Blog blong Mama Vivienne

***due to very slow internet - we will NOT post many photos on the blog***

week two - Blog blong Mama Vivienne

It’s time for me to reflect on the last week, and especially on finally
reaching Talua. I say “finally” because it seems to have been a long time
coming. We are sick of packing, and living out of suitcases and then
repacking.

We are now in Talua. We flew Port Vila to Santo early Thursday morning and
were picked up by staff from Talua about 8AM. A while was spent in town
(Luganville) buying the food supplies we need for the following week - we
can get whatever we need, not much selection but what we need, not exotic
but simple – so from a supply point of view we will be fine? We also went to
the butcher to buy stuff for the next week - meat seems slightly cheaper
than in NZ (and much cheaper than in Port Vila).

first impressions

Santo appears to be quieter, cleaner and greener than what we saw of Port
Vila. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see a lot of Efate Island because of lack
of transport and the bad weather associated with Cyclone Jim. So it was a
relief to arrive in the wide empty streets of Luganville. The drive out to
Talua was hot and sunny, but very beautiful, with attractive pastoral scenes
of cattle grazing under coconuts. The road got rather rough but apparently
rarely if ever becomes impassable despite fords, low bridges and swampy
areas.

Talua campus itself is pleasantly tidy, open and green with some large
trees, garden areas and accommodation blocks. Our house is in a block of 2.
It is very tidy and well kept thanks to the previous occupants and a
wonderful house girl – Madelyne. It has just 2 bedrooms and an office but is
quite open and spacious. It also has an inverter so that we can have a
limited electricity supply outside of the generator hours. This is very
important for the breadmaker and occasionally a fan if we are really
desperate.

Orientation week is just beginning so it is too early to know how the daily
routine will go, but we are getting used to the early morning starts – first
bell 5.30 am and lights out when the generator stops around 9pm.

So far, part of our daily routine has included a walk down to Navota farm.
The kids really enjoy swimming in and jumping into the river, chasing crabs
and freshwater crays, collecting shells, etc. It’s just a pity that you get
so hot walking back again.

I’m impressed with how well the kids are coping. Not too many grizzles and
fighting siblings considering it is all so different for them. I am also
really pleased that they are out playing with the local Ni-Van children,
playing, building treehuts, learning about new fruits, walking down to the
river, etc