An amusing story from the village

Each time we head out to the village at Kaubasis for a weekend of rest and peace inevitably we come back to town with a story or two. The short story I am about to share might not be funny to most of you but if your name happens to be Schilt you’re certainly bound to raise your eyebrows.

A few weeks ago I shared with you how Uncle Joel and Aunty Rose had offered to give us their new baby…

And the last point I want to share is a test to see if folks actually get this far in my story. If the family back at home get to read this I will be emailed, Skyped and maybe even telephoned! Uncle Joel and his wife Rose sat down with the two of us late Sunday and brought up the subject of adoption – the two already have 5 kids and Rose is expecting another very shortly – the two have basically offered the soon to be born toddler to Eli and myself. What does one say to such a gift?

Well since that confronting day a few weeks ago (when I had to come up with a good excuse very fast as to why it wasn’t a good idea for us to adopt) I’m happy to report that Joel and Rose’s baby was born and is healthy and doing rather well…

(Aunty Rose on left and Uncle Joel on the right holding their new bubs)

Now for the “corker”…

After having knocked back their offer of their child they must have put their thinking caps on and come up with an alternative “gift” for us. Well, they did! We were both informed during our last visit that the new kid was being named after my Dad. My Dad (RIP) was christened Johannes Hubertus Schilt – don’t ask me about the latin influence in our names – I might have to Google that one!

You would think perhaps: John, Hubert or even Johannes – one might even get away with Herbie or Jack. But believe it or not they named their kid: SCHILT!! Yep – the kids first name is SCHILT!!!

You know what that means don’t you… if the two of us ever have a change of mind and decide to adopt the critter after all his name will be SCHILT SCHILT!!!

Only in Papua New Guinea and only in a village in Papua New Guinea!!

Ladies and Gentlemen – please meet the one and only SCHILT…

(Baby Schilt !!)

Addendum to the story:

1. Uncle Joel And Aunty Rose did get the spelling of the name correct.
2. If the size of the nose is anything to go by the name Schilt is more than appropriate.
3. I did sit down with Joel and Rose and explain that Schilt was Dad’s surname and not his first name. Once they understood that perhaps they should of called him something other than Schilt they made a decision to rename the child from Schilt to Johannes! Now we’re talking! In PNG with name changes – there’s no need to go to de-pol to change one’s name – simple – we just grabbed little “Schilt’sies” health book and crossed out Schilt and wrote in Johannes!! Only in PNG!!
4. You might now be asking… Does point ’3′ cancel out the validity of this crazy Schilt story? I think not – I have decided that when I see the kid as far as I’m concerned his name is still SCHILT!

I KNOW NOTHINK…!!!!