This year has been an awesome cultural experience, as well
as a personal learning journey. In this update, I’d like to take the
opportunity to share some of the small things I have learnt during the year –
some of which may enhance my CV, others not so much…
1. Don’t sweat the small things, and learn to
identify and forget about “first world problems”. These include but are not
limited to:- a year without you tube clips due to slow internet; learning to
use mobile phone/camera/kindle sparingly when in a village with only solar
power during 3 days of rain; learning to love the non-smart-phone again;
stepping back about 10 years technology-wise in general; forgetting what air
conditioning feels like; surviving despite no fresh milk or decent multigrain
bread.
2. Embrace a year without make up, hair
straighteners or looking in a mirror a lot of the time (NB. You should all try
this, very liberating!)
3. I now know how to pick out the good mangoes at
the market; how to open a coconut with a bush knife without cutting off a
finger; how to make coconut milk from scratch; and what choko is and how it
should be cooked.
4. Forget making plans and rather go with the flow,
with confidence that something usually comes along that will get you to
somewhere close to where you intended to be in the first place… eventually.
Subsequently I am a bit concerned I will never be on time for anything ever
again!
5. Always avoid the centre of town when the cruise
ship is in!
6. Tough feet are a part of not wearing enclosed
shoes for 12 months. My feet have now reached an acceptable level of leathery-ness
– not quite enough to walk over hard coral ni-Van style without wincing and
looking like I’m running over hot coals, but getting there...
7. “Pikinini” may be my favourite Bislama word.
Close second is “storian” (to have a chat) and “spel smol” (to have a short
break or rest). A very fun language to learn and speak!
8. The pharmacist is often more reliable than the
doctor, and asking for antibiotics over the counter without a prescription for that infected coral
cut/stubbed toe/mosquito bite is quite acceptable and in fact often the best
option!
9. When a bus driver asks if you have a boyfriend,
the correct answer is always yes. “Man blong mi i stap long Australia”. The driver is
probably hoping to marry you off to a cousin-brother. This is a great
opportunity to create a story about your fabulously handsome doctor husband who
owns a yacht and a house on the beach. The story changes every time…
10. A
morning swim in the harbour is the best start to the day… ever! Well worth
getting up early for every time!
NB. Photos do not necessarily match the text, but they make the blog more interesting!!
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