Robert@PNG

Goasa…

We have been sharing the same office since I arrived some 6 – 7 weeks ago. In fact we have become pretty good friends. Goasa has been and is very helpful in guiding me through some of the “unknowns” for me on PNG culture and work place procedure.

 To give you an example…  a couple of weeks ago I was at the supermarket in Lae and I met this guy called George. George told me he was from the Highlands (Mt Hagen) and he was trying to get enough money together to catch a PMV back home. I chatted with George, gave him a smoke and a few coins and told him I was a volunteer currently workingas a lecturer at UNITECH. Now listen to this, a few days later I get a phone call from guess who ?  Yes, George….  he told me that he wanted to come into UNITECH and thank me for helping him. Alrams bells went off and immediately suspected George of trying to scam something, anything. In the end he persisted and agreed to meet him at the student canteen the following day at midday. I shared the phone call with Goasa and he became concerned for me, it seems that Lae has a rather “big” collection of people out of work trying to “make” a buck (Con people). Anyway, the next day I did go to the canteen and have lunch, George did turn up, but….  I had Goasa with me (he decided to come along and make sure I was OK) and also a local by the name of Jerry. So when George turned up I asked him to join us and I suspected he had’nt counted on anyone else being there. George’s story changed from trying to get enough money together to catch a PMV to being an artist in Lae and asking if he could bring in some of his work to sell. I told George that I was very uncomfortable with him being at UNITECH and that if I wanted any of his art I would take a ride into town. So much for George….  bye George.

 The point here is that I got support from a couple of new friends when I was in need. PNG nationals are great like this, once you become friends there is a responsibility or motivation to assist when needed. Is Wantok starting to make more sense ?   Goasa came over to my place last Friday night and we had a good old chat, he has become a cultural mentor and he tells me that I am his 1^st non PNG friend. Goasa has vey strong skills in software development and is also looking at setting up a small business, I have been giving him some guidance in this area.

 Goasa is from the Gulf Province and is married to Edna with 4x kids (including one set of twins). He lives 5 minutes walk from home. 

 One of the many great people I have met so far.

PNG….   The Land of the Unexpected.

NB: What do Bob Marley and Goasa have in common ?