[CHANTING] [CHANTING] >> YOKWE, AND WELCOME TO SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS.

POPULATION, 62,000 AND GROWING.

MY NAME IS CARMEN CHONG GUM.

I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS BUT SPRINGDALE IS NOT MY HOME.

I WAS BORN IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, THE OLDEST OF SIX KIDS.

THIS IS MY MOTHER AND ME PLAYING IN THE OCEAN ON MAJURO ATOLL.

THE MARSHALL ISLANDS KATE SULLIVANS OF MORE THAN A THOUSAND SMALL ISLANDS AND ATOLLS SCATTERED ACROSS 750,000 SQUARE MILES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD FROM SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS AND THE STREET WHERE I LIVE TODAY.

[PEOPLE SPEAKING MARSHALLESE] >> MY CHILDREN WERE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES AND SPRINGDALE IS ALL THEY KNOW.

BUT I TELL THEM STORIES ABOUT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

ONE OF THEIR FAVORITES IS ABOUT MY FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY WHEN ONE OF MY GRANDFATHERS MADE A CANOE FOR ME WITH MY NAME PAINTED ON IT.

I TELL THEM MICA KNEW CARRIED ME A LONG WAY FROM HOME TO A NEW ISLAND IN ARKANSAS.

>> FORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE TO GO VERY FAR IN SPRINGDALE TO GET A TASTE OF THE ISLANDS.

ON ANY SATURDAY NIGHT, THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A KEMEEM, A TRADITIONAL MARSHALLESE IS HE BRAITION OF A CHILD'S FIRST BIRTHDAY.

EVERYBODY COMES INCLUDING RELATIVES WHO FLY IN FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

AND THEY DON'T BRING SUITCASES.

THEY BRING COOLERS, FILLED WITH FISH, BREADFRUIT, PANDANUS AND COCONUT MEAT.

ISLAND FOODS WE MISS SO MUCH.

THEY ALSO DON'T BRING ANY TRAVEL VISAS.

THANKS TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES ANYONE FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS MAY COME HERE TO VISIT AND TAI AS LONG AS THEY WANT.

THE AGREEMENT IS CALLED THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION.

IT'S THE RESULT OF A LONG AND COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

BASICALLY IT'S WHAT WE GET IN RETURN FOR ALLOWING OUR ISLANDS TO BE USED BY THE UNITED STATES FOR TESTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

WE ARE A SOVEREIGN NATION WITH A U.S. ZIP CODE.

IF YOU HAVE A PASSPORT FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, YOU CAN TAKE A JOB IN THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT A WORK PERMIT.

THAT'S ONE REASON SO MANY OF US ARE HERE.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD JOBS IN SPRINGDALE.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ONE-TENTH OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IS LIVING IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

THAT'S MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE IF THE LAST TEN YEARS.

[CHEERS AND LAUGHTER].

>> A BIRTHDAY KEMEEM IS A CHANCE FOR US TO COME TOGETHER, HAVE SOME FUN AND REMEMBER THE ISLANDS.

EVERY PERSON HERE HAS THEIR OWN REASONS FOR LEAVING HOME.

I'M HERE FOR MY CHILDREN.

WE LOST OUR FIRST CHILD AT BIRTH IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE THERE IS FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE UNITED STATES.

WHEN I BECAME PREGNANT WITH JOCIANNA, WE DECIDED TO LEAVE THE ISLANDS SO SHE COULD BE BORN IN A MORE FULLY EQUIPPED HOSPITAL.

SAY HELLO TO MS. ALINDA MILNE, THE FOURTH CHILD OF NEMURJINMA AND JOHN MILNE.

SHE JUST ARRIVED IN SPRINGDALE ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO.

SALINDA IS ONE OF MORE THAN 150 MARSHALLESE CHILDREN BORN IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS WEEK.

HER FATHER HASN'T MET HER YET.

JOHN MILNE IS JUST STARTING HIS SHIFT IN THE FREEZER AT THE TYSON FOODS CORNISH HEN PLANT IN SPRINGDALE.

JOHN LOADS BOXES OF FROZEN CORNISH HENS ON PALLETS FOR SHIPPING.

IT IS HARD WORK BUT THE PAY AND THE BENEFITS ARE GOOD.

ESPECIALLY FOR A JOB THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE OR THE ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

OF THE 200 EMPLOYEES WORKING HERE TONIGHT, 70% ARE MARSHALLESE.

HELENA MILNE IS PROUD OF HER NEW GRANDDAUGHTER BUT SHE HAS TO LEAVE BECAUSE SHE ALSO WORKS THE NIGHT SHIFT AT TYSON FOODS.

>> IS IT A GIRL OR BOY?

>> MEANWHILE THE GRANDFATHER SAIMON MILNE IS AT HOME MINDING THE REST OF THE KIDS.

♪ >> HELENA AND SAIMON NEVER DREAMED THEY WOULD BE LIVING AND WORKING THIS FAR FROM HOME.

LURED BY THEIR CHILDREN WHO LEFT THE ISLANDS AND LANDED IN SPRINGDALE.

>> SO THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING US ON THE PHONE, HEY, YOU GOT TO COME HERE.

HERE IS MUCH BETTER THAN THERE, YOU KNOW.

I SAY NO, CANNOT GO OVER THERE BECAUSE I HAVE GOT A BOAT AND I GO FISHING AND I WON'T FISH OVER THERE.

THEY SAY, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF FISH HERE.

I SAY, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT, I JUST WANT TO GO FISHING.

>> BUT DEEP-SEA FISHING CAN BE DANGEROUS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND ON JULY 20, 2000, SAIMON'S BOAT SINKS FIVE MILES FROM LAND.

>> OH, MAN.

I SAID, WELL, THAT'S IT.

THIS IS THE TIME FOR ME.

I KIND OF PUT MY HEAD UNDER THE WATER AND PRAY.

I SAY, OKAY, IF THIS IS THE TIME FOR ME, I DON'T WANT A SHARK TO COME AND BITE ME LITTLE BY LITTLE.

I WANT IT RIGHT AWAY.

OR IF YOU WANT ME TO FINISH MY WORK AND WORK FOR YOU IN THIS LIFE, IT'S UP TO YOU.

