Jan 31st, 2020 – Luganville

Today was a hot and busy day. In the morning, I sat down with Trevor and Brigitte (the in-country programme managers) by the motel pool for further briefing instructions in addition to all the briefings I’d listened to in Wellington. There’s only so many times I can be told not to offend locals.

There was, however, a good bit of briefing focused on natural disaster and emergency planning. Vanuatu is at high risk for all of the following: Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides and cyclones. Given we’re right in the middle of cyclone season, odds are I’ll likely experience one during my assignment. The advice and procedures to follow in case of natural disaster are largely common sense, but gratefully received as I had experienced an earthquake for the first time last week in Wellington (5.4 magnitude), which had made me feel very much like a whingeing Pom.

So determined to shake my whingeing Pom label, we taxied across town to the NZ high commission, for a meeting with the high commissioner and his deputy.

I was tempted to wear my linen suit, but having tried on the jacket it was just too hot – my smartest shirt would have to do. The high commissioner and his deputy gave me more of a grilling than I was expecting. I had understood it was just going to be a casual chat, welcoming me to the country, smiles all round, jolly good show. But while that was still a part of it, it also turned out to be more of an interview-style meeting. What was my role here? Why me? What was my expertise? What did I hope to achieve? Etc… It was difficult to think straight because of the heat, but the air-con in the high commission was on full blast, and once I realised that some professionalism was required, I slipped back into “work mode” Cameron, thinking on my feet and firing back. I was pleased with my participation, and I’d like to think his Excellency was impressed by my excellency (sorry, couldn’t resist) – I think the VSA was pleased with me too.

Given the high comms and embassies are mostly in the same place, I thought I might stop off at the UK and French ones and tell them I’m here too, but the UK high commissioner is still unpacking her things having only just arrived a few months ago (the UK has been without diplomatic representation here since 2005) and isn’t yet open to receive visitors, and I had exchanged emails with the deputy French ambassador and had been told that with regret the embassy wouldn’t be able to host me this afternoon but that he looked forward to meeting me next time I passed through Port-Vila.

En-route back to the motel, I couldn’t resist taking these photos reminding me of past homes:

Then Brigitte, Trevor and I packed up for a trip to the airport, with a plane due to take us to Santo (the local nickname for Espiritu Santo, the island carrying Luganville, Vanuatu’s second largest town). The domestic terminal was sweltering.

During the 50min flight to Santo, we flew over the island of Malekula, my ultimate destination. I’ll be spending a week in Santo before heading there, but it was nice to see it from above. Not much there, that’s for sure!

We were pretty tired on arrival, but I had an opportunity to meet Wayne and Nini, a volunteer couple who have been based on Malekula for the past few months, but who are taking some time away, so I’m going to be staying in their house when I eventually get there. I was getting sleepy, however, so forgot to take any photos over dinner, which is a shame as Nini is leaving early in the morning and I don’t think I’ll get another opportunity to see her during my time here. Wayne is staying on Santo for a bit, though, so I’ll hopefully get to know him during my week here. He is a forestry expert of my parent’s generation he did some volunteering with the VSA in Papua New Guinea as a young man, where he met Nini and then they lived in New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, and now he has volunteered to assist with forestry on Malekula, but I think his assignment has run into a problem (he was supposed to be mentoring someone, but no-one knows who).

I’m now in temporary digs for the week. It’s pretty basic accommodation, but it’ll do. There’s a toilet, but no toilet seat, which is a shame. Both bedside fans are on in the bedroom, but I’m still pretty warm. It’ll take some adjusting, I guess.