The second week of our In Country training concentrated on the cultural differences and was extremely helpful as was the language training. Just so much to learn so as not to offend. For instance, no eye contact when soemone is speaking to you, especially the opposite sex so one has to keep averting your eyes. So difficlut when we think that the person isn't listening if they aren't looking at you! One young woman who did a session has lived here for 8 years aft...

Village stay. Part of our induction is to stay in a local village, NOT a made up one either! Before we went our language teacher made sure we'd covered the basic vocab that we might need. The villagers are relatives of his. In PNG villages live with their relatives and are related to all the villages nearby and are called wantoks which means people who speak the same language and are relatives. We were also encouraged to buy gifts although more help and advice m...

Week 1 Thought that now we have finished our two weeks In Country Orientation and Language course I'd bring you up to date with a few entries. We have now got internet access through the hotel's hotspot but are trying to work off line then connect later or when in the VSO office. So the first week had us starting Tok Pisin lessons, filling out forms for bank accounts etc. So many excellent sessions on the country which have been very useful. Sometimes just smal...

Hi all. just some photos for you to see. We've started with our Hotel and then will go on to our trip to stay in a village. The door picture is for our room. The path goes down from Reception to the Restaurant and Bar. In one picture you can see one of our VSO colleagues, Moses who is from Uganda. The views are spectacular and sharks, whales, dolphins and flying fish can be seen and octopus and squid caught off the sea edge! Food is very good. We have to choose...

20 February 2009 Our first full week of induction is nearly over and we are off for the weekend to a village to help us to understand the culture. It has been arranged that we travel by boat rather than road. Off very shortly. Our Tok Pisin lessons have gone better than we anticipated and we are to use it this weekend! As such "old" people we'll be known as Bubu Man [Ken] and Bubu Meri [Una]! More about our village when we return along with some pic...