Lone PNG woman making a bilum…

This photo was taken from one of the buildings on campus called Union Hall. I was supervising an exam (IS422) Tuesday just gone and I saw this lone woman sitting under a tree. She appeared to be making a bilum (a must to own if in PNG) or what we would refer to back home – just a plain old hand bag.

The building you can see in the distance are the housing quarters for the married students. It always strikes me how green and lush the vegetation is around these parts. With the amount of rain we get in Lae, anything green is destined for great and fast things.

The image of a lone woman sitting under a tree is a very PNG sight. Any image of man or woman sitting under a tree is a very PNG sight indeed. When out in the open the PNG person tends to seek out shade. It is common to see people walking around in the sun with umbrellas. Today there are plenty of umbrellas out as the weather is stinking hot (That’s why I am in my office right now enjoying the cool aircon).

Personally, umbrellas are for rainy days.

The lone woman under the tree…  I wander if she is still their ??

Last night the Accounting Students Association had there end of year party. The gathering was organised and financed by the accounting students and took place at Matthew’s place (one of my colleagues). There was plenty of food, beer and speeches. If you ever get a chance you must experience the PNG style of public speaking. Any excuse for a speech. And everyone wants to speak !! Stand in line and wait your turn. A Toastmasters heaven.

Speeches can be long, drawn out and emotive. Rhetoric rules !!  And yes…  somewhere in there God will normally get a mention. And when everyone has spoken and the food has gone cold…  why not go for a 2nd round??   An opportunity to speak about the things forgotten during the 1st speech. Good stuff!!

Time to get out of the office and enjoy what looks like a superb day.

I just remembered….   a new volunteer (AVI) is arriving today from Australia. His name is Geoffrey Anderson and he will be working with the Department of Distance Learning (DODL) on campus. I believe he is here to work on curriculum and course design within DODL…   takes me back to my first few days/weeks in PNG. Takes me back to that initial fear and head spin that was a part of my cultural transition.

With xmas just around the corner and my plan to travel back home for a few weeks to spend some time with family and friends and am certainly looking forward to experiencing reverse cultural transition.

The best is yet to come…. !!