{"id":874,"date":"2023-06-24T13:21:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-24T13:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/palau\/?p=874"},"modified":"2023-06-29T09:25:26","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T09:25:26","slug":"day-4-mesei-monoliths-and-monster-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/palau\/2023\/06\/24\/day-4-mesei-monoliths-and-monster-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 4: Mesei, Monoliths, and Monster Fish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Throughout the trip we have learned various ways to use the plants that surround us. Today, we started out braiding betel nut fibers into bracelets to either use on our baskets we made last night or just to wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Handmade basket woven from coconut <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA taro field is the mother of life.\u201d \u2013 Palauan Proverb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hilary, Veronica, and Dustin holding Taro that they harvested<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last night we had an honorary guest, Anne Marie, come and speak about her taro garden. She explained the history of how taro is grown and its significance in the Palauan culture. A point that has been stressed every time we learn about taro is that this is a plant that grows on Palau and is Palauan. Rice, and many other foods, are imported, but taro is always here. \u201cTaro is our staple food\u201d is a phrase that comes into conversation often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a legend of how taro is easier to grow in some areas and is not so easy to grow in others. It is said that there was a woman who lived all over Palau, in each place she lived she planted taro. In areas where the taro is harder to grow, the wife liked the husband she had, so she spent little time in the fields and lots of time at home. In areas where the taro is much easier to grow, the woman did not enjoy time with her husband, so she spent more time in the taro patches. This story is used to explain why taro is so difficult to grow in this part of the island. This morning, we walked about 15 minutes to the taro patch that is owned and farmed by the local women, just down the road. Anne Marie showed us the process of harvesting the taro plant, it\u2019s uses, and how traditionally women were the ones who would work in the taro fields. While the women worked the taro patch, the men would set off to catch fish for the day. The taro patch is a source of food through all times, good and bad. It is an anchor that allows for food independence and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Taro field from aerial viewpoint using drone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n