It's not every day a president visits Northwest Arkansas, but it happened Monday in Springdale.
Marshallese President Litokwa Tomeing says his goal in visiting America is to help christen the first Marshallese consulate on the continental United States, and it's now open for business in Springdale.
By the looks of how many people showed up, it's going to be a welcome addition in Northwest Arkansas. "We're preparing all these balloons to go by the podium." Monday morning, the new office was full of people getting ready for the ceremony. The celebration could be heard for blocks. One women tying balloons explains the reason for the party: "this is big event for the people of the Marshall Islands, because we're opening our consulate here." Plus, the new Consul-General, Carmen Chung Gum, says the party is to honor the Marshallese President coming to town. "The red ones are worn by our chiefs so this is for him." Chung Gum adds, "I believe I'm ready for it. We help them make sure that the paperworks are correct."
Becky Bani isn't Marshallese, but she says her Marshallese husband introduced her to their culture. "You'll say to them, 'oh, I love your necklace,' and they'll take it off and give it to you, and you're like, 'wait! I didn't mean that! I didn't mean for you to give it to me!' But that's how giving they are so you have to be careful." She says the consulate will clear cultural misunderstandings. "I've seen a lot of Marshallese arrested because they didn't know there are actually laws they have to follow here."
And Foreign Minister John Silk says with the biggest Marshallese population outside the Marshall Islands, Springdale should host the consulate. "It's the first time that we're opening actually a consulate in the middle of the United States. The closest one is in the state of Hawaii, so this one is very important to us, especially with a population as big as the Marshallese population in Arkansas." President Tomeing says he hopes it opens up new lines of communication between American citizens and the Marshallese in Springdale. Officials say in the 1970's, Marshallese began coming to Springdale to take jobs in food-processing plants. They say the new consulate's address is 109 Spring Street in Springdale. Its public hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. To 5 p.m.
Marshallese President Litokwa Tomeing says his goal in visiting America is to help christen the first Marshallese consulate on the continental United States, and it's now open for business in Springdale.
By the looks of how many people showed up, it's going to be a welcome addition in Northwest Arkansas. "We're preparing all these balloons to go by the podium." Monday morning, the new office was full of people getting ready for the ceremony. The celebration could be heard for blocks. One women tying balloons explains the reason for the party: "this is big event for the people of the Marshall Islands, because we're opening our consulate here." Plus, the new Consul-General, Carmen Chung Gum, says the party is to honor the Marshallese President coming to town. "The red ones are worn by our chiefs so this is for him." Chung Gum adds, "I believe I'm ready for it. We help them make sure that the paperworks are correct."
Becky Bani isn't Marshallese, but she says her Marshallese husband introduced her to their culture. "You'll say to them, 'oh, I love your necklace,' and they'll take it off and give it to you, and you're like, 'wait! I didn't mean that! I didn't mean for you to give it to me!' But that's how giving they are so you have to be careful." She says the consulate will clear cultural misunderstandings. "I've seen a lot of Marshallese arrested because they didn't know there are actually laws they have to follow here."
And Foreign Minister John Silk says with the biggest Marshallese population outside the Marshall Islands, Springdale should host the consulate. "It's the first time that we're opening actually a consulate in the middle of the United States. The closest one is in the state of Hawaii, so this one is very important to us, especially with a population as big as the Marshallese population in Arkansas." President Tomeing says he hopes it opens up new lines of communication between American citizens and the Marshallese in Springdale. Officials say in the 1970's, Marshallese began coming to Springdale to take jobs in food-processing plants. They say the new consulate's address is 109 Spring Street in Springdale. Its public hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. To 5 p.m.
