Just a small blog this week.
As I write this blog we are
getting ready to fly back to Oz. We are
looking forward to all things first world that we miss so much over here. Things like, the ability to sleep at night
without air conditioning or a fan running, being able to exceed 60kph legally,
being able to know that the shop you are going in to will have what you want
and having affordable internet. We don’t
want too much.
Now, more about life in
Kiribati.
All the house rubbish goes
into green plastic bags and then you leave the bag on the side of the road to
be collected every Tuesday, but it's usually still there on Wednesday
morning. The amazing thing is that the
dogs don't get into the bags. It's not
as if the dogs look to be well fed, although I have seen one dog rummaging through
a garbage bag a few weeks ago.
Remember the truck I saw with
dual wheels and a missing tyre, well, the other day I saw a different truck with
dual wheels, but had to take a second look when I noticed he was missing a whole
wheel, not just the tyre, on one side. Two
is starting a trend. The movement (as
referenced in the Alice’s Restaurant song – remember that Lisa?) in Kiribati is
sheets of plastic to replace car windows, including windscreens. Some just don't have one or two windows that
are plastic, and some just don’t have plastic or windows. The best I have seen to date was a windscreen
with what looked like a normal piece of old plastic. I couldn’t see through it, so I have no idea how
the driver ever saw out.
Australians have nothing to
complain about when it comes to road rules and the behaviour of others on or
near the road. Anybody who gets road
rage in Australia should be sent to a third world country to learn how to cope
with road users who have no idea that road rules even exist, let alone apply to
them. On second thoughts, no, keep them
in Australia. They would only bring their
road rage with them. I doubt whether
road rage would ever catch on over here as very few people are ever in a hurry
to go anywhere.
Last Friday afternoon I saw my
first ever Kiribati traffic jam where it took 10-15 mins to go 2 kms. I heard later that apparently they were having
a street parade??? On Friday afternoon
when everybody was going home???
I see many people wearing head
scarves while sitting in the sun, usually on trucks and motor bikes, but
instead of anything religious reason, it is purely for protection from the sun.
Nobody is ever in a hurry to
do anything here and are so accepting and accommodating of others. That part
was no surprise to us after our Tanzania experience. Obvious things you see here are:
Patience
everywhere, particularly on the road. No
road rage, except expats.
On the buses
if you are going to be the first to get off it's not a problem to sit furthest
from the door and then get half the passengers to get off the bus to allow you
out. There are also no issues squeezing
another person or ten on the bus, everyone just moves to make room. Can you see that happening on Public
transport in Oz?
At work if
they need a break they take it, except expats.
With all the dogs over here,
they all appear to be strays and not pets, although I have seen one dog on a “lead”
(read bit of rope).
Rats tails are fashionable and
so is a tuft of hair from the top part of the back of the head. How would I look with either one of those? I have 10 months to grow one for my return.
For those who know my
lunchtime meal, it has had to change as there is no fresh break, and I don’t
think the ham and cheese would go too well in the heat. Instead, lunch is Soa’s, just plain. I can hear the comments already. That’s another thing I am looking forward to,
fresh sandwiches for lunch.
We have different shirt days
here. Wednesday is white shirt day to show
your support for teachers, while Thursday is black shirt day to show your support
for the fight against domestic violence. Guess what I didn't bring, a white or black
shirt. Not a problem, they only cost
around $3.50 in the second hand shops.
Something that has surprised
me a little is the rate of smoking here.
Kiribati has one of the highest percentage of smokers in most age
groups, and Australia is supporting that habit.
While researching something for work I came across the following which
is published on an Australian Government website.
Major
Australian exports to Kiribati, 2015 (A$000)
1. Meat
(excl beef), f.c.f. 2,616
2. Tobacco,
manufactured 2,225
This is not a good look when I thought the
Australian Government was anti-smoking.
This week there are some pics again thanks to
Denise.
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| Denise's Pets |
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| It really is a boat |
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| Forgot the bung... |
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| A little one... |
This week has been wonderful. Ok I am
known to stretch the truth. I have tried
for the second week in a row to get the pre-schoolers to listen, but alas
bashing my head against a brick wall is a far less pain accomplishment. The reading at the School is coming along. I have helped a mother with her daughter in an
effort to improve her reading skills. Other
more monumental moments have come from me picking up my camera and taking a few
photos, of things that are happening around the place. The fishing club had a weigh in which I
enjoyed and I managed to meet other lovely people that have varied jobs. We have managed to lock ourselves out of the
house, note to self, get more keys cut in Oz. I continue to make bread but I have now
branched out into bread rolls. I will
now have to find out how to make a pizza base. Mind you I have an oven that I have to guess
what the temp is and then watch it like a hawk. Yesterday was so suffocating (not much breeze)
that I didn’t do much. So I watched a
Sci fi movies that well and took me away for the real world.
At the moment I am doing the washing,
twin tubs are just so much better than bashing the clothes on the rocks. Well better get back to it. Big hugs Denise.
That’s all for now – must go and pack. Not too much as we have a lot to bring back.
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