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 #4
Nov. 15, 2019

NMI PCV PHOTOGRAPHS & SLIDES:
SPECIAL UPDATE

  • ​Contents
1. PRIOR NMI MEMORIES UPDATES
2. ​NMI PCV SPECIAL UPDATE: 500 SLIDES & PHOTOGRAPHS (1970-1972)
3. RESPONDING TO PHOTOGRAPHS
4. BOOK BY NMI AUTHOR: LINO OLOPAI
1. ​​PRIOR NMI MEMORIES UPDATES​
2. ​​NMI PCV SPECIAL UPDATE: 500 SLIDES & PHOTOGRAPHS (1970-1972)
With the NMHC grant ending next month, we are excited to have just received Rebecca and Dan Wilson’s wonderful photographs.  Over the past year Rebecca has sorted them; Scan Cafe has digitized them; and we are posting them to share with you. See the next section for a preview and links to all the new content.
Above is a small sample of the near 500 slides and photographs digitized recently. You can view all of the albums in our section for Rebecca & Dan Wilson's content. Her content is also in our Image Inventory, too.
4. ​​RESPONDING TO PHOTOGRAPHS
It would mean so very much to the NMI Peace Corps Volunteers who have shared their pictures and stories, as well as to the project, to hear from you.  Please write to kpvcollection.com and we will send your correspondence on to who it is addressed to.  One result of the project is that brought together PCVs with friends and “family” from the past.

Below are people who have contributed to the website as of November 2019 (some content in process).  It is mostly PCVs and PC staff who have contributed pictures since they were the ones with cameras. We hope this list grows as islanders and others add their information to pictures and stories.
  • Andy Pavley, RPCV
  • Anthony Calvo
  • Beverley Chumbley, RPCV
  • Bill Sakovich, RPCV
  • Celeste Mendiola
  • Dan Wilson, RPCV
  • Dave Crutcher, RPCV
  • Diane Wildman, RPCV
  • Fay Nelson Giordano, RPCV
  • Felicidad Castro (Doll Boddy)
  • George Will, RPCV.
  • ​Greg Porter, RPCV
  • Helena Telena, RPCV
  • Jean Olopai, RPCV
  • Joe Cambell, RPCV
  • Joe T. Limes (Ping)
  • John O Phillips, RPCV 
  • John Whitbeck, RPCV
  • Jonas Barcinas
  • Kathy Bradbury, RPCV 
  • Kit Porter Van Meter, RPCV
  • Kurt Barnes, RPCV​
  • Lino Olopai
  • MZ "Mimi" Morgan, RPCV

  • Ralph Chumbley, RPCV
  • Rebecca (Becky) Wilson, RPCV
  • Robert Bartolotta, RPCV
  • Rosemary Casey, RPCV
  • Steve Gardner, RPCV
  • Ted Goble, RPCV
  • Teresa Maebori, RPCV
  • Tom Fisher, RPCV
  • Tom Zink, RPCV
  • Tondalaya & Ron Gillepsie, PC staff
  • Wayne Hill, RPCV
  • Ward Miles PC staff
  ​
5. ​​BOOK BY NMI AUTHOR: LINO OLOPAI
Picture
Cover
Picture
Title Page
Picture
Copyright
Picture
Table of Contents
Picture
Introduction (pg. 1)
Picture
Introduction (pg. 2)
October 16, 2019
Have been thinking about you, Lino.

We took a trip by sea from Boston stopping at ports in Nova Scotia,
Newfoundland, Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Ireland,
Scotland and return. We were following the possible trip of the Vikings. I had
brought your book with me to reread and as we stopped at fishing villages; I
thought about the challenges of sea travel, world changes and traditional
values. One day at Nanortalik, Greenland your book came ashore with me to
share that "you" had made this trip. The attached pictures show us going by
icebergs & glaciers, one local village, traditional canoes, and local bead
work. We stopped at six or so fishing villages that were trying to maintain life
from fishing and hunting while the children go away for school. The villages in
Greenland are only on the coast and connected by sea and helicopters as
needed, but the harbors freeze in winter. Having tourists is new and a few
ships stop each year. In Iceland the villages are connected by road in the
summer but many roads close in the winter.

Warmest wishes and thoughts,
Kit

---
​
October 16, 2018
Hi Kit,

Am envious of your travel to those beautiful places along with my book. Thank
you so much for sharing!

I've been thinking of the Viking's seafaring adventure and the origin of our
celestial knowledge. I will not be surprised if we have something in common
and shared the same understanding of the ocean adventure. I hope someday I
will get to visit those villages you mentioned. Who knows, we may be (DNA?)
related.

One of my uncles, late David Marciano, shared a story/legend that the
celestial navigation and ocean-going knowledge originated from (river Nile?)
Egypt. Our oral history, on one hand, mentions that the knowledge came from
the spiritual being - intermarriage to human. As in the Alu Aramas (half
human half spirit) stories/legends. As you can see - I have a keen interest in
those places you visited.

The project you're doing, writing, digitizing, shorting, posting, etc, will be very
interesting and helpful for the generations to come. It will enhance their
understanding and appreciation of what life was like back then, and what life
means to them today. I am sure it will enhance their (education) spirit. Ping
and I will help any way we can just let us know.

I can only watch your picture with the turtle and my coffee mug gift. You
looked comfortable and at peace. I do that too by hiking to places people
rarely visit and be at peace. I'll visit my friend who will help me open all the
picture you send. I'll keep you posted!
Like you, I'm still learning how to use my computer. And like you - time is
precious and limited.

With warm regard,
Lino
Lino’s book took a trip with me (pictures at bottom) and below is part of our shared correspondence concerning that adventure:
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