Palau, Micronesia, SAM'S TOURS.

I picked up this Blog from our good friend Gunther Deichmann who was just in Palau setting up our new Apple iMac based Digital Photo Center, here at Sam's. Following Palau he headed over to Truk Lagoon Dive Center our Alliance partner to do some work there. He filed this inspirational story from there which I felt others may enjoy. If you wish to help, feel free to drop me a note and or contact those mentioned in the story directly.
Thanks Gunther for sharing this story and hats off to Clark, Ben, Andy and the students at Chuuk Public High School.
Dermot

Posted: 27-01-2008 | 15:35 Filed in: Aperture | Apple Mac | Interesting News
Is this the future generation of Aperture users …?

Why we should spend more time educating the not so privileged ones… thankfully as I discovered recently in Chuuk, Micronesia, there are some people out there who do just that.

We finally arrived in Chuuk. Now where is Chuuk you might ask? Chuuk is located about an hour and 45 min. flying time slightly south and east of Guam, at approximately 8 degrees north latitude and 152 degrees east longitude, and is part of Micronesia. Otherwise know as TRUK LAGOON, Chuuk is best known for the huge fleet of 2nd World War ship wrecks now resting at the bottom of the ocean in the famous Truk Lagoon. Arnold my I.T. staff & friend and I are on assignment for one of our clients, Truk Lagoon Dive Center and Truk Stop Hotel.

Tuesday 7:30 in the morning during our breakfast I noticed three guys in the restaurant with iBooks and a Mac Book. I thought to myself "wow this is very strange" in a remote place like this to see three Macintosh computers and that’s not including ours. Well, the curiosity got the better of me and I approached the breakfast table with the Mac's and started a casual conversation. That’s how I met Clark, Ben and Andy, and found out that Clark is teaching at the local Chuuk public high school using all iBooks in his class. Now I got more curious and during my conversation with Clark I found out that there was a donation of some (10) ten iBooks some time ago. With the support of the Touhy Foundation in Albany, New York, a group called Learning Currents International and the Episcopal Church in Micronesia (ECIM), obtained 10 iBook computers to use in its education programs.

Clark teaches a group of high school students, some photography, art, communication and English. Clark who is a very dedicated volunteer (see his Bio below) managed to organize these iBooks for the Chuuk Public High School, an amazing task and a great opportunity for these children in this remote part of the world.

If you saw the place you might understand a bit more about this public school, it is guys like Clark who dedicate their life to projects like these with the occasional help from Andy Kerr from Guam who was there this week on a visit to help out. The local Government and education Dept. don’t seem to care that much; the facts are: a public high school with 600 children and not enough teachers, only two toilets, most of the time no power and drinking water, hence the children’s Podcast project reflecting the need for water and better facilities.

Clark invited me for a visit and showed me around. I met the students and was very impressed with their work done on the refurbished second hand iBooks. Producing podcasts and stories to be used and shown to other schools on the island, openly speaking from their heart about the conditions at their school and the lack of support from the local education department. Very impressive indeed, and as I discovered later, some great talent amongst this group of students!

Take this example; Clark has to take all the iBooks home everyday for security and get them charged for the next day, which he does at the Truk Stop Hotel since they have reliable power and also the only place in Chuuk with a wi-fi connection. Sometimes Clark takes his students there for some learning experience on the net. I decided to help out a bit too, so on Friday morning I visited the school again to provide Clarks students some basic Photography lessons which he welcomed and thanked me for it, but then I should really thank him for showing me something that not so many people are aware of, another learning experience and a reminder of the "forgotten ones".

A small field trip around the school grounds showed the students sharing the only digital camera available, some evaluation of the images afterwards was appreciated very much by the students. Who knows, some of these students could be the next Aperture users in the future. I certainly detected a lot of excitement and interest in the visual arts.
We are so blinded by too much technology these days, but here I saw something very beautiful, a group of children with very little equipment getting some amazing results with just the basic iBook and sharing the only small digital camera patiently amongst each other.

