PLANE SPOTTING

24th February 2009

We have become avid plane spotters, just like the locals.When a plane is due, the landing strip is lined with people, who often wait for hours if the plane is late.They watch it approach, land, check who and what comes off the plane and goes on and then the take off.I heard recently from a headteacher in Karamui, that she has to haul her teachers off the landing strip back into the classroom when a plane is due (often only once a week), as they leave their lessons to watch!!At the week-end, we hear the one plane of the day come into hearing range, then we watch from our balcony as it circles Kundiawa, through the mountains, losing height and lining up to the tiny landing strip.Sometimes we can be heard gasping, 'Oh my goodness, it's too high,' which then results in an aborted attempt and another circular tour to line up again.We saw one plane do this four times once and later discovered that there was an engine fault.Two attempts is usually enough.

We did a first in Simbu and I suspect in PNG, as I know for sure it doesn't happen in Madang.We ran an induction workshop for new graduate teachers in the province.It rained heavily the night before, so we were doubtful about how many would turn up, as there would be resulting landslides, floods and bridges down.We were overwhelmed as, not only did they turn up on time, barring about 4, who were about 15 minutes late, but could be forgiven as they had been walking since before daybreak, but out of the 30 possibles, 25 attended, the absentees being based in very remote schools.We were pleased with the workshop and the teachers were a joy, bright, intelligent and eager to learn.We are doing a follow-up session at the end of term and hope it is as well attended.

Not quite such a success the following day, when we were supposed to be doing the first of 3 workshops for headteachers, in conjunction with the Senior Standards Inspector.We got a text from the inspector at breakfast time, saying he was ill!We cobbled the day together and decided to go ahead and do one day, rather than let the heads down.We had told the heads the date at a headteachers' meeting along with a meeting schedule for each one.It was supposed to start at 9am with a welcome by the Provincial Education Adviser.No-one had arrived by 9am and we had a text from the PEA to say he'd had to attend another meeting and wouldn't be coming (did he not know about this 'other meeting' beforehand?).By about 11.30 we had 9 delegates out of an expected 35!We ran the session anyway, in a reduced form.We wished the heads could take a leaf out of the new graduates' book about punctuality and attendance.The PEA asked for an attendance list and assured us those who did not attend would receive a sharp letter from him........I wonder.

A member of staff at school has 'gone missing'.The result of this is that his classes (he teaches Maths and Personal Development) have had no teaching yet and we are now into week 4 of term 1.No-one, least of all the head, seems to know where he is or when he's coming back.For my sins, I offered to take a couple of the Grade 10 Personal Development classes until he returns, when I had no other commitments.Silly me - I never learn!Little did I realise that the subject they are supposed to be covering this term is sex education.So there I was, faced with a class of 40 X 16/17+ year olds eagerly awaiting their first lesson of the term!!Thankfully it went well - they are so eager to learn - and we managed to get a reasonable discussion going, which felt a bit like drawing teeth, but eventually it happened and all was well.I now have to mark their assignments, which is quite an eye opener.I challenged the head in staff briefing this morning about it, as he has been blustering about this teacher returning soon and doing nothing.So this morning I pointed out that these students have an assessment to do this week and many have had no teaching all term and what was being done about it?The head then said he would go to the Education Offices to report this absence first thing this morning.I suspect he may be afraid of wantok reprisals if he reports him.These students deserve better!

The photos of the holes in the road and part of the road disappearing into the river, are situated just outside the Provincial Education Offices.It's going to be interesting to see what will happen when the whole thing collapses, as it surely will, as I doubt anything will be done before that time.Another excuse not to do any work I guess.There seems to be little environmental awareness here.Plastic bags are everywhere and they refuse to let you exit the supermarket without one (or 10) because the security guard has to check purchases against the bill and be able to see what's in the bags.Most rubbish gets dumped at the side of the road and is burned, with toxic fumes from the plastic entering the atmosphere, the rest just gets slung into the river.There are the occasional bins at the side of the road, but we have noticed their number dwindle as they get pinched to be used for other purposes.We try to deposit our glass, metal and plastics ie stuff we can't burn, in the bins when we can find one, and the vegetable type waste we put in a hole in the ground in the back garden.What with the rubbish, the holes in the roads and bright red betel nut spit over everything, the place is quite a mess, not the most salubrious holiday destination. When overtaking people on the streets, one has to pass warily and at a distance, as a stream of bright red spit could be about to issue forth and it doesn't wash out of clothes, believe me, I've tried!

As I was writing this blog (John was out shopping - bless!) a whole load of folk started shouting and going at each other on the track outside our house.Then whole crowds of people gathered, still shouting and carrying on.Then a police car arrived.Four policemen got out and sauntered around a bit.The noise died down and it appeared as if people were waiting for something to happen and seemed to polarise on either side of the track (I was watching from the safety of my balcony, praying that a tribal fight wasn't going to break out.)Then the 'big man' arrived - a leader of the community.People squatted and stood and listened to him speak - these people are very eloquent, but sadly he was speaking in the Kuman language, which I had no chance of understanding.Consequently, I had no idea what was being said, but it appeared there was a dispute between Mr Incompetent and a female teacher.Everyone had a chance to have a say and were listened to.The atmosphere was fairly calm and the policemen kept out of the proceedings.They just continued to strut about on the perimeter, spitting betel nut juice and looking important.After about an hour, lots of speeches and intermittent clapping, Mr Incompetent and the female teacher walked to the centre of the gathering and someone brought a pig to Mr Incompetent which he presented to the teacher, amidst lots more clapping.Then there was a lot of hugging and hand shaking, the police got into their vehicle and left and the crowd gradually dispersed.Poor John missed the whole show!We will find out on Monday what it was all about, but it was obviously the settlement of some dispute and compensation was duly paid, so all seemed happy with the result and not a punch was thrown - thank goodness!!

It's definitely the wet season now.Heavy, continuous rain most nights, all night and sometimes in the day too.The down side is that we're up to our armpits in mud and muck, but on the positive side, it's cooler, which suits me much better and despite the water lying about all the time, there seems to be a reduction in mosquitos.Maybe it's too cold for them.It's too cold for the locals, they turn up to school in thick jackets and coats with hoods up while John and I are in short sleeves and relishing not being wringing wet with sweat.

I suspect you're beginning to be treated to crocuses, celandines and I suspect daffodils won't be long.Hope spring will soon be upon you all - enjoy.

Love from us both

PSI discovered what the furore was about.The headteacher's wife got drunk and accused a female teacher of having an affair with her husband.She then proceeded to break down the door of the offending teacher's house, who fled to her village.The next day, the village people duly assembled and compensation was paid (Mr Incompetent was the mediator).I have no idea about the truth of the matter and neither do I wish to know!