THERES A YAP FOR THAT

I CANNOT FREAKING WAIT TO GET TO YAP. It is pretty much the only thing I think about nowadays. The scuba class that we took over the weekend really solidified for me the FACT THAT WE’RE LEAVING FOR YAP SO SOON AHHHHHHHH. I have learned so much this semester but I know that the amount I learned in the classroom is going to be microscopic compared to what I’m going to learn on the island.

I think what I’m most excited for is the fact that I am going to be connected with nature in a totally new way. As a person who has never been out of the country, as well as a person who loves observing and learning about nature and wildlife, I know that this expERIENCE IS GOING TO BLOW MY FREAKING MIND. It is my goal in Yap to keep a journal of what we do or of anything memorable because I know I’m going to look back so fondly on these times. 

I honestly cant contain myself. This trip is going to be the bees knees. 

Yap and WWII

Yap was a very important site in the pacific theatre of World War II. Although it was not a part of the “island hopping” strategy that was used during the war, it was bombed frequently by US ships and aircrafts. The reason Yap was bombed is because it was under control of the Japanese and the Japanese were the enemy of the US in WWII. The island came into Japanese possession during the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 as a mandated territory of the League of Nations. Japanese-occupied Yap was bombed repeatedly by the US in World War II in order to try to gain possession and eradicate the japanese presence from the island. 

After WWII had ended, the US was given possession of Yap.The U.S. held it and the rest of the Caroline Islands as a trusteeship under a United Nations mandate until 1986. In that year, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnepei, and Kosrae formed the independent nation of the Federated States of Micronesia. The End.

MANTA RAYS

 

One of the most interesting creatures on Yap is the MANTA RAY. The manta ray is a cartilaginous fish that is known for sometimes being pretty freakin’ huge (up to 29 FEET). Mantas move through the water by flapping their water wings, or pectoral fins, and have their big mouths open all the time to filter feed. Manta rays swim through the upper layers of the ocean filtering plankton from the water. Manta rays are commonly visitors to coral reefs. They feed from this productive ecosystem, and also visit reef ‘cleaning stations’ where small fish, like wrasse and angelfish, pick parasites from the manta ray’s skin. Manta rays are gentle giants; they pose no real threat to humans. Because of their huge size, the only real predator of the manta is the shark. 

YAP

My first impression of Yap actually came when I visited Queens for my first time. My tour guide was a girl that had been to Yap on her JBIP and I was fascinated. I had no idea what Yap was or where it was or that it even existed. I pretty much forgot about it until my sophomore year of college, when I befriended Alvaro and he would never shut up about it. When he talked about it, he never had a bad thing to say and the way he described it made me really want to go. He showed me pictures and explained some of the culture to me (obviously not all of it, as my quiz grades indicate) Ever since talking about it with him, I have wanted to go so badly. 

Before learning about Yap, I think I had a somewhat accurate picture of it. I envisioned a tiny island that had beautiful scenery and a plethora of wildlife. I envisioned the locals as a generally happy group of people, who’s concept of time and work was just a little different from those of most places. There is so much that I had to learn though. I never knew about the tectonic action that was behind the formation of the island, the customs of the natives, or the history that makes the region what it is today. A big misconception that I had about Yap was that it was Westernized in all of its beliefs. Although the cultures and the customs of the West (mainly America) do have an influence on Yap, their culture is uniquely their own and can at times be very different from that of the United States. I am so excited to experience and learn further about this culture. 

In addition, I am so excited to be on the island itself. I can’t wait to experience the ocean, the diving, the forests, and the Mangrove forests (even though I have a bit of an irrational fear of Mangroves) I love nature and wildlife and, having never been outside the United States, this ecosystem is unlike one I have ever experienced. All in all, I am PUMPED to go to Yap, and experience for myself all of the wonderful things that I have heard and learned about.