I find it hard to write about what's happening here on a daily basis, because at this point it all seems so normal to me. However, recently we had our first staff social gathering for the teachers at the school so i decided I'll write about that.
Thursday was a Public Holiday here: Ascension Day. We had a staff meeting (see previous entry) and decided to move the holiday to Friday so that we could have a 3 day weekend. Fridays here are always half days. I'm not sure why, but we made Thursday a halfday and in the afternoon had our social gathering.
The Social Gathering Committee decided we'd get together and bring raw food and roast over the fire (like take unripe bananas, throw them on the fire with their skins until they're black, and then remove the skin and eat). Well not surprisingly things changed. This event which was planned to begin at 1 pm wound up starting around 3 when we all met at school. We lit a fire but instead of roasting, they just cooked everything in pots. We had quite the variety: manioc (root crop), banana, rice, chicken, two kinds of crabs, and two types of canned meat and fish. Around 7 pm al the food was ready. We brought it up to one of the new classrooms that were just built. We got our food and one of the teachers brought his TV from his house. They turned on the generator they've been using to power the saws and other tools for the new classroom. After a couple light bulbs burned and some wires were crossed, the TV was up and running. We watched 2 DVDs: one of a Vanuatu string band and the other of some famous Vanuatu singer. I prefer those types of videos (singsing as they're called here) compared to the typical Asian action movies that they like to watch. Anyway around 9 pm, the event ended and I returned to my house. The next day there was no school and it was raining and somehow I slept until 10 am. I think that's the latest I've ever slept in Vanuatu.
Just as a side note, it's been really cold here lately. I have no way of knowing the temperature, but maybe it's been in the 60s. I wear a jacket sometimes! I especially miss hot showers now more than usual. I'm glad that it's not sweltering hot all the time like one might think of the tropics, but I know when I go back to the U.S. I am going to freeze.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Meetings in Vanuatu
I feel like this is an important subject to talk about to get a little insight into Vanuatu culture. I don’t know, maybe I just never attended enough meetings when I was younger, but whenever I attend a meeting here, I am struck by its orderliness.
First off before every meeting the secretary writes the Order of the Day on the blackboard. It looks something like this:
1. Prayer
2. Welcome
3. Roll Call
4. Order of the Day
5. Last Minute
6. Matters Arising
7. Other Business
8. Announcements
9. Prayer
These meetings aren’t big ordeals (in my opinion). Sometimes there may only be 4 people in attendance, but still It must follow this format. The Chairman and Secretary sit in the front. When we get to Matters Arising, in order to decide anything even like “Alyssa will do a workshop on Friday” there needs to be someone to make a motion: “I move that Alyssa will do a workshop…”. Then someone will Second the motion. Lastly they will ask the house to say “yes” or “hemia nao” (roughly translated as “that’s what I’m talking about.”) if they agree. Only after that can we move on.
Meetings (which undoubtedly start late due to Black Man Time as opposed to White Man Time which means On Time) always run past 2 hours. Sometimes there’s only one thing on the agenda, but people like to talk and restate the same ideas. I tend to sit down with my notebook and write down one o a million plans I have for when I leave Vanuatu. In all the meetings I’ve attended, I’ve yet to make a motion.
I don’t know about other places, but all the meeting I’d been to, we’d never done that, but I’m sure one day these formalities will come in handy. The thing I see in Vanuatu is that once they find a system that works for them, they tend to sticvk with it and are very hesitant to change it.
First off before every meeting the secretary writes the Order of the Day on the blackboard. It looks something like this:
1. Prayer
2. Welcome
3. Roll Call
4. Order of the Day
5. Last Minute
6. Matters Arising
7. Other Business
8. Announcements
9. Prayer
These meetings aren’t big ordeals (in my opinion). Sometimes there may only be 4 people in attendance, but still It must follow this format. The Chairman and Secretary sit in the front. When we get to Matters Arising, in order to decide anything even like “Alyssa will do a workshop on Friday” there needs to be someone to make a motion: “I move that Alyssa will do a workshop…”. Then someone will Second the motion. Lastly they will ask the house to say “yes” or “hemia nao” (roughly translated as “that’s what I’m talking about.”) if they agree. Only after that can we move on.