>> AFTER THREE HOURS OF TRYING TO SWIM TO SHORE, ANOTHER BOAT SPOTS SAIMON AND PULLS HIM FROM THE OCEAN.

>> SO MY WIFE TOLD ME, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE BEEN PRAYING EVERY TIME.

AND SHE SAID, GOOD.

THE BOAT IS GONE.

LET'S GO TO THE UNITED STATES NOW.

LET'S GO VISIT OUR CHILDREN.

SO WE CAME HERE JUST BEFORE THEY HIT THE TOWER IN NEW YORK.

THEY CLOSED ALL THE AIRPORTS SO WE CANNOT GO BACK.

SO WE STAY FOR A WHILE AND, WELL, I THINK SHE FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE.

SHE SAID, GO BACK, QUIT THE JOB AND COME BACK.

WE GOT TO STAY HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WELL, ANYTHING EXCITING GOING ON?

>> QUIET.

>> GOOD.

>> REALLY QUIET.

>> TODAY, SAIMON WORKS AS A SECURITY GUARD AT THE JONES CENTER FOR FAMILIES IN SPRINGDALE.

A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY CENTER BUILT BY HARVEY AND BERNICE JONES WITH MONEY THEY MADE FROM THE TRUCKING BUSINESS.

THEY ENVISIONED A PLACE WHERE COMMUNITY GROUPS COULD HOLD MEETINGS AND EVENTS AND FAMILIES COULD COME FOR RECREATION ALL AT NO CHARGE.

THE JONES CENTER IS AN IMPORTANT PLACE FOR THE MARSHALLESE COMMUNITY IN SPRINGDALE, ESPECIALLY THE KIDS.

AND SAIMON MILNE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AT THE JONES CENTER.

>> I USED TO TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN TO THE JONES CENTER AND I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I WENT OVER THERE AND SAW ALL THOSE MARSHALLESE BOYS AND GIRLS BEHAVE.

THEY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR ELDERS AND PEOPLE AROUND THEM.

AND THEY SAID, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SECURITY AT THE JONES CENTER.

I SAID WHAT?

MAN, I WAS THINKING ABOUT ALL THOSE MARSHALLESE KIDS.

I SAY, I AM GOING TO APPLY FOR THAT JOB.

SO WHEN WE WERE INTERVIEWED, THEY ASKED ME THE REASON WHY I GOT JOB AND WHY I WANT TO TAKE THAT.

AND WHEN I TOLD THEM EVERYBODY IS WELCOME AS LONG AS THEY HAVE BEHAVE LIKE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

IF YOU CANNOT BEHAVE, GET OUT OF HERE!

>> HEY, YOUNG MAN, DO NOT RUN, JUST WALK, PLEASE.

THEY SAY, YOU GOT IT.

>> THIS IS CARMEN.

>> MY OFFICE IS JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE JONES CENTER.

>> WITH THE MARSHALLESE COMMUNITY, YES.

>> MY JOB IS TO HELP MARSHALLESE IMMIGRANTS ADAPT TO THEIR NEW HOME IN SPRINGDALE.

BUT THERE IS NO MANUAL ON HOW TO DEAL WITH MANY OF THE PROBLEMS BROUGHT TO ME.

IN THE SPRING OF 2005, A YOUNG MARSHALLESE COUPLE TAKES SOME FAMILY PRAFS TO WAL-MART FOR PROCESSING.

A FEW DAYS LATER THE SPRINGDALE POLICE COME TO THEIR HOME, TAKE CUSTODY OF THEIR FOUR CHILDREN AND ARREST THEM FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING THEIR 4-YEAR-OLD SON.

IT SEEMS THE FATHER WAS PLAYFULLY TEASING HIS SON BY PULLING HIS PANTS DOWN WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING.

THE MOTHER TOOK SOME PICTURES BECAUSE IT WAS FUNNY.

I'M HERE TO HELP THEM EXPLAIN TO THE JUDGE THE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE SEXUAL.

>> IT'S DISMISSED OUT OF COURT BUT WE STILL MIGHT WORK WITH THEM OUT OF COURT.

THAT RETURNS CUSTODY TO THEM.

THANK YOU, THANKS.

>> EVERYONE IN THE MARSHALLESE COMMUNITY KNOWS THE COUPLE IS INNOCENT AND THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED BACK HOME.

BUT WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

>> I LOVE MY KIDS MORE THAN I LOVE MY LIFE.

THANK GOD FOR EVERYTHING.

♪ >> AND HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE THERE?

>> PART OF MY JOB IS TO HELP PEOPLE FROM SPRINGDALE UNDERSTAND THESE NEW IMMIGRANTS TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

♪ >> ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR OVER TEN YEARS, WE TEND TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE AND STAY CLOSE TOGETHER.

>> HI, MICHAEL, THIS IS JACQUIE, CAN YOU TALK TO ME?

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ONE MORE TIME ABOUT THE OZARK ISLANDERS AND THEIR NUCLEAR HISTORY.

>> I FIRST NOTICED THE MARSHALLESE WHEN I WAS OUT SHOPPING IN SPRINGDALE.

I WENT TO A GROCERY STORE AND I NOTICED A FAMILY OF ISLANDERS WALKING REALLY CLOSE TOGETHER DOWN THE AISLE LOOKING AT THE PRODUCTS.

AND I NOTICED IT WAS THE DEAD OF WINTER.

THEY HAD ON LONG, FLOWERED DRESSES, THE WOMEN DID, AND SANDALS.

I LOOKED AT THEIR FEET AND THEY HAD SANDALS ON THEIR FEET.

I THOUGHT, HOW ODD.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?

AND THAT'S WHEN I CONTACTED THE CULTURAL LIAISON AT THE MULTI-CULTURAL CENTER, CARMEN CHONG GUM.

SHE WAS THE WOMAN WHO EDUCATED ME ABOUT THE ATOMIC TESTING THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE ISLANDS.

SHE TOOK ME INTO A BACK ROOM WITH A PORTFOLIO OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ATOMIC TESTING.

I WILL NEVER FORGET SITTING IN THAT LITTLE ROOM, LOOKING AT THESE PICTURES.

[CHANTING] >> JACQUIE DID NOT KNOW THAT FROM 1946 TO 1958 THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TESTED 67 ATOMIC AND THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

THE LARGEST BOMB WAS CALLED THE BRAVO SHOT.

