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A Life at Sea<\/h1>\n
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By Chadd McGlone<\/p>\n
Chapel Hill, NC, United States<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The Bajau people live on \u2014 not at, near, or beside \u2014 but on<\/em>, the Sulu Sea<\/strong> in the South Pacific, subsisting on the fish they catch and the supplies they gather from nearby islands. By living literally on the water, some Bajau spend their entire lives with their whole families on lepa-lepa<\/em> boats that are typically just 15 feet (ft.) long by 5 ft. wide. The average family size is between four and eight members.<\/p>\n Daily Life on the Sea<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n A typical day begins with the patriarch waking his family at daybreak to motor to their fishing spot. The entire Bajau fishes together using hand-made nets and spears. The father freedives to spear the fish, spending as many as five minutes underwater. When he surfaces with a catch, he tosses it onto the boat for the children to gather and the wife to clean. Next, they cook the fish over a small fire in the stern of the boat.<\/p>\n After a quick meal, the family might travel to a nearby island to collect supplies and water. They gather branches and scrap wood left by local lumber workers to repair their boat. Bajau communities build wells to be shared among the people. The mother will take older children to the well to return with as much water as they can carry.<\/p>\n Permanent Homes<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n In contrast to these sea-dwelling families, other Bajau have moved to more permanent dwellings off the shorelines of various islands. They construct these stilt homes themselves, using local timber. The houses\u2019 supports are cut from palm branches and anchored into the sea floor. The residents then weave palm leaves together to form wind- and rain-resistant walls.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stilt-home villages contain dwellings that are 40 to 50 sq. ft. in size and are connected by various walkways. Each house is surrounded entirely by water and provides shelter for 10 to 15 people.<\/p>\n The economy in these stilt-home villages is driven almost entirely by profits from freshly harvested ocean creatures. A particular delicacy of the Bajau is the sea cucumber, a chewy, tasteless, invertebrate creature that acquires the flavor of whatever it\u2019s cooked in. Many who love sea cucumber say it is an acquired taste, one that many have never acquired. Maybe this is one place where you don\u2019t have to eat your veggies!<\/p>\n Have a suggestion for this story? We\u2019d love for you to\u00a0submit it<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mathkind.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Bajau-mother.jpg” alt=”inflating the balloon” title_text=”Bajau mother” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mathkind.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/8544553043_f47ae83a60_o.jpg” alt=”hot air balloon in the sky” title_text=”8544553043_f47ae83a60_o” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Blank” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_css_main_element=”display: none; ” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Blank<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Math Resources” open_toggle_text_color=”#0a1766″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0a1766″ toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Social Justice Questions” open_toggle_text_color=”#0a1766″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0a1766″ toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Explore Further” open_toggle_text_color=”#0a1766″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0a1766″ toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Share Your Story” open_toggle_text_color=”#0a1766″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0a1766″ toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off”]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mathkind.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/bajau-house.jpeg\")
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