Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Culture and Love

Culture and Love

One glance from you takes my breath away
One smile will bring me to my grave, I must honestly say.
God must be so intelligent to create the person you are
Because your existence brings me comfort near and far.
Culture has been effectively strong, that no one could ever forget
For all girls to have affairs,
It should be kept a secret.
Respect is all that counts
In a unique culture like mine
To show it to brothers and elders so our love can shine.
This culture has been keeping us apart
Yet, so strong like a stone is what lies in your heart
You’re the most unique person I’ve ever met
And loving you is something I’ll never regret
Days coming by and I still don’t believe
That in just a few months it’s time for you to leave
Saying goodbye is the hardest thing
Nature morns even birds won’t sing
Crying of pain because you won’t be here
For only brightness shines when you are near
So look back on the memories we could share
Deep inside you’ll see my smile and how much I care.

We just completed the poetry unit in my sophomore literature class and the above is one of my student’s final projects. Between Colette’s poem, and a conversation with one of the Micronesians on staff - Eleanor, I am slowly gaining more insight into the culture here in Chuuk, though I’m certain I’ll never reach the point of comprehension.
Eleanor has been dating her boyfriend for about 9 years. They went to and graduated from Xavier in 1999, and have both come back to work here for the year. She is half Pohnpeiian and he is Chuukese. In the Chuukese culture, men and women are not allowed to be seen together alone. Thus, there is always a lot of segregation at any function or event – with women together in one group, and men fraternizing in another. Irregardless of whether the two people are friends or more than friends, it is a disgrace to the females’ family for a male to be seen alone with her. For example, there is a senior Chuukese female at Xavier now who in her freshman year was dating a Pohnpeiian senior. Often times they were found sneaking off together to different corners of the campus or to the huts behind the classrooms – typical teenage behavior – you know you’ve done it at some point!! Though I’m sure you’ve never encountered the wrath of irate male family members because of it. The male relatives of the females are extremely “protective” in the sense that they would resort to violence should a male disrespect their family by being found alone together. Because a lot of the students here at Xavier are related to each other, as in this case, many a fistfight has broken out as a result of ignorant violation of this custom.
Eleanor was explaining how she cannot go into town alone with her boyfriend because of her male relatives that live on island. Even though their relationship is very public in the sense that they have made all of their relatives aware – it is still “taboo” (and that in itself is an understatement) for them to be together without being married and should her Chuukese uncles see them together, they would most likely beat up her boyfriend. Eleanor made it seem as though the reasoning behind this mentality is that it makes the women seem like tramps if they are alone with gentlemen without being committed – ring on the finger. If a couple wants to see each other, it must be in a group setting – with other people around. She was also explaining how if they were in Pohnpei, it would not be as big of a deal and they could come and go as they pleased, but trying to maintain a relationship here in Chuuk is unbelievably difficult.
Collette’s poem, turned in only a few days after this conversation, expressed so many of the same feelings Eleanor had been speaking of as far as being a female in Chuuk.
Culture has been effectively strong, that no one could ever forget
For all girls to have affairs,
It should be kept a secret.
Respect is all that counts
In a unique culture like mine
To show it to brothers and elders so our love can shine.

