Since entering Mexico, sailing down the Baja coast to the Puerto Vallarta region, then to the Galapagos, and now at the Marquesas, so much has happened.  We want to share all of it, but how?  Do we apply our posts in chronological order of our travels, or do we skip around to what’s of interest at the time, present and past?

Yesterday, Trent started college here in Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, the first American to do so.  Bryce started today.  Their fellow students are nearly all Polynesian, with the occasional French child here and there.  Other foreigners, a New Zealander and a Russian, have attended previously, but as Americans, they make Nuku Hiva history.  The college follows the French educational system for its outer territories.  The class level numbers lessen as the child advances, thus the college takes kids from the 6th level to the 2nd.  The more advanced 1st level and higher academics are provided in Tahiti. Trent entered the 6th and Bryce, the 5th.  As they learn French, and if room is available, Bryce and Trent well be allowed to advance to higher grade levels (lower number).  Course work includes Math, Science (Biology and Earth), Technology, French, English, Marquesan, History and Geography, Art, Physical Education, and Music.  The student body is gentle and kind, everybody knows everybody and are typically related by some familial association.  What occurs at school is immediately reported to the family.  The teachers seem patient as French is also the Marquesan’s second language.  Trent’s principal teacher is the 6th level’s English teacher, so this circumstance falls well in his favor as he begins his transformation into the French language.

With the boys in school, we plan to give them time to learn French and thus stay in Taiohae, giving Leslie and I time to write and post our previous and current experiences.  We have plenty to write about, so stay tuned.

by Eric Rigney