Meetings (which undoubtedly start late due to Black Man Time as opposed to White Man Time which means On Time) always run past 2 hours. Sometimes there’s only one thing on the agenda, but people like to talk and restate the same ideas. I tend to sit down with my notebook and write down one o a million plans I have for when I leave Vanuatu. In all the meetings I’ve attended, I’ve yet to make a motion.
I don’t know about other places, but all the meeting I’d been to, we’d never done that, but I’m sure one day these formalities will come in handy. The thing I see in Vanuatu is that once they find a system that works for them, they tend to sticvk with it and are very hesitant to change it.
A grapefruit tree growing in the kitchen?
Does this not happen in the U.S.? I guess I’ve forgotten how fertile the soil in Vanuatu is. When I first arrived, they told us new Volunteers how really you don’t need to bother planting things. You just throw the seeds in the ground and it’ll grow. Of course I remembered my middle school science lessons and thought that it must be the combination of sunlight and rain that causes the seeds to grow.
However the other day, we were sitting in the kitchen when my dad said, “Oh look there’s 2 grapefruit trees beginning to grow.” Sure enough I looked underneath the bench I was sitting on and there were 2 six inch tall plants growing. I took his word for it that they were grapefruit trees. They could’ve just as easily been weeds, but my dad dug them up and transplanted them into plastic bags so that they wouldn’t get trampled in the kitchen. When they’re bigger and stronger, he’ll replant them in the soil.
How did they wind up growing inside the kitchen? Well my guess is that one day we were eating grapefruit and we spit out the seeds on the dirt floor. Logically the seeds started to sprout and there you have it the beginnings of a grapefruit tree.
However the other day, we were sitting in the kitchen when my dad said, “Oh look there’s 2 grapefruit trees beginning to grow.” Sure enough I looked underneath the bench I was sitting on and there were 2 six inch tall plants growing. I took his word for it that they were grapefruit trees. They could’ve just as easily been weeds, but my dad dug them up and transplanted them into plastic bags so that they wouldn’t get trampled in the kitchen. When they’re bigger and stronger, he’ll replant them in the soil.
How did they wind up growing inside the kitchen? Well my guess is that one day we were eating grapefruit and we spit out the seeds on the dirt floor. Logically the seeds started to sprout and there you have it the beginnings of a grapefruit tree.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
What I did (or didn't) do on my 2 week vacation
To start with I only brought one book to read for two weeks. I tried to pace myself, but I finished it within the first week. I also did not bring any paper so I’m now using those empty pages at the back of the book to write out these blog entries.
A two week vacation may sound glamorous, but think again. I, along with my Futuna family, spent my 2 week school break on what they call “The Other Side.” This is a popular phrase in Vanuatu which really just means the other side of the island. I packed a few clothes and a toothbrush and made the couple hour trek to the other side.
My family is from The Other Side but they just live by the school now because my dad’s a teacher. They like to go to the other side for a break from the busy, hectic life at the school. You see, in the village at the school, they say there’s a lot of noise- telephones ringing, music playing, roosters cockadoodle doing, and babies crying. Well on the other side, there’s still roosters, but not much of the other distractions. Plenty of time to sit and do nothing.
Alright so to get back on topic, the first day I arrived I came down with a nasty cold. In Vanuatu, for every cold they say “flu” and naturally people start saying I have swine flu which I guess isn’t really funny at all, but now if someone sneezes, the new joke is “swine flu”. It used to be Dengue Fever (mosquito borne illness) which is a much more likely possibility- one person on Futuna got it already, but I don’t see swine flu arriving anytime soon. Well luckily I brought 2 bandanas which I’ve been using as a Kleenex alternative. It works fine but is still kind of gross.
My family has a plot of land on the other side where they’re planning on building a house. Note-planning, meaning now there is not a house. Some of the materials have arrived so they put up a makeshift corrugated iron shelter. Also some of the wooden beams are strewn across the ground so we slept on them. It’s better than sleeping on the muddy ground, but since the beams aren’t nailed down to anything when someone turns in their sleep, everyone feels the floor move.
Luckily the last time they came, my family had dug a toilet, and after only a few days while we were here they built a seat and a door. Before that it was a “squat and hope no one looks” situation. In terms of a place to take a shower- nope. Most people here have no problem showering in the open with their clothes on, but I chose to take my bucket of water behind the house and once again hope no one would come.
