excited
they were for my parents’ visit. My
unbelievable Yapese family even began to make my mom a traditional grass skirt
made out of hibiscus without even telling me until they needed to know her
approximate waist size (which we guesstimated by saying “slightly smaller than
so and so, but a tad little bit bigger than her”). The process usually takes almost 2 weeks, but
Mary Guchol, Tracie, and Maria (with some assistance from Peter) whipped it
together in a record-breaking 2 days! On
top of the 25 pound grass skirt, they also arranged for our neighbor, Titaw
(grandma in Yapese.. I can’t even tell you her real name) to fix two baskets
for my parents.
When
I picked them up from the airport, I immediately embraced my mom as she tried
to hold back her tears. I had a few
nunuws for them from my neighbors and students, and everyone at the airport
enjoyed the show of our reunion. They
settled in quite well into the Waterfront Inn thanks to some amazing friends on
the staff there.
We
then spent the next few days flying through adventures thanks to so many
incredible friends on island. One of the
saints of the island, Bob, who is an incredible ex-pat working in the budget
office of the government, allowed us to use his car throughout the visit, which
I cannot thank him enough for. We were
able to get up north to go snorkeling with a variety of the cast of Finding
Nemo as well as almost an hour of swimming just above the majestic manta rays. My dad could not stop saying how everything
we were doing was a “once in a lifetime experience.”
On
Thursday night, my Yapese family and the Jesuits came over for a traditional
Yapese potluck dinner. There was an
overabundance of local food and this is when Mary gave my mom and dad the grass
skirt and baskets which they immediately put to use. My mom then gave some presents and such to my
Yapese family including an adorable outfit for Summer and some sports balls and
books for Dafrad. Many others joined
throughout the dinner including a visit from my chief and his wife. We headed to bed as early as we could because
tomorrow would be Yap Day!
On
Friday morning, my good friend – Martin – came over to the house bright and
early to help me in putting on my thuw.
I thought I had it on pretty well, but apparently I was showing a bit
too much thigh, so Martin helped me to fix it up and to make sure it wouldn’t
fall off in the middle of the day. I
have learned so much from Martin about the culture including that the colors
and style of my thuw were specific for the “youngest of men” who were no longer
boys, but were not quite reliable enough yet to be married. My mom was in her local attire as well – no worries
everyone, she opted to keep her top on.
Yap
Day was filled with introducing my parents to many people amidst many
traditional activities and demonstrations.
We saw many dances, ate lots of local food, enjoyed local relays ranging
from basket weaving, to canoe lashing, to betelnut tree climbing. We even were able to have an excellent chat
with the US Ambassador to Micronesia who I now have multiple pictures with in
my thuw. Now that I think about it, I
think a lot of people have pictures of me in my thuw. A lot of tourists seemed to perhaps think I
may have been Yapese – which is probably one of the greatest compliments I have
ever received.
My dad
especially loved seeing the reenactment of the traditional sailing canoe
bringing in stone money pieces from Palau.
It was so surreal to think that this culture has existed for so many
generations without being tainted by the modern world. It truly is a hidden paradise.
During the Yap
Day festivities, one of the FSM senators who is a good friend offered to take
my parents to the “Forbidden Island” of Rumung.
Ted and his wife Joan took us on their boat to this beautiful, untouched
island. Rumung is separated from Yap
Proper by about 100 yards of ocean and remains unconnected by roads. It is absolutely stunning. It is so peaceful and the traditional stone
paths are still the primary means of traveling the island. We even were able to see the 3 largest pieces
of stone money in the entire world. In
fact, we sat and had a great talk with Ted and Joan ON TOP of the largest piece
which happens to be on its side on the ground because it is so huge that to try
to prop it back up could cause it to break.
We were so lucky to be able to have such a wonderful day in Rumung.
On Monday and
Tuesday, Nina nge Papa came to YCHS to talk with the students and get a glimpse
of how I spend the majority of my days on Yap.
The students loved hearing my parents’ stories of what “Mr. Wiencek” - who
they all quite easily know as “Michael” since my parents found it too strange
to call me “Mr. Wiencek” (I prefer Michael… REALLY prefer it) – was like as a
little boy as well as during his own high school years. Stories of electrical sockets and roof
climbing at the age of 2 became quick favorites for the students. My students also knew that my mom has an
incredible singing voice and they convinced her to sing “Ave Maria” and “On
Eagle’s Wings.” It was simply breath
taking and the kids were so appreciative.
In exchange, the sophomores sang a little bit for her. The students are still asking questions about
how their visit was and what they are up to now back in Pennsylvania.
On top of all
of that, we also received the grand tour of the South from my friend, Norman,
who takes care of one of the largest stone money banks on island. We seemed to be non-stop busy the entire
week, and we didn’t even manage to see all that there is to see – but it was a
perfect visit nonetheless.
I am on top of
the world now after being able to see and hug my parents after 8 months on
Yap. I am incredibly blessed with a truly
remarkable family who supports me in all that I do. I am blessed with friends back home, here on
Yap, and around the world who I love more than words can describe. I am blessed that I can share these different
worlds that I am a part of with all of these people. I am blessed.
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| The first hug in 8 months |
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| Local attire |
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| Ambassador Rosen and I |
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| Yapman - For Mr. Lerch |
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| Wienceks on Yap |
“Family is the
most important thing in the world.”
-
Princess Diana
