Some of the folks I meet along the way…

One of the nice things about volunteering, working and living in PNG are the folks that one gets to meet along the way.

There’s a whole collection of different “types” that venture the shores of the Land of the Unexpected. Most of these aliens – I’d be pushed to piss on them if they caught fire (as we say back at home) but then there are others that I would protect at the risk of my own my life if the need ever arose.

The volunteers – no matter where from – are one such group of folks that I feel a true bond with – something about the vollie – people that give more than what they take. Whenever I meet up with other volunteers I always get sense of common ground and motive. Perhaps it’s our reason for coming to PNG or it might be the “type” that is attracted to volunteering.

Who knows? PNG is full of folks that come here to extract! (Yes… like flies to a pile of shit – extraction in PNG has become big business but unfortunately at the expense of a people, their culture, health and environment). Ironically, it is the extractors that are the ones walking away with wads of cash and in my opinion when they eventually leave they have not contributed one iota to the locals in real terms.

Remember that there are three types of folks that come to these shores: mercenaries, missionaries and misfits! (I’m a misfit with a vague aspiration to become a mercenary! – it’s not as black and white as I make out but hopefully you get my drift).

Back to the volunteers and friends…

Some of these folks pass through very quickly, others one gets to know a little better and others yet again whom one would like to get to know better but time unfortunately doesn’t permit.

The following photo – taken September last year – has all three of these “types” of folks depicted…

From L to R: One of Sjoerd’s sisters, Marcel, another of Sjoerd’s sister’s and Sjoerd.

Marcel…

A dutch physiotherapist and VSO volunteer currently working at Goroka General Hospital. A man I have grown to like and admire, Marcel does great work with the locals and is definitely a giver. I sincerely hope that our friendship continues to grow.

Sjoerd…

Also a dutchy, physiotherapist and VSO volunteer that worked up at Hagen Hospital for a couple of years. I only met Sjoerd on a couple of occasions whilst he was on visit in Goroka but knew the moment I met him that here was someone that I could easily spend time with. Shame we run out of time. Sjoerd has since gone back to dutchland and is furthering his career within physiotherapy.

Sjoerd’s two sisters…

Well, they passed through town faster than what you could say “blip”. On holidays in PNG and travelled around with there bro during there stay here.