Hello again from Kosrae!

Having now been to 188 countries (plus an additional 80 territories, enclaves and autonomous regions) I know a wonderful place when I find one. That’s why I’ve returned to this happy island for a third visit. Counting today, I’ve now been in Kosrae 777 days.

As in 2020, 2021 and 2023, I’m teaching at the College of Micronesia, aka COM. This semester, my class is titled “Tropical Pacific Ecosystems.” It’s a lab course. Since we have reefs, forests and research centers right outside our classroom door, all the labs for this course are field trips.

To show you what this island looks like and what I do at COM, I’ve posted three youtube videos from recent field trips. These videos are also a great way for me to show you what Kosraeans are like. The videos are in reverse order with last weekend’s field trip first. I hope you like them.

Small remote islands often have rare species not found elsewhere. Having evolved in isolation, these species don’t have robust defense mechanisms. This is why islands like Kosrae are especially vulnerable to Invasive Species. The video above is part of an annual campaign and educational program hosted by KIRMA.

In February, our class toured Kosrae’s Aquaculture Center where Martin Selch grows six species of giant clams. Although bays and reefs in the Pacific were filled with these clams a century ago, they’re now almost extinct. Martin and his team are working to restore these clams to their native habitats. During Climate Change, giant clams will be a critical member of reef ecosystems because giant clams can withstand high temperatures and retain the Zooxanthellae essential for the survival of corals.

In January, our class visited a unique forest on Kosrae’s north coast. The Yela Valley has the only remaining stand of Ka trees (Terminalia carolinensis) in the world. The Yela Ka Forest is a private land trust created with support from the US Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy and the Micronesia Conservation Trust to preserve and protect this sacred forest for future generations to study and enjoy. This internationally famous site is just a short drive and a scenic cruise from our classroom.

With so many Climate Change issues affecting the Pacific islands, my course at COM could easily be a full year program, or an excellent starting point for graduate research. COM has begun outreach to foreign students interested in studying and/or preserving tropical and marine biodiversity. Thanks to Micronesia’s relaxed visa policy, COM welcomes students (and instructors) from all over the world. This semester, I have a student in my class from Uganda. If you or anyone you know is interested in attending college here, please contact me.

I came to Kosrae December 15 — well before the semester started — to witness an extraordinary Christmas celebration that only happens quadrennially. Every four years, Kosrae hosts a magnificent Christmas celebration. 2023 was Kosrae’s big year. Kosraeans from Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Fiji, California, Washington, Nevada, Texas etc. gathered in Kosrae for a week of marching and singing. You’ve never seen Christmas caroling like this!

Mark your calendars and make plans to come to Kosrae for Christmas four years from now. Knowing the Kosraean love for singing and food, I’m sure they’ll outdo themselves again in 2027.

My semester at COM runs until mid-May. After I submit final grades, I’ll leave Kosrae to start traveling internationally again. There are still five countries that I haven’t been to. I hope to complete my world tour before the end of 2024. To see which countries are left, click here.