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Yokwe all
This is for those who have adopted a child from the RMI and wish to (re)establish contact with the birth family (baamle). It also has some ideas for those considering adoption.
To reconnect, you will probably be able to contact the CAA (Central Adoption Authority), which is reportedly planning on acting as a conduit for communication and care packages between American and Marshallese branches of respective baamles. This has NOT yet occurred, and may or may not become a reality in the near future.
You also have other options.
Reimers, one of two large Marshallese owned retail establishments on Majuro, offers gift certificates. If members of the birth family live on Majuro or Arno, then someone at one of the Reimers establishments is bound to know them, and would probably be willing to drop of a gift certificate and message. Reimers is a business, and not a message service, but is cooperative. They take VISA (with the usual safeguards), and you could also probably mail a travelers check, probably with a note and a couple photos. (Personal checks take well over a month to clear). You can also specify no tobacco or alcohol, if you'd like. Since the manager (Jessica Reimers, who is perfectly fluent in english) and at least one employee are going above the call of duty to deliver a gift certificate and message, it is probably appropriate to offer a non-cash token gift.
They've NEVER asked for anything but the purchase price of the certificate, but I think it unwise to take someone else's good nature for granted. Marshallese generally love coffee and tea, and the little fancy packets of either, would probably be appreciated. The Marshallese spray perfume (boku) on guests to honor them (especially on Christmas and kemens, first birthday parties), and this is also a thoughtful inexpensive token of appreciation. (Be creative, and think of things we can get in discount stores that might be considered more of a luxury elsewhere.)
[url]http://www.rreinc.com/[/url]
You can run an advertisement in The Marshall Islands Journal. Most Marshallese are literate, and many can read english pretty well, even if many outside of the service sector have difficulty speaking it.
Giff Johnson, editor
The Marshall Islands Journal
P.O. Box 14
Majuro, MH 96960
For those of you who are considering the Marshall Islands, and/or wish to get cultural information. Reimers (see above link) also has postcards, shirts, handicrafts, black pearls from Arno and so on.
You can also get an issue or two of the Marshall Islands Journal for a couple bucks. It is about 75% in english, and will provide a nice view into the RMI. It is a pretty typical small town paper, but will tell you a lot about that "town", the RMI. The publisher, Micronitor, also publishes a couple paperback history and mythology texts written by Dr. Dirk Spennemann and Jane Downing. There were $6 each, but might be a bit more now. (The museum lists them at $20, but their e-mail is down.)
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With most countries, if you have not yet adopted, but are matched, you should probably refrain from direct contact or care packages, as this could be interpreted as a bribe. Listen to your agency on this.
Good luck all...
David
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