{"id":5830,"date":"2025-05-22T11:11:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T11:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/?p=5830"},"modified":"2025-05-22T14:00:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T14:00:16","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/travel\/home\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaving home or going home?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Since 2020, I&#8217;ve spent 910 days in Micronesia and 378 days in America.  So, where is home?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Leaving Kosrae on United #155\" width=\"910\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2vD9usLRYNQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Leaving Kosrae &#8212; the start of a journey of more than 17,000 miles (video by Ben Whitehouse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, I flew from Kosrae to America. Although I met several close friends and family last year, I haven&#8217;t spent much time in the USA since 2022. To see who and what I&#8217;ve missed in the past three years, I&#8217;ll spend the summer with friends and family across the USA. As I travel, I&#8217;ll update this blog to advertise occasional travel talks that I&#8217;ll be giving. The first one will be at the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/millvalleylibrary.libcal.com\/event\/14417379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mill Valley Library on June 3 at 6:00pm<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, here are four videos to share what&#8217;s been going on in Kosrae recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"College of Micronesia, Kosrae Campus, Lelu Ruins field trip, March 27, 2025\" width=\"910\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EV-Vr-PHPsM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>My Tropical Pacific Environments (SC-117) students took their fourth field trip to the Lelu Ruins. These massive walls were erected between 1400 to 1650 AD using columnar basalt quarried from the other side of the island. This was a special opportunity for the students to take a walk through this famous archaeological site with local historian Paliknoa Sigrah.  We were joined by Dr. Liz Van Volkenburgh from the University of Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lelu Night Market, Kosrae, April 11, 2025\" width=\"910\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xz11D_cuuP0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year, usually in April, Lelu town holds a night market. People come from all over Kosrae for food, music, dancing and shopping. It&#8217;s a fun evening for families and children of all ages. Even if it rains &#8212; as it often does &#8212; the dancing keeps going and spirits are not dampened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"College of Micronesia, Kosrae Campus, Snorkeling field trip, April 23, 2025\" width=\"910\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9BH6Po1w9PI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>My students took their final field trip to one of Kosrae\u2019s clam and coral nurseries. This was an underwater adventure where students learned first-hand about clam farming and coral gardening. Our experience was hosted by the Fisheries Department of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Kosrae-Department-of-Resources-Economic-Affairs\/100069121783612\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DREA<\/a>. Masks and snorkels were provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kosraenautilus.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nautilus Resort.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kayaking in Kosrae, April 26, 2025\" width=\"910\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NO5riwgXEYc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One fine Saturday afternoon, Stella and I went kayaking in the estuary behind Nautilus Resort.  We were joined by Justina, the flower girl from our wedding last June.  We timed our adventure so that the incoming tide carried us deep into the mangrove forest, where we had a short rest. Then, we let the ebb tide carry us all the way back to Nautilus. It was a perfect cruise thru a beautiful forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69e5225ba666a&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69e5225ba666a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"586\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"5841\" src=\"http:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Stella-in-garden-1-586x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Stella-in-garden-1-586x1024.jpg 586w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Stella-in-garden-1-172x300.jpg 172w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Stella-in-garden-1-768x1341.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Stella-in-garden-1-879x1536.jpg 879w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Stella-in-garden-1.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stella with her garden weapons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69e5225ba7eb0&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69e5225ba7eb0\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"586\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"5843\" src=\"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Flower-586x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Flower-586x1024.jpg 586w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Flower-172x300.jpg 172w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Flower-768x1342.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Flower-879x1536.jpg 879w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Flower.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It&#8217;s always springtime in Kosrae.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69e5225ba8671&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69e5225ba8671\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"586\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"5837\" src=\"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nick-Zoa-Action-figure-586x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nick-Zoa-Action-figure-586x1024.jpg 586w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nick-Zoa-Action-figure-172x300.jpg 172w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nick-Zoa-Action-figure-768x1341.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nick-Zoa-Action-figure-879x1536.jpg 879w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nick-Zoa-Action-figure.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">AI image by Ben Whitehouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For my US adventures, I&#8217;ll travel more than 17,000 miles, mostly by air.  I&#8217;ll be traveling solo because the USCIS has denied Stella a visa.  So, Stella will remain in Kosrae, build her vegetable garden, and manage our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/rooms\/1419070821822677538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our AirBnB<\/a>.  If you happen to be visiting Kosrae this summer, please stay at our place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In case our paths might cross, here&#8217;s my intended itinerary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"373\" src=\"http:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-1024x373.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-1024x373.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-300x109.jpg 300w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-768x280.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner.jpg 1372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Kosrae<\/td><td>May 22<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Seattle<\/td><td>May 22 &#8211; May 27<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>San Francisco<\/td><td>May 27 &#8211; June 16<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nashville<\/td><td>June 17 &#8211; June 26<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Washington DC<\/td><td>June 26 &#8211; July 1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stonington<\/td><td>July 1 &#8211; 16<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Newark<\/td><td>July 16<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Big Rapids<\/td><td>July 17 &#8211; August 11<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>San Francisco<\/td><td>August 12 &#8211; August 15<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Los Angeles<\/td><td>August 15 &#8211; August 17<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kosrae<\/td><td>August 19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To all my friends and family in the USA, I hope to see y&#8217;all this summer!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"37\" height=\"37\" src=\"http:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/smile.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5800\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since 2020, I&#8217;ve spent 910 days in Micronesia and 378 days in America. So, where is home? Today, I flew<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5830"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5874,"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5830\/revisions\/5874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}