So it’s been a nice, relaxing vacation. (Not that the last 20 months haven’t been one long vacation). Luckily a package came for me the day I walked here with a People magazine. I’ve now read the issue cover to cover at least 5 times. I’ve got to keep up with my pop culture, but some stuff goes over my head, like what’s Twitter? I have learned a lot too, like by thoroughly examining the advertisements , I’ve come to the conclusion that Americans now want products that are “natural”, “organic”, and “green”. This ranges from skin care to paper towels to snack food, water, laundry detergent and even cat food. What do these labels even mean? Maybe these people should come to Futuna to experience organic!
We’ve been digging up a daily root (manioc) to eat and we’ve been killing a chicken and cooking it quite frequently as well. I can hardly imagine most meat eaters wanting to witness chicken slaughter, but if you’re eating it, you have to face the truth. At least here the chickens have a good life.
Well I still have a few days left here. Like I mentioned earlier, I’m writing at the back of my book. Maybe I’ll reread the book, but I may have to use it for toilet paper soon.
That was the entry I wrote while I was still on break. Today was our first day of school for Term 2, but the students just weeded the grounds and then played sports, because over 40 of the students were absent (I think the total is 120 for primary school). Also 2 teachers weren’t back yet. The plane came today so I think tomorrow we’ll be back up and operating.
A two week vacation may sound glamorous, but think again. I, along with my Futuna family, spent my 2 week school break on what they call “The Other Side.” This is a popular phrase in Vanuatu which really just means the other side of the island. I packed a few clothes and a toothbrush and made the couple hour trek to the other side.
My family is from The Other Side but they just live by the school now because my dad’s a teacher. They like to go to the other side for a break from the busy, hectic life at the school. You see, in the village at the school, they say there’s a lot of noise- telephones ringing, music playing, roosters cockadoodle doing, and babies crying. Well on the other side, there’s still roosters, but not much of the other distractions. Plenty of time to sit and do nothing.
Alright so to get back on topic, the first day I arrived I came down with a nasty cold. In Vanuatu, for every cold they say “flu” and naturally people start saying I have swine flu which I guess isn’t really funny at all, but now if someone sneezes, the new joke is “swine flu”. It used to be Dengue Fever (mosquito borne illness) which is a much more likely possibility- one person on Futuna got it already, but I don’t see swine flu arriving anytime soon. Well luckily I brought 2 bandanas which I’ve been using as a Kleenex alternative. It works fine but is still kind of gross.
My family has a plot of land on the other side where they’re planning on building a house. Note-planning, meaning now there is not a house. Some of the materials have arrived so they put up a makeshift corrugated iron shelter. Also some of the wooden beams are strewn across the ground so we slept on them. It’s better than sleeping on the muddy ground, but since the beams aren’t nailed down to anything when someone turns in their sleep, everyone feels the floor move.
Luckily the last time they came, my family had dug a toilet, and after only a few days while we were here they built a seat and a door. Before that it was a “squat and hope no one looks” situation. In terms of a place to take a shower- nope. Most people here have no problem showering in the open with their clothes on, but I chose to take my bucket of water behind the house and once again hope no one would come.
So it’s been a nice, relaxing vacation. (Not that the last 20 months haven’t been one long vacation). Luckily a package came for me the day I walked here with a People magazine. I’ve now read the issue cover to cover at least 5 times. I’ve got to keep up with my pop culture, but some stuff goes over my head, like what’s Twitter? I have learned a lot too, like by thoroughly examining the advertisements , I’ve come to the conclusion that Americans now want products that are “natural”, “organic”, and “green”. This ranges from skin care to paper towels to snack food, water, laundry detergent and even cat food. What do these labels even mean? Maybe these people should come to Futuna to experience organic!
We’ve been digging up a daily root (manioc) to eat and we’ve been killing a chicken and cooking it quite frequently as well. I can hardly imagine most meat eaters wanting to witness chicken slaughter, but if you’re eating it, you have to face the truth. At least here the chickens have a good life.
Well I still have a few days left here. Like I mentioned earlier, I’m writing at the back of my book. Maybe I’ll reread the book, but I may have to use it for toilet paper soon.
That was the entry I wrote while I was still on break. Today was our first day of school for Term 2, but the students just weeded the grounds and then played sports, because over 40 of the students were absent (I think the total is 120 for primary school). Also 2 teachers weren’t back yet. The plane came today so I think tomorrow we’ll be back up and operating.
