Daniel: Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to the second part of our one part series, "Interviews from the Beyond." I'm your host, and we're here tonight with our guest, A.J.
A.J.: Who are you talking to? Are we on the air now?
Daniel: Um...
A.J.: Don't worry about it. Let's do this thing.
Daniel: Right. In case people forgot - which I find hard to believe - you recently came back from Micromachine Island, correct?
A.J.: No, that is not correct.
Daniel: Nanoneasia?
A.J.: Try again…although that name should work.
Daniel: The Federated States of Micronesia, specifically the island of Chuuk?
A.J.: Close enough.
Daniel: Oh? Is Chuuk a nation unto itself but part of a larger, sovereign nation?
A.J.: It is one of the four states of the independent country of FSM. Micronesia is the name of the area that spans over 3000 miles; Palau in the west, Marshall Islands in the east.
Daniel: I see. That's very different from the large land mass of North America. What's it like not being constantly surrounded by water?
A.J.: It was amazing when I first arrived back on the "main island" 6 months ago. The isolation was a bit overwhelming, I'll be honest. Being able to travel over 3 miles is revolutionary. The Chuukese picture all of the continents of the world as bigger “islands”.
Daniel: When you see a large poster of the ocean do you ever convulse in fear, or try to dive in a la Wiley E. Coyote, only to realize it's a brick wall?
A.J.: I DO find myself being drawn to any picture of a beach sunset or a palm tree. It's like I block everything else out to look at the palm tree while saying, "Yeah, I've been there." Then I crash my car into that wall you were talking about.
Daniel: I imagine another physical difference is the temperature. How have you dealt with that change?
A.J.: It's not just a difference in temperature, but in climate overall. The story I tell everyone is how on the first two weeks of being home, while my friends were in shorts and a t-shirt, sweating under the sun, I was wearing long pants and a sweat shirt, and very cold. That is not an exaggeration…Also, did you know that it gets cold when the sun goes down? That's a new one for me.
Daniel: I always thought the moon was just a big ball of cheese, which brings me to another point - being in the eastern hemisphere and basically living on the equator, were things backwards? Did toilets flow the other way, did the sun go up at night, and was every day opposite day?
A.J.: We ate dog and treated spam like out pets. I guess that is opposite. While I enjoyed the luxury of modern toilets, they also had holes in the ground, using the Japanese name "benjo". That's another thing that was a huge change: a lot less Pacific Islander and Japanese culture here on the east coast. Who knew.
Daniel: I see. Did you try and bring back any aspects of the Micronesian - Pacific Islander or Japanese - culture back here? Did any island spirits follow you home?
A.J.: If it's anything like the movie "Spirited Away", then I'm afraid, so I'll say no. I didn't really bring anything back with me, unless you count a better sense of peace, confidence and a new understanding of where I fit into this world. I did NOT bring back the concept of "island time", which basically means just show up whenever you want. But they still believe in spirits in some parts on the islands.
Daniel: That's really cool about the spirits. Do they wear watches in Micronesia? Do you currently wear a watch, or own a timepiece?
A.J.: I can look up into the sky and tell the time, give or take 12 seconds.
Daniel: Impressive. Let's talk about what it's like here. For you. Now.
A.J.: Now it is 61 degrees in my apartment, but 76 degrees and CLIMBING in my room. Two words: space heater.
Daniel: A smart move. However, have you become more aware of the large environmental movement that is taking place?
A.J.: The "global summer" crisis? Anything for a longer summer. "Global summer" is the more positive way of saying global warming ... sorry, my brain literally froze, I forgot the original question.
Daniel: Why do hate Mother Nature?
A.J.: Because she didn't put pristine Pacific lagoon waters in the Long Island Sound. I can never swim at the beach here ever again. The geography was ridiculously beautiful. Of course, it was the people that were the most beautiful thing of my two years.
Daniel: Aww…wait, no, it was the sunsets. Don't lie.
A.J.: Yeah, that's true. You got me.
Daniel: I'm reminded of a moment from the made-for-TV film "Rescue From Gilligan's Island." If you recall, the castaways are rescued and they return to the United States. At one point, the skipper remarks to Gilligan, "Can you believe it, before we left, girls wore their shorts here (gesturing with his hand near the knee), when we were gone they were here (gesturing closer to the hip), and now they're back to here (gesturing back to the knee)!" It was hilarious.
A.J.: (Serious face) That's not funny at all.
Daniel: The point is, um, do girls dress differently here?
A.J.: Yes, it's very traditional on Chuuk, so coming back was shocking in the way that it seemed like borderline nudity when I returned. The sexual messages also seem more explicit here, especially after being away from TV and advertisements.
Daniel: Are you overwhelmed by TV, the internet, the fast pace of technological advancements and the hyperactive society we live in? Do the financial, political, social, and religious problems bombard your consciousness, making you yearn for the simple life you were part of for the past two years?
A.J.: Go to a happy place, go to a happy place ... sorry, my mind wandered to one of those tropical scenes we usually see on screen savers.
Daniel: So it appears you've been able to find a happy medium.
A.J.: Well, I would rather avoid TV. I like to mute commercials when I do watch television. I think I freak my father and brother out when I do that.
Daniel: I have no idea what you’re talking about... when do you think the writers strike will end?
A.J.: (silence)
Daniel: Do you care?
A.J.: I didn't, until I realized that a big issue lies with the fabulous new invention of being able to
watch entire TV shows on the internet...but no, I still don't care.
Daniel: Fascinating.
A.J.: So yeah, overall, the transition has been OK, but I think it's a process that will take a while to get through.
Daniel: Like it'll end tomorrow?
A.J.: I am pretty sure the transition will end in 3 days from now.
Daniel: That's mighty quick. But it sounds good. How does culture shock compare to static shock?
A.J.: One is slightly more painful, but I’ll let you figure out which one.
Daniel: What's the worst part of culture shock you've experienced?
A.J.: It's weird because I am home, but most of the time I don't feel home. But it's not necessarily a bad feeling. Very surreal, though.
Daniel: The worst thing you came back to, or the thing you miss most?
A.J.: I really can’t stand the advertisement industry. I feel like Charlie Brown in “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown.”
Daniel: You have legitimate problems when you try to pick out a Christmas tree?
A.J.: They don’t sell palm trees! What the heck?
Daniel: I see. And what's the best part of culture shock, if one can say such a thing?
A.J.: Burritos.
Daniel: Well said. And like a burrito, layers will keep being added on to the coming home experience, until you can wrap your mind around it. Then there might be heartburn. I think I've extended the metaphor enough. Maybe on your travels you can find a better one.
A.J.: You can never extend a metaphor long enough...
Daniel: … (Awkward silence)...
A.J.: …I don't know what that really means.
Daniel: Cosmic.
A.J.: Indeed.
Daniel: Thanks for discussing some of your experience with culture shock and rediscovering Western civilization, i.e. Monday Night Football. I'm sure there is a lot more to it, which people can ask about in the comments.
A.J.: No one else reads this blog. So I can say things like "are you ready to rob this bank with me Daniel?"
Daniel: That's true. I would of course say "I'm already inside the vault. Now get me out!"
A.J.: Interviews inside a bank vault are the best. We should do this again sometime.
Daniel: Definitely. But I'm on "island time," so we'll see when that'll be.
A.J.: Touché.
Daniel Cabrera frequently writes on his blog titled "The Salt Miner" which can be found if you click one of the links on this website. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize with his book "Das Boot 2: The Shoe Fits." He currently lives at home in the state of denial.
(A cold, still night in Greenwich)
