Greetings from Kosrae!

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Having now been to 191 countries (plus 82 territories, enclaves and autonomous regions) I know a wonderful place when I find one. That’s why I’ve returned to this happy isle for a fourth visit. Counting today, I’ve been in Kosrae 825 nights and days — and Stella for 179.

I’ve once again joined the faculty at the College of Micronesia, aka COM. This semester, I’m teaching “Computer Literacy” and “Tropical Pacific Ecosystems.” Teaching a computer class to a group of 20 somethings isn’t easy. They already know everything about the internet — or at least they think they do!

The class on tropical ecosystems is a lab course. Since Kosrae has reefs, rainforests and research centers right outside our classroom door, all the labs for this course are field trips. Below is a youtube video from our first field trip. This video shows what Kosraeans are like. As you’ll see, Kosraeans enjoy riding in boats and don’t need shoes or umbrellas to stroll through a forest in the rain.

The rainforest on Kosrae’s north coast is unique. It’s the only remaining stand of Ka trees (Terminalia carolinensis) on Earth. The Yela Ka Forest is a private land trust created with support from the US Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy and the Micronesia Conservation Trust to preserve and protect this internationally famous forest for future generations to study and enjoy. This sacred site has no roads or trails into it. The only way to get there is by boat.

In addition to the field trips, my environmental students spend two days a week in one of COM’s comfortable classrooms. Here are my students taking a quiz.

When we left Kosrae last June, we wondered what might change in our absence. Kosrae now has three cows. Since Kosrae has no pastures or fences, the cows graze wherever they like.

Meanwhile, a couple of gentlemen in Lelu have begun carving traditional outrigger canoes, famous for their speed, performance and seaworthiness. Although this looks like a major task, they say they’ll be finished by March or April.

The most noticeable change since June is that the potholes have become serious road hazards. Few cars dare drive the speed limit of 25 mph. If you fall into one of these potholes at speed, you may break a tie-rod! We frequently see cars by the roadside with broken steering.

The good news is that Kosrae has built an asphalt plant. The road maintenance crew started patching a few potholes last week. Maybe they’ll finish by Christmas!

So, live goes on in the tropics at a slow and relaxed pace. Nga luhngse acn Kosrae! (I love Kosrae!)

My semester at COM runs until mid-May. After I submit final grades, I may start traveling again. There are still two countries that I haven’t been to. Maybe I can check them off sometime in 2025. To see which countries are left, click here.