Day trip to Futuna

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I set my alarm to 0645, something I was not very excited about doing. Unfortunately I was not sure whether my check in time was at 1000 or that the plane left at 1000. I of course had not packed yet so I needed to get an early start. As it always seems when you need a good nights sleep something interferes. For me it was the new dog living on campus. I grabbed the only thing I could find to throw at the dog, but every time ai went outside the dog was no where to be found. The alarm went off at 0546 and I felt like I only had a couple hours of sleep.


I got up and packed my bag for my week long trip. Most of what I packed was my camera gear. I left with out eating breakfast and started down the truck road. After about 15 minutes I was picked up by a passing ruck. This took a lot of pressure off me missing my flight. I got to town and got my ticket updated for the flight then the guy said check in was actually at 1100 and the flight was out at 1200. I had plenty of time so I walked down to Aunty Mary’s for lunch. It was pretty sad as I was the only one there. Not that I mind eating by myself, it is just that this is where I would always meet to the volunteers who just COS’ed/ I then went to the post office and pick up some mail. Two new magazines!!! I grabbed out some money from the bank for my trip. I hope it is enough. Peace Corps never put the money for this trip in my account so I am just guessing on how much to bring.


It was around 1100 when I began heading to the airport. In town it is easy to catch a truck heading that way. When I got to the airport the plane was already there but I had to wait to check in until all the Vila people finished checking in. I got al checked in and then I hung out with the Japanese volunteer for while. I ran into the English guy from the ther side and storied with him as well.


At around 1300 the guy finally said the plane to anychum was leaving. He would not let me go. It turns out the plane goes to anychum and then back here to tanna before going to Futuna. So I waited go go. Finally the plane came back and as I waited for them to callfor the boarding I started talking with some NiVans. I finally walked out to the plane to see what time we were going and they were just shutting the door to take off! I ran and got on the little plane. This is the smallet plane I have ever been in in my entire life.


There was only three of us on the flight and I was sitting just behnd the co-pilot seat. There was only one pilot so I could watch what she was doing and look out the front window. Futuna is pretty scary looking on the approach. There is a small landing strip near the solwota and then the island goes straight up to 330 meters. It is like a big cake, no foothills, just a straight wall of bush.


When I got out the plane I waited as they unloaded the entire plane. Then as they were beginning to load the plane I asked, Hey basket blong mi stap wea? Where is my luggage? Well turns out it was still on Tanna. I asked the pilot if there was room on the plane. She called to Aniwa and said there was one empty seat. But I would have to sit up from in the co-pilot seat. The fact that she was a beautiful 24 year girl did not make my decision very tuff.


It was really cool to sit up front. I was a little scared on the landings being able to see everything. The run ways start right on the edge of a cliff and she puts the plane down about 2 feet into the runway. We landed in Aniwa and picked up some more passengers, before heading back to Tanna. As we were landing in Tanna I looked out and saw Noa fishing on the reef. He looked up and we waved to each other. When I got off the plane the runway guy came up and said Hey we forgot to put your bag on the plane! Gee really? Why do you think I am back!


We rescheduled my flight for Monday and I will be back then. Can you imagine this in the states? You fly somewhere and they forget your luggage, so they just let you fly home and re book the flight? Only in Vanuatu! The pilot was very apologetic but I told her I had been here long enough to expect stuff like this to happen to me. Awe Tanna!!