IT WAS DROPPED ON BIKINI ATOLL IN 1954 AND WAS EQUAL TO OVER A THOUSAND HIROSHIMA-SIZE BOMBS.

RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT FROM BRAVO WAS CARRIED BY WINDS TO NEIGHBORING ISLANDS.

>> THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE?

[READING NAMES OF VICTIMS, BELL RINGING] >> MARSHALLESE COMMUNITY HELD A REMEMBRANCE AS THEY DO HERE EVERY YEAR ABOUT THE ATOMIC BOMBING.

[READING NAMES OF VICTIMS, BELL RINGING] >> THE SITE OF THE TEST WILL BE THE BIKINI ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL GROUP.

>> I WAS SITTING IN THIS AUDITORIUM SURROUNDED BY ISLANDERSMENT THEY WERE WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE ATOMIC TESTING BACK IN THEIR HOMELAND.

MANY OF THEM HAD NEVER SEEN THIS FILM BEFORE, AND IT WAS UTTERLY QUIET IN THERE.

>> THREE, TWO, ONE.

[EXPLOSION] >> AND LATER ON THAT DAY, THEY STARTED TO SEE FALL OUTCOMING DOWN ON THE ISLANDS.

AND THESE PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW ...

THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A BOMB THAT WAS GOING TO BE DROPPED.

[SINGING] >> I HAD, I SAW YOU ON THE STAGE.

YOU'RE FROM BIKINI ATOLL?

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THAT?

OH, GOOD.

>> I FELT THIS STORY WAS VASTLY UNDERREPORTED.

AND IN ALL OF MY ENCOUNTERS WITH THE ISLANDERS, I NEVER NOTED ANY ANGER.

>> EVERY AROUND THE WORLD THINGS HAPPEN LIKE THIS SO THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR US WHY IT HAPPENED.

BUT IT HAPPENED OVER THERE.

THE ONLY MAIN IMPORTANT IS WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER AND LIVE.

>> LUMON BEEN GENTLEMAN MINUTE'S FAMILY IS FROM BIKINI ATOLL.

HE NEVER GREW UP THERE.

HE WAS DISPLACED.

>> WHEN THEY WERE DONE WITH ALL THE TESTING, THEY TOLD THE PEOPLE IT WAS SAFE FOR THEM TO GO BACK AGAIN.

WHEN THEY WENT BACK TO THEIR HOME ISLAND, THEY STARTED TO HAVE THESE ILLNESSES AND SICKNESSES.

RIGHT NOW I HAVE A LOT OF AUNTIES AND UNCLES, THEY DIED.

THEY HAVE THESE SICKNESSES WITH THEM UNTIL THEY -- NO LONGER THEIR BODY CANNOT FIGHT IT ANYMORE.

I GOT TWO THIS YEAR, THEY PASSED AWAY.

MY SISTER ALSO PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF CANCER.

AND I THINK PEOPLE FROM BIKINI, THEY HAVE THESE CANCERS IN THEIR BODY.

AND SOME OF THEM, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TO A DOCTOR.

THEY'RE SCARED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.

[COUGHING CHILDREN] >> DO YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT?

YEAH.

>> OVER HERE THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THAT REALLY NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.

AND A LOT OF THEM DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH OR EVEN FILL OUT PAPERWORK.

>> SHE'S ALREADY DONE, OKAY.

>> THAT'S THE REASON I REALLY LIKE IT HERE, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I AM DOING SOMETHING FOR MY PEOPLE.

>> RILLA KAISIA'S ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH AND MARSHALLESE MAKES HER A VALUABLE EMPLOYEE OF THE COMMUNITY CLINIC AT ST. FRANCIS HOUSE IN SPRINGDALE.

>> WE SERVE THE UN-AND UNDERINSURED IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

SO WE SEE ABOUT 50% HISPANICS.

WE HAVE A FAIR POPULATION OF MARSHALLESE AND IT'S BUILDING.

BUT I WOULD SAY IT IS NO MORE THAN 5 OR 10% AT THIS POINT.

>> YOKWE, YOKWE.

HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

>> THE MARSHALLESE PATIENTS I SEE HERE IN THE CLINIC, THEY HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF DIABETES.

PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR TIMES MORE DIABETES THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN POPULATION.

>> DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE SOME LASER SURGERY ON YOUR EYES?

OKAY.

SO THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF DIABETIC CHANGES IN YOUR EYES.

>> THERE'S CONCERN AMONGST MOST OF THE PRACTITIONERS THAT CARE FOR MARSHALLESE ABOUT THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM.

I HAVEN'T NOTICED MORE OF THEM COMING IN WITH COLDS OR SORE THROATS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT SEEMS WHEN THEY DO GET AN INFECTION, IT TENDS TO BE MORE SEVERE.

CERTAINLY THERE'S CONCERN THAT IT COULD BE RELATED TO THEIR RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM THE NUCLEAR TESTING.

THAT DOES DEFINITELY COME TO MIND WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WITH HORRIBLE INFECTIOUS PROBLEMS AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THEM BETTER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE KNOW THE EXACT EXPLANATION, BUT YOU CERTAINLY HAVE TO WONDER.

>> IT'S MOSTLY THAT.

WE'RE ALL SICK FROM THAT.

>> I BELIEVE THAT ALL THE ISLANDS GOT AFFECTED, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY ONLY A FEW OF THE ISLANDS.

IT'S ALL OF THE ISLANDS BECAUSE, I MEAN, I FEEL THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE OTHER ISLANDS THAT THEY SAY IT WASN'T AFFECTED, THEY ARE GETTING THE SAME SICKNESS THOSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING.

AND SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY ARE SICK BECAUSE WE DON'T GO TO THE DOCTORS ALL THE TIME.

WE DON'T GO FOR CHECKUP JUST TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU UNTIL THERE IS.

THAT'S WHEN YOU REALIZE, OH, YOU ARE SICK.

>> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> NO, NO THANK YOU.

♪ >> ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PARTS OF MY JOB IS WORKING WITH THE MARSHALLESE TEENAGERS LIVING IN SPRINGDALE.

THESE ARE THE KIDS WHO BEGAN THEIR EDUCATION IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND NOW ARE FINISHING IT IN ARKANSAS.

THE TRANSITION CAN BE HARD.

