There is a new AVI (Australian Volunteers International) volunteer on campus. Anthony arrived last Saturday after spending one week in Port Moresby doing Tok Pisin and PNG culture training. This brings the total number of AVI volunteers on UNITECH campus to a grand total of three.
I had organised a mumu to welcome Anthony to UNITECH and my housekeeper Rondi and her family did all of the hard work. The photo above shows Anthony getting stuck into a coconut and drinking the succulent juice. I think the local coconuts are great and I always have a few in the fridge to quench that burning thirst when I get home from work of an afternoon.
So, back to Anthony… as it turned out he was assigned the house right next door to mine (semi-detached) which has been vacant since I got back from my xmas break downunder. And to top it of… Anthony will also be lecturing in the Department of Business Studies and you guessed it ! His office is right next to mine.
(Geeez…. hope we get on !!)
I have in a number of previous blog posts criticised the “ex-pat” type that is drawn to PNG. And whilst I still hold true to this view towards “others” in PNG, the volunteers that I have met in PNG to date are a different cup of tea. The motivation that draws people to PNG varies from person to person but for us “vollies” we seem to have to a degree a similar motivation or reason for being here.
What am I saying?
I'm saying that it's nice having some other volunteers around as I feel that I share much with these people. We (us vollies) come to PNG not so much for the bucks but more for the adventure and humanitarian aspects. There are two other AVIers in Lae town and we have discussed getting together once a month for a vollie catchup. This would be real nice.
Welcome to PNG Anthony!
To view the photos I snapped at the mumu last Saturday – please go to the Friends photo album and see Anthiny in action !
NB: Anthony has just done his 1st solo PMV ride back from town and has just walked into the office – the 1st thing he said as he walked in was : “Can I cry on your shoulder…”.
Better go and check to see if me mate Tony's OK
tingting bilong yu…
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