All my stuff that I sent via sea has arrived safely. UNITECH has a customs agent on campus, his name is Nori. We drove into Lae yesterday to get the 9x packages cleared and released by PNG customs. You would’nt believe the “rigmaroll” that we went through. I we had to visit around 8 different offices around town each place required paper work to be filled out and each place required a payment. Once the paper work was done and monies paid we were then given a stamp that allowed us to proceed to the next office ! If I did’nt have Nori with I reckon it would have taken me easy one month to get all the paper work done.
I heard said before leaving Oz that once you have lived in PNG for a while that the small things no longer bother you. I am beginning to understand what this means. Patience is not optional in PNG but a must. There have been many experiences to date that have forced me to practice patience and as some of you probably know being patient is not something that comes easy for me. To think that a few weeks ago back in Sydney after ordering a coffee in a cafe, I would complain if the coffee was’nt on my table within 5 minutes. And… I thought I was here in PNG to teach !!!
Took my 1st PMV (local bus system) ride into Lae a couple of days ago. It has to be seen to be believed. UNITECH campus is 9 kms from the center of Lae, so staff and students and other locals rely on the PMV system to get them to and from town. There are no taxi’s, so the PMV system is really the only mode of transport, apart from walking of course. A few things about the PMV‘s :
1) They leave when the bus is full (in other words : packed).
2) They don’t always follow the same route.
3) They breakdown all the time.
4) During peak periods you have to fight to get a ride on one !!
5) The main terminus in town is notorious for pickpockets and local rascals.
6) On Saturdays, which is market day and the busiest day of the week. You can get into town fine but forget about getting a PMV back to UNITECH !!!
etc…
I am having difficulties posting photos on my blog site. Have raised a problem with the blogging service provider and hopefully this willl get resolved soon.
Stay tuned to Trupela Tok !!!!!
good to hear Rob. We've just finished dinner in Dural with Mum, TC and three kids, lovely pasta meal (even if I say so myself !!)… must be good sleeping in your own bed !…