Micronesia

Micronesia is a country that few travelers ever visit. I based myself on the island of Pohnpei, home to the national capital, Palikir. I’d heard a rumor from the travel community that if you showed up at the government offices, you might actually be able to meet the president. Curious, I walked in and asked the secretary if it was true. She looked horrified, took a photo of my passport, and then asked me, “In what country in the world can you just walk into the president’s office and ask to meet him?” After thinking about it for a moment, I realized she had a point.

After leaving a little embarrassed, I continued exploring Pohnpei. The highlight was Nan Madol, an ancient city built on dozens of artificial islets connected by canals, often referred to as the “Venice of the Pacific.” The island is also home to abandoned tanks and other relics from World War II, a reminder of how strategically important these islands were during one of history’s most consequential conflicts.

Perhaps my favorite memory, though, came unexpectedly. One evening at my hotel’s bar, I met Chris, a member of the U.S. military who, coincidentally, was also from my hometown of San Diego. He had been sent to Micronesia as part of a project to help remove a sunken vessel that threatened the surrounding marine environment. As we talked, he shared stories from his deployments and reflected on a career that had taken him to parts of the world under circumstances completely different from my own. It reminded me that while I had traveled the world as part of a personal mission, other people found themselves in these same remote places for entirely different reasons.