Thanks to Clark and his endless efforts these children have been given an opportunity in this remote part of the world, and as Clark explains… if only a handful of them make it then I have achieved something. Clark needs some more help with additional basic digital cameras and iBooks. From the ten originally donated iBooks 5 went back for repair to Guam with Andy Kerr who is donating his time and knowledge to the forgotten ones. Read more about Andy below, another guy with a good heart and soul.

We take things for granted and forget about the children who could use our help and knowledge given them a chance in life, this is what Clark does relentlessly. I take my hat off to Clark and Andy, for giving their precious time and energy to this amazing project, well done guys.

My small contribution for a few hours was only a drop in the ocean, but seeing the students enjoying themselves gave me a great sense of satisfaction and when I return to Chuuk I am only to happy in contributing a lot more. For info on Gunther Deichmann visit his website at: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/
GD

Clark Graham:
Came to Micronesia in 1966 with the Peace Corps Volunteer as an ESL teacher. He also ran a dive shop for many years, did underwater photography and taught the only secondary Maritime History & Archaeology with students doing submerged cultural resource projects documenting the aircraft and traditional sites in Chuuk.

Since 1989 Clark has been the executive director of the Society for Historic Investigation & Preservation (SHIP), an FSM non-government organization (NGO). SHIP’s purpose is to promote historic preservation, environmental protection, to educate Micronesians and assist in preserving valuable knowledge and information, encourage pride in the past and use it as a bridge to the future, and using this information to empower young people to live healthy, wise and satisfying lives.

With the support of the Touhy Foundation in Albany, New York, Learning Connections International and the Episcopal Church in Micronesia (ECIM), SHIP obtained 10 iBook computers to use in its education programs.

SHIP choose Apple, specifically iBook laptops, because they are user friendly, offer excellent software, are rugged and reliable. With Garageband and all, they allow our students to interact easily and positively: they really get excited about learning.

Chuukese people have a high percentage of spatial and visual intelligence and our work with students in audio-visual projects, photography and multi-media activities allows them to achieve this without being proficient in English.

For more information and other disturbing images visit the Blog Site:
http://chuukhighschool.blogspot.com

About Andrew Kerr
Chuuk is one of four volunteer projects for me in Micronesia: Palau, Yap, Guam, Chuuk. All computer-related projects and all dealing with digital equity issues and Palau and Chuuk dealing directly with visual arts as a teaching mechanism (i.e. digital photography).

Andrew (Andy) Kerr, is an eLearning consultant whose clients private and public sector entities in the Asia/Pacific. His background includes 12 years of education and education related activities at the K-12, higher education and adult education levels throughout the US mainland, Pacific and Asia. The work has included distance education (Internet, satellite, video conferencing and hybrid models), instructional design, technology training and integration. Andy is the former Associate Director of the U.S. Department of Education program, the Pacific Regional Technology Education Consortium (PRTEC), and a university instructor, instructional technologist, and technology coordinator. Current projects include technology planning, staff development, and distance learning program implementation. He specializes in working with technology solutions for under-served areas, especially in rural and remote areas with little to no access to modern infrastructure and services.

CHS-Chuuk High School: Chuuk’s oldest public high school located at Wunungenota: an important historic site for the Chuukese people. SHIP-Society for Historic Investigation & Preservation: SHIP an FSM NGO founded in 1989 with the purpose of promoting historic preservation, environmental protection, education, and the empowerment of young people to live healthy, wise and satisfying lives.
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Sam's Tours recently appointed TOURISM UNLIMITED as our official Media and PR Agency in Europe. I met Judith and Christoph Hoppe, two of the co-founders of Tourism Unlimited, during their first visit to Palau a few years ago. We have fostered a good friendship over the years and come to know one another better during their subsequent visits to Palau and or my visits the Germany. So it was with great pleasure that Sam's Tours appointed Tourism Unlimited to assist with our marketing efforts throughout Europe.

