THE TRIP TO KOSRAE

After waiting for 4 hours at the Agana, Guam International Airport, I was off to Kosrae. The first stop into Micronesia is into the Island State of Chuuk. After some 45 minutes stopover, we were off again to the Island State of Ponphei. Ponphei is the capital state of the Federated States of Micronesia which are Yap, Chuuk, Ponphei and Kosrae.

There were just drizzles in Chuuk and Ponphei but when the plane was approaching Kosrae, the rains have become maddening. There seem to be storm over Kosrae. I started praying because I noticed that the plane did not touch down during the first attempt. We were back 3000 feet above. Then I heard the pilot telling us that because of the strong rain and zero visibility, he did not attempt to land down.

I was uttering my prayers that. Again......the question is........am I really destined to go to Kosrae that even the weather does not life to cooperate during the landing of the plane? Well, on second attempt however, we finally landed.

As I descended the plane, we were ushered to the immigration area. The immigration officer did seem to know me at once. Of course, there was my working permit waiting for me to be issued at the immigration booth.

As I was waiting for my luggage, I read the posters on the wall. Kosrae is quite strict about plants and other vegetation coming in. The government of Kosrae is quite strict in the implementation of this law. They do not want their ecology destroyed because of foreign vegetation coming in.

I was met by Kun Mongkeya, the Administrative Officer of the Hospital and Dr. Nestor Ocfemia who is the Filipino anesthesiologist in the hospital. I was happy to note that the person that I would be working with in the operating room would be a Filipino.

The airport was quite far from the main town. As we traversed through the well-asphalted road going to the main town, I appreciated the lush vegetation around and the view by the sea. Kosrae is a place still untouched by the grandeurs of city life.

I was taken to my new place. A bungalow type of a house with the barest essentials. I thought of how I could manage in the place. It is quite large for my existence. A very big master's bedroom. Another empty room and a sala that is so large. The dining room and kitchen however were quite within my personal standards.

The owner of the house, Presley took me out to buy some things that I needed and after that he gave me the keys to the house and off I went to sleep after an almost sleepless trip.

Finally, I have arrived in the State of Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia on January 20, 2006 at 2:26pm.