These lines though so simple, are so powerful in that I can see firsthand – and feel through her poetry the frustration of being kept apart from the one you love – not because of distance but because of a cultural standard that dictates what the heart must feel. I’m sure it is difficult for the gentlemen as well, but the double standard lies in the fact that it is not as though a gentleman’s family would go and attack the female for being alone with a male. It is as if girls are in need of protection and are not entitled to make their own, or publicly affirm their decisions regarding their personal affairs. She is constantly forced to make this choice between her heart, and her attempt to appease her family. Listening to Elle talk was intriguing but almost surreal – I could hear the words she was saying, but there was and still is this inability within me to process them properly and understand - and I feel almost ignorant for my incredulity.
* * *
My schedule has also left me fortunate enough to attend the Freshman Chuukese class two days per cycle – a very humbling experience. Try taking a class with kids just over half your age – who know multitudes more than you –they’re all bilingual!! It’s so funny because I have these freshmen in lit class, but during Chuukese I’m copying their notes and asking them questions galore!! First semester was primarily language, but the curriculum has since moved on to more exposure to the numerous facets of Chuukese life. The other day we had coconut retrieval and husking lessons. (Coconuts are perhaps the most fascinating fruit to ever spring forth from God’s green earth!!!!) The Chuukese guys were the first ones up the coconut trees and as they started tossing them down, we gathered them up and started husking. As we were watching the process – I asked one of the Marshallese ladies if they knew how to climb and husk. Her response: “Girls aren’t allowed to climb.” Upon further questioning, she explained that especially in Marshallese and Chuukese culture, women are never allowed to be at a higher level than men – so a woman climbing a tree would put her at a higher level – and thus disrespect any males in the vicinity. For another example, if everyone is congregated in mass and a woman enters late, she cannot simply walk to her seat, but rather walks across the floor on her knees so as not to be at a higher level/taller than the males in the room. I feel as though I’ve unknowingly disrespected many males along the way as I gradually learn more about this ingrained mentality!

Coming from a culture that demands an equality of genders – particularly coming from a single sex high school that promotes the empowerment of women, and being raised by parents who have always ensured that my gender was never an obstacle to opportunity, it is very difficult to juxtapose my beliefs with the way of life here. I apologize because my words are not intended to be judgmental though I don’t know how they could be construed any other way….

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

hello there I just wanted to say that this article and your poem is so amazing.. It may not be a whole book but just you read along you tend to learn a little bit more about there customs.. would like to get to know more...

Anonymous said...

the poem caught my attention. i am researching on a project about chuukese cultural dress so my research question is, "Should chuukese females change the way they dress traditionally when they migrate to the mainland?" so i came across this poem and it got me interested in. good job for eleanor and good job for the person who introduced this to researchers. although i am chuukese, i still dont know all about my own culture, and it is nice to learn more. i am currently in a relationship with a chuukese boy as well and it is hard for us to spend time together even in school. it is even hard for me to say hi to him when others are around. i can only say hi when we pass by each other by ourselves. sometimes i feel like he is not interested anymore, but i guess its just because how we are following a cultural relationship. i gotta say that i am not used to this. this guy is the first chuukese boy i ever dated and i like him a lot because he is different. well once again you both did a very great job.

taka

Ebazz M Riaituk said...

Very nice poem. Very touching and straight to the point. I am a guy and i'm seeing a girl, we're both Chuukese, and that's exactly how we are. We sneak away to spent time together alone because of that "stupid" cultural taboo of a girl not to be seen alone with a guy. I really don't give a crap about that because I love this girl and I want to shout it to the whole world yet she cannot for we must still be secretive about our relationship. I don't have sisters but I have girl cousins and to be honest I really don't care who they go out with. They can do what they like; it's their lives and i'll live with their decisions because I trust them to make decide for themselves. So now I wish my girlfriends brothers know about us so they'll beat the crap outta me to get over it so I can take her out in public never to sneak out anymore. Why the hell are Chuukese holding on to crappy tradition/culture like that?

Unknown said...

hello all the readers i really like this peom....it is true, u let u guys know that the reason why they do this because we won't let our brothers feel embarase of what we did....not girls only boys also but girls are more respectful thank guys...you can't walk straight if you see ur brother sit...you have to one word before bowing down...say "tirow"...then walk and pass them...that's all for me thank you very much and kilisou chapur..

Anonymous said...

kopwe kan ekenet ahh iwe iwe pwan mwa jok pwan kinisoui ngeni kemi ekei aramas ouksn mski ngeni kij..

RE-SANGKU-TOLEISOM said...

Anon uchok chon toleisom pwe:SAPW MWAKEN PWE MEI FOKKUN PWUNG...Anywayz..like da article love da poems...

sapukian pride said...

i feel da same way dat yall do. i want to go out with my man.... but yall know taht we got da most stricktly culture.. so i cant.i respect da cul;ture nd myself..so ill just stick wit it even though it hard..

