Memorable not so much for the classes, but for the party held in the evening in my honor. Hardly know where to begin to share it, but ‘memorable’ does not cover the subject. Since I have known these students since their first days on campus and for the first two weeks taught them 4.5 hours per day as their only instructor, to say nothing of having them 5 days a week for an hour of English for 8 weeks and 4 days a week for Study Skills, they know me pretty well! It was scheduled to begin at 6, but I knew with the work program on Fridays lasting from 2:00 – 5:00, it would be more like 7. Kamaki, the class captain, a man I would judge to be approaching 60, came to get me in my office about 7:30. By then I was starving (and ready for the Outback!!) 
On Friday afternoons, all the chairs in the classrooms are carried to the auditorium for use during the Sunday service; somehow they managed to find about six. The rest of the students were standing or seated on the desks and all were lustily singing, in English, one of their favorite PNG worship songs. It was lovely! (They sing a capella with beautiful harmony. It is really neat!) In the center of the room, the desks were laden with kau kau, (potatoes), rice, chicken and lots of veggies. It was a feast!!!
All during the meal, different students were thanking me for coming to teach them. Their appreciation is so touching and from their hearts — such a difference, as I told them, from the years of teaching unappreciative twelve year olds! I did video the first part, but SO regret not having captured more of it on ‘film’.
I would love to describe each student, but will highlight a few, not identifying them by their real names. Susan is single, mid-forties I would judge, and struggles, but has a heart of gold and a sweet, submissive spirit. She got up at one point to go back for more food (we were sitting together on chairs) and quickly another gal came to claim S.’s spot and have her photo snapped with me. When S. returned, she indignantly insisted L. relinquish her chair so S. could reclaim her spot! I was amazed!! I had never seen that side of her and was glad to see her spunkiness.
We had many good laughs — a few weeks ago we went over some idioms and they loved the one about having butterflies in one’s stomach! It has been used, somehow, every day since Dagua, standing to ask a question, prefaced it by announcing that he had butterflies in his stomach!
Another one addressed us as “friends of Mafatu”, the main character in the novel I read with them during the first two weeks, Call It Courage. I am thrilled to think they are making these connections! In that regard, they would all pass the old Illinois ISAT reading test!!!!!
The icing on the cake, however, was Morris. He was first on the agenda with his remarks so I was videoing away as he went on and on. Finally my arm was tired and I though he was winding down. What a mistake! He ended with, in his words, a ‘parable’. I thought — oh brother! Where is he going with this story? It was about how horses have to be trained before they are useful, but he took 5 minutes to say that much and I was quickly losing interest, when he began the application. “So, friends, we are those 24 horses who have come from all over Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to CLTC and we needed to be broken down and the Lord sent us just the person to do that breaking down — a cowboy from America — our teacher Kay!” Well, the room erupted in laughter, me laughing the loudest. Then he said, “I don’t mean ‘cowboy’, I mean ‘cowgirl’! And off we went into gales of laughter again! It was priceless! I laugh out loud every time I think of it!!!
On a rather poignant note, Richard told us his story of university training, followed by teaching, then deciding last year that he needed Bible training so decided to apply at CLTC. (I was the first person he met as he and his young wife sat on the porch of the faculty building on that first Saturday afternoon, surrounded by their belongings.) Anyway, he admitted that he thought he didn’t really need English, since he was a teacher, but found out how much he didn’t know and was so glad for the English lessons! Quite an admission for a macho PNG male … not unlike males the world over!!!
I was presented with a beautiful “bilum”, (purse) but in the newest style, “…for important people…” and a card which each one has signed, (but which the gal in charge forgot to bring!) One young “coastal” lady gave me a beautiful shell necklace, (which Australia will confiscate if I try to bring it home), so I will leave it here to wear next year. And then John, another teacher who has struggled with English, sheepishly gave me another belim, similar to the first one, but “more for males; I am not sure you will like it”. So cute!!!!
A sweet surprise was the fact that the 4 staff ladies who have attended the Study Skills class were also in attendance. Koka is the faculty secretary who has come to my rescue so many times, especially with her expertise with the copy machine. Mathlyn is the wife of a staff member, so sweet. Laura works in the correspondence department and was the only person to send me a valentine this year. ‘Mrs. Sam”, wife of faculty member, Sam, has been a real encouragement, as have they all. For them to come on a Friday night, (and, I think, prepare much of the food), was surely a blessing; a lovely added touch to the evening.
To say the least, it was memorable and I am SO thankful I have ‘the bush’ to anticipate or I would feel even worse about leaving. There is so much more they need to learn!!!! I thank the Lord for each of them and their kindness to me. It was one of those ‘never to be forgotten‘ experiences.
but not as good as Janet's!
