Snail Mail

Boo's only means of communication off Bikarej is via Mail. She'd love to recieve letters from everyone!

Boo Flynn
c/o World Teach
PO Box 627
Majuro, MH 96960
Republic of Marshall Islands

Sunday, September 2, 2012

The Power of The Internet - Connecting with a former resident of Bikarej!

We received a wonderful series of e-mails from Peter, a former resident of Bikarej who stumbled upon this blog spot.  Peter has been a great comfort to us - going out of his way to contact us and maintain a nice e-mail dialogue.  Beth and I have found his e-mails to be fascinating.  Peter agreed to allow us to post these e-mails, which I hope many of you will find interesting and insightful as well. 

The end of this post also has a letter that Peter wrote in Marshallese, so you can get a sense of the language

Much thanks to you Peter!!


From: Peter

Sent: Mon, Aug 20, 2012
Subject: Boo in Bikarej, Arno

Iakwe (Hello!)  My name is Peter.  I came across your blog and I just wanted to write and thank you for allowing your daughter to take on this enormous task of volunteering in a foreign land teaching the children of Bikarej.  My two brothers and I grew up on Bikarej.  It holds a special place in our hearts.

My father sailed his yacht from Seattle, attempting a trip around the world but never really made it.  The reason, on a brief stop in the Marshall Islands, he met a local girl who happens to be from Bikarej. They started a family and settled on Bikarej.  This is where we lived for about 10 years before moving to the main island of Arno, Arno.  My father fell in love with the island and did not see any reason to move us to the states. My brothers and I were the only ones at the time to pass the entrance exam to enter high school on Majuro.  My parents were incredibly influential in this regard.

I would like to assure you that your daughter is totally safe and will be protected in every way possible.  The young lady that was lost at sea along with James is my cousin.  I crossed this body of water many, many times.

Please convey my thanks and appreciation to Boo and let me know if you need any info on Bikarej.

Best regards,

Peter

 

From: Beth

Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012


Hi Peter,
We're thrilled to hear from you! We are just beginning to get used to the "radio silence” that comes with the lack of phone and internet communication so it's doubly meaningful to hear from someone who has such a deep connection to Bikarej.  I have to say it's pretty surprising to be in touch with someone who actually grew up on such a small speck of the Earth.  From what we've heard so far it's a beautiful place and beautifully welcoming. I suppose you must know Boo's host family?  Though I don't know their names ... Boo said she was so happy when she met her host father on Majuro because even though she couldn't yet speak Marshallese she knew she instinctively liked him. Do your parents still live on Arno and do you travel back there at all? It was such a sad thing to learn about the accident 2 years ago and I know Boo is anxious to carry on James' work.  She's looking forward to working with James' family and they've been generously supporting her.

We're not worried about her safety. Freak tragedies can strike anywhere, including here at home, and there's nothing gained by dwelling on the possibility.  We're sorry for the loss of your cousin and grateful that the island seems to be embracing Boo in the wake of the loss of her and James and the others.

We're really thankful you made contact!  What else can you tell us about Bikarej and Arno? !  I have googled it often, looking at some tiny islands like little lollipops sticking out towards the west and I wonder if one of those is the island of her host family?

Many thanks for getting in touch, we are really hungry for information and are wondering about Bikarej and every detail of her experience!

Beth


From:  Peter

Sent: Tue, Aug 21, 2012

Hi Beth,

Bikarej is the bigger spec of green between the two lagoons in the satellite picture in your blog.  The islands are like little lollipops.  Sticking out are smaller islands separated by reefs, ranging from just a stone's throw from end to end to maybe half mile.  In low tides, one can walk across the reef from one island to the other.  Bikarej, although smaller in comparison to Arno, Arno, does have a feel of being in the jungle in certain areas in the middle.  There are no dangerous animals or poisonous snakes.  It has lush salt water marshes, nice sandy beaches and, the most beautiful people in the world.  Everyone takes care of each other. There's a saying that "what's yours is mine and what's mine is yours."  This concept is foreign to most outsiders but it’s part of living and surviving in middle of the Pacific Ocean.  This is one of the reasons my father fell in love with Arno and its people.  Kindness is everywhere you go.  People's lives revolve around each other and community.  Life is simple and beautiful.  No worries, things will happen when they happen.  Adjusting to island time can be frustrated at times, nothing in the Marshall Islands happens on time.  Things may start on time but there will be no one there on time.