What more can you ask for?
than a piece of bread and a packet of instant coffee mix? How did I reach this point where I ahve almost forgotten about $5 iced soy caramel macchiatos and now rejoice when I get a full serving of "3 in 1 instant coffee mix"? I'm not sure where to begin my story, but I think I should preface it with the fact that I regularly drank iced soy lattes for the past few years. They were in my blood, that is until i came to Vanuatu.
My coffee addiction came to a halt when I was placed in a village of decout Seventh Day ADventists. They don't drink any caffeinated product so there goes coffee and tea. We did drink the occasional what i like to call Hot Sugar Milk which consisted of powdered milk and sugar mixed together with hot water. It's a lot better than it sounds. For quite awhile it was my beverage of choice. Then one "cold" night I was sleeping a little ways up the side of the volcano. THe next day we'd be getting up early to climb to the top. I hadn't been that cold since I'd arrived in the tropics. Our host graciously gave us mugs, a thermos of hot water, and some sugar. THat was when i learned to appreicate Hot Sugar Water. (Just as a side note they call all hot beverages tea, so if you come and they offer you tea, you should probably expect Hot Sugar Water). I downed cup after cup that cold night before climbing the volcano.
When i moved to my new island, i was living amongst Presbyterians. They love to drink sugar water. Everyday at least twice a day I drink a cup of sugar. When we're lucky, we have brown sugar which is tastier than white sugar. On the occasion we'll mix the sugar with a lemon leaf or orange leaf. But then, I discovered the store sells 3 in 1 Instant Coffee Mix. Which is sigar, coffee, and milk all in one. Apparently Presbyterians don't have a ban on caffeine. When it's in stock, we drink it all the time. but since the household has like 8 people we can't afford to buy a packet for everyone. Typically 2 or 3 packets will be divided amongst everyone and then extra sugar will be added. A typical breakfast is a third of a packet of instant coffee with some Breakfast Crackers.
What are Breakfast Crackers? I guess the best equivalent would be matzah, unleavend bread eaten at the time of Passover. It's basically just dry, tasteless, cardboard. We break them up and put them in the tea and eat them with a spoon. On the rare occasion someone will make bread. There's no butter or toasting of the bread involved, but just the fresh off the fire bread makes my day. ANd if I get a full packet of coffee intestead of a third, well I just don't know what else I could ask for.
My coffee addiction came to a halt when I was placed in a village of decout Seventh Day ADventists. They don't drink any caffeinated product so there goes coffee and tea. We did drink the occasional what i like to call Hot Sugar Milk which consisted of powdered milk and sugar mixed together with hot water. It's a lot better than it sounds. For quite awhile it was my beverage of choice. Then one "cold" night I was sleeping a little ways up the side of the volcano. THe next day we'd be getting up early to climb to the top. I hadn't been that cold since I'd arrived in the tropics. Our host graciously gave us mugs, a thermos of hot water, and some sugar. THat was when i learned to appreicate Hot Sugar Water. (Just as a side note they call all hot beverages tea, so if you come and they offer you tea, you should probably expect Hot Sugar Water). I downed cup after cup that cold night before climbing the volcano.
When i moved to my new island, i was living amongst Presbyterians. They love to drink sugar water. Everyday at least twice a day I drink a cup of sugar. When we're lucky, we have brown sugar which is tastier than white sugar. On the occasion we'll mix the sugar with a lemon leaf or orange leaf. But then, I discovered the store sells 3 in 1 Instant Coffee Mix. Which is sigar, coffee, and milk all in one. Apparently Presbyterians don't have a ban on caffeine. When it's in stock, we drink it all the time. but since the household has like 8 people we can't afford to buy a packet for everyone. Typically 2 or 3 packets will be divided amongst everyone and then extra sugar will be added. A typical breakfast is a third of a packet of instant coffee with some Breakfast Crackers.
What are Breakfast Crackers? I guess the best equivalent would be matzah, unleavend bread eaten at the time of Passover. It's basically just dry, tasteless, cardboard. We break them up and put them in the tea and eat them with a spoon. On the rare occasion someone will make bread. There's no butter or toasting of the bread involved, but just the fresh off the fire bread makes my day. ANd if I get a full packet of coffee intestead of a third, well I just don't know what else I could ask for.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)