MOST OF THEM HAVE COME FROM SCHOOLS LACKING QUALIFIED TEACHERS.

THE PACE IS QUICKER HERE AND THE LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH ONLY.

THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED IN A PLACE LIKE SPRINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL ARE EXCITING BUT ALSO INTIMIDATING.

OF THE 2,660 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HERE, 111 ARE MARSHALLESE.

AT NOON, YOU CAN FIND MANY OF THEM EATING TOGETHER ON AN ISLAND IN THE CROWDED LUNCHROOM.

>> THIS CAMPUS IS SO BIG COMPARED TO THE WILL SCHOOL AT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

ALL THE MARSHALLESE STUDENTS, THEY WILL JUST HANG AROUND TOGETHER.

WHEN WE HANG OUT TOGETHER, WE TALK ABOUT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

>> MY NAME IS MAKIKO MALACHI.

I AM 17 YEARS OLD AND I FIRST CAME HERE TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1997.

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ENGLISH THAT WELL.

IT WAS VERY HARD.

I DIDN'T TALK THAT MUCH IN SCHOOL.

THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD DO IS SMILE.

>> COME ON, ROBYN, WE GOT TO GO.

>> READY?

>> IN FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.

WELL, WE HAVE AN INTERESTING SHOW FOR YOU GUYS TODAY.

>> I'M JO RAY AND I TEACH AT SPRINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAVE BEEN HERE 11 YEARS.

I HAVE BEEN TEACHING TV HERE ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.

>> WHAT'S YOUR TRIPOD NUMBER?

>> YOU KNOW, 11 YEARS AGO I GUESS WE WERE 98% WHITE.

NOW WE ARE AT LEAST 50/50 WHITE AND MINORITY.

>> REMEMBER NOW, YOU WANT TO POINT IT RIGHT AT THEIR MOUTH.

>> I THINK THE MARSHALLESE STUDENTS ARE MORE BOLD THAN THEY WERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THE FIRST YEAR I WAS HERE, I WAS TEACHING ORAL COMMUNICATION AND I HAD A MARSHALLESE GIRL WHO WAS SO SHY, SHE COULDN'T HARDLY KEEP HER HEAD OFF HER DESK.

BUT THEY'RE NOT THAT SHY ANYMORE.

THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THESE KIDS IN MY INTRODUCTORY CLASS, THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE.

MOST OF THEM WERE HAVING A LOT OF DIFFICULTY WITH THE LANGUAGE AND THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS TRYING TO TEACH.

AND SO I APPROACHED THEM AND I SAID, I'M TRYING TO PICK OUT SOME KIDS WHO ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN TELEVISION TO DO A SHOW ON DIVERSITY ISSUES.

AND SO I SORT OF PULLED THEM OUT OF THE INTRO CLASS AND WE FORMED THIS DIVERSITY, AND WE NAMED IT DIVER-CITY.

WHICH IS THE CLASS THAT IS MOSTLY HIPG AND MARSHALLESE.

I THINK IT FORCES THEM TO EXPAND THEIR COMFORT ZONE AND TO GO OUT AND STICK A MICROTONE IN SOMEONE'S FACE AND ASK QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW.

SO THEY HAVE LEARNED THINGS THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE DOING.

>> WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO AFTER GRADE SITUATION?

>> GO TO COLLEGE.

>> FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

>> FOUR.

[SPEAKING MARSHALLESE] >> I'M DOING A SENIOR FAREWELL PROJECT.

I INTERVIEW EVERY SENIOR AND GET PICTURES OF THEM.

I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY WANT TO GO BACK BUT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GO BUT THEY REALLY WANT TO GO.

>> ON MY LAPTOP OVER HERE I HAVE A SCREEN SAVER THAT IS DIFFERENT ISLAND SHOTS.

I MEAN, IT WAS JUST ON THE COMPUTER.

AND THEY WILL STAND THERE AND LOOK AT IT AND SAY WHERE DID YOU GET THAT MS. RAY?

THAT'S JUST LIKE IT.

THAT'S GOT TO BE OUR ISLAND YOU KNOW.

OH, THEY MISS IT SO BAD, SO MUCH.

ABNER ESPECIALLY.

>> I MISS THE ISLAND, THAT'S IT.

THIS PLACE, ARKANSAS, IT'S GOOD BUT IT'S LIKE COUNTRY.

IT'S FUN, GOING TO THE LAKE AND STUFF.

BUT I MY THE MARSHALL ISLANDS MORE -- BUT I MISS THE MARSHALL ISLANDS MORE BECAUSE IT IS THE REAL OCEAN, SALT OCEAN.

>> OKAY, IF THIS IS YOUR LAST NAME, GET IN THIS LYNN.

IF YOUR LAST NAME IS HERE, GET IN THIS LINE.

>> THE REASON WHY HE MISSES THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IS BECAUSE HIS PARENTS ARE THERE.

♪ >> THERE ARE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT I HAVE THAT THEY'RE HERE AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR PARENTS ESPECIALLY, ARE BACK AT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

THE REASON WHY THEY ARE HERE IS FOR EDUCATION, BETTER EDUCATION.

>> SOMETIMES I WISH THE MARSHALL ISLANDS WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME SPRINGDALE, TOO.

JUST ONE-HOUR DRIVE BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I WANT TO GO BACK BUT I WANT TO STAY.

I'M USED TO IT NOW.

I HAVE LIVED HERE LONGER THAN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

>> THEY MAY THINK THEY WANT TO GO BUT THEY MAY FIND OUT THIS IS HOME.

>> ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> THEY'RE PIONEERS, YOU KNOW.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE THE OLD PIONEERS IN THE OLD DAYS THAT CAME IN THE COVERED WAGONS AND ALWAYS WISHED THEY COULD GO HOME BUT JUST NEVER WERE ABLE TO GO HOME.

THESE KIDS ARE THAT WAY.

THEY'RE PIONEERS.

AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM.

>> NO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SPRINGDALE HAS A PERSONALITY JUST LIKE PARSON HILLS.

90% OF OUR STUDENTS LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE CAMPUS.

AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE RIGHT AROUND 700 STUDENTS.

OUR SCHOOL IS UNIQUE IN THAT IF YOU LOOKED AT A PIE CHART OF OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, WE HAVE ALMOST THREE EQUAL SLICES OF CHILDREN WITH CAUCASIAN BACKGROUNDS, HISPANIC BACKGROUNDS AND PACIFIC ISLAND BACKGROUNDS.

