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Published: October 10th 2008
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"Pig"
Simple entertainment. These three were chanting "pig" as they mocked the ceremonious way of marching a pig into the village for a feast. This entry is coming hot off the press in Port Vila. Turns out we got a few hours of freedom in the capital this afternoon, and I'm taking some of that precious time to keep you all updated.
We are settling in to our training village and temporary house. We are trying to utilize the video sharing with this entry, so hopefully you can see a tour of our house. (Given the slow internet connection, that may not happen.) Just yesterday a small menagerie of animals made themsevles known to us, including two varieties of crab and a mouse. We are currently trying to negotiate their relocation. The house was built by our host papa with native materials. He always points out the good trees and vines to use of structure and rope for houses, though we hope that our permanent house is built by the time we arrive at our two year site. Our roof is topped with coconut palms face down to create a smooth surface that will not catch the attention of a cyclone. Other materials include bamboo for the walls, corrugated metal, and coral floors.
As we get used to the pace of life, both
Bush Knife Bananas
Justin's first bush knife experience with our host Papa. Justin and I are thankful for our rural expereince and upbringings. We can focus on learning the culture and new language while some in our group are struggling initially with out houses, cold showers, sharing their yard with chickens and pigs, etc. Life is kind of like Little House on the Prarie meets Gilligan's Island.
Our host family provides all of our meals, so that helps us focus on language learning, though we do enjoy helping out when time allows. We do get to wash our own laundry by hand and line dry it. Thus far, my only medical concern has been my hands peeling a few days after doing laundry due to the harsh soap. I hope to buy some gentler stuff next time around. Doing laundry by hand definitely makes one reconsider what really needs washing.
You may notice a break in the video where our hose papa comes to take us to the garden. I hope to get you some pictures of that place too! We took off down the road that my friends and I had been running in the mornings, but then veered off on a footpath that I hadn't noticed before. The
Coconut scratching
Justin and the Coconut group twists and splits in the pathe were a complicated maze, but the entire village know those trails and how to get to whose garden in a flash. Using only a bush knife, we cut down leaves that are used like aluminum foil to bake foods. Our host papa whacked down the leaves and then we helped strip the thicker part of the stem backing off. He showed us how to make a basket with two of the leaves. These we hauled back with a bushel of bananas. I can't wait until we have our own garden!
Further "practical" training has included an afternoon of preparing dinner from scratch. Our group split into four small ones - one to kill, defeather, and cook the chicken, one to build a fire, one to husk, grate, and strain coconut milk, and one to make simboro - a local dish. Luckily, I wound up in the simboro group (and Justin in coconut group) and we only had to listen to the chicken group's fiasco behind the palm leaf walls. Simboro is a staple dish that uses two common island ingrediants: island cabbage and cassava (a root like a potato). After peeling the cassava,
Simboro Group
Our local dish and our tasty prize. we grated it into a damp mush. Then we rolled little patties of it into island cabbage burrito style. This we boiled with coconut milk, water, salt, and other spices. At one point I realized that it took about 20 of us to do the work of one Ni-Van Mama.
Our experience with religion and Vanuatu has thus far been with branches of Christianity. This is comforting in its' familiarity, yet at times it seems forced. When we attended a wedding at a near by village, the bride carried a bouquet of fake roses instead of using the island flowers native to her country. At church on Sunday, all of a sudden the men appear in starched button up shirts and ties. Anywone who has glasses wears them. It's hard for me to see Ni-Vanuatu try to westernize themsevles for worship. It makes me wonder about the nature of their relationship with God, whether it is personal and geniune or not. I hope that Christianity did not come to this country at the prices of Ni-Vans feeling ashamed of their culture.
Every night when our hose mama and sister, Stella, bring us dinner, we pray (and clap at
Trappin'
Justin and his buddy Pierce are coniving to trap something before the end of training. the end). As our families are keen on us learning Bislama, mama asked Justin to repeat after her during the prayer the other night. Then she said (in Bislama), "Shut your eyes."
And Justin said (in Bislama), "Shut your eyes" and continued to look right at her, waiting to repeat the next phrase. Stella and I just lost it, we got to giggling so much and Mama even had to strain to keep her voice steady as she lead the prayer. We have relived that story with many neighbors and with many laughs.
Time seems to be flying for us already. Thanks to you all for sharing our blog and sending us mail! We love hearing about all the news and small things that are shaping your lives while we're away.
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Rhonda
non-member comment
Wow!
Justin - We have trouble closing our eyes in Iola, too! he, he! So great to read your all your descriptions Sher -- You have quite a little flare for writting... Take care... And God Bless!!