The last two days of the Saipan NEH were a combination of classroom time and more adventures. The morning of day 6 was spent on a Polynesian-style hand made wooden “canoe”. The navigators, the evening before during the visit to their huts, offered to take the entire group out for an authentic experience on the water the next morning. It took a bit for everyone to get on board and after a little trouble getting the canoe off the beach with nearly 50 total people aboard, it was afloat. The group was taken out near Managaha Island with aid from a motor while going against the wind and then watched the crew unfurl the sail and let the wind return the ship the several miles back to the starting point. It was quite an experience since most of the teachers had never sailed before.
That afternoon was spent in the classroom listening to a couple of indigenous speakers tell stories and give insight into their culture. The evening session was a presentation at the American Memorial Park by author and historian Don Farrell. He spoke about the history of Saipan, mostly focusing on the events of WWI and WWII and how they impacted the island.
The morning of Day 7 was spent in the classroom discussing the key takeaways of the week and how best to share the knowledge that was gained. After lunch, it was back out to the jungle for more “Fredding”. (Fred was the adventure guide and outdoorsman who led the group) This hike in particular became very treacherous as it progressed due to the heavy rain that fell throughout. It is the rainy season after all, but most of the previous rain showers had passed quickly. This one did not. The hike was led by Fred and a local landowner who had located many pieces of wreckage from an American B-29 bomber that crashed during WWII. The team was led down the mountain to see a couple of the engines, one with the propeller still attached, parts of the fuselage, and some of the guns from the plane. Everyone got utterly soaked and there were a few minor injuries due to the difficult conditions, but eventually all were accounted for back up the mountain.
The final evening was highlighted by a closing activity on Micro Beach where participants took turns describing their takeaways and expressing appreciation for Saipan and its people, all while taking in another stunning Micronesian sunset. It is amazing how quickly a group of strangers can bond and feel like friends and family. It speaks to the power of relationships and shared experiences for sure! What an opportunity this was!
Bill and Jeff's Historical Travel Blog 