Leaving Oktipisenja (Blog Post 4)

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            As I prepared to leave the Oktip people and return to my home, Rahli seemed sad to see me go. My interpreter and I had grown close as we explored the islands of the Oktipisenja and she had taught me much about the Oktip culture and language. I remarked that I was going to miss her and she should come visit me some day. The words seemed to surprise her. “I cannot visit,” she said, “if I leave Oktipisenja, I can never come back.”
            I asked her if that meant I would not be allowed to return and learn more about the Oktip people or if that was a rule only for the Oktip. 
            “You can come visit when you like, but Matfunoktipa frowns upon her children who leave the world she made for them,” Rahli replied. When I asked to elaborate she explained, “We were given nine islands to live and grow on. We have no need to leave them and it would be disrespectful to leave all that we have behind to go explore”
            This attitude towards leaving the islands, while disappointing, is not surprising. The Oktip are a tightly knit group, despite their population size and the distance between them and they are all closely bound by their common religion and family groups. I knew that Rahli would not want to leave and come with me and, indeed, I had been only half serious when I offered. However, I figured I should offer in case she did want to go. 
            Her refusal only cemented my belief that the Oktip are a people who are perfectly happy and content where they are. They might not have all the modern conveniences that we enjoy but they have their islands and their ocean and their religion. 
            As I was leaving, I could hear Rahli call out to me, “Until the Moon brings us together again.”

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