Blogs from Vanuatu, Oceania - page 10

it's a cloudy, cool saturday morning in pittsburg. and it's silent. i'm often the only one awake early on the weekends. today i plan to be productive. i'm writing a term paper start to finish for my geography class. take a guess at which country i've chosen. -b 12 October 2009 We were treated to a full range of Maewo’s culture at a recent Mini Arts Festival in the nearby village of Kerepei. The mini festival was planned to prepare groups who are planning to attend the nation-wide event in Vila next month. At the larger festival, they will join Ni-Vanuatu from other islands to showcase their talents, which have distinct differences from island to island. Of course, there were custom dances. The difference on this day was that the emphasis on doing everything the custom ... read more

Ljudet från Tam-Tam trummorna ekar ut över gläntan i djungeln, marken vibrerar av dansande fötter, gåvor byter ägare och luften färgas röd av damm. Stämningen närmar sig klimax och publiken står upp och dansar. Jag förstår inte mycket av det som utspelas framför mig men är helt uppslukad av skådespelet. Jag befinner mig på ön Malekula i Vanuatu och har just bevittnat Ceremony of Death. Här präglas fortfarande mycket i det vardagliga livet av kastom - de ursprungliga värderingarna och sedvänjorna. På Vanuatu har man lyckats med det många andra kulturer misslyckats med: att blanda nya influenser med gamla traditioner utan att för den skull ödelägga den ursprungliga kulturen. Det är ett litet Shangri-La för socialantropologer. Vanuatu är en liten nation i Stilla Havet. Med sitt läger rakt väster om Fiji och rakt söder om Salomonölarna ... read more

A story by Dr. SueLin Hilbert I am not what you would call a “natural born leader.” I think I ran for some kind of class office in high school once. I don’t have that striking charisma that some people do where they can walk into a group of people and just own the room. I’m more of a “keep your head down” and work hard team member, happy to step up when needed, but equally happy to step down when not. Within the last year, however, I have somehow managed to find myself in two major leadership positions: Chief Resident of Emergency Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and Medical Director for Project MARC. This is my fourth season in Vanuatu with Project MARC and I have come to learn that leadership takes ... read more

it's a rainy day in the jungle here. it's my day off and i'm (again) bumming in my room on a thursday afternoon. i talked to sher on monday evening, and they are doing well. enjoy - b 31 August 2009 Yes, we braved the transport to Ambae once again, this time to join other Peace Corps Volunteers for a camp for the “youngfala” of Vanuatu. One of Peace Corps programs that exists in many countries is called Camp G.L.O.W. (girls leading our world) and focused on gender and development (hence the name “G.A.D.”) education for the young women of host countries. Peace Corps Vanuatu expands the program to include the guys too in running a similar Camp B.I.L.D. (boys in leadership development). Justin and I have not yet been directly involved in this program, but ... read more

hey all-- i received the jump drive with sher's blogs last week, and am just now getting to posting one. could fall break get here any sooner? i talked with sher last night and she and justin is safe and well. i was fortunate to make this acquaintance while we were there, and was sad to learn of the loss. have a good week. - b 18 August 2009 The ZCA is on tour again. Only this time, he’s by himself, or rather, with those who have gone on before him. Unexpectedly, the man we have been sharing an office with and accompanying around the island as he visited the schools died last week. His given name is Godrington, though most people here simply called him by the title “ZCA” (zone curriculum advisor). He left behind ... read more