Some questions answered!

Thanks to all of you who have blogged on and sent us questions by email. There are some common themes to the questions so we are going to answer them here.

You have asked what date we leave to go to Vanuatu - or even if perhaps we are there already. We are still living in Green Point but our heads are quickly moving to the new location... This week has seen us commence packing up the house so that Bec and Mike can move in early in July.

We have only been here five years and are wondering who put all that junk in our cupboards and drawers!! Not only that - but why is it so hard to sort it out and get rid of it? Why do we feel so attached to that item when we haven't even laid eyes on it for months!

Then there is the vexed question - 'When are you leaving?' MMMmmm - now that is an interesting one. Our country manager at AVI has indicated we have a target date of 7th July. However there are some tasks and processes that need to occur to confirm this date. We are in the process of getting vaccinations - typhoid, tetanus, cholera, hepatitis and whatever else is recommended. Because we are over 50 (I know none of you would ever believe that!) we are having to have mammograms, pap smears, poo tests, blood tests and any test that might prove we are not insane in wanting to do this in the first place!

When we pass all the tests and have provided every item of information, we will be able to be issued with visas - if the employing agencies have actually agreed for us to be employed, and the government in Vanuatu is convinced that we are upright and decent Australian citizens, with a real interest in capacity building in their country. So the answer to this question is (for now) July 7th 2006.

What is Cheryl going to be doing while you are there? These questions get harder to answer...not easier! Cheryl has applied for a position as a volunteer and will be interviewed later in the month (after 14th June) for that position. The University of the South Pacific may be able to offer some work and a training and education program has invited her to 'contact us when you get here'. The Australian High Commission tells us there are no employment agencies in Port Vila. A local person we have been corrresponding with indicates that word of mouth is the most likely way of scoring a job. If we have any news on this we will update the blog accordingly.

The weather in Gosford has taken a definite turn for the worse with frost, some rain and temperatures plummeting - typical of this time of year! We both abhor the cold weather so it is lovely to look up the weather in Vanuatu and note day time temperatures in the mid 20's with cooler nights (but not below 17C)...Paradise is looking good.

Confirmation arrives

Today we received email confirmation of my acceptance by the authorities in Vanuatu. Guess that means we're definitely off. We had Mike and 'Bec up on the weekend and started talking about what furniture of ours stays in the house and what they need to be stored in our garage - and still leave enough room for their car! That'll be a challenge - the first of many for both no doubt. Cheryl and I go for our medical next week - the last hurdle we think. Hopefully they won't hold my dementia, arthritic back, knees and wrist, alcoholism, semi-blindness, and total lack of short term memory against me!!


Friends..... you know our contact email over there . . . . Keep in touch please.


And if you'd like to communicate to us via this blog (by adding comments and stuff) go right ahead and click on the "comments" link at the bottom of each post. Just remember that whatever you add can be viewed by everyone!
.........Ron

Cheryl and Ron - Voluntering for Vanuatu

Well, it's finally happened! Two weeks ago we were told that I've been accepted as a volunteer by Australian Volunteers International (AVI). My posting will be to Vanuatu.

As yet, they havent found a position for Cheryl but lots of people both here at AVI and the ones we've 'spoken' to via email in V are very encouraging that Cheryl will pick up work quite readily once we actually arrive and she does a little networking.

SO who are we and how did this all come about? I'm a recently retired school teacher and school administrator. Cheryl is a consultant specialising in project management for NGOs and government departments in the community sector. We've been thinking and talking about working overseas for a long time. Recently, I made the decision to retire from my position in the public school system. Our children are all grown up and moved out. We (as yet) have no grand children (or impending pregnancies we are assured!) Thus, the window of opportunity opened, and so we began looking around through numerous agencies.

We must have put in 50 applications to a range of organisations including international schools, aid agencies, overseas corporations etc. And then finally, Australian Volunteers International contacted me and the process of my recruitment began. There were lots of phone conversations between Gosford and Melbourne, a psych interview, medical, and reviews of my (and Cheryl's) CV. Last week we received the invitation to attend the 3-day Pre-Departure Briefing at AVI's headquarters in Melbourne. What a great 3 days. Imagine spending 3 days with over 30 people of all ages where you all share the same basic beliefs and values and where every single person feels instantly like an old friend.

We talked, played games, read lots, listened more, shared stories and learned so much about AVI's (and AUSAid's) Development goals, capacity building, different cultures, support structures, and so much more. As we left for home, Cheryl and I both agreed we'd rather be taking off immediately for Vanuatu than returning home to wait another 6 weeks for our actual departure.