A few miscellaneous photos

We’ll see how much patience I have! 🙂

Friday Evening Social (So different, yet so alike

The only social event for the new students for this term was last night from 7:00 -9:00 p.m. when they were invited for “tea”. I was assigned the single girls in the home of Phoebe, a beautiful lady from Bougainville, one of the islands east of the mainland, north of the Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal for you WW II military battle people!). (Sorry — the geography/history teacher part of me has to come out occasionally!)

There were 7 students, also Priscilla, the very young, college-educated faculty secretary, Phoebe and me. (Phoebe was a teacher in the public system for 11 years before coming here as a student, then joining the faculty. She specializes in teaching ministry courses for the young women.) What a joy to hear them introduce themselves and tell why they are so anxious to be studying the Bible and what they hope to do in their churches following graduation!

Joy has completed her nurses’ training and was a nurse here for a few years, but saved her money so she could become a full-time student in order to have more answers to patients’ questions! Fifius, blind in one eye, has been doing correspondence courses, but now feels confident enough to be a full-time student. She traveled on a public bus for hours before arriving, but not before having all her money stolen! Still her spirit has been strong all week and yesterday the Lord sent the money she needed to stay (about $450 American dollars for one quarter of study, including room and boardu!!) She is so warm and outgoing — they all are. Diana was the most shy, having just arrived 3 hours before the social time after another very long bus ride. (Distances aren’t too far by our standards, but the roads… you think you have pot holes…!!!!!)

They live and cook together in a dormitory; come from all corners of PNG and at this point, know not another soul here. Joy explained to me that the “Coastals” have heard all kinds of stories about how rough and mean the “Highlanders” are; even she admitted they were very brave to come! (This “Highland” part of PNG was only known to the outside world after WW II; there are still many tribes here that have little if any contact with other tribes, let alone the world around them!) Each one of these girls speaks her tribal language, Pidgin and fluent English!

And don’t forget, this is very much a man’s world! Priscilla, the faculty secretary, walked home with me since we live pretty close together and told me that the girls are absolutely not allowed to court, marry, even look at the men while they are students and even while employed here!! When she decides she wants to marry, she will resign! However, I think I understood that the men are free to marry! I could have this mixed up; if I do, I will let you know.

They were very reassuring about my American accent, which has concerned me since they have such close ties with Australia and, let me tell you, I struggle with that accent sometimes as much as the PNG one! I would hate to confuse them as we work on their English. I will have most of these first year girls in the computer class, beginning Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. and their excitement shone in their eyes! Now I can’t wait!!

Phoebe made sandwiches with tinned fish and eggs, Janet baked a chocolate cake for us (along with one for her own group of guests at their house, from scratch of course, which is why I couldn’t do it myself — haven’t done that since 7th grade “home ec” and that is so long ago most of you don’t even know what I am talking about!!!!) and I took … what else?? — POPCORN!!!!! And just as at Emmaus 35 years ago, not a kernel remained!

The crowning detail of the evening is that EVERY one of them has a …. are you ready for this? cell phone!!!!! Go figure! Not only that, several of them rang, the girls rose, went out of the room and Joy, in particular, had a 20+ minute conversation with her “friend”! This would not have been true before 2007; until then cell phones were a monopoly by T-Mobile, I think, and outrageously expensive. But finally another company brought in competition and now everyone can afford one! I was blown away with that, having not even brought my own! 🙂

Sorry, Candace, but I get so caught up in the moment I totally forget to take photos; I will, in the computer class. The attached photo of the double rainbow was on the way up there. The beauty surrounding me is amazing, but the beauty of the people far surpasses that! How thankful I am to the Lord for this utterly fantastic experience.

Trip to Hagen

Just have time for a quick hello before I have to leave for another dinner invite! The attached photo says it all at the market — well, not really, but this was the highlight. They seem to LOVE having their photo taken and thank you afterwards! The gal who took the photo teaches here; they about knocked her down to see it when she finished, but a young man standing close jumped up to “protect” her — NOT literally! They were just excited!

