pwan ianan

I would like to introduce to you the concept of "pwan ianan." What this chuukese phrase mean is: "this is enough." To translate it word for word it would roughly mean: "and so so." It means what it means. Let me expound.

The idea of being progressive is equivalent to being haughty and proud. Satisfaction with whatever is at hand is the tendency of every Chuukese. "Pwan ianan" is the reason. And this done for several reasons:

1. Chuukese operate on needs, immediate needs. If they need something, they'll get it, eventually. But if they don't need anything then why bother getting it.Why waste time and energy for something you don't need?

What about planning ahead? The future is no concern of ours. Today is what's at hand, take care of it first. When today is finished, start working on tommorrow. So and so forth. But this is not always the case. Chuukese also plan for the future but in a different way. We don't invest money, fill-out applications etc. We discuss it with family. Investing money and the others can be done by Chuukese, but more or less under different circumstances.

Discussing the future with the family is first, always first. Then when that is done, the actual planning may go ahead. This is "pwan ianan" on the idea of planning ahead.

2. Chuukese work in a "pwan ianan" way. Let's take for example a family that has just recently moved to Guam. Kids are in school and parents are working. If the kids are naturally gifted in their studies they stay that way. If they are not, they atleast work towards a passing grade, this is "pwan ianan." Parents who work don't seek promotions. If the money covers the bills, it is good enough. Atleast it is much better than what others are getting. It is much better than what Chuuk is giving.

So you can two and two and understand why Chuukese are modest, very modest. It is because of "pwan ianan." It may be argued that "pwan ianan" is bad for the progress of Chuukese as individuals or even as a nation. Actually it can also be a good thing, a very good thing. We are easily satisfied and easily pleased. We don't fuss. We don't have a problem practicing patience, calmness, and self-control. It is our tendency to say: "this is enough."