Vanuatu: Week 1

Vanuatu

                                                                                                                 Week 1

It's definitely strange meeting people you're going to be travelling for the first time as you're about to set foot on the plane. Everyone is lovely, but such an occasion is bound to encounter awkward silences and poor attempts on my behalf of a brief life summary. Our first day primarily consisted of waiting around in airports as the flight connected from Melbourne to Sydney and from Sydney to Port Vila. When we finally arrived it was obvious that although the climate felt like one of my Queensland summer holidays, we weren't in Australia anymore. The smell was different, the people were different and from what I could see in the dark, the infrastructure was quite different. We drove towards our hotel passing many people walking along the roads, seemingly wandering aimlessly. I collapsed in my new bed for three weeks with my new roomie, wondering what the trip would bring.

Sunday was a strange day. I didn't know where I was, had no Vatu (money) and didn't know how to get anywhere. The main street was dusty and abandoned, with almost no shops open in the tourist area. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into! Looking back with the knowledge of the wonderful time I was to have meeting new and wonderful people, I very much wish I had have gone to church. But I was not bold when I should have been in a new country despite only having a few chances to experience church life in Vanuatu.

Julia, Emily and Myself on our first day

Monday brought a day of anticipation and excitement as the group got dropped off at each school we were allocated at. Nearly every school was unprepared for our arrival which resulted in surprised teachers and very confused looks! From being in Port Vila- the tourist/westernized capitol of Vanuatu, I could already see that the locals were incredibly kind and good-hearted. However, white was not the common skin colour, especially not in the outer areas. The local children melted my heart from the first moment I saw them at the schools: big dark eyes, beautiful fuzzy hair, gleaming white smiles and little bare feet. I met the Australian principle of the school I was allocated at with Emily and Julia and soaked up everything he had to say about Melanesian life, culture and travel advice.



I was placed in a grade five class, being the upper part of the primary school. I was initially daunted and wondered how my teaching experience would go. My first week consisted of slowly getting to know the students who were eager to learn but quiet when it came to giving their opinions and began to understand the level of learning they were at. I marked their yearly exam papers, helped with lessons, spelling tests, times tables and began a unit on Australia for General Studies. The standard of learning at the school was high as students' English levels were fantastic, despite it being their third or even fourth language!

Our first group adventure as tourists was at Hideaway Island which houses a resort with a number of beach activities available.

We went snorkeling. Despite being given zero instructions as to how we would go about snorkeling, most of us managed to figure things out. Beneath the bright blue waters I saw schools of fish in the hundreds and others which were striped and fluro coloured. I already had fallen in love with the tropical paradise that was Port Vila.

First day of school (wearing appropriate teaching clothes covering the shoulders and thighs- these areas require modesty in Melanesian culture)

Some of my beautiful grade five class

Beautiful Kirstie and myself

On the weekend we went to the Blue Lagoon- the most amazingly blue water I've ever seen!
We also went to the hot springs which had water that was naturally warm and we covered ourselves in mud. An amazing day! We then visited a village our at Mele where we met such hospitable people who showed us how they live day to day using the resources around them. Communication was difficult with Bislama being the primary language spoken in the villages, but this did not seem to matter in such a warm and friendly environment with such beautiful, happy children around us. 

Local village family grating coconut for food and coconut milk