The ride to Hagen in itself could be a photo a minute — women carrying so much on their heads, washing things in the river, tons of roadside “markets”, people EVERYWHERE!!! I am learning that they live outside — only sleep in their homes. They are very social and friendly with us as we pass.

The outdoor market has the best selection of anywhere in the country, according to Dan, (and he has been all over the country for 30+ years!) We bought delicious veggies and fruit; then just put it in the bags we had carried with us. It was so much fun!!!

Janet told me months ago that I could get almost anything I wanted at the store in Hagen; now I believe her! Crowded and hot and different, but lots of familiar products, just with Australian manufacturers! I purchased enough for the next month, I hope! Milk is VERY interesting — “UHT –ultra heat treated–freshness is ensured because contents have been ultra heat treated. After opening, store in refrigerator between 1 degree C & 4 degrees C and consume within 7 days of opening. NO PRESERVATIVES!!!” (quoted right from the carton). This carton expires April 7th just in the cabinet!

Today was also my first laundry day — automatic washer; dryer as you see in the photo. It was the brightest day in the last eight — perfect for drying! The Lord has taken such good care of me!

At noon the sun is almost overhead; casts a very small shadow! Comes with being so close to the equator. I am SO SO thankful to be in the Highlands and not at the coast — the heat would be tough!

I am having SUCH a great time. Teaching doesn’t begin until next week; probably Monday for English, but not until Wednesday for computer class. I spent some time Tuesday with Janet at the International Elementary School and was so excited to be in that atmosphere again. Have some fun ideas for ENGLISH and am anxious to begin.

Sorry — thought this would be a short one!!!

Hard things to get used to!

Lest you think this is Paradise or that I am being overly optimistic, this afternoon I will tell you a few things that are hardest for me…

…leaving my shoes at the door of houses and buildings and walking barefoot inside. (I don’t walk barefoot from my bedroom to my bathroom in the middle of the night!)

…putting all the organic garbage in a bucket and burying it in a hole for compost. Today I decided never again; I will keep it on a little plate and walk it over after each meal; collecting and keeping it is TOO MUCH!!!

…carrying water in a bucket to flush the toilet; I would rather use an outhouse and be done with it!

If I sound a bit squeamish, …. I AM!!!!! But I am making it and coping! Don’t worry!

P.S. Ever think a toilet flushing would be music to your ears? Well, it was to mine this afternoon after not having water for almost two days! A new pump was installed and all is back to normal, but it will make me appreciate that flushing sound a whole lot more!!!

Thru’ the “water crisis”, I have gotten to know my “landlady” a little more. Roslyn is the sweet gal who took me to the Market Saturday morning. I call her my landlady because she is in charge of the guest house, which is a big job; cooking and cleaning and shopping, etc, for whoever is staying for a short time. (There are two “guest flats”, one of which I am enjoying. She is in charge of those, too.) I will try sending her photo, but loading photos into the blog requires more patience than I sometimes have. (I can play two or three games of solitaire while ONE picture loads!) Another of her jobs is the gardening and landscaping. In the photo she is tying an orchid plant into a tree for beautification purposes. I can’t stop exclaiming about how beautiful and well-kept everything is.

Thoughts about MY “orientation”

Today dawned cloudy at 6:00, but is beautiful now. Some of the many differences I have learned in my “orientation” the last four days:

climate: cool (60’s, need a sweatshirt) morning and evening and damp — washcloth doesn’t dry in 12 hours. Beautiful during the day, but never hot! Probably 80 or a bit warmer.

This is their summer, of course. Longest Day was 21 December; now days are getting shorter, but there is only a 30 minute difference every SIX months!

I light the stove with a match every time I want to use it. (Propane)

Today there is no cold water — broken pipe — but I still have hot water, which is funny; but must be because there is still water in the solar tank. I know that won’t last forever! (Don’t ask about flushing — I still have to get a bucket from somewhere!)

