Ben Cook - Lead Writer
After graduating from Emory University, Ben Cook served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Micronesia on Pingelap atoll, where he enjoyed teaching English, talking to local friends, and catching flying fish. Since returning to the U.S., Ben has enjoyed writing this book as a way to share his passion for Micronesia. Among his other pursuits are writing software for students of ancient languages, applying for graduate school, and exploring his adopted home of Savannah, Georgia.

Lorry Marvin - Contributing Writer (Yap)
Lorry shipped off to the Federated States of Micronesia in 2007, and taught English on the tiny island of Falalop, of the Ulithi Atoll in Yap State.  She became proficient in many local skills, the local language, and participated in many different traditional ceremonies.  While on visits to Wa'ab, she took advantage of island resorts, scuba diving, kayaking, and hiking island trails.  She remains close to her Yapese friends and host family members, and misses warm nights with full moons, walking on Falalop's runway and philosophical discussions with her host mother.  Lorry is currently living and working in Sacramento California.

Chad Lathe - Contributing Writer (Yap)
Chad Lathe became a Peace Corps volunteer after graduating from the University of Louisville in Kentucky and, like many other philosophy students before him, realizing that the real world waited. While serving on the island of Falalop with his wife Lorry, he definitely experienced real life and the joys and tribulations of island living. He also took the opportunity to travel throughout the state, seeing many of the inoften-visted neighboring islands of Yap state. During his time in Ulithi, Chad became infatuated with the people and wildlife of Yap and its neighboring islands, and he is counting the days until his next visit. Chad now works and plays in Sacramento, California.

Megan McCrea - Contributing Writer (Kosrae)
A Colorado native, born and raised in Denver, Megan McCrea contracted the travelling fever even before she had gained the ability to form memories. Megan spent a year with the Peace Corps on Kosrae, then another on Palau.  During her time in the islands, she gained an admirable tan, a voracious appetite for fresh seafood, and an ability to throw rocks with astonishing accuracy at close range. 

Christy Lejkowski - Contributing Writer (Palau)
Christy served as a Teaching English as a Second Language and Community Development Volunteer in Palau. When she wasn’t busy at school, she worked with the Palau Red Cross Society to design an HIV anti-discrimination puppet show and form a Youth Volunteer Corps. She spent a lot of time running, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling and biking around the islands of Palau and fell in love with the people, atmosphere, culture and environment. She is happy to share her secrets with readers in hopes that they will come to appreciate her tiny island as much as she does.

Rick Lejkowsk - Contributing Writer (Palau)i
Hailing from the suburbs of the Jersey shore, Rick received his Bachelors Degree from Rowan University.  Following a stint working construction, Rick escaped to the opposite side of the world with his wife Christy, as a Peace Corps Volunteers. Rick spent 2007-2009 teaching high school English on the Pacific Island of Palau.  In addition to teaching and working with a variety of community organizations, Rick spent his two years in paradise seeking adventures on both the land and sea of Palau.  Rick has since returned New Jersey, and is currently preparing to begin study towards a Master’s Degree in Literature.

Michael Gall - Contributing Writer (Chuuk)
Michael Gall was proudly raised in Toledo, OH. He began his travels in highs school and has not settled down since. From 2007-2009 Michael served in the Peace Corps on a the tiny island of Ta in the Mortlocks of Chuuk. While there he taught ESL and above all formed lasting relationships with his host family who he misses dearly. Michael will be attending graduate school in the fall to receive his Masters in Social Work.