I will be working closely with Christoph and Judith in the months ahead and look forward to the many exciting plans we have to improve Sam's Tours support and services to our professional travel partners, diving customers and others in Europe interested in visiting us in Palau, Micronesia. For more information please visit:

http://www.tourism-unlimited.com/de

http://www.tourism-unlimited.com/de/pressebereich/SamsTours/

Please see Sam's Tours GERMAN BLOG at:

http://samstours.blogspot.com/2008/01/sams-tours-erffnet-photoshop.html

Für Fan's der Unterwasserfotografie und solche, die es noch werden wollen, gibt es grosse Neuigkeiten: Sam's Tours hat einen Photoshop auf der Tauchbasis eingerichtet, der vom allerfeinsten ausgestattet ist: 7 iMacs mit WLAN/Internetzugang stehen den Tauchern zur Verfügung. 3 der digitalen Arbeitsplätze sind mit Apple Aperture und Adobe Photoshop ausgestattet (Software für Bildbearbeitung), 1 Arbeitsplatz bietet zusätzlich noch Videoschnittsoftware.

Wer noch keine eigene Unterwasser-Fotoausrüstung besitzt, muss trotzdem nicht auf die Mitnahme der schönsten Unterwassererlebnisse verzichten: das Angebot wird ergänzt um verschiedene Kameras und Unterwassergehäuse, die gemietet werden können. Wer seine fotografischen Fähigkeiten unter Wasser wie am Bildschirm perfektionieren möchte, sollte sich schnell für den Fotoworkshop vom 22.-27. April 2008 in Palau bei Sam's Tours anmelden. Weitere Infos zum Workshop findet Ihr hier.

For those of you who’ve been to Sam’s Tours Dive Center in Palau, Micronesia before or have been keeping up with our blogs you know that our facilities underwent a huge renovation and improvement ending in an October 2007 Grand Re-Opening. Included in those improvements were new Guest Lockers, expansion of Bottom Time Bar & Grill, paving our formerly muddy and messy Parking Lot, and lots of other odds and ends to better serve our Guests!

Like many projects, there were a few things that didn’t quite make the deadline and or still remain to be done. Today, I’m happy to report that one of those major “To Do Items” has finally come to fruition (no pun intended!) providing our guests with the very latest in digital photography and imaging services!

I’m pleased to announce the launch of SAM'S TOURS DIGITAL PHOTO CENTER!

Gunther and Sam celebrate the opening of Sam's new Digital Photo Center

And I don’t mean just any old workstation where you can download your images and burn a CD or DVD. I'm talking about six top of the line Apple iMac workstations loaded with RAM and optimized for digital imaging, complete with Apple Aperture image management software, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Bridge, DSL Wi-Fi internet access, terabytes and terabytes of storage, archiving and secure data back up, and a camera rental department stocked with the latest Canon Powershot SD850 digital cameras and Canon ZR830 mini digital video cameras complete with underwater housings, big storage media and plenty of additional batteries. And all the post-shooting support and services you need to go with it!

Happy Sam with his new Apple iMacs.

Our good friend, professional photographer and Apple Certified Trainer, Mr. Gunther Deichmann who was instrumental in launching this project has been here all week with his team members Arnold and Hermes to set up and test everything and get us all up to speed on Apple OS, Aperture, Photoshop and of course the very important task of secure storage and back up of our guests digital images. You shoot. We save! Check out Gunther’s website at: http://www.deichmann-photo.com for more information on his amazing photography.

And even bigger still, Gunther will be back at Sam’s Tours from April 22 – 27, 2008 along with internationally acclaimed MARINE PHOTOGRAPHER and environmentalist TONY WU, conducting a week long DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP targeted at all advanced photographers whether shooting above and below the water. Check out www.gdphotoworkshop.com for more workshop information.

