The Story Behind “Teyukz” – From Restriction to Exploration
Why “Teyukz”?
That’s a question I get often — and the answer is personal, layered, and rooted in my journey.
In Kosraean, Teyukz is a word that expresses a sense of not knowing — a feeling of being clueless, unsure, or drifting. It’s also a gesture, an expression often used when someone doesn’t have a clear direction. Fittingly, that’s how I often felt growing up — a curious, adventurous island boy with a restless spirit, held back by the boundaries of a strict upbringing.
Island Roots and Disciplined Walls
I grew up in Kosrae, one of the stunning islands of the Federated States of Micronesia. Life on the island was beautiful — lush, rich in community, surrounded by the endless blue of the Pacific. But within the walls of my childhood home, life was governed by structure and discipline.
My father — a respected man in the community — served as a police officer and later as a public defender. With his background in law and order, our household was strict. Curfew wasn’t negotiable. If you missed it, you paid the price. And I did — often. I was what you’d call a repeat offender. Not because I wanted to be disobedient, but because I longed for freedom — the freedom my friends seemed to enjoy without question.
While they ventured off to swim, climb, explore, and live out their childhood wonder, I remained on the porch, watching the horizon and dreaming of all the places I wasn’t allowed to go. It wasn’t resentment I held — it was longing.
Discipline, Love, and the Unspoken Dream
Looking back now, I see the love behind the rules. My father wanted the best for us. He believed in discipline as the foundation for respect, success, and a good life. And he wasn’t wrong. That discipline built the man I am today.
But the little boy in me never stopped dreaming — dreaming of chasing the ocean, touching distant lands, and living the adventurous life I used to only imagine.
Teyukz: A Name, A Mission
That inner child — the one who used to be told “no” — still lives in me today. And Teyukz is my way of giving him a voice.
There’s another word in Kosraean: Sarukwel — meaning to drift, to roam without destination, to chase the horizon just for the joy of it. Together, Teyukz and Sarukwel represent the soul of this site — the freedom to wander, the courage to be unsure, and the beauty of being in motion, even without a map.
Over 17 years ago, by the grace of our Heavenly Father, I was blessed with a job at Delta Air Lines — a career that reconnected me with that long-lost dream of exploration. But even now, after all this time, I feel that boyhood fire still burning inside — the longing to see the world, to explore it fully before the inevitable passage of time slows us down.
This Is Why Teyukz.com Exists
This website is not just about travel tips or scenic photos. It’s about freedom reclaimed.
It’s for the dreamers.
The late bloomers.
The ones who didn’t get to wander when they were young — but now, finally, choose to write their own journey.
If you’re one of them — if something inside you still yearns to see, to roam, to feel the world firsthand — then Teyukz is for you.
The journey is just beginning.
Thank you for being here.
Let’s drift together — somewhere beautiful.
Peace and love,
Teyukz
The Story Behind Teyukz.com — From Restrictions to Freedom
Welcome to Teyukz.com.
This isn’t just a travel site. It’s a reflection of my story — my roots, my upbringing, my longing, and my deep desire to explore the world.
People often ask me, “Why the name Teyukz?”
To truly understand the name, you have to know where I come from.
A Word With Weight
In Kosraean, Teyukz loosely means clueless, unsure, or someone who’s simply drifting. It’s often used to describe someone who doesn’t have a clear direction — not physically lost, but mentally or spiritually floating.
For me, that word captured exactly how I felt growing up: curious, restless, full of wonder — yet confined.
Disciplined Roots in Kosrae
I was raised in Kosrae, one of the breathtaking islands in the Federated States of Micronesia — a place of lush green mountains, deep blue lagoons, and strong cultural values. But life wasn’t all tropical sunsets and ocean breezes.
My father was a well-respected man in our community — first a police officer, then a public defender. With his background in law and order, he ran our home with structure and purpose. Curfew wasn’t negotiable. Break it, and you’d face the consequences. And I did — often.
I wasn’t rebellious by nature. I simply longed for freedom. I would watch other kids disappear into the jungle trails, explore tide pools, or swim until sunset — while I remained on the porch, watching the horizon and dreaming of the places I wasn’t allowed to go.
Sarukwel — A Spirit of Exploration
There’s another Kosraean word that resonates deeply with me: Sarukwel — to drift, to roam without destination, to let the heart and spirit wander.
Today, Teyukz and Sarukwel represent more than childhood memories — they symbolize a calling. A calling to reclaim the freedom I once craved. A calling to live fully, to explore without hesitation, and to drift toward beauty, meaning, and discovery.
A Blessing in the Skies
Over 17 years ago, by the grace of our Heavenly Father, I was blessed with a job at Delta Air Lines — a career that reconnected me with that long-lost dream of exploration.
Even today, after all these years, I still feel that same childlike wonder inside me — that boyhood fire that longs to see more of the world, to feel it firsthand before time slows us down and the seasons change.
This Is Why Teyukz.com Exists
Teyukz.com is more than a website. It’s a tribute to that little boy who once sat on the porch, watching the world move without him — and to every dreamer who’s ever felt the same.
It’s for the dreamers. The late bloomers. The ones who didn’t get to wander when they were young — but now, finally, refuse to let time or fear hold them back.
It’s a space to share the beauty of Micronesia, the wisdom of island life, and the magic of venturing far and wide — with wonder in our eyes and peace in our hearts.
So if you’ve ever felt like you were Teyukz — unsure, wandering, or late to the adventure — this space is for you.
Let’s explore together. Let’s drift, discover, and live fully.
With peace, love, and gratitude,
Teyukz
