In 1965 a young family travel to the island of Ponape (now called Pohnpei), in Micronesia. Gary Braden is hired by the Department of Interior to teach English as a Second Language in the Trust Territory of the Pacific. His wife Jean and their one year old son go with him.There is no airport and they arrive in a sea plane which lands on the water inside the reef. Jean details the events and adventures they experience and the friendships that develop. Homesickness is a constant battle for Jean and she finds living on a island difficult at times.