Anonymous said...

waiioooooooooo ai tong ngonuk( Mohaw) nge a jok sonap pwe kete ngin ren atin chuuk.. i love you!!@

SAID... FRANCIS TERETA said...

PWAN EKIS JOK ME REI AI PWAN ENNETIN KINISOU ME ME MWAREITI OT REN EI FANSOUN MI PWAN FANG NGENIEI AI MANAW ME POJOKUN IEI POPUN MI TUFICH NGENIEI AI UPWE PWAN APASATA PWAN AI KINISOU REN EI NGENI INEI ME SEMEI PWN TORI PWI ME FEFINEI WON EI METOCH PWAN AI KAPWONG NGENI KICH MI NONOM WON KEI FONU TOWAW...NGE PWAN AI TUNGOR NGENI KICH SIPWE JOK PWAN TUMUNU FONGENI KICH PWE SA TOWAW SENI WESETAN FONUACH NGE WINIPOS WON FONUEN EMON IEI POPUN SIPWE PUISIN KOKOTOCH ME PWAN EKIEKOCH NGENI PUSIN NONOMUCH WON KEI FONU SAPW FONUACH....

Anonymous said...

wow...I am doing a research on the broad topic culture and wow..this is awsome..I am a chuukese also and I am trying to find where and how to start my autoethnography paper and this article/poem is awsomely incredible and just want to say that very good and touching story here.I got some ideas..thanks, but hey like it or not, the way our culture works on love will still pass down to the next generation..that's my personal concern..

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I On dECK:> said...

this poem really caught mai attention..well i am a chuukese chicka nd i noe how hard dis is:^ but u noe we all we still have to stick to our cultural stuff..lolz
but u noe we can always sneak out an nite wen our parents r sleeepiinng.. well dat wat i did but i got caught AnyWayyzz.. buutt.. was still happy dat i got to spend tyme wit him before leaving dah 808> i jst wanna say dat i love you>

Lori Stark and Michael Barry said...

yehh yehh, iMust agree with the rest of the people. this poem just describes how bad it is for us chuukese girls to be seen alone with a guy. the poem's amazing! no lie there. nge being told how to dress, whether to keep your hair long or short, what to wear, how to present yourself in front of family. and to be told who to hang with, that's just ridiculous!! power to the people.

SEREzZ&&iPREZz said...

This poem really caught my attention. I am really tired of all this crab, i mean i do respect the chuukese culture but im tired of it! parents should let their kids do whatever they want as long as they behave well rather than sneaking around their parents nd brothers nd the whole family. Then when they get caught, parents wouldn't have the cud to trust their kids. LOVING && TRUST are really important in a person's life. If a parents lost TRUST in their kids then what the hell. Yall know what i mean??? well believe it or not. I'am Chuukese but don't really like the culture. I do respect it but don't like it. Sometimes i don't follow the culture. i just think its some crab. I do got a boyfriend, he is chuukese too and we always sneak around and watch out for the fams. Oh well! we LOVE each other, nobody would NEVER get in between our relationship. NO MATTER what, i still love him 4ennlet mwa! YEA YOU j... WAiOOOh i LOVE YOU Nd i kNOW yoU lOVE ME tOO!



dUN bE hAtiN',
iREZz NON Ai EkkiEk

SEREzZ&&iPREZz said...

One more thing.. i LOVE this POEM, it really explains a lot about Chuukese culture. This old chuukese people (parents) should realize how the new generation is like. We passed the old generation and now we're in another one, that is tend to change other people's perspective on how the NEW generation is. it's not like we have to live up to the old expectations all the time. It's getting boring and a lot of reasons against it! Iwe iwe ah pwan mwo iei, i just wanted to post up how i feel from my own point of view iwe ah pwan mwo wes pwun i gots to go now. nge AI TONG NGONUK jok JAMES!

tOPNOtChPRiNCESz said...

