Commentary - Observations - Ulithi

The Ulithi atoll is larger than Guam, with very small land mass, but only four of the islands have permanent populations. Island wide power was established in 1977 Falaflop and Mogmog, with new generators in 1999. Most homes have a VCR and a TV. In 2001 as satellite dish was installed on Foloflop and this year 2003 a cell phone repeater was established with radio links to Yap.

High School and Public library has Internet - John R. is the only individual with Internet access on Falaflop. Mogmog had 6 new Mac install at the high school the week before I arrived (2/1/03), as yet no training has been provided - that is to take place first of March.

Observations:
I had no trouble striking-up a conversation through the men or the children and through them to the women (however many of the (older) women spoke little English). I just walked up to their yards and say hello and usually the conservation follows with questions about what I was doing and discussion followed.

Less than 10% of girls and older women (more older than younger) still go topless on Falaflop. The younger ones were very shy when I was around. I suspect family pressure keeps them following traditions.

On Mogmog the supreme chief has in sisted that traditional dress be maintained. This means not tops on men or women (even the Peace Corp. American teacher goes topless). I noted that the minute the young men left the shore (in boats) they put on T-shirts and a hat.

There was a funeral on Mogmog while I was on Falaflop and the chief did not want me to come during that time, as I would be a distraction to the community.

On Mogmog about half of the houses were concrete with tin roofs and modern devices (cell phones, TV-VCR, AM -radios, two way radio and rice cookers) could be found in about a third of the houses. All seem to have electricity. Mogmog still has both a women's and men's house which are used regularly by all. While Falaflop has two men's house neither appeared to be used except by a few older men, I never saw a women's house.

Falaflop seems to accept change faster (probably because it is a small island) than Yap proper. And I felt there was some resistance to change by the Chief Council of Ten (of which John R. is a member). However John R. is really pushing development (he is the local owner (with Guam and mainland partners)) of the Hotel on Falaflop. He is hoping for weekly or bi-monthly flight directly from Guam in the near future for (rich) tourist.
I genuinely think he thinks it all for the benefit of the island. But he also has a lot of power as a chief, the local Deacon of the Catholic Church, a primary employer both directly and indirectly, and one of the most "educated" locals (a UOG grad.)

As on many Micronesian islands the women and young girls seem to do most of the work. The boy's and young men (teens) seem to do little structured work. I appears the real hard male work is carried out by the young men between 20 -(under) 40. The older men make decisions and boss jobs. There appears to be a new class developing of the the 30ish young men who work for the government - whether because of education or position they seem to exercise a lot of power (and john also manipulates these young men a lot).
Most student in the classroom don't seem to interested in school - even less so after 5th grade. As usual the girls seem to prosper best in class, however few seem to stand out. There was almost no classroom discipline or little structure - kids at all level seem to come and go as felt like and participation in class activities was not strong. Teacher may have been reduced to this as I was told that there was little support form either the local or state administration. Teachers were not held very highly by the community - and few were actually local to Ulithi (however several were from other outer islands of Yap).