Category: Soul
-
My Grandma
I call her Grandma, Mema (or Me-ma), Gramma, and Grams, but she has many aliases. My Grandma is not like other grandmas. My Grandma was down on the floor playing with my brother, cousins and I our whole lives. My Grandma laughed as hard as she played and never took a moment with me for…
-
Cultural Days
Cultural Days happen every other year at Xavier High School. I am fortunate enough to be here during. Cultural Days are about displaying and celebrating the many heritages present on campus; the very breadth that brings us together is our differences.
-
The Edge of the Lagoon: Pisar
There is a tiny island on the edge of the Truk Lagoon called Pisar. The island is so small, I can see all edges of it from any given spot. This island is the definition of serenity, tranquility, and utter bliss.
-
Fulfilled First Month
In the past 4 weeks, I have expanded my entirety more than imaginable. The smallest things have become the biggest: smiles, nods, ‘rananiems’ (Chuukese for ‘good morning’), ‘na-pungs’ (Chuukese for ‘good night’), having clean clothes, the comfort of my inch-thin sleeping mat on wooden frame after an 18 hour day, and the relief of a…
-
Gaining a New Self in Chuuk
Here is a small history on Chuuk, Federal States of Micronesia (FSM): The state of Chuuk is within the Truk Lagoon. During WWII, the Japanese were stationed in Chuuk, FSM. All around the lagoon there are sunken WWII ships and the island I am on hosts various Japanese structures from the war. The building my…
-
Chuuk, Day 1
I woke up this morning feeling energized and curious, much different than what I expected. The trip up to campus last night from the airport took about 45 minutes on a winding, half-flooded, unpaved road. It was dark, so I had no idea what I was looking at as students and my cousin pointed out…
-
… And so I packed my bags.
I made myself impervious. Any fear, any excitement, any overwhelming anxiety I was about to feel, I snuffed out with thoughts of being fully present. I enjoyed my last days at my hometown job. I enjoyed my last days in my same old bedroom, with my same old bed and my same old routine. I…
Sat Nam Grounding 