It is typical of many Westerners to come to the islands and make the following comment: "Islanders are lazy!" And they say this for a lot of reasons:
1. They don't see productivity.
2. They see young Micronesians just hanging around.
3. They experience the fact that Micronesians are always late.
4. In a meeting, Micronesians never make up their minds.
This is but a small attempt to give a rational, even biblical explanation for these. And I know you could tell by the title what I am going to talk about. Good for you!
When I introduce myself in a western setting, the typical question that would be asked almost immediately every time was: "what do you to for a living?" But when I introduce myself in an island setting, the question that I would normally be asked is "whose son are you?" or maybe even "what is your last name/clan/village/island?"
What you do is never a part of your identity, here in the islands. It is simply who you are. That is enough. I am simply Happiness Lodge, son of Yosta and Maggie Lodge. This is where my prestige lies, in my family. What I do, whether a student or a part-time worker somewhere, does not dictate who I am.
To a lot of westerners this might be a foreign idea to them. They have grown up believing that working defines success and accomplishment. They are clueless to the fact that just by who they are determines their level of success. Let me specify:
Earning big money, landing in a nice corporate job, or being the CEO of a big firm all implies success. This is the "worldview" of the Western world. In the islands, being honest, courteous, humble, and respectful no matter the job description defines a person's real self. Success is seen in the way people relate to a person. In other words, the many people that trust you, the "successful" you are.
This brings in the case on why many young islanders remain at home and do nothing. They would rather stay with the family, helping out in the daily chores, and surround themselves with friends and relatives than to go somewhere and live as individuals.
This also explain why Micronesians are always late. They intrinsically provides more than enough amble time for the host to prepare. It also explains why Micronesia never make up their minds, they honor the input of their families, especially the father and mother, than their own. This is something the west have missed.
Now I know that a lot more can be said of this topic, namely its weaknesses, but the way I see it: "what's the hurry?"
'till next time.
1. They don't see productivity.
2. They see young Micronesians just hanging around.
3. They experience the fact that Micronesians are always late.
4. In a meeting, Micronesians never make up their minds.
This is but a small attempt to give a rational, even biblical explanation for these. And I know you could tell by the title what I am going to talk about. Good for you!
When I introduce myself in a western setting, the typical question that would be asked almost immediately every time was: "what do you to for a living?" But when I introduce myself in an island setting, the question that I would normally be asked is "whose son are you?" or maybe even "what is your last name/clan/village/island?"
What you do is never a part of your identity, here in the islands. It is simply who you are. That is enough. I am simply Happiness Lodge, son of Yosta and Maggie Lodge. This is where my prestige lies, in my family. What I do, whether a student or a part-time worker somewhere, does not dictate who I am.
To a lot of westerners this might be a foreign idea to them. They have grown up believing that working defines success and accomplishment. They are clueless to the fact that just by who they are determines their level of success. Let me specify:
Earning big money, landing in a nice corporate job, or being the CEO of a big firm all implies success. This is the "worldview" of the Western world. In the islands, being honest, courteous, humble, and respectful no matter the job description defines a person's real self. Success is seen in the way people relate to a person. In other words, the many people that trust you, the "successful" you are.
This brings in the case on why many young islanders remain at home and do nothing. They would rather stay with the family, helping out in the daily chores, and surround themselves with friends and relatives than to go somewhere and live as individuals.
This also explain why Micronesians are always late. They intrinsically provides more than enough amble time for the host to prepare. It also explains why Micronesia never make up their minds, they honor the input of their families, especially the father and mother, than their own. This is something the west have missed.
Now I know that a lot more can be said of this topic, namely its weaknesses, but the way I see it: "what's the hurry?"
'till next time.
1 comments:
You've listed what many of us, even Westerners, see as the strengths of Micronesian cultures. And I'm sure that you better than we could identify the weaknesses of your own culture.
However, as I see it, the challenges facing Micronesians don't necessarily have to do with individual cultural characteristics but in how to maintain the best of being Micronesian while you relate to other cultures. And it's not just a matter of relating to Western culture anymore (or should I say Western cultures -- for not all Western cultures and sub-cultures share the same time, work, and family orientation). The lines between East and West are blurring in the globalized context.
In the ancient world Greek was the trade language of the Roman Empire. People still maintained their own languages but they figured out how to switch between their native language and the koine Greek according to context.
In the 21st century we have a situation where it's not just a common trade language but a common global trade culture which is emerging. And it is not 100% native to any of us -- but it is a fluid fusion. Any group which does not learn how to relate to that constantly changing koine cultural wave will eventually be swallowed by it. This will be equally true of Americans, Chinese, Dutch, Mexicans, and Chuukese. We're all trying to figure out how to surf the wave without letting it swamp us.
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