“Relaxed PNG style”

Today’s been one of those days,
A relaxing day,
An interactive day,
Tops for a Saturday.

Walking,
and more walking,
plenty of walking
and then some.

The shoes are off
and I head down to the market,
Uncle Joel heads down to Lae,
always bumping into folks.

Walk, stop and talk,
greet, chew and laugh,
interaction…
PNG style.

Lek nating,
bilum na cap,
lipstik,
PNG em i kamap lewa bilong mi.

The dusty roads of Goroka,
people everywhere,
walking, sitting or staring,
all interacting.

Uncle Dawa and the boys over for dinner,
eight all up,
out come the lamb flaps,
PNG and lamb flaps!!

Counting continues,
and another walk for some kumu,
toilet paper is almost finished,
70t a roll.

The house is quiet,
no tambus,
no wantoks…
I’m happy and at peace.

No crying Isaac,
no mamas or uncles,
no aunties, sisters or brothers,
just you and me baby!

So the story continues,
the PNG story that is,
the days turn into weeks,
and the weeks into years.

Life is like that,
no matter where one calls home,
time and space traveller,
fellow human.

Tis night,
the crowds are out,
and of course the noise and the roudiness,
PNG style.

PNG style,
intense,
spontaneous,
and friendly.

Will I adapt?
Or even survive?

Will I cope?
And how?

Knock, knock…
Who’s there?
It’s Mama Olgan and young Ester…

Dammit!!