IT GIVES US A REALLY GREAT BALANCE OF CULTURES.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY THINK ABOUT THEIR NATIONALITY AND THAT THEY THINK ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY BECAUSE THEY ENJOY SHARING THEIR CULTURE WITH OTHERS.

THE STUDENTS HERE ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT CAN PICK OUT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS FLAG.

>> EVERY BOY NEEDS TO PUT ON A SKIRT.

>> COME ON, COME ON.

>> WE'RE GOING TO DO BOTH GIRL'S DANCES FIRST.

WE ARE GOING TO DO "AWAY."

OKAY, HANG YOUR LEI THE RIGHT WAY LIKE DANDI IS.

NO COOL STYLING THINGS, JUST AROUND YOUR NECK.

OKAY, I WILL BE RIGHT BACK TO GET YOU.

>> WE HAVE SO MANY MARSHALLESE STUDENTS AND I COULD SEE IN THEM A REAL NEED TO STAY TIED TO SOME OF THE THINGS IN THEIR CULTURE THAT THEY HAD GREAT FOND MEMORIES OF.

♪ >> IT IS NOT SO EASY TO REPLICATE PLAYING ON THE BEACH IN ARKANSAS.

BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY REPLICATE THE MUSIC AND THE DANCE.

♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> I LIKE THE SONG.

I LIKE THE DANCING.

I LIKE THE BOY'S DANCE.

>> TODAY, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR MISTAKES AND REMEMBER A MISTAKE CAN BE A GREAT TEACHER.

>> THE STUDENTS WHO COME WHO DON'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH AT ALL HAVE FRIENDS WHO CAN HELP INTERPRET FOR THEM IN CLASS TO HAVE BASIC UNDERSTANDING.

I SEE THAT OUR STUDENTS PICK UP THE LANGUAGE QUICKLY.

MY GUESS IS IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE SO MANY SUPPORT IN THEIR HOME LANGUAGE, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK IT UP EVEN MORE QUICKLY.

[SPEAKING MARSHALLESE] >> DID YOU SEE THE GIRAFFE?

>> THEY WILL SPEAK MARSHALLESE.

THEY WILL TURN TO SOMEONE ELSE AND SPEAK ENGLISH AND TURN RIGHT BACK AND SPEAK MARSHALLESE.

>> OH, SHE TOOK UP THE REST.

>> THEY ARE FREE TO SPEAK WHATEVER LANGUAGE THEY LIKE TO AT SCHOOL BUT THEY HAVE TO KNOW TEACHERS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO UNDERSTAND THEM UNLESS IT'S ENGLISH.

>> WHY?

WHY WOULD THE PLANTS IN THE FOREST FLOOR HAVE TO GROW WELL IN THE SHADE?

>> WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION, THEY PROCESS IT IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE, SO THEY'RE TAKING IT FROM ENGLISH, BACK TO THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE, AND THEN THEY ANSWER IT IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE, AND THEN PROCESSING IT BACK TO ENGLISH SO THAT WHAT THEY GIVE YOU IS THE LANGUAGE THAT I KNOW.

>> SCOTT KNOWS.

>> CAUSE IT ALWAYS RAINS AND THERE'S SUNLIGHT.

>> IT ALWAYS RAINS AND THERE IS SUNLIGHT?

>> SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO THEM A LONG TIME TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER A QUESTION.

>> I'M ANDI ACUFF.

I TEACH FOURTH GRADE AT PARSON HILLS AND THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR.

IN MY CLASSROOM, I HAVE 28 STUDENTS, 14 GIRLS, 14 BOYS.

OUT OF MY CLASSROOM EIGHT ARE MARSHALLESE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE DAY ONE SO THEY DON'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENT.

I HAVE A FEW WHO KNOW THEIR FAMILY COMES FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND THEY SPEAK MARSHALLESE.

BUT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN THERE.

SO THIS HAS PRETTY MUCH BEEN THEIR WORLD.

A AND THEN I HAVE SOME WHO PLAN TO GO BACK TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS WHO ARE LIVING WITH AUNTS AND UNCLES OR GRANDPARENTS WHO WANT TO GO BACK THERE.

BUT THEY DON'T ACT LIKE IT'S HARD FOR THEM.

AND I I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S JUST A WAY THEY ACT.

BUT I HAVE MANY, MANY, ALMOST PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF MY STUDENTS LIVE WITH AUNTS, UNCLES, GRANDPARENTS ORARE NOT EVEN RELATED.

THEY'RE BROTHER-IN-LAW'S FAMILY AND THEY CALL EACH OTHER MOM, DAD, BROTHER, SISTER AND YOU DON'T KNOW THEY ARE REALLY NOT THEIR REAL MOM AND DAD AND BROTHERS.

SO TRYING TO FIND THEIR FAMILY TREE IS SOMETIMES HARD BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL -- IT'S LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PARENTS, THEY ARE VERY FOCUSED IN THAT THEY CAME HERE FOR THEIR CHILD TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION.

>> AND I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE.

>> THEY WILL COME AND SUPPORT THEIR CHILD.

THEY WILL COME AND WATCH THEIR CHILD ESPECIALLY FOR ACADEMIC THINGS LIKE GRADUATIONS.

>> BRANDON WANTS TO BE A DOCTOR WHEN GROWS UP.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THEY'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THEIR CHILDREN LEARNING.

>> MIKE SAYS HE WANTS TO BE LIKE HIS DAD.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS MAYBE THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND OR THAT THEY GREW UP ORGAN RAISING THEIR CHILDREN DIFFERENTLY FROM WHAT WHAT'S PROBABLY MOST APPROPRIATE IN A PLACE LIKE SPRINGDALE.

PERHAPS THEY HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN A MORE RELAXED LIFESTYLE THAT I THINK WE HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN MAYBE THEY DID.

>> EVERY SCHOOL DAY, ANITA IBAN RELIVES HER OWN STRUGGLE TO LEARN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.

SHE TEACHES REMEDIAL READING AT PARSON HILLS BECAUSE SHE REMEMBERS HOW HARD IT WAS WHEN SHE FIRST CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AS A TEENAGER.

