Vanuatu

Observations?

My lack of computer and internet access are no new dilemmas. At one point, I had started the practice of writing down (on piece and paper). These were some of the points that really shocked me.. I’m guessing that must’ve been pretty early in my placement since some of the observations seem to be pretty basic:

• Vanuatu get the most aid per GDP. In spite of this, AusAid and NZAid just recently increased their aid to Vanuatu. Needless to say that these aid is to be spend in accordance with their foreign policy, so we don’t have to worry about it actually being useful
• Women don’t care much about appearance. More like, people generally don’t care *as much* as we are brain-washed to care back in North America. But to this observation, one fellow volunteer replied that there was maybe just a different kind or level of superficial-ness. Fair enough. Still trying to recognize or understand this different kind of superficial-ness. But going back to the point, the concept of beauty is *very* different. Just the other day, I had a co-worker ask me why all these actresses such as Nicole Kidman were so popular, especially since they weren’t good-looking at all.
• I’ve attended a number of performances, more specifically church-sponsored concerts (what’s the right word for them: choirs?). But most of the times there was at least one heckler in the audience.
• No privacy at work: people will come and read over your shoulder or peer onto the screen and this isn’t considered rude or anything
• Ghettofication in progress: social fabric is stronger than others, but certainly not strong enough to prevent all the problems that come with urbanization
• Shyness is more common here than back home in North America. It’s cute, the whole shyness thing. Our culture promotes confidence and out-going-ness too much, to the extent that it becomes annoying and that certain innocence in people is lost.
• Don’t ask people “how far” something is: the watch is a new introduction and so is the vehicle. Therefore, “how far” is strictly dependant on how fast you’re walking and what you’re carrying. So, moral of the story is, don’t ask this very “relative” question, ‘cuz all you’ll get is a very “relative” answer
• In Bislama, there is only one word for the self “mi”, but when referring to the group, there is plenty: Mitrifala, mitufala, mifala, yufala, yutufala, yutrifala, yumi. Interesting because you can assume the degree of collectiveness of the culture simply by this one fact.
• We were recommended, strongly, to not follow any kind of schedule. Black magic, “nakaimas” is frequently practiced here and following any kind of pattern puts you at an increased risk of being on the receiving end of such acts.
• There is no word for “frustrated” or “impatient” in Bislama. So far, the only word I have learnt to express displeasure of any kind is “cranky”, which is crazy or angry. In fact, to say that you are unhappy, you say “mi no happy tumas” i.e. I’m not too happy. Interesting, very interesting!
• Political correctness doesn’t exist here. Or people are politically correct only about certain things. Or people feel that volunteers and expats are an exception to political correctness rules. That’s the only thing that would explain why people ask the following three questions as an introduction and without any hesitation: (1) where you sleep, (2) if you are married and (3) how old you are
• A noticeable portion of the population that was against independence. I wonder if this has ever been the case in any other independence/nationalistic struggles.
  Children from mixed-marriages are called “half-caste”

posted by faa-T @ 10:47 PM