OkAY.SUWOOP tO WhU EVAh MAdE UP thiSZ POEM. i SO AGREE tO tthiSz POEM. i MEAN i thiNk PARENtSz ShOUld AtlEASt GiVE A ChANCE tO tRUSt thEiR kidSz thEN, itSz OkAY fOh All ChUUkESE tEENAGERSz tO GO OUt&&hAAAVVVEE fUUUUUNNNN bUt SEtt thEiR LiMitSz. BUh iGEUSSz tO thE AdULtSz WERE kiLLiNG thE CUltURE.i RESPECk MAh CUltURE&&dONt WANt tO bREAk it tO CAUSE ANY CUROPtiON tO MAh PLACE&&EMbARRESMENt tO MAh PEOPlESz.WEll thANkSz PERSON

poniran weno:P said...

waiioooneee.
pungun mwa jo kan...
osap koput our culture...
mii jok maa pwung...
it suckz,nge ita opwe
fetei?thats how it wa smeant to be...ika met???

Sloppeh*Ajengijeng ((TopNotch ChuuAsain)) said...

Waiiooo. Tears of Happiness=) This poem brings back old memories when I used to sneak out with my ex. Yeah I know it was wrong, but being a teenage girl thinking your in love, has no limits, or maybe some I quess. Lol. Good old times, but I'm learning from my mistakes and now I'm telling my mom my dating life, and it's even great that we're talking again and sharing things.

So advice to any girls out there sneaking out too many times for your boo and your getting tired of it, try and talk to your parents or your mom only if your scared of your pop finding out. I know I was. Hehe.

Anywho, I freaking love the poem. Bravo to the poet and whom ever did the posting; and great job on the very well written summary of the poem and story.

As for the new generation of us Chuukese Youngters, in my opinion, changing our culture is like polluting who were are and where we come from. So what if our culture and believes are stricter than other's? And whose to say that it's the strictest in the world? Kich kei fin Chuuk se lucky, pun fin Aghanistan teens and women usually have to cover up head to toe with their wrap around them cause that's their culture and believes. And most of them are forced to wed without having no say. I know for a fact that I can walk around proud and happy in 503 public with my Chuukese Skato, cause wearing a wrap 24/7 especially in the heat, I probably won't survive.

But I also heard that back then in Chuukese culture, women were also forced to wed. So far, I only know one Chuukese girl in my life time that was forced to marry this guy. Yeah it was heart breaking for the girl, but we're all happy for her now cause they're still together happily married with kids. The man was the one who wanted to marry her but she didn't like him, turned out she fell in love with him during while they were married. Except in reality, not all prearranged marriages won't work.

By the way, I'm not trying to make fun of the Afghan women out there, or implying anything stupid, I was just using them as an example. My apologese if anyone got offended. If not, ok.

Remember for real though, Respect Thy Mother and Father, as well as granparents, uncles, aunties, cousins, brothers, and sisters. But yeah, ya'll already know that. So why not have the same love and respect for our culture? Yes, we the new generation of the Chuukese Islands have many big disagreements with our culture, but still, HAVE SOME RESPECT!! It is what it is. Done deal. And props to "jengaw", I'm proud to admit that I still say "tirow!" when I pass by any of my male relatives and non-male relatives; it just comes naturally to me cause I don't pause or think of saying it, I just do without noticing it. What can I say, I am who I am, and I love all three of my Spaniard, Phillipino, and Chuukese Culture background.

Aite. Sorry for the long speech. I was serving the web on Chuukese Culture, and I'm glad that I stumbled upon this beautiful poetry^_^ Just wanted to post my thoughts. Iwe upwene pwan tou me ikei. Kapongs ngeni ami meinisin kana readers. Much love.

SEREZ tOPNOtCh 503 said...