[STUDENTS READING TOGETHER] >> HER STUDENTS MAY NOT KNOW IT BUT THEIR TEACHER COMES FROM A ROYAL FAMILY.

BACK IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, ANITA'S FATHER IS AN IROJ, THE KING OF AN ISLAND.

>> AND I FIND MYSELF IN THAT SAME POSITION OVER HERE.

THEY LOOK AT ME AS A ROLE MODEL OR SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME TO AND I MIGHT HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THEM.

>> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE I SEE MY PEOPLE HERE EVERY WHERE I GO, WHETHER IT'S THE GROCERY STORE, THE BANK, THE POST OFFICE, SCHOOL.

I HAVE TO DEAL WITH OVER 100 MARSHALLESE STUDENTS HERE AND I KNOW THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY, TOO.

>> JUST LIKE HER MARSHALLESE STUDENTS, ANITA LEFT HOME FOR A BETTER EDUCATION.

BUT AFTER COLLEGE, HER PLAN WAS ALWAYS TO RETURN TO THE ISLANDS.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL SAY.

WELL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO WORK A LITTLE AND GO BACK HOME.

I HAVE TO LAUGH AT THAT BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I SAID THE SAME THING 20-SOME YEARS AGO.

BUT HERE WE ARE STILL.

[MINISTER PREACHING IN MARSHALLESE].

>> MY HUSBAND FELT THAT -- HE FELT A CALLING TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH THE CHURCH AND TO TRY TO REACH THE MARSHALLESE THAT ARE HERE AND NOW THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING.

>> I CALL MY HOME ANYWHERE HE WANTS ME TO GO.

RIGHT NOW IT'S SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS.

AND WE'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST EIGHT YEARS, DOING THE WILL OF GOD AND THE WORK OF GOD HERE IN THE NORTHWEST AREA.

THE CONGREGATION IS MOSTLY MARSHALLESE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE ISLANDS.

[SPEAKING MARSHALLESE] >> AMEN.

>> IN THE CHURCH, WE TEACH HOW CAN WE ADJUST TO THE LIFE HERE IN THE STATES.

YOU KNOW, LIKE PEOPLE COMING HERE AND LIVE ON THEIR OWN, IT'S LIKE A FREEDOM.

DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO AND SOMETIME THEY GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.

BACK THERE YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT YOU THINK YOU ARE AWAY FROM HOME AND YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU SEE PEOPLE DOING THAT AND THINK, HEY, MAYBE I CAN DO THAT, TOO.

[SINGING IN MARSHALLESE] >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE TRYING TO IMITATE TO BE SOMEBODY.

BE WHO YOU ARE.

AND BE WHO YOU ARE.

AND DO WHAT YOU KNOW.

AND DON'T TRY TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT YOU ARE NOT.

AND SHOW THAT WE ARE A PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

>> THERE ARE AT LEAST 13 MARSHALLESE CHURCHES IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HOLDING SERVICES IN STORYFRONTS AND ABANDONED SANCTUARIES.

THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT LINK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S LIKE THE AVENUE TO THE PEOPLE RUNS THROUGH THE CHURCHES AND THEY ARE PACKED EVERY SUNDAY.

I HOPE THEY ALL REMEMBER TO SAY A PRAYER FOR ME AS I MAKE THE FINAL PLANS FOR THE YEAR'S BIGGEST MARSHALLESE CELEBRATION, CONSTITUTION DAY, THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR NATION.

>> OH, BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO TO THE AIRPORT, TOO.

TO GET OUR SENATOR.

>> OUR MARSHALLESE INDEPENDENCE DAY IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST OF MAY.

BUT IN THE UNITED STATES, WE CELEBRATE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SO PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO TRAVEL.

OUR GOVERNMENT ALWAYS SENDS REPRESENTATIVES.

LAST YEAR THE PRESIDENT CAME TO ARKANSAS AND THIS YEAR THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS, MATTLAN ZACKHRAS ARRIVES WITH HIS FAMILY, GREETED BY PEOPLE FROM NAMORIK, HIS HOME ISLAND.

OF COURSE, I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS, SO MUCH PLANNING TAN WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS EVENT.

EVEN MY KIDS ARE HELPING OUT.

>> TESTING, TESTING.

>> WE BASICALLY TAKE OVER THE JONES CENTER FOR THE WEEKEND AND MARSHALLESE TEAMS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS ARIZONA AND/OR GONE COME TOGETHER FOR COMPETITIONS IN BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL AND SOFTBALL.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS [SPEAKING MARSHALLESE] OR DO NOT TAKE THE CANOE FOR GRANTED, IT IS YOUR SOURCE OF LIFE.

>> I FEEL THAT THE CANOE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS THEME IS THIS THREE-DAY WEEKEND.

THE CANOE CAN ALSO BE OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN SPRINGDALE.

AND ONLY IF ONE PERSON IS PUSHING IT, IT IS NOT GONNA GO.

BUT IF ALL OF US PUSH, AND CHANT LIKE OUR GREAT GRANDFATHERS DID, THEY USED TO CHANT AND PUSH A CANOE, THEN IT MOVES.

SO I ADVISE THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.

WE ARE HERE IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE HERE, LET'S KEEP OUR HERITAGE, OUR CULTURE AND PASS IT ON TO OUR KIDS.

[SINGING] >> THE MUSIC, THE FOOD AND THE DANCING TAKES US ALL BACK HOME FOR A WHILE.

[CHEERING] >> AND THE COMPETITIONS GIVE US A CHANCE TO SHOW PRIDE IN THE TEAMS REPRESENTING OUR HOME ISLANDS AND ATOLLS.

SOME HAVE A REAL LOCAL FLAVOR, LIKE THE GIRLS FROM THE TYSON FOODS TEAM, DECKED OUT IN ARKANSAS RAZORBACK RED.

THEIR OPPONENTS HAVE COME ALL THE WAY FROM MAJURO, THE CAPITAL OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

>> BASE ON BALLS.

>> ONE PLAYER ON THE MAJURO TEAM IS NOT ONLY A GOOD HITTER, SHE IS ALSO A SENATOR IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS PARLIAMENT.

ABACCA ANZ AIN-MADISON REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE OF RONGELA P, AN ISLAND DEEPLY CONTAMINATED BY THE NUCLEAR TESTING [MEJATTO CHEER] >> THE MEN'S TEAM FROM RONGELAP BEARS THE NAME MEJATTO, THE ISLAND THEY WERE EXILED TO 20 YEARS AGO.

