Hepi Independence Day Olgeta!

Papua New Guinea (PNG) became a sovereign nation on 16 September 1975, PNG Independence Day. I have spent quite a few years in PNG and wish all of my wantoks a very Happy Independence Day. We will have to miss the independence celebrations in Canberra this Saturday as Mimi has chickenpox and we are housebound.

our trip to PNG

After 7 years away, I went back to Alotau in PNG, where I lived for 6 years, initially as a volunteer with Australian Volunteers International. I took the girls to meet their Bubus (grandparents) and the rest of their extended family, and we stayed in the village in Milne Bay. What a wonderful adventure. I hadn't realised how much I missed PNG and my friends up there.

I am so, so grateful that my girls have an exposure to a life that is different to the one that we lead here in Canberra - that they understand that not everyone in the world turns on a switch for light or opens a fridge for food, or has a bath or shower at their house. I am thankful that they have had more exposure to their culture than they can get here, and I am indebted that they will have a loving, accepting place that they can run to when they are older if they ever need to.

The girls had a fantastic time running around with their cousins, bathing in the river, buying food at the market, learning to speak tok pisin and meeting lots of people. Hopefully I can take them back every few years and it isn't so long before I return again.

RIP Mummy Gelly

Tangis' Big Mummy passed away in PNG last week. She had been sick for a long time and finally let go in Alotau hospital. She was a great lady and always made me feel so welcome in the village. I am sad that my girls didn't get to meet their Big Bubu Mummy.

Tangis travelled to PNG for the burial and mourning.

Rest in Peace Mummy Gelly.

Happy Birthday Papua New Guinea

On 16th September we celebrated the 32nd anniversary of PNG Independence. We attended the Ecumenical service and communal lunch with Tangis. The girls dressed in their meri blouses that Bubu sent down from Alotau (they looked absolutely gorgeous). We had a lovely day catching up with everyone. I miss spending time in the PNG community and hope that as the girls grow older that we can get a bit more involved so that they can be involved in the traditional dancing and singing learn different things about their culture from their elders.