WaIOOOh NGE kAN MAh SLOPPEh AChENG.. i dO AGREE WitChYUU! i kNO i KNO i AINt tRYNNA hAtE ON OUR CUltURE.. i dO RESPECt it! bUt i jUZ dNt likE hOW it iS.. dOESN't REAllY WORk Out fOR MEh! WhY CAN't it bE AS EASY AS dA "AMERiCAN CUltURE"??? EHEH i kNO EACh COUNtRY hAS thEiR OWN CUltURE. bUt ShIYAAt.. EhEhEh.. AnYWhO... jUZ WONNA tEll YAll WhOMEVER IS REAdING dIZ. i dO RESPECt dA ChUUkESE CUltURE.. i lOVE MA fAMiLY && tO OUR ANCEStORS WhO hAS dA MOSt RidiCUlOUS tIMES iN lifE OR ShOUld i SAY dA MOSt OUtRAGOUS tiMES iN lifE WhERE thEY hAVE tO REAllY StANd UP fOR dA CUltURE && liVE UP tO dA EXPECtAtiONS 24-7.. i LOVE All YAll! i AlSO lOVE MAh bOifRiENd iKA EfEN NgAN REN MAh BROS..lOL... NGE YEA.. AnYWhO.. SlOPPEh AChENG i dO UNdERStANd WAt U tRYNNA SAY.. i dO RESPECt dAt... Nd tO All YAll Oh nd dAt OthER GRl NAW We AiNt tRYNNA hAtE dA CUltURE WE'RE JUZ SAYiNG WERE tIREd Of it! bUt itS A lifE lONG EXPERiENCE dAt WE hAVE tO lEARN Nd dO EACh dAY.. iNfRONt Of OUR OldER SiStERS, bROthERS,COUSiNS, AUNtS, UNClES, PARENtS, && All dA AdultS SURROUNdiNG US.. ANYWAYS.. dAtS ALl i GOtS tO SAy, bUt tO WhOMEVER WROte dIZ POEM, U ShOUld EXtENd it Nd dO it iN A bOOk, i WOUld SO bUY it! EhEhEH.. i fREAkiN lOVE it!

Anonymous said...

I want to thank you the author of this article. It is very unique this "Culture and Love" if you understand it and respect the drama behind it. Secretive is really a romantic moment, an atmospheric world of Love, like Romeo and Juliet. That special moment, no one else feel it, understand it, but only you and your secret lover. This moment is like the scenery of Avatar and the Atlantis World, which makes you feel loved, and long for your presence in that world again and again. When you go public, it fades the special moment you always long for. Therefore, I say we must respect it and understand it that we have our own unique way of dating and it is very special. I like it....

Anonymous said...

Continuation from the previous comment....

Since our culture is a culture of love and respect, therefore such unique way of dating is appropriate because it resembles that manner. It is secret because we don't want to offend onebody, thus we keep it in a Avatar world. So, it is really a respectful way of verifying true love and if it is all fake, then the story ends still with respect. Only the two will bare the consequences...whether happy or sad ending. Silent start is still a silent ending....

Anonymous said...

correction, not onebody but somebody...excuse the careless!

Anonymous said...

Instead of criticism write the variants.

Anonymous said...

I apologise, but, in my opinion, you commit an error. I can defend the position. Write to me in PM, we will talk.

Anonymous said...

In my opinion. Your opinion is erroneous.

saramatiw said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
saramatiw said...

mwa met mwa ina mi pwung nge ousapw pwan iii opwut aj culters pwe amen eoj ousapw ka nuen fin merika ika fen atin merika pwe ami jon juuk ina pwata reaspet the culter meinisin

Chosi said...

Nesor, allim

I have read your blog and might I say I was very intrigued with your poem along with your information of the chuukese culture and out of my curosity I was wondering, if you still attend Xavier high school? No need to be frightened for I am chuukese myself but, I do not attend school on the Micronesian island although I do attend college here in the United States as well as teach So if you don't mind getting to know one another that would be quite splendid.
-Chosi.

Anonymous said...

wow Chuuk is STILL like that? lania, itz already 21st century. Lolz.i mean, am Chuukese, too (and a girl) but over here in Saipan, the Chukitas have boyfriends and even their parents know about it...except for some families that are really strict like one Uman family that i know...in a way itz gud to keep old traditions alive, cos we still do the 'girls cant be higher than guys' thing here, but it feelz like we r forced to hav a "secret" relationship??? sometimez itz hard to choose between CULTURE or LOVE...

Anonymous said...

