The Ship Called Tomorrow

This ship that was supposed to come to Futuna still has not arrived. The story of its non-arrival sort of exemplifies Vanuatu. When I asked the people here what ship was coming they said "Tomorrow". I said "really?" and they said "yeah when you ask when it's leaving the answer is always tomorrow." Unfortunately this prophecy has come true. I first heard that the ship would be out on December 1st. December 1st came and went but no ship left (it would be coming from Vila the capital). Anyway since then this ship has made countless trips to other islands but none to Futuna yet. Then FINALLY they loaded it up for Futuna. It was full with passengers and cargo directed to Futuna. It left the wharf in Vila but unfortunately the police stopped it because it was too full. They made it return to the wharf and unload. Then it reloaded with only cargo for other islands and left. Apparently it is now en route back to Vila and its next trip will be for Futuna. We'll see when it happens. I'm sure the answer will be "tomorrow". The stores here are now done to scraps. This ship hopefully will come soon. I'm enjoying a lovely diet of roasted breadfruit and banana and boiled manioc until then.

This week also is a week long prayer group called Transformation. They are praying 24 hours a day all week. They are visiting everyone at their houses. Its really intense. Needless to say, I'm a little bored. On Sunday there will be a culmination by the opening of a brand new church in another village on the island. Apparently some American is coming tomorrow who gave money to build the church. Also the Prime Minister (who is from Futuna) should be arriving tomorrow. It should be an exciting day at the airport (and maybe I'll even get some mail)!

I realized I haven't written much about Bislama on my blog. Bislama is the National Language of Vanuatu (French and English are the official languages). Bislama is a sort of pidjin English/ French but has developed into its own language. Its similar to the pidjins of PNG and the Solomons. Anyway, it was super easy too learn since many words are just English in a different accent and also the vocabulary is very minimal. I think the best way to describe it is that I'll write something in it. Then you can try to read it. Its best if you try to read it outloud. Written Bislama is completely phonetic so just sound it out.

Vanuatu hemi gud. Mi laekem fulap samting long ples ia. I gat fulap kakae mo i minim se sipos sip i no kam long taem yu save kakae ol kakae we i gro nomo long aelan. Mi laekem se mi stap klosap long solwota. Yu wokabaot nomo mo yu kasem solwota. I hot be i no hot tumas. I neva kolkol. Mo tu i gud from se evri wan i wantem storian. I no gat tumas nara samting blong mekem i minim se yu mas storian nomo wetem ol narafala man. Wan las samting se mi laekem hemi se yu no spendem tumas mani long ples ia. Yu no save pem eni samting long stoa be i minim se yu no spendem eni mani. Hemia nomo.

Bislama once you hear it is really easy and I often find myself thinking in Bislama. It also has effected my English. I find it difficult to speak English without using only my Bislama vocabulary. For example, in Bislama the word "smol" (small) is used for any deriviation (little, tiny, small, miniscule- only one word smol). So when someone in Bislama says "yumi stap klosap?" i would answer "klosap smol". But in English this would be translated as "are we close?" "close small". Close small just isn't really appropriate in English. Other examples "Is it raining?" "small" in english doesn't really work. So hopefully when I'm reimmersed in English my English vocabulary will improve once again.

I'm slowly learning the local language but am totally not able to write a full paragraph in Futanese. I'll just leave you with:

Rufie Tabo- Good night