"A well-dressed, western educated Micronesian, working in a governmentoffice, lunching at an oriental restaurant, and drinking 'sundowners' at an American-syle bar, might well appear on the surface to have switchedcultures and adopted bastardized customs.  However, this same individualcan often speak three different languages interchangeable in conversationwith a friend, and can move into traditional culture as quickly and completelyas he can change clothes into a 'thu' or a 'lava lava' and with a trulyremarkable ability to fit comfortably in both."

The island culture seems to be in a tug-of-war between generations;the younger trying deperatly to be like America seen on the TV show "Baywatch"and the older generation tugging back with values of family and survival. Some locals do not know how to fish or live off the land while others don'tknow how to do anything else.  Those that live near Kolonia usuallyhave government jobs or own stores.  As you travel south on Pohnpeiyou will see an increasing number of farms with an ocasinal road side store.