The Monday after Christmas my plan was to have no plan and finally just relax and be lazy. Wrong! I got a call at 8:30 that morning from Maryanna asking what I was going to do that day. Avoiding the questions I just asked, "Why?" Maryanna went on to explain that they had been invited to Christmas in Uh and that I should come with them. Knowing that you shouldn't pass up opportunities like this I said, "Sure, when should I come?" I was only given an hour to get to her house, so I quickly threw on my new local skirt from the Samuels and off I went. Now at this point I'm imagining that this is a little family Christmas at a relative's house, we'll hang out and eat, and it'll be low key.
When I get to Maryanna's she is throwing together the food we will take. It's pretty standard that people make "takeouts" for functions, which means you make full meals and put them in the styrofoam takeout containers. I helped her make 10 complete with a serving of rice, chicken, corn, and a banana in each. (I was very happy to be able to say I brought the bananas so I could feel like I contributed) As we're preparing our takeouts I slowly start to get more details on what the day will actually be. This is the gist of how it unfolded:
Maryanna: "We will drive to Uh and then take a boat."
Me: "Oh, are we going to an island?"
Maryanna: "Yes, the feast is on Depek Island."
Me: "Oh, we're going to a feast?"
Maryanna: "Yes, they're having a feast for my dad."
Me: "Oh, it's for your dad?"
Maryanna: "Yeah, you know he has a high title in his village. So they are having this feast for him."
In my head: "Hmm, this is a bigger deal than I thought. Good thing I wore my new skirt."
So we proceed to load up the car and head to Uh where we hangout at someone's house until the boat comes to take us over.
 |
| Loading up the boat |
 |
| Depek Island |
 |
| So happy to be spending more time with Jay-Jay |
 |
Getting close as our guide helps us dodge the coral in the
shallow waters |
As we pull up I'm already so glad that I had left my plans open to whatever may come. I know this is going to be a great experience.
 |
| Feast location |
 |
The nahs where all the action is, and I'm already eying the
huge drinking coconuts |
At first we just sit outside and try to be inconspicuous. But who's going to let that happen? We're the family of the guest of honor! So within minutes we're called into the nahs where I am expected to take my drink of sakau before taking our spot near the front of the nahs.
 |
| Sakau en Pohnpei |
So I close my eyes, take my sip from the sakau coconut, and then I'm given a mammoth drinking coconut. So wonderful!
 |
| My first time to have a stopper, which I found quite clever |
Inside the nahs was lots of sakau pounding and the gifts of yam were already hanging.
 |
| 15 yams |
 |
| Just starting another stone of sakau |
 |
Roots are pounded, time to start squeezing it in the
hibiscus bark |
 |
| Stripping the bark off the hibiscus branches |
 |
| Starting to pound another round - no shirts allowed! |
At the very head of the nahs sits the man of honor, Pahpa Samuel. He sits with one other man of high title. Pahpa Samuel's title is Sowen en Depek.
 |
| Sowen in Depek in the white |
While several rounds of sakau were pounded other men were busy preparing the meat for the uhmw. Of course there were 2 pigs, but then I also got my first experience of dog on the uhmw. Now that is a really special treat.
 |
| "Is that what I think it is?" |
 |
| Yes indeed, that's a dog. |
With enough sakau for the time being and meat going on the uhmw, it was time to bring in the food to eat at the feast. You see will see later that the food cooked on the uhmw are for taking home to eat later. So in come the pots, trays, and takeouts!
 |
I learned that there must be 4 pots of
food presented first |
 |
Then all the trays and takeouts are presented before being
passed out according to title |
 |
| Takeouts |
 |
| Ladies prepare the trays for the high titles |
 |
| Being with the man of honor means you get the crab!!! |
 |
| Not only did we get our takeouts and crab... |
 |
| we also got a delicious tray of all local foods! |
 |
Jay-Jay still chose to eat ramen with kool-aid... he just
doesn't appreciate how good the local food is. So sad! |
After you eat as much as you possibly can it's also totally acceptable to take extras home for later. Then it's time to start passing out the many gifts of the feast. First came ladies with mwaramwars and very useful Christmas gifts.
 |
| We got toilet paper and bath soap |
 |
| Some people got big Christmas presents |
 |
I have been adorned with my mwaramwar and slathered
with scented lotion |
 |
Up close you can see that my flowers were made with
recycled snack bags. I love it! |
Then comes the passing out of the 3 items you must have to be a man in Pohnpei: pig (and dog in this case), yams, and sakau.
 |
| Dog... |
 |
| Pig |
 |
They cut up the portions right there to be passed
out to each title |
At this feast I had the privilege of having my title called to receive my portion of the pig: menwai. I was the only one there, so it works. Haha! In fact, I was actually the center of attention several times that day, as the only menwai, and have no idea what was said. I just laughed along with them. Sowen en Depek also received a nice portion of pig as well as the prized hind leg of the dog.
 |
| I'm so thankful we're not expected to eat this at the feast. |
Once everything is passed out to all the titles then the feast is officially over. It's time to load up all of the gifts you have accumulated throughout the feast.
 |
| So long Depek! |
 |
We're going home with quite a haul: a large
portion of pig, huge yam, and a whole
sakau tree. Pahpa Samuel is a true
Pohnpeian man. |
I had such a great time! I was so thankful that they invited me to be part of their family celebration. I learned so much! And I even got to enjoy the benefits of it the next day as I conquered another scrumptious crab.
 |
| Crab AND breadfuit... |
 |
and don't forget the mangoes and coconut. Now this is
my ideal island meal! |
And to give you an even better look at the events of the day, here are a few clips for you entertainment:
