PIST WEEK!

30th June 2008

It's not what you think - though it might just as well be!

The problem started when, right up to the beginning of the fortnight which was designated as two weeks holiday for the students and one week for the teachers, no-one knew which week was which, as the non holiday week for teachers was to be PIST week - Provincial In Service Training.We'd planned to have a week's holiday during the one holiday week, but no-one, not even the education officers, could decide which week was which!So we had to cancel our holiday (just as well as it happens, because of my sprain) and the decision was made on the Thursday before the holiday, that schools would do in house training and they would decide which week to take!So it means we have to work both weeks to cover whichever week schools decide to take as their training week.

Talk about a Fred Karno Circus (I never did know who he was, or why he had a circus). The senior teacher here, who is the In Service training co-ordinator and couldn't co-ordinate making a cup of tea, then says, on the Friday, he wants us to do the week training teachers in Kundiawa.We'd already been booked for most of the week by other schools who'd got their act together a bit earlier than Mr Incompetent. We agreed to do the Tuesday and work on assessment with individual subject departments.He told us he would provide us with a programme for the day.We've been having an ongoing battle with this guy, who is totally incompetent (not alone in that area I might add), avoids us if at all possible, doesn't keep appointments and doesn't plan ahead, so the staff never know what's going on.Unsurprisingly, Tuesday morning arrives, we have no schedule, so turn up at school at 8am.We borrow a programme from another member of staff, as there isn't one in our pigeon hole (now there's a surprise!) and discover we are due to start work with the English department at 8.30.We turn up but no-one else arrives, so we sit and wait, conscious that if everything gets late, all the other departmental appointments will be delayed.Thirty minutes pass, still no show.By this time, steam is issuing forth from John, who storms out of the room like a raging bull and unfortunately for Mr Incompetent, John bumps straight into him.A huge row ensues for all to see and when the teacher swears at John, I drag him away and we go to see the head.All our pent up frustrations erupt and we tell the head we feel we are wasting our time here, the place is not a professional institution and the pupils are being sorely disadvantaged with their education as a result of a lack of commitment from the teachers and slack management at the top - whew!He seemed a bit puzzled and said it was a bit over the top to get so enraged just because a schedule hadn't been put in our pigeon hole, which missed the point completely!The end result was that we had a meeting with the senior management team later in the day where we aired our views and the upshot was that the Mr Incompetent said he found the job difficult and would John mentor him and would I mentor the Head!!As for the third member of the team, I'm not sure what we're supposed to do with him, but John and I have a few ideas and none of them are pretty! So, we think the upset allowed us to vent our feelings and we think it had some effect, as they declared they wanted us to stay, so we'll see.They try to excuse their lack of professionalism on cultural differences which the white man doesn't understand.UNDERSTAND!! We understand perfectly well and would discipline the lot of them for gross misconduct given half a chance. However, we're meeting with the provincial chief to give him some feedback next week, so we'll see what evolves from that - probably nothing, but at least we will have our say.

The Governor General's visit was also a farce.No-one knew what time he was arriving, so the whole school were waiting for his plane in the blazing sun, from early morning till he arrived at lunchtime. The PA system didn't work (no-one had thought to test it beforehand!) so God Save the Queen was sung without music - She would not have been amused!Then the GG was so traumatised by the whole experience that the big dinner and book launch intended for the evening was cut short.He was supposed to then climb Mount Wilhelm the following day, but a blade fell off the helicopter and it ended up in the lake!I think that was after he had disembarked!!I tell you, you couldn't make up a better farce as happens on a daily basis in this place!

A few days ago, a big, black, fat pig appeared under the next door's house.I surmised this was either a compensation pay back or a killing was about to occur.The following morning the pig was led, squealing, past our house to a neighbour's, where a whole group of women were sitting on the ground preparing vegetables - this didn't look good for the pig, so I dived indoors and turned Bob Marley up very loud!! When I eventually ventured out and peeped gingerly over the balcony, a pig's head minus its body, was perched on a bench outside our neighbour's house, so I knew the deed had been done.The trouble is, they kill the pig by clubbing it to death and if they don't know what they're doing, it can take some time! Horrendous!So, this pig was to be roasted for a Mu Mu.This is a celebration, where they dig a pit, light a fire and put stones over the fire to heat.Then they wrap the pig and vegetables in banana leaves, throw water on the stones to produce steam, put more hot stones on top and cook the whole thing.They tell me it is delicious, but we haven't been invited to one yet, so I reserve judgement.

When we were in Mount Hagen, I bought a cheap, hand held electric blender.This was because I've been experimenting making soups with all the lovely fresh vegetables, but we prefer them blended a bit to thicken them.Our favourite so far is pumpkin, onion, carrot and ginger soup.In fact, we've become quite fans of pumpkins (some grow in our garden) and I've used it in stews and when braising meat with some success, especially when mixed with garlic and ginger.However, my first attempt at blending, which I decided to do quickly before leaving to do some training, went somewhat awry.The blender has some suction effect which drags it to the bottom of the saucepan, so as I pulled to release the suction, the blender whizzed up to the top of the soup and not only did the kitchen get redecorated but my fresh, white, clean, linen blouse became splodged with bright carrot coloured blotches and my hair was attractively streaked with orange!!The walls were orange and the air was blue!Blending has now become John's job!

We received a parcel from Lisa last week, it had taken about 8 weeks to reach us and had gone via Australia!!Inside, much to John's delight, was another bottle of HP sauce, which he put on the shelf in the kitchen area.We have a newly arrived volunteer from England, a scientist, and he visited us yesterday and was having a look at our house which is a hovel compared to his palacial abode - he's got not only more than one comfortable chair, but a settee, a TV and a hot shower!! However, as he was leaving, he glanced at the shelf, stopped in his tracks and said,'WOW,is that HP sauce up there?'John immediately shoved him unceremoniously outside and slammed the door with the words, 'you're not having any!!''It's mine, all mine!'

We can't believe we've been here 6 months already - time passes quickly.The work isn't too demanding, just frustrating and certainly not pressurised as it was in the UK in days gone by.Hope you enjoy the pictures.The ones of Guimini show the fantastic landscape, which is truly breathtaking and the school we visited is nestled on the side of a valley overlooking mountains and the mighty Wahgi river - a stunning place to work, as long as you don't need to get into town too often.Some of the other pictures were taken at the flower show, where some superb orchids were on display.We bought a hydrangea plant which, we were told by the stallholder, changes colour every three months.Mmm, I've learned not to believe everything I'm told in this place, but time will tell.The weather has changed again and the dry season didn't seem to last long, as we now regularly get torrential rain most evenings - at least people can wash again without resorting to river trips.

The ankle is mending slowly, still bruised and swollen but I am at least managing to walk about a bit now, thank goodness.John is still being bossy, though I managed to put him in his place a bit recently by not only beating him at scrabble, but cards also. As you know, I'm not a fan of card games usually, but when there's no electricity and only one non plastic chair, the options are somewhat limited!

Hope you're enjoying glorious sunny weather, it should just about be due now as it's July tomorrow.I bet the BBQs are out and teachers looking forward to a nice, long, well deserved rest.We're nearly at the point of booking our flight home at Christmas.The most expensive part is getting out of PNG, as Air Nuiguini have a monopoly and charge the earth.We're determined to escape somehow!

For those of you soon to go on holiday, have a great time and for the rest, enjoy the summer sun while you can.We shall now continue with the final PIST week, in as sober a manner as possible!

Love from us both

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