The menu is simple fresh fish cooked on a fire and local grown food such as padanus and breadfruit.  Bikarej has some of the best bananas I've ever had.  Imported food such as rice and canned meats have found their way into the Marshallese diet and are creating havoc.  Her host family will most likely think this is the kinds of food she's used to so they'll try to make them available. There is no running water, and no electricity.  Bucket shower under the stars is the norm.  People rely on kerosene lantern at night and maybe solar panel for basic lightning.  Sunrise is at 6:30 am and sunset is at 6:30 pm year round.  People make their living making and selling copra meat and/or copra cake.  Also, fishing and selling the catch to the Japanese fish base on Arno, Arno.  Women make handicrafts and sell them on Majuro.  Communication is thru CB Radios and occasional cell phone if there's cell phone reception, normally on clear days, although I'm pretty sure Bikarej is far enough to be out of range of Majuro's cell towers.
Boo's back yard is literally a few feet away from shore.  She'll be able to sleep to the sound of waves crashing on shore.  There is something so peaceful about hearing the sound of waves while lying down to sleep.

My father passed on few years back but my mom still has a place on Arno.  She is in Hawaii now but will return to Arno soon.  She will be excited to hear that Boo is in Bikarej educating the children of Arno.

On behalf of the people of Bikarej, I'd like to say thank you for this opportunity through Boo's volunteering, teaching and mentoring that will change the lives of the children of Bikarej for the better.

Please email me if you have any other concerns or questions and if you'd like to get in touch with the mayor and the two senators representing Arno Atoll.  I'll be glad to find their contact info for you.

Take care!

-Peter



From: Beth

Thursday, August 23, 2012


Hi Peter,
I hope you don't mind that I printed out your email and snail mailed it to Boo. I'm sure she'd love to get a chance to "talk” with you some day. I keyed in on what you had to say about the people. People always ask me why the Marshall Islands?  (That's usually after they ask where ARE the Marshall Islands?) It sounds corny to say she chose them for the people who she's never met but she heard just what you're describing from the former volunteers and that's what made her choice.

By the way have you read the book Surviving Paradise which was recommended to the volunteers?  The author was back again in the Marshall Islands during Boo's orientation.  I believe his experience will turn out to have been a little different from Boo's in some ways.

I'm typing with one finger on my phone so I'll close for now but I'm so glad to be hearing from you right at the time when we're getting adjusted to being out of touch with her!
Would you mind if we share some of your comments on the blog? or just mention that we've heard from someone from Bikarej!

Many thanks for writing!
Beth

Date: Aug 24, 2012 6:24 AM


Hi Beth,

I had a long conversation with my mom and I asked her to update me on who is living on Bikarej because it's been a while since I was there.  All my cousins that used to live next to us on Arno, Arno are there now.  Boo's host family is most likely one on my cousins.  I was glad to hear her mentioned that one of my favorite cousin lives on Bikarej.  His name is Boju.  Emita is another one of my cousin, she was James' host mother and her husband was one of the four people lost at sea.

Yes, I've read the book Surviving Paradise and I thought the author did a job of describing what it's like to live on an island in the Marshall Islands.  Though you are right, Boo's experience will be a little different.

I'm glad you've printed my email and mailed it to Boo.  Also, I wouldn't mind being mention on your blog.  I check it regularly for updates.

Best regards,

Peter

From: Beth

Date: Fri, Aug 24, 2012 at 5:42 PM

Hi Peter,
I'm just leaving quickly for the weekend but we got a letter from Boo today and she mentioned "my host family is so nice" and she lives with her host dad and " host mom, aunt, 2 brothers and 6 sisters. The oldest one is Forsida" and i guess she's been showing Booey around the island and she leaves soon for the high school on Majuro. I'll mail her your note so she can connect her host family to yours and see if they are your cousins! –

It sounds like Forsida has shown Boo all around the island and the school and the lagoon. She said her host dad is Tartruin and he speaks some English so she is able to 'bwebwenado' a bit, and she is picking up some Marshallese as quickly as she can. She said the kids tried to wash off her freckles!  I've been reading her letter over again. She sounds enthusiastic. She said she ate her first whole fish, and also an old coconut that had sprouted, that she and Forsida found in the jungle. Every detail is interesting to us!

-Beth


On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 10:06 AM,

 Peter wrote:


Hi, Beth!  I was confusing Tartruin with my cousin, Tarkine.  Tarkine is the police detective.  Although, I think I met Tartruin in Hawaii 2 years ago when I visited my brother, Mike.  He had asked me if I could fix his laptop because he heard I went to for Computer Science Technology.  I'll ask my mom about my relations to Tartruin and for more info on his family.

Great pics of Boo in Bikarej.  I too along with my dad have some freckles.  I think I was the only kid on Bikarej with freckles as my skin is lighter than most kids on Bikarej.

-Peter


From: Beth

Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 8:10 AM

 

Hi Peter - Too funny about the freckles! Did you leave the Marshall Islands for college? And have the rest of your siblings left as well?

