Oct 7 2015

Wednesday....

NW winds gusting to 43mph on an island built mainly for east winds.  Ebeye is the same way.   There is a container ship sitting out in the Lagoon for a week now, unable to dock due not so much the high winds, but the direction of them. 

The ferry to Ebeye was stopped this afternoon due to the big NW winds.  800 Marshalese were stuck here.  Thankfully they were given the respect they deserve.  Especially here in our mancamp.  I found out between the time I got off work and before 5:30 that they were stuck here.  I showered and headed to the chow hall where I had seen 50 or so of our (San Juan Construction and otherwise) Marshalese workers hanging out under the shelter house next to our Chow Hall.  Sandra was there and I told her I had cleaned off the other two beds in my place, but she told me they already had them taken care of.  They also had made dinner to cover them too.  Those poor guys don't eat like we do.  They had a beautiful meal tonight.  I've no clue what it was, but it's better than the rest of our island eats, and guaranteed better than what they eat on Ebeye.   Online on our "Coconut Wire" the electronic newsletter they asked for people to open their "homes" to the Marshallese.  On Facebook the same sentiments were put out there.  I heard later from several people that they were all taken care of.  There are some amongst us that don't give the Marshallese enough respect.  Fortunately, today, those rare people weren't in the lead of things.  They work harder than most of the ex pats (Americans).....ok no they don't, but they work just as hard.  They are good guys...great guys....

Here are some photos I stole from Sheri's facebook page.  These boats were moored in the south east corner of the lagoon that normally fights off easterly winds.  The Harbors on Ebeye and Kwaj are also meant to protect against easterly winds.  There were 8 or 9 boats out there moored up, maybe more.  Not all of them have owners on the island.  Sometimes people buy a boat out here and then have to go back home, leaving a Kwaj friend here to try and sell it for them.  I've heard of one Kwaj "friend" who doesn't really make too much of an effort to sell them, but also puts an effort out to make them safe, so he can take advantage of a nice boat. 

Bummer for the boat owners....if they are even here on island