The Adventures of Yapman: Nina nge Papa rog

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.