png life

hamamas over, life goes back to normal. The river view is from behind one line of houses near us. The ground, with 10m rainfall a year, is always squishy to walk on. Here the 3 of us would wind along the narrow path, taking turns to stop, having found something interesting to look at. these are pandanus fruits in the market. Not the same pandanus as in Australia. I never ate these, but apparently you boil the insides of them - not the pretty red bits! 

Here is Janu outside a museum in Port Moresby. Back at mum and dad's I found a pic of sis and I outside the same museum - it has probably changed very little! Great displays of old warcraft - canoes, spears, masks etc. Also a wall full of different billums (string bags).  Due to  security risks in the capital, even a visit here was considered risky by some. We wanted to go to the botanic gardens, but were warned off it by more than one local.  

yah!

Then a little warrior appeared at home! We also made cardboard dolls of all the types of costumes we’d seen, our little ‘flat family’ as they could sneak under doors (sis, then in Australia we found ‘flat stanley’ book in the library? Do you remember reading that one?)

faces

janu's teacher on left, mrs joshua & michael. Also his good friend maryanne (her daughter). They lived just down the street from us, and we'd often stop by to see if M wanted to come to watch the football with us. She and Janu did alot of playing in flooded drains too (not the sort that can wash you away!) 

dancing on the sports field

dancing on the sports field. dancers came from all over the country, converging on the sports field. rain wasn't a deterrent, nor scorching sun.  in the last video, the music is being played on giant bamboo cut to different lengths, whacked with an old thong (flip-flop)! it's the gorgeous girls from bougainville dancing to it. 

school celebrations

the amazing celebrations of hamamas continue. janu's class was just one among all the colourful students. the school had been divided into those from the western, eastern etc. provinces, so the kids of all different ages could practice and perform the songs and dances from their native areas. 

 the rambunctious boys in janu's class (vid below!)

mumps!

meanwhile, I had the mumps! highly contagious, I was confined to the house for a while.. but I did sneak out and watch what I could.  all the kids at janu's preschool had mumps (almost) and I just assumed I was immune. no such luck. I think I looked photoshopped - ouch.

getting ready...

 

It’s hard to stop taking pics when everyone looks so perfect.   there is even more to come, they are just taking forever to upload!

friends

Janu's dance!

Hamamas (or ‘happy!’) is the biggest, most exciting part of the PNG calendar. This year it marks the 37^th year since independence from Australia.   It was so good to feel a part a part of the week long celebrations.  Janu’s class had been learning a song and dance for aaaaages, and they performed in front of the school.  Dancers and warriors from all over PNG came to the football field just down the road and at all times of day and night we could hear dancing, singing, celebration.

how proud was I? did I cry? wow.
he still uses his lap lap (sarong) all the time for dress ups, and insisted we take it on holiday with us!