>> THEY ARE DISPERSED.

THEY ARE LIVING OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME ATOLL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY HOME.

I ASKED THEM WHICH ONE OF YOU WERE ON THE BOAT THAT LEFT 20 YEARS AGO FROM RONGELAP?

AND A COUPLE OF THEM JUST RAISED THEIR HAND.

AND I SAY OKAY, I NEED ALL OF THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE THAT MOVED.

>> THEY KNOW THE HARDSHIP THEY WENT THROUGH.

THIS IS OUR SACRED LAND.

WE ARE NOBODY WITHOUT THEM.

>> IT IS MY CONCERN THAT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING IN BUNDLES.

CULTURALLY, OUR CULTURE IS BEING DISRUPTED BECAUSE THEY ARE LEAVING.

BUT THEY NEED TO FIND A BETTER LIFE.

THIS IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.

THEY FIND THEY ARE ACCEPTED HERE.

THEY FEEL AT HOME HERE.

IF IT MEANS TO SURVIVE, SOBEIT.

>> THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MARSHALLS AND THE UNITED STATES IS BASICALLY A MILITARY ONE.

THE UNITED STATES INTEREST IN US IS MILITARY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THIS DAY.

IT'S STILL MILITARY.

AND WE HAVE SACRIFICED A LOT OF HEALTH, LAND BECAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES INTEREST IN MILITARY DEVELOPMENT.

TONY DEBRUM HAS SPENT OVER 35 YEARS IN THE RONGELAP PUBLIC SERVICE.

HE WAS A PRINCIPAL FIGURE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES WHICH RESULTED IN THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION.

HIS PASSION FOR THE RONGELAP CAUSE IS FUELLED BY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO HIM AS A YOUNG BOY GROWING UP ON THE ISLAND OF LIKIEP.

ON MARCH 1, 1954, HE WITNESSED THE BRAVO SHOT, THE MOST POWERFUL BOMB IN U.S. NUCLEAR HISTORY.

>> JUST THINKING ABOUT THE BRAVO SHOT GIVES ME GOOSE PIMPLES EVEN TODAY.

I AM 60 YEARS OLD.

BRAVO WAS WHEN I WAS 9.

I WAS ON THE BEACH WITH MY GRANDFATHER.

HE WAS THROATING NET.

WE HAD ALREADY STARTED FISHING WHEN THE FLASH HIT US.

[EXPLOSION] >> I CAN STILL HEAR HIM SAYING "RUN, RUN TO THE HOUSE."

THE WHOLE SKY JUST TURNED RED.

I COULD STILL HEAR MY GRANDFATHER SAYING "RUN!"

BUT THEN EVERYTHING BECAME RED AFTER THE INITIAL FLASH.

I COULD NOT RUN.

THE SOUND OF BRAVO WAS THE MOST FEARFUL SOUND I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.

I THOUGHT THE WORLD HAD ENDED.

TODAY, HARDLY ANYBODY REMEMBERS.

AND IF THEY DO, IT IS BECAUSE THEY READ IT SOMEWHERE IN A REPORT.

IT HAS NO SIGNIFICANCE ANYMORE.

AND IF IT WERE JUST AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT OR A BOATING ACCIDENT WHERE SOME PEOPLE DROWNED OR SOME GUYS LOST A LIMB OR AN EYE OR SOMETHING, FINE.

IT GOES AWAY.

BUT THE PROBLEMS OF RADIATION LINGER.

THEY DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR.

WE HAVE ISLANDS THAT WILL BE CONTAMINATED FOR THE NEXT 12,000 YEARS AND THEY SIT RIGHT NEXT TO COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE PROBLEMS OF GENETIC MUTATIONS THAT WE DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND.

WE HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OF BIRTH ANOMALIES THAT ARE NORMALLY NOT DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC OR EVEN REPORTED.

THE EFFECTS OF IT ARE KEPT SECRET BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED.

THE PEOPLE WHO PERPETRATED THOSE DAMAGES KEEP IT SECRET FOR THE SAKE OF LIMITING LIABILITY.

AND SO IT NEVER COMES OUT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP LIFE.

LIFE CONTINUES AND WE TRY OUR BEST TO ADJUST.

>> WE ARE ALL TRYING TO ADJUST TO LIFE HERE IN ARKANSAS.

AND EACH ONE OF US HAS A DIFFERENT DREAM FOR THE FUTURE.

SAIMON MILNE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO THE SIMPLE LIFE OF THE OUTER ISLANDS BUT FIRST HE HAS TO CONVINCE HIS WIFE, HELENA.

>> I TOLD HER IF WE GO BACK, I WANT TO GO BACK AND STAY THE WAY WE USED TO IN THE OUTER ISLAND.

THAT'S THE LIFE I LIKE.

BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT THAT LIFE.

SHE WANTS THE KIND OF LIFE IN THE URBAN CENTER.

>> WHO KNOWS, MAYBE I MIGHT STAY HERE AND DIE HERE.

THERE IS A SAYING IN OUR CUSTOM.

[SPEAKING RONGELAP] >> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU DIE MUCH YOU ARE STILL GOING TO BE SIX FEET UNDER THE GROUND.

>> COME TO THINK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, IT'S LIKE I LOST PART OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I SPEND MOST OF MY ADULTHOOD HERE IN THE STATES AND REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE TO STAY THERE ALL MY LIFE.

I STILL WONDER WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> FOR MOST RONGELAP YOUNG FOLKS LIVING IN SPRINGDALE, THE FUTURE IS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT I WORRY ABOUT THEM BECAUSE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL ONLY A FEW ARE GOING ON TO COLLEGE.

IT'S EASIER TO JUST GET A JOB AT TYSONS, LIVE AT HOME AND NOT FACE THE FEAR OF LIVING THE FAMILIAR ISLAND OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

SOME OF THEM, LIKE MAKIKO MALACHI ARE LEARNING HOW TO NAVIGATE THE STRANGE, UNCHARTED WATERS OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM.

MAKIKO HAS A SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE FALL.

I WISH THEY ALL COULD GO, NOT TO LOSE THEIR RONGELAP CULTURE BUT IF YOU'RE HERE, IT'S A FAST LANE.

