Pidjin Pidjin

Mifala toktok smal bislama nomo!

Sadly, despite three months in Vanuatu, I am sorry to say that our bislama is terrible. Perhaps it is our ‘mature’ brains putting a handbrake on things, but our development in learning the language has stalled (read: come to a screeching halt). For example, I was told the other week by an encouraging colleague who (despite my obvious lack of aptitude) is positive I can make (some) progress. He said – “Bae mi stap go nao”. I instinctively (and very impolitely) laughed and replied – “What? Stop Go?” before I reflected on some of my past tutoring and recollected that ‘bae’ – translates to will, mi= me, stap – adds ‘ing’ to everything and go – well, that’s obvious. He was simply saying, “I will go now”! Perhaps I can blame the similarities with English that make things confusing? i.e – ‘Bae’ – does not mean ‘buy’; “Bae mi paem wan pawpaw ia” = “I will buy (pem – ie ‘pay him’) that paw paw there”. ‘Nomo’ as in “Mi toktok small bislama nomo” does not mean ‘no-more’ – that I no longer speak small bislama – it means ‘only’. And ‘Long’….. I won’t get started on that one. I still have to get my head around the ‘olsem’s’ and other technicalities – like ‘save’ – pronounced “sar-vay” (from French that can both mean ‘understand’, ‘skilful’ and ‘can’. Another set of examples; “Mi save” = “I understand”, “Emi man save komputa” = “He’s a computer professional”, and “I save brek esi”= “This breaks easily”. Anyways – here’s hoping for some improvement – you may now ‘save moa long mi!’ But in the meantime we are confined to speaking mere Pidjin Pidjin! Now on to some pictures…..

Business Mentoring around Malekula

Nawori Sea View Bungalows on Wala Mainland.

Not a bad sunrise to wake up to towards Rano Island

Arrival on small Uri Island via Banana Boat with Jack our host -Malekula in the background.

Their new open air restaurant at Nanwut Bungalows overlooking the beach.

Hammocks to chill-ax on and read a book.

Nanwut’s eco-bathroom – open air shower and water conserving toilet.

Sign showing the entrance to Hone Vaghal’s Small Nambas Tour at Vao Mainland.

Tam-Tam Bungalow near Vao. Beautiful building and grounds but the service needs some work.

View towards Vao Island – traditional outriggers available to get to the small island!

Fabulous new bungalow at Lakatoro Palm Lodge

Spacious room at Lakatoro Palm Lodge.

Own balcony dining room on the covered veranda.

Views up to the blue sky from the shower.

Beautiful tropical bouquet.

Enthusiasm vs Expectations!

Okay – so I have a pretty good office. Not complaining. But, there are quite a few improvements to make even with our established clients and constant challenges around meeting tourist expectations – and sometimes even knowing what the expectations are! It is quite common for people to get all enthusiastic and start investing the little money they have on expensive 4WD trucks for transporting people or building bungalows without knowing who their clients are and what they may like – for example, It is common to see people build bungalows by the ocean but not facing the ocean with no windows to the sea! Or building a bungalow but forgetting to put a bathroom in altogether! So the work continues… but the people are lovely and have enthusiasm a-plenty.

Moa Kraft mo Kastom

Thought you may like to see just a little of the flavour and talent of local artisans here in Malampa Province, Vanuatu…..and I am still working on that scarf for Nan that I started when I was 8!