Most Micronesians in Pohnpei make a unique snack by mixing Kool-Aid powder with Ramen noodles or fruits, like unripe papayas and takuan, a picked radish comparable to kimchi, explained Ellisa Hadley Edeyaoch, a student from Palikir, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. “It’s so unhealthy, but it’s so good.”
Edeyaoch, majoring in Pacific Island Studies, said she is one of only two students from her country at BYU–Hawaii. She said she wishes more people from her country could attend, but most Micronesian high school graduates either choose to attend local colleges in FSM or start working to support their families instead of pursuing an education.
“BYUH is a blessing and one of the greatest experiences of my life. [Coming] from a small island and to experience the mix of cultures, has been exciting. I have learned so much from my instructors, and I have been inspired by the cultures around me,” she added.
What is the difference between Micronesia and the Federated States of Micronesia?
The Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia regions make up the Pacific. Micronesia includes islands such as the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Kiribati, Edeyaoch explained.
“My country is the Federated States of Micronesia, or FSM, and it gets even more [complicated] because FSM consists of four main states. There’s Pohnpei, Kosrae, Yap and Chuuk. I’m from one of the states called Pohnpei.”
What is it like to attend BYUH as a student from FSM?
Edeyaoch and her brother are the only students representing FSM on campus. “Honestly, it’s kind of lonely because I can’t really connect to someone from home.”
She shared she has grown since attending BYUH. “I have learned there is no growth in comfort, and constant hard work pays off in ways one cannot comprehend. To be a Pohnpeian in a sea of a variety of cultures can be intimidating, but it is a great opportunity for me to serve as a representative of my country,” she commented.
What is your country known for?
“I love how we’re known for our hospitality. We tend to show our kindness by offering food a lot. So, even though you’re a stranger, we love to say, ‘Oh, come eat.’ When we see someone walking by our house, we say, ‘Oh, come eat. There’s food,’ even though we’re not sure who they are.”
She said they typically eat taro, cassava, reef fish, chicken, rice, boiled banana and yam. They commonly cook their food with coconut milk and dip it into sele, a chili pepper mix.
“We love to dance. … A lot of people I know from home love to dance. We can be really shy people, but once there’s a party, we love to show energy. We are just kind of party people in a sense.”
The choice of music depends on the taste of the individual, she said. “For me personally, I love dancing to the music made from our local music artists. The music back at home is almost the same as what we listen to here in Hawaii. There’s a lot of reggae and RNB,” she added.
What are some unique cultural practices there?
Edeyaoch described the sakau ceremony. “Sakau is known as kava in other islands. We use it to serve our traditional leaders.” She said the ceremony is unique because it is also used on special occasions to gather families together.
“For example, if one person offended another family, they have the sakau ceremony to unite the family. It’s also used for engagements [and] for anything that needs unity. It serves as a way to bring people together.”
She also noted the ceremony is not only held to ask someone for forgiveness, but can also be used to ask for one’s approval, like asking one’s hand in marriage.
What is a big holiday in your country and how do you celebrate it?
She said March 31 is Micronesia Cultural Day. People who live in Pohnpei can be Chuukese, Kosraeans or Yapese, she shared, so this is a day to celebrate these different cultures. Then, they show their talents, serve traditional dishes and wear traditional attire.
She said the Micronesia games, although not considered a holiday, is one of the coolest events they have on their island. “All the islands in Micronesia come together and compete in sports, [like] paddling, weightlifting, basketball, volleyball and sometimes husking [and throwing] coconuts.”
What is your country like geographically?
She said it is beautiful and mostly green, with waterfalls, beaches and mountains. Rather than having large buildings, she said her country is filled mostly with small villages.
In terms of the weather, they only have two seasons: the typhoon season and the hot season, which is especially humid. It also rains every day no matter what the season, she added.
What is a fun fact about your country?
Pohnpei is also home to the mysterious archaeological site of Nan Madol, an ancient city built on water. “It’s an interesting place because, to this day, no one can really figure how this city was made. … The Nan Madol is made of stones and columns. Just picture blocks of stone stacked high on each other. There’s no carving to explain its origin except the legend to remember the people, called the Saudeleur, who ruled the island for more than a millennium.”
What is the main sport you play in your country?
Their main sport is called yakiyu, which has the same rules as baseball. She said it’s so popular you are “out of the circle” if you don’t play it. “I am terrible at the sport because I wear glasses, so [playing] it was a struggle.” When they’re not playing yakiyu, they play volleyball, she added.
What is your favorite food from your country?
“My favorite food is called wihs piyaya, crushed or smashed banana with coconut milk.” People usually bring it to parties, she said, and eat it as a snack or sell it on the side of the road.
What’s the meaning behind your country’s flag?
“Our flag is a blue flag with four white stars. Each star represents the states. The blue represents the ocean and how we’re [all] together.”