{"id":6222,"date":"2025-12-13T00:20:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T00:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/?p=6222"},"modified":"2025-12-14T01:47:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T01:47:42","slug":"christmas-from-kosrae","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zoa.com\/2025\/travel\/christmas-from-kosrae\/","title":{"rendered":"Merry Christmas from Kosrae"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The fall semester at College of Micronesia has officially wrapped up. Final grades have been submitted, and my red pen has been retired for the season. It’s time to pause and celebrate another memorable year in Kosrae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for Christmas plans — well, that\u2019s where things get a little less organized. Stella and I won\u2019t be spending the holidays in Kosrae this year. In fact, we don\u2019t entirely know where we\u2019ll be spending them at all. Our only plan so far is a pair of airline tickets to Manila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we head to the airport for a one-month, see-where-it-leads-us adventure, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season. We’ll keep you posted as we go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are a few snapshots of life in Kosrae over the past couple months. Updates will follow as our travels take us wherever they may.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Justina feeding a cow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Wild Tumeric<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Christmas lites<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kosrae got cows this year. Four of them.  Since there are no pastures on the island, these cows live a truly free-range lifestyle, wandering wherever inspiration (and roadside snacks) lead them. Most days they can be found casually grazing on Merremia — a relative of kudzu and one of Kosrae\u2019s more aggressive invasive plants. I\u2019m delighted to see Merremia finally finding a use. Maybe the real solution is \u2026 more cows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s only one season in Kosrae: Spring.  Flowers bloom year-round, apparently unaware of calendars. On a recent jungle walk, I stumbled upon this patch of wild turmeric — proof that even a casual stroll in Kosrae doubles as a botanical field trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kosraeans love decorative lights.  Here\u2019s one of our neighbor\u2019s driveways glowing after dark. Christmas is a wonderful excuse to make our dark tropical nights sparkle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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