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Since a few of us have been talking about Micronesia, my step mothers new stories about Ponape Island just became available on Amazon. I have not had a chance to read them yet, but I'm going to get a hard copy.
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to estebanana)
Stephen,
Thanks for the head's-up on your stepmother's book of stories. I looked it up on Amazon, and it noted that all five stories in the collection concern "mehn wai" (foreigners). Do you remember what "mehn wai" really means in the Pohnpeian language? It literally means "sneaks," and it originated back in the days when whaling ships would put into harbor. The whalers would "sneak" around at night searching for available women. The term "mehn wai" has since been used to refer to all foreigners. Interesting how language develops.
Cheers,
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Posts: 495
Joined: Nov. 27 2005
From: North Carolina, USA
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to estebanana)
I enjoy the stories you guys tell from the region. I used to enjoy living on Guam. I have a good friend who runs a business there employing several people from Ponepe. His wife (and fathers former wife) are from there too. Good memories.
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to BarkellWH)
Stephen,
My gig in Micronesia ends and I fly to Honolulu on wednesday, September 5. I plan on spending a couple of days in Honolulu, and then I fly to San Francisco, where I will overnight on Friday, September 7. On Saturday, september 8, I fly from SF to Washington, DC.
Would you be available for a couple of brews, or glasses of wine, or anything else, on Friday night, September 7th? I arrive in SF at 8:30 PM, and by the time I get to my hotel and check in, I reckon I could meet you between 10:00 and 10:30 PM. I will be staying at the Larkspur Hotel on Union Square (the old Cartwright) at 524 Sutter Street, Telephone No. (415) 421-2865.
If you are available that night, please determine a watering hole where you would like to meet and let me know the name and address. I am very familiar with the Union Square area, Chinatown, Columbus Ave. (near City Lights Book Store), North Beach, and the Fisherman's Wharf area. But I will take your lead on what is most convenient for you.
Except while on a working gig, I do not carry a personal cell phone or laptop with me. So I'll just meet you whereever you wish. If something comes up and you cannot make it, just leave a message at the hotel front desk (Tel. No. above).
Cheers,
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to BarkellWH)
quote:
ORIGINAL: BarkellWH
Do you remember what "mehn wai" really means in the Pohnpeian language? It literally means "sneaks," and it originated back in the days when whaling ships would put into harbor. The whalers would "sneak" around at night searching for available women. The term "mehn wai" has since been used to refer to all foreigners. Interesting how language develops.
Cheers,
Bill
That's interesting. There's a chinese word mei wai which means to fawn on foreigners. I can't help feel there is a connection.
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to estebanana)
The Micronesians are transplants who sailed there from South East Asia. Not sure about linguistic studies comparing Chinese to the island languages. Each island group in Micronesia has its own dialects and languages even though there are common threads between them. There are also two main linguistic divisions, some languages are based in Polynesian language groups from below the equator and most are based in Northern Pacific language groups.
When I first arrived I had Stevie Ray Vaughn tee shirt which had a picture of Stevie Ray with the caption "WANTED (big red letters) dead or alive." All the young ladies where covering their mouths and squealing with glee at me. I was not sure what it was all about until my sister told me 'Wanted' has special meaning on Pohnpei.
I understand it was derived from the FBI wanted posters in the pot office, but the word 'wanted' was Pohnpean slang for 'slut'. So there I was walking freely through Kolonia town advertising myself to all theyoung women as the new mehn wai slut on the island.
Popsicles are also called ice cakes, pronounced "ice khakis".
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to BarkellWH)
quote:
ould you be available for a couple of brews, or glasses of wine, or anything else, on Friday night, September 7th? I arrive in SF at 8:30 PM, and by the time I get to my hotel and check in, I reckon I could meet you between 10:00 and 10:30 PM. I will be staying at the Larkspur Hotel on Union Square (the old Cartwright) at 524 Sutter Street, Telephone No. (415) 421-2865.
yes I'll be around, would love to meet a hear the stories. North Beach on Friday nights can be hectic, but I think we can manage.
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to estebanana)
quote:
yes I'll be around, would love to meet a hear the stories. North Beach on Friday nights can be hectic, but I think we can manage.
Stephen,
It will be fun to get together. If North Beach is a bit hectic on Friday night, we can meet at a quieter place. Your choice. Just let me know the name and address of the watering hole you choose, either here on the Foro or leave a message on Friday, September 7, at the Larkspur Hotel on Union Square, and I will pick it up at the front desk.
Cheers,
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to estebanana)
quote:
The Micronesians are transplants who sailed there from South East Asia. Not sure about linguistic studies comparing Chinese to the island languages.
The Micronesian languages, like Malay and Polynesian, can be traced to the Malay Archipelago (Malaysia and today's Indonesia) which, in turn, have been linguistically traced back to Taiwan. They are related to what used to be called Malayo-Polynesian, but what most linguists today refer to as the Austronesian language family. Regarding any connection to Chinese, certainly not as a language family. Certain words and phrases may have cognates (mehn wai, for example) via the Taiwan connection, but that is only speculation.
Cheers,
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Micronesia stories- Overseas Stories (in reply to BarkellWH)
Stephen,
As discussed previously, my gig in Micronesia ends today, and I depart Pohnpei tomorrow, September 5, for Honolulu. A couple of days on my own nickel in Honolulu, and on to San Francisco. I arrive in San Francisco, on Friday, September 7, at 8:30 PM. I should be checked into my hotel around 9:30 PM, and I expect we could meet at a watering hole of your choice between 10:00 and 10:30 PM for a couple of drinks. It would be great to meet and get together. I'm staying at the Larkspur on Union Square, Tel. No. (415) 421-2865.
Please call the hotel and leave a message where you want to meet. I'm booked under the name William Barkell. I do not travel with a laptop or a mobile phone, so I will be more or less incommunicado until I check into the hotel. If something comes up and you cannot make it, just leave a message. Otherwise, I look forward to meeting a fellow aficionado (of flamenco, and many other things as well.) and a real luthier!
Cheers,
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
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