I am wondering how quickly Boo is able to pick up some Marshallese. Must be a challenge to teach without being able to speak the language - I could never do it! She absolutely loves having kids hang on to her and climb on her so I imagine when she's out of school she's in heaven. She described many manipulative strategies she would try, to keep some kind of order in the classroom - I can't wait to hear how that goes :) She's lived her whole life in one house in one little town, and though she went as far as Ohio for college and did some traveling in Europe and Africa, I have to say I wasn't picturing the Marshall Islands while she was growing up - maybe because I didn't know where they were! But I'm so glad she's in a place where she couldn't be more welcomed.

Let us know what you find out about Tartruin and his family. I write often to Boo and I'll forward any bits of info like that - she'll be interested!

 -Beth

From: Peter

Date: Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 9:57 AM

Hi, Beth!  I had a nice talk with my mom on the phone and we talked a little about Tartruin and his family.  Tartruin is married to my cousin, Josephine.  Josephine is the younger sister of Boju and Emita.  I remembered her as she would often babysat me.  She would also washed my clothes by hand as there are no washing machines on Arno.

My mom mentioned I should write a letter to Tartruin and Josephine to take really good care of Boo and to treat her like their own daughter.  She also mention Bikarej is probably the best place for Boo as they are totally self sufficient.  They eat a lot of fresh food item such as fish, lobsters, crabs and locally grown food.  They aren't dependent on imported food, which means Boo will sample every weird looking food delicacy, but tasty and good for the body.

Since my mom wanted me to write a letter to Tartruin and Josephine I will write it in Marshallese and you could put it in your next letter to Boo, if that's alright with you.  -Peter

Here it is:

Dear Tartruin, Josephine im baamle, im aelop armej in Bikarej,

Iakwe, im Anij in kejaramon baamle in amiro im aelop armej in Bikarej!  Na ej jeje woj nan komro bwe ear ron jen jenin in jemen Boo ilo Amerka im elap aerro monono kon an leddik in nejierro volunteer im jeban ri-jukuul rein nejid bwe ren maron in wonmanlok ilo aer kotabed jelalokjen jen rikaki rein aer.  Elap ao kar monono ke ear ron ke komro ej host mama im papa nan Boo.  Ak enwot amiro jela ke elap ad aikuji volunteer rein jen Amerka boktok jelalokjen kein aer im boktok nan koj armij in Majol.  Bareinwot, ne volunteer rein rej rol nan Amerka, elap aer bwebwenato kin aer kar bed ilo Majol im kin manit kein ad.  Elap aer bwelon ken ad jouj im eman nan dron - ilo Amerka elon baamle rejjab lo dron ion iio im iio.

Ear konan ibben mama Nemur bwe ebed ilo Hawaii im ej ba na in jeje woj nan komro im ba ke komro in lukin lale Boo enwot ne ej joun ian leddik ro nejimiro.  Ekanan lewoj ao naan in buromoj nan Emita im ajiri rane kon kilon an kar jako Kiotak, im bar enwot naan in buromoj na Redi.  Elap ao kar buromoj ke ear ron jen Wilbur im Rolmi kin kar news in.  Ejela ke ebwe an kar ben news in nan armij in Bikarej ak enwot amiro jimur jela ke Anij wot ejela wawein kein rej walok nan kij im Anij wot emaron uaak ke kajitok kein ad.   Jen kamolol Anij Jemed Ilan kin rainin letok bwe jen maron in jeje nan dron im kele baamle kein ad, rein jerar im mottad, volunteer rein jen Amerka im bareinwot rikaki rein ilo Bikarej im aelop armij in Bikarej kin aer maron in koba ibben dron im kokmanmanlok im kakajurlok jukuul in ad ilo Bikarej.

Enwot an Boo volunteer in jeban ajiri in Bikarej katak, enaj barenwot katak jen armij in Bikarej.  Ejela ke jenin Boo ej ba elukin in konan katak koman amimano.

Jouj im lelok ao Iakwe aelop Ri-Bikarej im joun ran enaj rol woj im run nan senator bwe elap ao konan bwe Ri-Arno ren kamoj aer jukuul im etal nan college im joun ran roltok nan Majol im jeban aelon in ad womantak ilo lal in .

Bar joun aelin, Anij in kejeraman armij in Bikarej im aelop armij in Arno im in bar enwot botok ejmour im jeraman nan ri-jukuul rein nejid kajojo ilo aer katak im kotabed jelalokjen nan aer maron in ukot boka im kekemanman lok jukjuk in bed in adwoj kajojo ilo Arno.

Iakwe jen Peta im baamle ilo Maine.  Menne ebed etolok ak elab ao lomnak kin armij in Arno enwot ke ear drik im drotto lok ion Bikarej im Arno.



Snail-Mail to Grammy

Here's a note Boo sent to her Grandmother in Florida