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.