09.20.14. Saturday outrigger, students

This was a great day altogether. It started with an early morning walk - no backpack, no camera, no purse, no money. Found a market I had not visited so I went in, and let them know I was just looking. Before I knew it the man had bagged for me a papaya and 4 cucumbers. Turns out he was from Bangladesh and has been living with his brother for four years. Next time I  am shopping, I will take my wallet.

The initial plan was to sail in the morning, however, heavy rains led to a change of plans. Here are a few pictures of the outrigger with the crew taking down the mast and sail. The man in the center of some of these is a volunteer teacher from New Jersy. He is teaching at the Jesuit high school, St. Mary's. That is where the girls in the other posts attended school. The students on my boat are seniors and preparing for college, Rena and DC are juniors.

This is the Wa'ab Living Cultural Museum, founded by Larry, who once worked with the Peace Corps on Yap. Yap closed the office a few years ago and just reopened in 2014. This canoe is being prepared to be shipped to the United States. They will take it apart and pack it and ship it, then once it arrives, the new owner has asked to fly two workers to the US to reassemble it.

 

 The canoes are very deep and narrow.. you sit on a plank close to the upper portion of the canoe. I hope he is also getting padldes made as they have a very interesting spade-like shape.

Early mornnng betel uut break.  Take one betel nut, openolengthwise,, add lime and tobacco and wrap in a Piper betle leaf. While she has a prescription bottle in her hand, it has slaked lime inside.

 

 
While some people smoke, it is not that common.

 

This is the sail for the outrigger.

 

 

 Larry, who started the Living Cultural Museum. He is a really nice person. I liked watching him with the school kids. He is very encouraging that they learn how to sail, paddle the canoe, and he is very supportive of the girls taking part in all of the activities.

 

He is painting the last coat on the canoe in preparation for shipping. Note the baskets in some of the pictures. These are all made here, men and women use them.

 

 

 

This is their first ride in a canoe. Look at the face of Josie (in pink). Clarisa is ready to go. With giggles, of course.

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They have all of the essentials for a successful canoe ride - a paddle and a bucket to bail out  the water.

 
Look at the shape of the paddle. And the smiles. Canyo hear the school girl giggles?

Rena is on the left(white shirt) DC on the right. They are the first two women sailors on an outrigger and will compete as a team with their teacher Lugo and Cisco in the Canoe Festival. Really nice girls.

 
It must be every Mother's nightmare that one of their kids is going to fal from the bridge. These girls were a natural climbing up there. The say the police scold them when the walk on the balck pipe right next to them. I suggest scolding them for sitting on the beam. In some areas the water is very shallow and I would hate to see one of them fall and sustain a serious injury. They have the same mentality as kids there age everywhere - we're fine.

 

 

 Student snorkeling. You can ssee angel fish and a few others in there. I could see them frmt he bridge. No sense getting wet!

 

 
Fishing trap. No fish.

 
Take a look at Clarisa - the one with the camera and look back at the first picture of her in the canoe. Yes, she paddled home, changed clothes and got her camera.

 
They all can do this. Just climb  the steep bank that supports the bridge. In flipflops nonetheless.. And yes, he dyed his hair.

 
This little boy is not only paddling home his fish basket, but he also has some treaures in his left hand.

 
The following pictures are of the volunteer teacher Lugo (in front red shirt) and Cisco (blue shirt) and I am sorry to say that I think, but am not certain, that the man standing is Joe.
They are taking down the mast in preparation for returning under the bridge.

 

 

 
Then of course, you must paddle home. I tried this from the position in the back. Not as easy as it looks.