Betelnut…

Kaikai Buai

Chewing buai (betel nut) is one of the past times of most Papua New Guineans. If you see a fellow wantok, look into his or her bilum and you will see among their personal belongings are the following: few buai, lime in a small container and daka (mustard seed). If he is a smoker, you might find brus (tobacco) inside too.

A wantok might chew four times in the morning and four times in the afternoon, and two times before sleeping. After each chew, they sometimes smok brus. For me this is an annoying habit which not only contributes to the rising incidence of mouth cancer in PNG, but it also contribute to the degredation of public areas in PNG.

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The above article I pinched from the net.

A comment left by a person who shall remain nameless wanted to know if I had “kaikai buai” (chewed beetlenut). The answer is yes. When I was in Moresby I was introduced to it by the NVS driver (Marcus), later that same day I also chewed it with Tok Pisin teacher (Egma) and on my way back to the hotel I had it again. It got me high but also made me illl (probably a good thing). Have not chewed it since.

Almost everyone in PNG chews nut and to be honest it is a filthy habit. As you walk down the street you see red blotches everywhere. The chewing automatically leads to spitting, a bit like going to the dentist I suppose. When the lime mixes with the nut it goes all red and it is this reaction that also produces the high. To the locals its a bit like having a cigarette, habitual.

The guy I share an office with he chews all day. Seems to get on with with his job OK. The locals are’nt prepared to accept that it is a semi narcotic, even the people that don’t chew (there are a few) will refuse to admit that it might be a national problem.

I have met this guy called Kevin, he’s an engineer and is working on a proposal to get a hydroelectric scheme into his villlage, trying to raise money etc… Kevin also chews buai. He came in the other day and said that he had been down at the river the day before rubbing his teeth (for 3x hours) with sand to try and clean his teeth as he had to go into one of the government offcies to submit his proposal and wanted to go in with clean teeth. Quite funnny really but on the other hand sad. So, some locals are prepared to accept that it is a problem.

My view (and only my view) is that buai chewing goes hand in hand with the challenges that PNG are currently facing. The nationals need to admit that it is a problem and perhaps aim to confine chewing to “special” ocassions or at least after working hours.

So will I ever chew again ? Probably, once in the blue moon. When the opportunity arises to get away from town and into the villages and a few of us are sitting around the campfire telling yarns and lies, I probably will. Once in the blue moon.

Hope you are all well.