September 19, 2008

Birthdays and such
I had a great birthday yesterday. First we went ashore so Ted could install a solar regulator for Tempo’s system. Then we rowed up to the next island and took a long walk on the beach and had a nice snorkel. I invited Tempo and his wife Jepe out to the boat for dinner, and made chocolate pudding for dessert. Ted had told them it was my birthday, so they brought me a few handicrafts and sang to me in English and Marshallese. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in paradise and a birthday I won’t forget.
Today we are anticipating the arrival of Irish Melody, with Dave and Linda. They are bringing Kevin, the English teacher, and the islanders are really looking forward to that. We saw their boat off in the distance on the other side of the reef this morning, but it will take them most of the day to come around the west end to the pass and then sail back down to the anchorage.
I'm feeling fit and happy out here. I'm swimming every day for about an hour, and am starting to row the dinghy out to further snorkeling sites. The locals are feeding us very well. Tempo is keeping us supplied with drinking coconuts, freshly baked bread, coconut toddy, limes and roasted breadfruit. And the other day a couple guys came by the boat with 2 lobsters.
Tempo is the village elder and we really like him. He has fallen in love with Ted's canoe, so Ted has loaned it to him while we are here. You should see him paddling around with a big grin on his face! He is 67 years old and very trim and healthy. He has suggested that next weekend we all go out to their island (4 islands up within the lagoon) for an overnight picnic. We’ll take his clan up on the boats and they will stay ashore for the night. We’ll share food and play music (guitars and Dave’s fiddle). Sounds like a good time. Karen