Living the hard life in Micronesia

I've heard that life in Micronesia is hard.  I've heard that we are living in some of the harshest conditions. We live on tiny specks in the middle of the vast Pacific ocean.  We are at the mercy of the weather, oceans and of course, the bigger countries that treat our home as their own backyard.  Life is so hard! 

Now, I'm talking about the present day.  Let's not even talk about our ancestors who lived without the benefit of wi-fi, electricity, cars, planes, and refrigerators! Who didn't read or write but passed on rich oral traditions and history.  Who didn't have GPS or even maps but expertly navigated the pacific blue.  They didn't buy their food at the store.  No.  They had to grow, fish, or kill their food to sustain themselves and their communities because as they say, no man is an island.  You must learn to live with each other. 

So, is it hard to live in Micronesia? Is this the reason why the Micronesians are migrating out to the USA? What are the benefits of living, really staying in Micronesia? I'll answer all these from the perspective of a Micronesian who was born and raised in Micronesia, left for the USA at age 18, and returned home after 23 years.  These are my experiences and observations.

How hard is it?

Not hard at all.  Living in Micronesia is enjoyable.  I live in Pohnpei, so I will speak about Pohnpei.  There are no fast-food joints like McDonald's or KFC, there are no malls, stop lights, or highways. 

We do have restaurants that serve anything from a quesadilla to a T-bone steak, burgers, pizza, Chinese food, Japanese food, and even a conveyor belt Japanese food buffet place, oh and a Filipino food buffet place! We have retail stores, hardware stores, mom and pop stores, public markets, fish markets, sometimes fishermen just sell their catch straight from their boat.  We have public schools, private schools, and a College of Micronesia that offers bachelor's degrees in Education and Business.  We have resident foreign embassies that offer scholarships to our young people to study abroad to become Nurses, Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, etc.  

All the basic services are available to make life comfortable here.  We have Police, Fire, and Ambulance services 24/7.  We have one public hospital and one private hospital.  We have a public library.  We have the internet, radio stations (two AM three FM),  a movie theatre, sakau markets, air-conditioned churches and so much more!  You get the idea, don't you?  

Why are people leaving, then? 

There are many answers to that question.  The simplest one is simply because they can.  According to the Compact of Free Association, an international treaty between the Federated States of Micronesia and the USA, immigration to the USA is pretty much unrestricted for Micronesians.  No visas are required.  Just a passport and a ticket.  You can buy property, work, live, and even own and operate a business.  Did I say no restrictions? We can even join the U.S. military. 

Why else are people leaving? Education? You can get a free education in Micronesia up to the second year of college at the College of Micronesia. Beyond that? Remember what I said about scholarships by our resident foreign embassies to continue studying abroad? There is also joining the US Military and getting an education/skill while on active duty and using the G.I. Bill, specifically the post 9-11 G.I. Bill to get an education.  

Quality of Life? We have all the basic services in Micronesia. Electricity, WIFI, paved roads, hospitals, law enforcement, jail services, emergency rescue services.  There may not be a bus or train service, but these are small islands.  The basics.  Nothing extravagant or lavish.

How about the job market? That seems to be a popular reason for many people leaving.  The biggest employer in Micronesia is the government.  This is where so many people apply for jobs.  Is it hard to get a job in the Government?  I have to be honest and speak from my own experience and say it was a challenge, but not impossible at all. In fact, contrary to popular belief, it wasn't about who I knew.  I was away for 23 years, so when I came back I didn't know anyone to hook me up with a job, but I still secured one, and it took about 9 months of looking.  

Many if not all the jobs will have a lower salary per annum than jobs in the USA.  This is understandable. A lot of people who return home simply refuse to work for much lower salaries.  It is not that there are no jobs available.  There are jobs available and people are needed to fill those jobs. It is the salary level that is not appealing.  Those with university degrees, especially advanced degrees want salaries that are comparable to US standards.  For example, some positions at the College of Micronesia that require high-level degrees only pay about $15,000 per year.  That doesn't work for many.  

This is Micronesia, not Michigan, Minnesota, or even Missouri or Guam.  According to the 2013/2014 Household Income and Expenditure Survey by the FSM National Government, the average household income in Pohnpei is $16,708.  This is the highest in the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).  The lowest is $8,415 in the state of Chuuk.  I would bet that those numbers are still hovering in the same area in 2021.  

Benefits

So, what are the benefits of staying here, then? If you're from here, it's home.  It's home, in a young and developing country.  You can take part in shaping your own country.  How exciting is that? You can take ownership instead of blaming the "leaders" for making all the mistakes.  I find that those who are part of solving the issues are never the ones who complain.  Just an observation.

Another benefit is that while you won't be making a six-figure income, you will be doing something for your own country.  The sweat of your brow and the taxes you pay will definitely go to your country.  

You continue to practice your culture. You continue to be among your people.  Where else do you want to be? What good will you do when you are not helping your own country and your own people? 

Some armchair leaders and keyboard commandos have said that they are supporting this country by paying taxes in the USA.  While it is true that the compact of free association allows for economic assistance from the USA that funds our state governments, there are no compact sector grants to the National Government, except for a portion that goes to the College of Micronesia.  Also, that economic assistance is not for nothing.  The use of our waters and airspace pay for that economic assistance.  In my humble opinion, it's not nearly enough for having control over a vast amount of airspace and water that is as large as the continental USA.  How much is the continental USA worth?  

Micro(nesian) Perspective

Life is hard everywhere. Some parts of America are poverty-ridden and full of crime and foul weather. I would not wish to live there for anything.  There are good and bad in every situation.  A wise man once said, there is nothing either good or bad, thinking makes it so.  

Life in Micronesia is as hard as you make it.  If you believe you can't make it here, but want to leave to make your fortune abroad, go ahead.  You can live and work in the USA thanks to the compact of free association.  If you want to stay and help out your own country and your own people, go ahead.  The choice is yours.  Good luck 

As for me, I feel that the greatest impact I can have in my short life is working for my people here in my country, my state, my home.  

 

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