The volunteers said they were on island for two weeks. They were intrigued by the tropical plants, especially the papaya trees that could be seen outside homes.
Mengrang Haruo, second right, and the writer, fourth right, pose for a photo with FEMA volunteers. Contributed photo
Ms. Haruo offered ripe papayas to the volunteers.
Four of them were from Colorado, four from Mississippi, and one from California.
The women volunteers impressed Ms. Haruo who said: “This is my first time seeing female construction workers!”