Ennet, ILOVE dis. NO joke. Props to da author nd poster ! Mi pwung mwa ii, fan ekoj sa kan ma pwan jipwang ren our culture nd all the strictness. Nge imagine chuuk without it. It would be soo crazy nd all. Imagine everyone being namanam tekia to meinisin..ina ren, sipwe jok kiniz ren MONSON :)

Anonymous said...

am not here to critic or comment on the custom part..The Poem on the other hand is totally awsome, captivating, and it sends chills down the spine..I've read many poems in my life and this piece is stupendous...a standing ovation to the poet.

Anonymous said...

LOVE dis article... ewe sokun ua akanea nge pwan jijimwejimw ren ai tiipe ew ngeni. LOL !
OUR culture is GREAT . mi pwung, sooo strict sumtimes nge its wad makes us unique. Sane ekenan re russia me japan repwan ani sokun aj kei pwe ma kij won aj.
sipwe fen jok kinis ren met kij mi nonomw non. apwuuhfaans. anapana tipe ew tipeju nefinaj kij jon juuk . eheh
iwe iwe, tong kana seni kana .

Annepaz said...

Waiiiioooo!!! Well,first of all i wanna say that the poem is really true! I,myself, am a chuukese nemin and I really like this satawan guy,but I can't be seen with him because his cousins are like my sisters. And he doesn't want them to think wrong of us. We really like each other, but we don't wanna be involved in a relationship because of our culture. the only place we talk is online,facebook&tinychat, hehe...yep! it's really hard to hide from your parents. I don't have brothers but I consider ALL my male cousins as my brothers. So that's another reason i don't wanna get caught with the guy I like because he's close to most of my "brothers". Well that's all i gotta say. thanks for the sharing through the poem.

Anonymous said...

ekeneeh mwo me annepaz.. gee put SATAWAN guys on BLAST . wahah.
amwo wa kan fet mwa nemin . heheh
<3 JULZ :)

Lahaina said...

WOW! this is very true I love this peom it catches my attention. I'm searching on my topic regarding on our Chuukese Culture and Love, but this one is giving me alot of informations. This is very amazing!!

Unknown said...

i love this poem, who ever made this poem, en jok #1,pwan ew ngeni ami kana oukan era ou oput aj ei culture...pwata oupwan era ou oput???? just because u guys came to america iwa ita oupwene pwan ani an jon america culture???? iwa mi mwan remi, ami ou feito seni ewe founu chuuk, ike we mi fen afat nge jok nenien en me ngang aj culture sipwe jok uwei tori mano, where ever u go pwan jok ewe culture mi jok fituk,nge usun aj ka nnonomw on fenuen emon esapw wesetan fenuaj, ita oua kan ferano,pun oupwene pwan ani ar culture, chuukese gurls now a day, jon jok fenapi we nge ra pwal shok americani shok...ngang fin fefen/sapuk, nge ua men wesen sani jok fenapi pwe where ever they go ar culture mi jok pwan uwei fetanei..nge kij jon lagoon sa kon wan ani ngeni kij nge esapw kij jon juuk ika sa kan eta on ekan fenu..gurls, ra kan use ekewe short, ufen ra kan jakita tarana upwer wat kine is that?? ai nuku ika iwa kij mi jok nomw juuk kij mi jok use skato ika met??? ewer mi pung sise pwan use ekan sokun mi jak,, nge iei a wesen sokopat met ra use..

NIEN 2 NENGENI said...

wow nice poem but i never try snicking out n im aight with that cause i aint that type of gurl....but i still love ma mannn!!!!but tell you the truth chuukese culture is pretty strict like foe reals,but wat can we say we ahve to respect,....but most of all respect your brothers n the elders frm u ...n that is wat im doing so yeah peace love to u all n im a 100% chuukese pride right here




- <3 namreh jok
TEEGEE and ADK PRIDE
WOULD LOVE TO SAY WE LOVE OUR MICRONESIAN OUT THERE .....PEACE OUT

Anonymous said...

