“Nau tasol mi kam bek pinis long ples”

Just back from the village…

A weekend in the village!
Left town with a head and a gut full of “stuff”,
And as the PMV began to career up the highway,
I could feel the weight slowly lift!

Asaro…

Daulo…

Wasen…

The worries and burden of modern life
Slowly rising and releasing.
Mangiro Junction…
Our stop!

We are greeted…

The “load” almost gone.
And as we walk towards “Wara-Guma”,
We pass folks,
Clan members and “haus lain”,

We hug and smile,
And share some lightness.
My insides are transformed
And I feel complexity
Slowly being replaced with simplicity,

Such is village life.
The “Hut”,
Running water,
Food cooked on the fire,
And the fresh air.

The people!!
It’s what makes a village.
Relationship…
And plenty of hugs.

The feeling of belonging is growing,
When I head to the “ples” now,
It feels like I’m going home!
Interestingly…
It has become home!

Bolku Kessna!
That’s me!!
Robert Schilt long town…
In the village…

Well things are slightly different.
haus man,
Stories,
The men and women,
And more hugs!!

A gathering,
And a 30 minute talk,
I have brought hope to these folks
And an association is emerging.

Keto-Tapasi Progress Association.
Tribal folks,
Inner strength,
Confusion by change,
But… hope!

Nau mi stap long namel,
Mi kamap man long ples,
Mi tambu man tasol,
Nogat samtin spesol bilong mi,
Mi man tasol,
Tasol mi man tu!

English, dutch and Spanish,
Tok Pisin em I kam gut,
Tok ples next!
And then wanem?

Now I’m back in town,
Monday afternoon.
A work day… yes!
But here I am at home…
PNG style!!

The bowels have been emptied,
I have washed, shaved and showered,
Heck… I even trimmed the nails!
And here I am…
On the laptop…

Damn laptop!!
The old and the new,
When they merge,
Perhaps humankind’s only hope,

The best of the old,
And the best of the new!
In the meanti