That night was a big party with a variety of food. There is too much beer and wine to drink. They brought charcoal for a fire.  It creates a stable fire with strong heat which was quite different from burning coconut shells which is difficult to adjust the heat.They set up a bonfire on the beach. They stabbed the fish they had caught on skewersand grilled them. They also grilled the marinated chicken on a wire mesh. There was also cheese, and lots of fresh water. It was a dream dinner for Miyoko.

    Everyone sits in the sand around the bonfire.  The wind stopped and the air waswarm.  There were small ripples of waves, so tame that they could not be called “waves”lapping on the shore. The island is quiet, and trees and insects seem to listen to human chatting. Miyoko often didn't understand their conversation because it was too fast for her, but she was happy just by eating delicious food.

    Then someone said, 

    "What do we do when the volunteer period is over?”

    All the Americans here will complete their two-year volunteer period in just several months. A volunteer can extend the period ifone wishes.

    Ryan who was the teacher at an agricultural high school, said with a red face after drinking, 

    "I think I will stay in Iboban for about one more year." 

    Iboban is the name of his agricultural high school.

    "I will order a bunch of chicks to Hawaii as soon as the new school year starts. I willstart a poultry farming program. I will extend my stay because of this. I'll think about my next course after one year."

    "I can't wait to go back home. I'll get a job at a good company," said Linda with a beautiful smile with gentle eyes.

    Linda's hometown is Atlanta, Georgia.Linda speaks with a sweet southern accent.

    "Palau is a good place, but two years is enough for me."

    Nancy, who was sitting nearby Linda leaning against Mack, nodded deeply with agreement to Linda's remarks.

    "I want to work at something internationally.  I want to get a job that goes back and forth between the United States and foreign countries. I don't feel like returning to the United States and settling down." Mack quietly said. 

    "I totally understand that feeling," said Michael from the other side of the bonfire.

    "Listen, have you guys heard there is a good graduate school in Arizona?  After graduating with a master’s degree specializing in international business, you can get a good job at an international company," Bill said with a serious voice.

    "I want to go to this graduate school after Palau." Bill said.

    "Doesn't the master's program take a couple of years? Isn't the tuition expensive?" Michael asked.

    Bill talked about what he knew about the school, and then the conversation went on how to pay for tuitions.

    Miyoko has been a teacher in Palau for two years already. Before this summer vacation, she has signed a two-year extension contract with the Ministry of Education of Palau.  Miyoko is not sure how many years she wants to stay in Palau. Miyoko wants to think about it when the next two-year contract period ends.

    It was late at night and everyone got a little tipsy. Bill found an empty coconut core from the jungle and dexterously split it in half. Miyoko doesn't know how to do it, but acore of the coconut splits cleanly into two halves when one hits at a certain place.  Bill must have known how to do it.    

    Bill held the halved cores one on eachhand, hit each other making clear sounds like the hooves of a horse running.  While rhythmically clapping the cores, Bill started dancing. Where did Bill learn that step? Itlooks like Palauan dance, but his form is much animated.  The coconut percussion is sometimesstrong and sometimes weak.  It is remarkably well done. Bill's expressive round eyes reflecting the light of the bonfire shone brilliantly. Everyone was surprised because the dance and sound were excellent. The friends praised Bill with clapping hands and whistling.

  Bill moved his mustache enthusiastically.Miyoko had always thought Bill was a fun person, but she didn't know he had such amusical talent. Ryan with shiny blonde hair also stood up and started dancing with Bill’s percussion. However, Bill's sense of dancingwas outstanding. Mack, who seems to be quiet and shy, also stood up and took Nancy's hand and started dancing together. It became a very fun party. Although Michael is active for everything and does not seem shy at all, he is actually very shy.  Michael sat on the sand and looked up at the dancing friends with a big smile.

    Bill continued to rhythmically beat the two coconut cores.  Sometimes pausing to drink or eat, he eventually moved further up the beach making clear sounds.  By that time, everyone was tired and getting ready to sleep. 

    They brought two tents. Linda and Nancy are going to sleep in one. Only two people can sleep in the other tent. Michael gave a blanket to the one person who will need to sleep outside.  Michael brought a tent whichMiyoko and Michael were using near the fire.  All three tents were set up around the bonfire with the entrances facing each other.

    Everyone went into the tent one after another.  Bill was still walking along the beach playing rhythmically. It seems that Bill will be the one who wraps himself in a blanket and sleeps outside of the tent.

    Bill came back to the fire and hit the coconuts violently to each other around the bonfire with super nice rhythm. He shows no sign of tiredness. 

    Ryan shouted "Noisy!" from inside the tent with a muffled voice. Miyoko stretched her neck and looked up through the insect net. She saw Bill whose face was red with reflection ofthe embers of the bonfire, was bending over and looking into Miyoko’s eyes. He waslaughing in a good mood.

    The next day, everyone slept until near noon. After waking up and eating the leftovers, the five people slowly started packing goods.  Miyoko got the remaining chicken, bread, cheese, and drinking water.

    Nancy of the ponytail asked,

    "Myoko, would you like to use the hammock if we leave it?"

    "Yes, I'm happy to use it."

    "Then, I'll leave it as it is. Please return it when you come back to Koror."

    "Okay, thank you."

    Miyoko loves to take a nap while swaying in a hammock.

    Eventually, the five people loaded theempty cooler boxes and a large amount of garbage bags on the red boat and left the island, shouting "Good-bye!"

    Miyoko and Michael stood on the beach and waved their hands for a long time. When the small red wooden boat disappeared beyond the cape, the both felt somewhat sad, and returned to the work of making textbooks and huts, respectively.