22 May 2011
We were definitely spectacles here. Everywhere that we went, we could hear children shouting excitedly with the word “I-Matang” in their sentences. They wanted to see us, to touch us, to stare at my blue eyes, and to see the pictures that Patrick took of them. Adults came out to shake our hands, even if they couldn’t speak a word of English. The policeman told us that we were the first legal boat (hence were the first to stay for longer than 24 hours), for many many years. We think the last legal boat was in 2008.
We ate eels, lobsters, octopus, sea worms ( look just like earthworms), fish, and lots of coconut cream, breadfruit and pae pae creations. In return, I brought brownies, macaroni and cheese, pickles, a tuna fish, eggs, potato salad, chocolate, and a few other things that they enjoyed trying out.
Newi and I “relaxed” in their bouia countless hours every day, grating coconuts and eating different foods, talking about how its done in America, and how its done here…ancient customs, beliefs, wives tales, health issues, men and women in Kiribati, marriage, divorce, dating, sex, traveling, sailing, other countries, aging parents, insurance, nursing homes, pets, food, money, you name it…Every day was fascinating, lazy, and hot.