Jill Short, the newest addition to our team, brings with her a powerhouse of knowledge and experience in Micronesian history and culture. Jill joined Expedition V as our lead interpreter in April 2024, providing both communication and cultural understanding between the Team and the local authorities, workers and villagers. Having been raised in Micronesia, her love of the islands runs deep and has been the driving force behind her life’s work as a cultural liaison and language advocate. As an interpreter/translator of several Micronesian languages, her expertise provides a bridge between language, social, and cultural barriers.

Jill’s Story~

“When I tell people I grew up in Chuuk (or Truk, as it was formerly called), I get mostly blank stares. I go on to explain that Chuuk is an island-chain in Micronesia. More blank stares, with perhaps an audible mumble of recognition.  At that point I explain that Micronesia is exactly halfway between the Hawaiian islands and the Philippines. Now we are connecting!”

When I was a young girl in the mid-1970’s, my parents and I went to live in the Chuuk Islands as missionaries. My life was never the same! I spent my childhood and teenage years plodding the sandy trails of my beautiful islands, fishing in the aqua seas, embracing the culture, falling in love with the people…and learning to speak these poetically astounding languages!

To my dismay Cholera ended up ravaging the Chuuk Islands in the mid-1980’s and we were forced to evacuate. After my return to the United States, I got married, had children, and eventually pursued my education. Throughout the years my island roots compelled me to stay actively involved and to seek out ways to continue to be an integral part of Micronesia’s future. I began branching out with various organizations to help promote and provide better education, programs and awareness among the indigenous Pacific Islanders. I visited the Micronesian embassy and began meeting on a regular basis with staff members from the Federated States of Micronesia. I started a blog and created a webpage on language purity, island culture and customs. I became a published author of two books, “Far Island, My Island” and “Sofia’s Promise.” Then in 2009, I finally fulfilled my longtime goal of becoming a medical and court-approved interpreter/translator for the Chuukese language, serving immigrants residing within the United States and beyond.

It is my life’s mission to support and encourage my Micronesian “family” as they navigate this vast new world—just as they did for me in my youth when I made their land my home.” 

Jill is honored to join the Lost Clipper Expedition Team as lead interpreter and cultural consultant.

• Micronesian Translator/Interpreter & Cultural Liaison
• Languages: Chuukese/Trukese/Mortlockese/Kosraean
• On-site, VRI/VMR & Telephonic Interpretation, Document Translation & Transcription 
• Court Certified/Approved
• www.chuukesetranslator.com

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