Election Season

 It's campaign time here in Palau just like it is in the U.S.  It's interesting to be in a different country and see how politics work.  The island is so small that it makes it a kind of a tightly-woven web with everyone knowing someone who knows someone who is in the government.  Elections are November 1.  There are no annoying TV ads to deal with (and we don't have a TV anyway), but there are a lot of people with signs and t-shirts and stickers promoting their favorite candidates.  We're praying that God will lead in the elections so Palau will be in good hands.

And interestingly enough, people in Palau are praying for the U.S. elections too.  We might be out here in the middle of the ocean, but we're all a part of the same planet.  And with all the communication and technology to keep us connected, there don't seem to be any true islands left in the world today.

United Nations Day at Ngiwal

 So apparently United Nations day is a big deal in Palau, so we got to have a day off from school (for Monday), and on Sunday there was a celebration with a parade and traditional food and programs at Ngiwal (which is one of Palau's states).  They called it Olechotel Belau Fair.  The different classes from PMA (Palau Mission Academy) had food booths to raise money.  They were selling things like rice, pancit, hotdogs, chips, cookies, brownies, water, and coconuts (I got a coconut that was really good).

 There were also a lot of souvenir booths with a variety of items, from cheap toys to beautiful woven baskets.  And there were also dead toad purses.  Because you use what you have on hand.

 The parade was actually pretty cool.  There were different nations represented, from Japan to Fiji (that's Fiji above).

 The Palau group was dressed traditionally and chanting in Palauan.  They would go up and salute/greet the president, queen, and other dignitaries and then keep marching.

Man blowing a conch shell for the opening

 This was the one guy from Spain who was proud to represent his country.

Below is the U.S. army representing...

 And there's the Pathfinder club!  They were actually more impressive than the U.S. army because there were so many of them and they had the bright blue shirts.

 There were also floats that had people dressed in traditional clothes on them.  Above are some guys in a canoe, and below are some guys who did a dance for the dignitaries.

 And there was a big float that demonstrated the first birth ceremony which is a big part of traditional Palau culture.  They said (and I;m hoping it's a legend) that the midwives used to cut the mother open to get the baby out at birth, so the mother would always die.  The first time they figured out how to do a natural birth where both the mother and baby survived was on Babeldaub, and after that they would always celebrate the life of the mother and baby when there was a birth. 

The women on the float danced and sang to show what they do at the ceremony.  It's a big deal here.

Anyway, that was United Nations day and Olechotel Belau Fair.  It was hot, noisy, and enjoyable, and it taught me more about the culture here. 

Hopefully I'll have some more time to post this week.  Keep checking back.

Some Fun Stuff

Drinking coconut water at the night market--there were stalls selling traditional and fast food

Baby Gecko!

October 1:  Palau Independence Day

Fireworks at the Capitol building