The weeks are flying by in Vanuatu

Well the time is just flying by here in Vanuatu. We have now been in Port Vila for a month. In one sense we are still very new and finding our way around and in another we have begun to think of ourselves as locals! We know where to shop, where to eat and a few places to play after work. We are getting to know many new faces both expat and Ni-Van and some of those faces will play a large part in our time here.

So how are we going with learning Bislama? Unfortunately Ron is teaching at a school that does not allow him to speak Bislama on campus, and all classes are in English, so he has limited opportunity to develop his skill. The bus drivers and storekeepers are Ron’s main opportunities for practice.

On the other hand I am ‘right in the thick of it!’ All meetings at Youth Challenge are conducted in a mixture of Bislama and English and the other staff there are quite adept at switching from one language to the other and back again in the same sentence and breath! Negaya (also new) and I are looking forward to the time when we can conduct and contribute to meetings in Bislama.

Our Youth Ambassador, Nic, seems to have a pretty good grasp of the language so we are in for a few mornings of intensive language lessons from Nic and lots of practice with the staff – Joel, Nelly, Barenda and Leisau. Everyone is really supportive and happy to put up with the inevitable mistakes. Sometimes the office just dissolves into fits of laughter at my attempts but mostly they are patient and happy to help.

We are slipping into the lifestyle easily and despite the earthquakes, threats of tsunamis and our unfortunate break in and robbery – we are feeling right at home.