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.