Waioooh use tongeni wes ne muuti me mwuj ren ei metoj mwa.. totally luv it pwe ah usun nge fen porousen manaweii ah.. ennet ! eheh. nge ina mwa.. whoever wrote dis.. THUMBS UP! love it.
kapongs to yuh all.
<3 RiiAW'ESOPW

Anonymous said...

Why hate the culture? Respect is all that counts. I truly am amazed and have so much respect to those who hang on to their culture with all their might. This poem, true, sends chills down my spine. To the point where it brings tears to my eyes. For I too, went through life like this poem. We were in love.. or so we thought.. We promised to never be apart.. But then we got caught.. Then we broke the taboo.. I brought shame and disgrace to the to the family and shunned by his. Long story short. He married someone his parents approved... Now I have a child that looks just like him. Today, I still face my consequences with the looks and wispers of people. Our Culture is partly a way to keep the women safe.

jAYQUEEN said...

Kapwong ngeni ami jon read.
Jok pwan mojen ura ai kinisou an ei uwa karen kukuna ei website. Thank the lord for everything he done to uS& Everyone back at our home !
-Kinisou apwan mujj mefiei .

+GODBLESS+

Anonymous said...

waiooooo ai tong nani kemi meinisin chuukese aramas!!1

Anonymous said...

Funny how some chuukese come in here complaining about our culture and all that. Sipwe Jok Kinisou ren met mi fen kawor fanitaj.. ua men unusen tipe ew ngeni io eh wisen makeii ei metoj. kopwe pwan ii sinei pwe ina epwene fan 5 aii aneanii ei metoj. ennet! this was an eye opener and im thankful u posted dis..
ina ren fainimoj kij jon juuk ekei sa towau seni wesewesen fonuaj, sipwe PWARII me SEIKATA aj orenii me fofor. esapw wewen pwe ita jok sa nomw merika nge sipwene pwn nikinikin fin me atin merika..
eh nomw non ewe
-----> ka nomw hawaii, ka forana pwe en fin hawaii. ka nomw merika, ka forana pwe en fin merika. ka nomw juuk, ka nuwen nge esapw fen ina wesetan fonuwom . AINNEEE ouse mjn sisapw ieii. show da pride, spread da luv ! apwuu iwe2 :) cju
tirow meiniken ! :))

Unknown said...
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Anonymous said...

waiooooo ukan muj ren emon josin fenapi....ai tong ngonuk ina mwo ika ke oput ngang nge kopwe jok sinei pun ai tong ngonuk....slowly jok non mekurei...


ate-weires

Anonymous said...

Bravo to the poet! I see that many chuukese are complaining about how bad their culture is.my point of view here is, I don't see a awful culture here. what i see is a perfect culture. i see that many of you are ladies, who dislike this culture. i am a guy,i am a chuukese. i also know how hard it is for a guy to meet with his girl friend in public. for you ladies it is something that you should be thankful and proud of; your culture for it protects you and ensure you a better future. there is only one thing guys want from girls,it is sex. once guys get he forget, you give and you'll grieve after.do give not if he will marry you, but give when he marry you. during the your wedding night you give him. it will be the greatest wedding gift ever. giving him the honor of being the first.choose the right guy. avoid sneaking out at night. it is a an embarrassing thing to do especially for ladies. after sneaking out a guy would be called "a man" and you'll be called "a dog". you chuukese know this is true. ladies sorry if this will offend you but this is true. finochuk non om fianata, kete sopwongaw. nikitu ina om feieoch. kkosapw tupwukai. ika kemi wenen tongei , mi pwan tongeok. erenini pwe ika e tongeok epwe nikituno mo. epwapw angei ika ouwa pwupwunu. LOVE REGUIRES A LOT OF TIME. it may be long, it may take years, but love is like a wine it gets better as it grew older.. kapwong, tirow , omwusano seni ei atin 2BUNEJEI!

Anonymous said...

What A Beautifullll Poem`!!.. This Is So True` ..I Am A Teenaqer Here In The States.. I May Have Not Been To Chuuk But To Be Honest`, My Parents Do Teach Us The Customs and The Cultures Of Our Island`! Im Here For A Better Education, Wishinq That Ive Visted Chuuk`!!.. And YES`!! Me And My Siblinqs Do Know About This Custom. We Are Not Allowed To Be Seen With Our Boyfriends When Our Brothers Or Uncles Are Around`!!

