The above photo was taken aas we were leaving “Kaubasis” village in Simbu. After I took this photo I turned around and did not look back. The memory of the experience behind this photo will probably stay with me for the rest of my days. This was the moment where local and visitor were bidding each farewell. For those that know me… I'm not very “together” when it comes to saying goodbyes.
As I was bidding the locals farewell I began to cry, it was impossible to hold back the tears. I was feeling that pain of separation, perhaps a cell memory from birth, perhaps my history of travelling and moving from country to country as a kid, I tapped into that pain once again when it was time to part from my new found family. The moment I turned around just after snapping this photo, I never looked back, the tears were flowing and sobbing ensued.
I will always remember the sound of the wailing women as I strolled out of the village. A few of us cried and there were the mandatory hugs. Somehow at some stage during my five day stay in “Kaubasis” we connected. The short time we had together I began to feel a sense of belonging. The men of the village christened with the name “Bolpro” or “Mangi Bolpro”. “Bolpro” is the name of a sacred tree located smack bang in the middle of the village. It carries great significance for the locals. The name of this tree is “Bolpro”. They named me after their special tree. I felt honoured.
Since that stay in “Kaubasis” back in July I have had the opportunuty to catch up with some of the folks I met during those five special days. And each time I meet one of them, it might be walking down the road, or perhaps at West Taraka, or at the “Haus Krai” I attended last week, each time that connection that was born three months ago, remains as strong as those days in the village.
PNG has given me a sense of belonging, something I desperately sought for many many years. It is perhaps for this reason and this reason alone that I have made a decision to stay on in PNG. Belonging. The best we do in the west is emulate belonging. People join clubs or gangs or factions, take up sports, go to pubs or have families, some go to church and even temples, others get careers and join professional bodies. All somehow trying to belong somewhere, someplace and with someone or someones.
And now… as I face the imminent departure from UNITECH, I once again can sense that pain of separation brewing within, ready to come to the surface and seeking expression. And although I am planning on returning to PNG early next year I know that leaving Lae and UNITECH will break my heart and the tears will flow yet again.
And so it is for this human…
returning next year… as? where? how? when are you back in Oz? Where? how? for how long? Hope you're well… Nath