NMI Memories Updates

This project was made possible by support from the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, a non-profit, private corporation funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project (Sharing KPV Collection with Northern Mariana Islands) do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Update #2
Sept 13, 2019

NMI PC Memories
Developments and ​Stories

  • ​Contents
  1. NMI Memories Updates
  2. Peace Corps NMI Families (PCNMIF)
  3. New Pictures for NMI PC MEMORIES
  4. Artifacts, Art and Crafts
  5. "Audio" added to Media Type Content
  6. Recent Book by Tom Zink (PCV)
 
**Abbreviations:
Northern Mariana Islands (NMI)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
Northern Marianas Humanities Council (NMHC)
Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV)
Returned PCV (RPCV)

​1. NMI MEMORIES UPDATES
Now that we have multiple updates, you can view the 1st Update HERE. Below you can see the list of content on that update:
  1. NMHC Grant Award
  2. Updated Website
  3. You Can Help
  4. Providing information on pictures
  5. MicrOlympics Story Posted
  6. New Pictures Coming Soon
  7. New Book by NMI RPCV​
We will prepare and share these NMI MEMORIES UPDATES during the NMHC grant period which ends December 2019.  For now, we are putting the NMI MEMORIES UPDATES on the website.  Establishing an email address system has proven to be time consuming and difficult. We also need to be careful to not send to people who do not want to  hear from us.  One person has asked not to receive any emails. Michael is exploring ways to use social media.
 
If you want to be on our mailing list, please send us your name, email  and interest in the project: [email protected].

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2. PEACE CORPS NMI FAMILIES (PCNMIF)
 
Many special relationships have been formed between islanders and PCVs & PC staff.  We are adding a section to the website to recognize these important families who hosted, “adopted”, and supported PCVs.  Some of this was temporary during training sessions or after typhoons. Others were for the whole two years of service.  Some remain part of the family now, more than 50 years later.  This is true not only for the Northern Mariana Islands and Micronesia, but for all locations in which PCVs have lived and worked.
 
If you are a PCV or PC staff who had a special relationship with a family or lived with a family for a while, please let us know.
Picture
Stever (PCV) hosted by Calvo family on Rota (1969). Maria Calvo and Childrean [Isaac was away]
Picture
Borja family and Tom Zink posing for Christmas card (1968)
Picture
Borja family in January 2019 when Tom Zink visited them on Saipan



3. NEW PICTURES FOR <NMI PC MEMORIES>

Robert J. Bartolotta, Micro IX, has digitized and sent his pictures, primarily from Rota 1970-1972.  He has been listed in the contributors.  Michael has started posting the pictures on AirTable so they will also be numbered.  It will be easy to add information about each picture. Robert plans to add information when posting is complete.  Please help if you recognize people, places or events.
Rebecca (Becky) Wilson, Micro IX, is sorting her and Dan’s slides, mostly from Saipan and Rota 1970-1972.  This is a big job. It is hard to hold slides up to the light or find an old slide viewer that works. Rebecca has her in the round tray projector (if you remember this technology).  Hers, as well as Kit’s, were all mixed up with roughly 30 years worth in boxes and trays:
We are sharing pictures even when the quality is not perfect, because a picture of one person could be the only one to share with the family.  Once Rebecca’s slides are digitized, they will be posted, hopefully in September, but probably in October.
 
Do not know if anyone else will come forward with pictures and content to share. Do you have anything to share? CONTACT US!

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4. ARTIFACTS, ART AND CRAFTS

Some PCVs and PC staff have mentioned artifacts, arts and crafts they have.  Kit has made inquired about donating what she has to the NMI, but, especially after Typhoon Yutu, there is a hesitancy by islanders to accept these.  The Museum of the Peace Corps Experience is revising its system and will let us know when they are ready for submissions.
 
We are  creating a location on our website to share pictures of items and add stories  Some RPCVs and PC staff may no longer have pictures, but have items they were given and sent to their families.  For example, Kit and Greg found this small carving of a woman picking papaya while sheltering in a cave on Rota during a typhoon.
Another example: Kit still has necklaces made with the girls of Rota around 1968 (seen left). They climbed to the water cave to gather snails and later cleaned the shells; they picked brown tangan-tangan seeds,  red seeds, and grey seeds (Does anyone recognize them and know the names?).   Kit plans to write a story about this after looking at her pictures and listening to her digitized audio tapes. 

​​Here is a sample on weaving done on Rota around 1968--Kit is still using woven mats and baskets from Rota today (below):
​

​Wayne Hill, Micro V, 1967-69, has sent this picture of one of his many lighatutur from the Carolinian community (seen left).  We reminisced the other day during a phone conversation.

​​See some more examples by visiting our new section of "Art, Artifacts, & Handicrafts" by clicking the button below.
5. "AUDIO" ADDED TO MEDIA TYPE CONTENT
 
The web site initially included: pictures & slides, videos, and documents.  We are now in the process of adding audio especially music and from tapes sent to family by PCVs and PC staff.  Kit has digitized her audio tapes, but they are mostly unlabeled and mixed with family and friends.  For example, on one she is telling her family about life on Rota; on another she hears her grandfather telling stories; on yet another a friend has sent a recording of a radical new show--”All in the Family.”
 
Again, if you have any audio to add, please let us know.
7. RECENT BOOK BY TOM ZINK (PCV)
 
Seasoned: A Memoir of Grief and Grace by Tom Zink, Micro VII, has a chapter about his time in the Peace Corps on Saipan (with training on Rota).  His reflections are also mentioned at other times in the book.  His writing is very special because he shares his feelings about what he experienced, and has vivid descriptions.  He also provides enough history, geography and context for those not familiar with Micronesia to begin to understand these small islands. Click here to read an excerpt from his book.
Picture
The parents, Carlos & Olympia Borja
Picture
Farewell flowers on the day Tom left Saipan in 1970
Picture
Tom at his home in Oleai
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