Anonymous said...

waiiioooh mwaa.muungaw vd ai pwosungaweiti juuk ese tawe! knsou ngeni ei jon post..big reminder to us hea on da mainlands bwe sisapw ita nomw ikei nge nikitano aj orenii. anen pwarii afosa..meinisin repwe sineii kuna! kinisou pwan iei jok. aitongni jon juuk meinisin.

Anonymous said...

i like it how yall saying those kapas. by the way my name is CHUUKY, i live on the island weno sapuk and i am who i am, i live how i live, my chuukese cult. is my life

Anonymous said...

Waioooooooooooo,I Feel So Blessed To Be A Chuukese...I Lived Thru Such a Hard Life And Still Carry On The Customs Of Our Beautiful Island'...

Anonymous said...

First of all, thumbs up ngeni da Poet,,, omw eii poem wenen riis seni riis. Oruwan ngeni kemi kanan ou complain about ach CULTURE,ou hang up....... Ita met ou ananan ren ach oreni nge,our CULTURE makes us unique. E protect ini fopwul seni an aat turunufas. Ita seni ami marita akka uputiw won fonuwen Merika iwe ouwa ita bwal mwejen apply jon Merika? Ina bwun re asaw ekkei ra nomw lon sassing me kajito mi ngaw bwe ita merer ar nomw won merika iwe ra jon merika, nge rese fen sinei bwe ra eitengawa bwisin iir me jon lon ar eterenges. Ebwe ne fen iffan netipen jowe inenaper, semenaper me mwonge er? Bwal ew inna mine a napeno kokongaw,bwun ouwa menuki orenien Chuuk,ouwa apply an jon ekis iwe mwonge emi kana rese jiwen osufonukemi,they look at you in a different way iwe ra turunufasa kemi, atai oreni.

Anonymous said...

Iwe inna met ou sani, atai oreni, eitengawa kemi me jon ami eterenges,anemesengawa mwonge mi? Bwata ouse bwisin tongei inisimi,kinnisou ren oreni bwe ina met e ngeni kemi iteochumi.

Anonymous said...

Ojami uuch ekenan remwas ou ananan ren an Chuuk oreni. Kinnisow inna jok mefiei ngeni kemi nge #1 ena Poem........

Anonymous said...

This poem is so true & touching. Props to Eleanor & the person w/the peom. I myself is a chuukese person. & i aslo am a FEMALE. So i definitely know how Eleanor feels. I have older brothers who dont even want me dating,& they say id they ever catch me w/a boyfriend, they'll hurt him. But i guess its a religion thing right? And plus, you have to listen to the boys too. It can be hard living a chuukese life, especially if you are a chuukese girl. You do all the cleaning, you cant really go anywhere, no boyfriends, (some can though), you have to listen to your boyfriends, wear skatos or mumuus(skirts or dresses) to occasions, cooking, etc. The boys on the other hand can do whatever they want. But im still proud of who i am & where i came from. Religious or not, im proud of beingg CHUUKESE.

Anonymous said...

I love this article & touched by the poem...job well done Eleanor (Norlyn)! I'm proud to be chuukese & I'm also proud of our cultural. I respect the chuukese culture!!!!

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Anonymous said...

I would say, Everything is alright, except for the Love part, my Opinion would look like the opposite way, from my own understanding about "RELATIONSHIP" is that when you start your relationship with a Guy is also indicating your relationship with our "AMIGHTY HEAVENLY ABBA FATHER"!! therefore Calture should be excluding the Relationship matter, we just have to do it in the "RIGHT" way!! thank you:) Merry Christmas Everyone advance Happy New Year!!

Unknown said...

Um excuse me? How do u guys Chuukese say "Pretty or Beautiful Girl"?

Unknown said...

Um excuse me? How do u guys Chuukese say "Pretty or Beautiful Girl"?