TIME TO SPEED UP THOSE TAKES THE FIRST STEPS TO COLLEGE ARE THE BRAVE ONES.

>> IT TELLS YOU WHEN YOU SHOULD START PREPARING FOR THE S.A.T., A.C.T.

>> IT TAKES COURAGE FOR NATHANIA, SYLVIA AND MAIKIKO TO BE THE ONLY RONGELAP GIRLS ATTENDING A SUMMER CLASS ON MONEY MANAGEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.

JUST BEING HERE HELPS THEM BEGIN TO BELIEVE THEY CAN DO IT.

>> IF YOU ARE MARSHALLESE, TELL ME THAT.

YOUR HERITAGE IS YOUR GIFT, IT IS YOUR STRENGTH.

AND BY THE WAY, YOUR DEGREES ARE NOT ABOUT YOU, YOUR DEGREES ARE ABOUT CONTINUING SUCCESS IN YOUR FAMILY AND KEEPING THE HERITAGE LINE GOING.

YOU NEED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR FAMILY.

AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO JUST GIVE BACK.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT A DEGREE.

>> ALBIOUS LAITOR AND LUCIA BENJAMIN ARE ALSO ON CAM PUS THIS SUMMER.

THEY ARE THE ONLY MARSHALLESE STUDENTS IN THE MATH AND SCIENCE UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM.

IT'S DESIGNED TO GIVEN COURAGEMENT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE UNSURE ABOUT COLLEGE.

>> ABLIOUS, HE GOT ME INVOLVED IN THIS SO WE FILL OUT AN APPLICATION TOGETHER AND THEY ACCEPTED US.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS EXCITING.

IT WAS FUN BECAUSE LIVING IN THE DORMS, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I WOULD WANT TO DO.

IT FEELS LIKE I'M IN COLLEGE.

IN ENGINEERING, WE'RE WORKING ON CONCRETES AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT WAYS, A NEW WAY TO TEST THE COMPRESS SIF STRENGTH OF CONCRETES.

IN THIS PROGRAM, IT IS ONLY ME AND ALBIOUS AND THE REST ARE JUST WHITE AND HISPANIC.

I FEEL LIKE I'M PART OF THEM.

I'M ONE OF THEM, LIKE I'M AN AMERICAN, YEAH.

I DIDN'T REALLY PLAN ON GOING TO COLLEGE BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW, I JUST -- BUT RIGHT NOW, I REALLY WANT TO GO THERE.

I REALLY WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

THIS PROGRAM HAS MADE ME REALIZE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OUT THERE THAT I COULD REALLY DO.

LIKE, GET TO EXPLORE THINGS JUST BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HERE AND THEY'RE OFFERING ME CHANCES.

>> I NEVER PICTURE MYSELF GOING BACK TO MARSHALL ISLANDS.

I JUST PICTURE MYSELF IF I BECOME A DOCTOR, I WOULD STAY HERE AND WORK ALL MY LIFE.

I LIKE IT OUT HERE IN AMERICA.

>> SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO DO THIS.

3X TO.

>> ALBIOUS IS SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING VERY HARD TO BE SUCCESSFUL HERE WHILE ALWAYS REMEMBERING WHERE HE'S FROM.

HE CAN SOLVE MOST OF THE PROBLEMS IN MATH CLASS BUT THERE IS ONE QUESTION HE FINDS TOUGH TO ANSWER.

WHERE IS YOUR HOME?

>> WHERE'S MY HOME?

THAT'S A NICE QUESTION.

I COULD CHOOSE MARSHALL ISLANDS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I WAS BORN AND I COULD CHOOSE SPRINGDALE BECAUSE IT'S WHERE I LIVE NOW AND I GO TO SCHOOL AND I LEARN NEW THINGS.

I THINK I WILL GO WITH SPRINGDALE.

>> IF LIFE'S BETTER THERE, I MAYBE GO.

BUT IF LIFE'S GOING WORSE, I'M GOING TO STAY HERE.

>> MARSHALLESE STUDENTS LIKE ALBIOUS AND LUCIA SOMETIMES FEEL PRESSURE FROM THEIR FRIENDS TO NOT TAKE PART IN PROGRAMS LIKE "UPWARD BOUNDS."

>> SOME TOLD ME THEY DON'T WANT TO WASTE THEIR TIME ON THIS KIND OF STUFF LIKE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, SPEND THEIR SUMMER HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY.

THEY JUST WANT TO GET A JOB.

SCHOOL FIRST AND SECOND, JOB.

BECAUSE IF YOU GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, IT WILL NOT AFFECT ONLY YOU, IT WILL AFFECT THE GOVERNMENT OF WHERE YOU'RE FROM, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS.

AND IT WILL THEY WILL LOOK UPON YOU AND SAY NICE JOB, CAN YOU COME AND WORK FOR US?

WE NEED YOU.

MARSHALL ISLANDS, THEY NEED TEACHERS, DOCTORS, WHO ARE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE.

SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MAYBE GO TO COLLEGE, AND GO BACK THERE AND HELP MY COUNTRY.

>> ON A COLD DAY IN FEBRUARY, MY HUSBAND CHARLIE AND I ARE AT THE AIRPORT TO WELCOME ANOTHER MARSHALLESE IMMIGRANT TO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

HE'S MY COUSIN, GABRIEL JORLIKIEP.

HE SAYS IT WAS A LONG FLIGHT AND HE ALMOST MISSED HIS CONNECTION IN PHOENIX BECAUSE HE COULDN'T READ THE FLIGHT SCHEDULES.

HE'S BROUGHT THREE PIECES OF LUGGAGE, ONE SMALL BAG OF CLOTHS, AND TWO BIG COOLERS FILLED WITH FISH AND BREADFRUIT FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

HIS PLAN IS TO GET A JOB, PROBABLY AT TYSON FOODS.

SAVE SOME MONEY, AND BUY A TICKET FOR HIS GIRLFRIEND TO COME.

HE NEEDS TO GET A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND LEARN ENOUGH ENGLISH TO PASS THE DRIVING TEST.

FOR NOW, HE WILL LIVE IN MY SISTER'S HOUSE.

WELCOME TO SPRINGDALE, GABRIEL.

JUST ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL ISLAND.

♪ >> MAJOR TUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP WINTHROP