Lonosunen

The day after we hiked Yasur we were both pretty beat. We decided that we would head down to the hot springs, but when we found out we would have to pay a thousand vatu each we decided against it. We had lunch at the bungalow and paid them what little money we had. I actually had another 1,000 VT but thought we should have at least something for an emergency fund, so I held on to that.

We then headed down the beach in search of the next village of Lonosunen. It was better then an hour walk across a rocky shear cliff. There was more then one moment when I was a little worried about out path. We finally made it to the beach in front of there village and drained of energy. We jumped in the water after talking to a few locals. They said we could either sleep on the beach or better yet come on top to their village and sleep up there.

We stayed in this village for two nights with out any money. It turns out that the family we ended up staying with there abu is the papa of my host brothers wife. Abu is grandpa. The first night they actually put us in a bungalow, but the next day said it was no good that we had to eat up top and then walk down back to the bungalow so they put us up in an extra house. They fed us at every meal and were really nice to storian with.

On Monday morning I woke up to some one crying at about 0300. When I say woke up I mean I was awake because I was tossing and turning all night, due to a sun burn I had acquired earlier in the day. It turns out the crying was not going to stop before we left. This is due to having a ded in the village. At some point in the night an elderly man passed away. They call this having a ded (dead.) When they have a ded they all wail for hours on end. Usually at least one person is wailing at all times.

Well Noa and I took off at about 0600 heading back to middle bush. We said are good byes and thank you to our hosts and then headed on our way. They said the road was pretty flat on the way to the main road. I am not sure what they meant by flat. I guess they mean there were not a lot of pot holes, because by no means would Noa or I consider that road flat. We were both exhausted from the four previous days of hiking and this road just seemed to keep going up. After every corner you could here us mumble g-r-e-a-t, more hill.

When we finally made it to the main road we could hear trucks coming. The very first truck to pull over was the guy who took us out to south Tanna to begin with. Well he said he would give us a deal and only charge us 1,000VT for the both of us. I told him that because he charged us tourist prices on the way out here we had no money left and would just walk. This is not entirely true. I had the 1,000VT but I wanted to shame him a little bit. So the next truck that came by we waved down and jumped in the back.

So someone asked me in a letter, “what do I you miss most from home.” They had guessed driving. I was thinking about this when I was standing in the back of the pick up flying down the road with the air cooling my sweaty face. I am not sure what I miss most from home, but I know when I go home the thing I am going to miss most, is riding in the back of pick ups every where I go. It was always one of my favorite things as a kid before the laws were changed. Every time I am in the back of one here I feel like a kid again. Of course it is a little more dangerous riding in the back of a pick up here. I have gone full airborne and landed two feet back on some ones lap. I would not be surprised if one day I write home saying, so I feel out the back of a pick up. One thing for sure I am building some strong hand and arm muscles from holding to the railing for my life.

As we came up to Middle Bush Noa was ready to get back to his village. I had the truck drop him off on the shortest half road to our area. I gave him some small directions even though he had been down the road once before. I continued on down to Lenakel to hang out get a decent meal and check my mail. Well when I got back to my village I asked if they saw Noa. They told me he came through around half past ten. I thought what? How could that be? They told me he got lost and ended up down in some village about 45 minutes south of me. Crazy kid.

I mean while went down and wrote some letters in front of the post office. Check my mail and headed down to the mama’s market. I ran into Matt who lives about an hour forty five away from me. We sat and I told him of our adventures over the weekend. We then headed down to Leniae Palms for lunch. I had a hamburger with grilled onions, a fruit plate with pineapple, po-po, and passion fruit, and of course followed it all up with a big scoop of mint chip ice cream on a cone.

As I walked up the road back to my village I had passed the man in the truck who I had shamed earlier and I gave him a wave and I continued up the road. As I walked up behind the truck I was going to ask for a ride. But when I saw it was him I thought no, I am not giving him another 100Vt to take me to my half road. So I just started walking. The rule is if you wave a truck down it is 100VT, but if they stop and pick you up it is free. Well just before the big hill that I was dreading walking up because I was exhausted and it was 1330, the hottest part of the day. The same man pulled up and softly said find a place in the back. I am pretty sure he is trying to make up for me shaming him. Shame here is a big thing. When ever some one does something that is rubbish fashion you usually respond with something like you have no shame? Well anyways I jumped in the back and felt a sigh of relief as the truck drudged up the big hill.

I had them drop me off at the market that has a half road to my place. There was another truck there and a guy from a neighboring village was in the back so he told me to jump in. I can tell that the longer I am here and the more people get to know me, the less I will have to walk with out someone picking me up. I have made my own rule that I am not going to wave trucks down. If they stop then right on, I will take the ride. But I am not going to wave them down. It is not the 100VT that keeps me from doing this. I just like walking and I certainly can use the exercise.

Well it is 0921 on Tuesday morning February 12, 2008 and I get to teach my first business class in 40 minutes. Last night they told me they changed it so that I am teaching two hours before lunch and two hours after. I told them that this is no good. For one they just can not make decisions regarding me with out my consent. And secondly I do not have a second class planned out yet. So we will see what happens today. I am very nervous about this as I still do not feel my Bislama is that great. Any one that you asked will argue with that. I am very functional and can talk with anyone about just about anything, but I guess it is just my nature that I want it to be perfect. I was explaining my worries to Matt and he reassured me that no matter how bad it is it will be great on Vanuatu standards. Back home if I was doing a presentation or leading a training workshop it would always be a great session. But here talking in a second language I am worried about how things will go. I guess we will see in 30 minutes.