For more information on Tony Wu and to view his stunning underwater photography work check out his website at: www.tony-wu.com

Workshop space is very limited and the last three workshops were sell outs so book now if you want to join us in April. E-mail: reservations@samstours.com for more information and

No other dive center in Palau or Micronesia comes close to the top-of-the-line equipment, service and support that Sam’s Tours provides to digital photographers! If you’re a digital photographer in Palau Sam’s Tours has you covered!

New iMacs at Sam's Tours Digital Photo Center

Stay tuned for more exciting updates including the upcoming addition of our new underwater photographer and film-maker who joins us later this month.

Special thanks to Gunther and his team for all their hard work. Well done and many thanks yet again! (Gunther built our website at: www.samstours.com)

Gunther during an Apple Aperture course with Sam's Tours staff

Sam's Tours is a founding member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance: http://www.alliancediving.com/blog

Scuba Diving Magazine, a leading international publication for scuba divers, recently announced the results of its’ prestigious annual Readers Choice Awards for top dive destinations around the world. Once again, Palau, Micronesia has come out on top in every key category as follows, once again surviving the world wide challenge for top dive destination: Scuba Diving Magazine, 2008 Readers’ Choice Awards, Pacific & Indian Ocean

Scuba Diving Magazine, Readers' Choice Award 2008, Palau, Micronesia

Palau, Micronesia

FIRST PLACE:
Dive Destinations
Marine Life
Big Animal Encounters
Wall Diving
Underwater Photography
Advanced Diving

TOP THREE:
Top Macro Life
Top Value

TOP FIVE:
Top Healthiest Marine Environment
Top Wreck Diving

While the Readers’ Choice Award category for individual dive operators has been discontinued in favor of destination awards, Sam’s Tours garnered a total of 8 Scuba Diving Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards beginning in 1997, including Gold List Award, Top Dive Center, Top Staff and Top Value, making Sam’s Tours the “Divers Choice” in Micronesia. Sam’s Tours is a member of the Philippines Micronesia Alliance, www.alliancediving.com

While the diving is spectacular in Palau all year round, Sam’s Tours has scheduled some additional Special Events for 2008, to offer visitors to Palau even more fun and excitement that includes:

SHARK SHOOTOUT: February 1 - 29, 2008
Palau is well known for “big animals” and “sharks on every dive” but February is shark mating time in Palau and shark activity takes on a whole new level of intensity and excitement! We encourage every diver to enjoy Palau’s great shark diving and don’t forget to bring your camera! This event is open to snorkelers too who can also enjoy the shark action. There’ll be prizes every week for the best “shark shots” with the images posted on Sam’s Tours website and a Grand Prize for the best overall “shark shot” that includes a Full Week of Diving for Two with Sam’s Tours for Shark Shootout 2009.

WRECK EXPEDITION WEEK: March 17 - 21, 2008
Join Sam Scott, founder of Sam’s Tours for this annual event and enjoy a great week of diving and exploring Palau’s amazing “Lost Fleet” of WWII ship and plane wrecks. The program includes unlimited diving, WWII sight-seeing, historical lectures, slides shows and movies documenting the intense struggle between U.S. and Japanese forces that took place in Palau.

PHOTO WEEK: April 22 - 27, 2008
Tony Wu one of Asia's best underwater photographers (editor of Fins Magazine) and Gunther Deichmann well renown for his landscape and surface shots (also a certified Apple Pro trainer for Aperture) will conduct this exciting event at Sam's Tours. The workshop is targeted at advanced digital photographers interested in improving their photography and mastering post-shoot work flow management. The event will cater to both divers and non-divers with lots of opportunities for underwater and topside photography and will include instruction on Apple Aperture and Adobe Photoshop.

Join Tony Wu at Blue Corner and other great dive sites in Palau, Micronesia or journey with Gunther Deichmann to some of his favorite topside locations in Micronesia's second largest island of Babeldaob, Palau and enjoy fanstastic photography while learning from these internationally recognized masters!

For additional information visit:
www.gdphotoworkshop.com

http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html

www.tony-wu.com

www.tonywublog.com

www.finsonline.com