Flowers, plants and trees beautiful and in abundance. Mountains in the distance every where I look. So peaceful with not sirens, traffic, etc.

Jalousie windows covered with beautiful white lace curtains, and then pretty darker curtains to open and close. Screens of course!

Electricity has always worked, but plugs are different — slanted prongs instead of straight. Am thankful for Jackie, (close friend and former student teacher) who gave me a set of MAC adapters before I left! YEA! Wall plugs have to be turned on/off right at the plug before and after use. Room lighting is florescent tube; am very thankful for the little light above the bed for nighttime reading.

Already felt a small earthquake, but it did rattle windows. Glad we had had two in Southern Calif. right before I left so Carol could remind me to be thankful for little ones that release pressure so there aren’t as many big ones! I am NOT nervous!

Laundry: machine which takes a long time because of less water pressure, but it is
automatic, plenty to be thankful for there. No dryers; they will smell good dried in the open air and I have learned to “hide” undies between rows of other things.

Plenty of furniture, simple but comfortable, altho’ there is a hideous metal coffee table. Thankfully, it is covered with a lovely white lace cloth and topped with a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, mostly zinnias.

Am off to my first real school orientation now … more later…

Another try–

I think I am getting the hang of it!

Views from my “flat”

...flowers everywhere!

Trying another…

“Beetle country”

Giant Beetle!

Trying Photos again!

from the plane!

Settling-in Saturday…

…began with a 7:15 trip to the market just outside the gate of the school with Roslyn, the young woman who is in charge of the Guesthouse where I am staying. (She met me on the road to Dan and Janet’s last night and invited me then, after sharing her “pit-pit” with me — supposedly a delicacy that Janet loves. I will let you know…) How I wish I could have had a photo of us returning from the market, eating boiled peanuts and having a great conversation and saying “Morning” to everyone we met! I was SO excited!!

I spent the next few hours getting settled, eating “Kellogg’s Rice Bubbles”, then walked to D & J’s because I couldn’t send or receive email 😦 😦 Got there just in time to watch Dan training a group of about 6 men and 3 ladies in his Pidgin Version of “Walk Thru’ the Bible”, complete with motions. How neat was that? They had walked an hour to get there, then enjoyed the bread and butter and coffee and tea Janet served them before practicing and practicing. They were so sweet and beautiful — Dan interrupted the whole thing to introduce me (not too embarrassing, HA!) so I went around and shook hands and said the greeting “Morning” to each one. It was pretty cool! Then the same “ritual” when they left. They are a group from many different churches who meet on Sunday mornings at 7:00 a.m. for two hours, then go to their own churches after that. In a couple of weeks I will walk with D & J to their village so Dan can give them further teaching. That should be a really great experience, too!

Of course Janet invited me for lunch — grilled cheese and tomato soup — then I returned home without the computer. The IT guy was coming to their house later in the afternoon so he could see what the problem was. Met D & J about 4:00 at Dan’s office (half-way between our places) and THE COMPUTER WORKED!!! I was so excited to get a whole bunch of your emails!!! THANK YOU!!!

Janet came back here with me to show me how to prepare the foods and cut the pineapple she gave me, which I discovered this morning, she had grown in her sizable garden! Was I ever impressed! Anyway, the pineapple is as sweet as candy and I loved it! Still have more — that will be such a treat!

Now I am answering emails, blogging and will soon need to fix something to eat. As at home, that is a low priority! I do have good things to fix, though, so don’t worry about me. May even have some pop corn!!! It is better to go to D & J’s during the day because after dark they have to walk me all the way back here, then back again–over two miles total! Even though there is security all over the place all day and night, the School doesn’t want ladies out alone at night. Another time I will try to explain why.

Hopefully I can still get the internet signal and send this; it is very unpredictable and at this point, I don’t want to try more than one photo. Don’t be too grossed out!