Marshall Islands

I was in the Marshall Islands in the summer of 1994. I was in the Peace Corps. I spent about a month in Majuro and then another month or so on the island of Arno.

Very beautiful place, but on Arno very primitive. I lived in a hut, there was no running water or electricity.

I would like to go back someday, to see how things have changed.

If anybody has been there recently I would love to hear more about what Majuro or Ine is like now.

The capital city, Majuro, really isn’t for pictures unless you dive. The outer islands though are absolutely beautiful, feels just like it looks. I was a teacher on one of the outer islands for a year and it was an awesome experience. The people were warm and kind. People everywhere offer you food as you walk down the path. Of course, this is coming from a person who lived in the community, rather than a visitor. But, the yachties that came by from time to time always enjoyed themselves and as “ripalles”, were always treated like royalty, really.

i lived and worked in Majuro (capitol of the Marshall Islands) for two years. It was an amazing experience! i still miss the ocean, the friendly people and the fresh coconut :) this is an overhead shot of Majuro.

“A Miserbale Dump” is the way the Lonely Planet descibed the capital city/island Majuro, and I wish to God that I really took thsoe words to heart before I committed to spending a year of my life there. The whole country has been ruined environmentally, economically, culturally, and pyschologically due to the history of U.S. contact there (surprise)—- and of course the nuclear bombings that took place there. The negative affects have had and and continue to have generational impacts in the Marshallese peoples’ health, wealth and attitude. You may be standing on the shore in Majuro admiring the sunset and getting your feet wet when a diaper, refridgerator or beer bottle wash up—— no joke! There is trash and a somber sentiment everywhere you go. You will notcie that there are many Americans who have been there for years and years because they can make American dollars there—-but a large number of them seem to have a cryptic past that they are running from— so beware!

Some of the outer islands are sensational and far more beautiful that Majuro. Kwadjelin is a very typical but obsucre military base (not much bigger than a square mile or so), that apparently has more Ph.D.‘s per square foot than anywhere else in the world being the home of the Reagan Ballisitc Missile Testing Base (Star Wars anyone?), and of which the locals have been relocated to the dismal island of Ebeye (less than 1/4 mile away) which is the closest rendition of hell on earth in my opinion. Many folks have been on “Kwadj” for over 20 years (how scary is that) and ’happily’ continue to live there. Your chances of visiting Kwadj are slim unless you are official military personnel or connections with someone living or working there.

When I’m finally done university I’d like to live and teach there for a year through the worldteach.org program. Hopefully I’ll learn how to gut a fish.