Will's time in Kiribati, 2010

I thought I'd finally get round to updating this thing. I'll begin, as is traditional, at the beginning.

Monday 18th January

Woke up at 3:20am to make sure I got to the airport in good time. I did, and we (Yves and I) got to Fiji without a hassle. Bought a book at Sydney airport (AU$29) which, it turned out, cost more than a day's wages ($3.50/ hr, 6x8 hr days/ week, min wage is FJ$3.00) for the man who drove us in the hotel-airport shuttle bus. In comparison, the Australian who owns the hotel earnt upwards of $30000/ week - according to the driver.

Nadi, Fiji was very nice, as were the people, and the food. It was the first day of the wet season the day we arrived, and it poured and poured in a very different way to in Sydney- it's a torrent rather than afew drops. The people we talked to were pretty happy about the rain finally arriving.

Tuesday 19th

Travelled to Tarawa, Kiribati. The airport is quite small, very much a country airport as Fr Peter described it to us. No-one was there to meet us at the airport, so we hitched a ride with some Sisters (Nuns), who took us to meet Fr Yelds- the man we're working with, and then onto the MSC house mentioned previously.

There are about 9 young people living here, getting ready to be priests. All very friendly.

Moving swifly on,

Wednesday 20th

Relaxing day at the house. Fr Yelds dropped by, and we found out that school doesn't start for another THREE weeks- meaning that I'll get one week teaching, Yves one or two days. Not too long a time, especially as we came just to teach! We'll be doing some work at Fr's house to help out at the Parish. (sorry for changes in tenses, hopefully it's deciphrable).

Thursday 21st

Found the house with difficulty in the afternoon- three separate buses and no success! We had to get a lift from a brother. People found this amusing, as there's only one road on the whole island.

Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd

Working at the house- painting.

Sunday 24th

day off.

Monday 25th

Yves has to go home- family emergency. Booked on flight tomorrow.

Tuesday 26th, Aus. Day.

Yves' flight cancelled. Went to Aus. day at the high comission, and shook hands with the President.

Wednesday 27th

Working at house. Yves flight cancelled again- potholes on runway.

Thursday 28th

More work. Flight cancelled again, along with today's international flight. Same problem as before. Will hopefully get away to his family tomorrow.

Anyway, better bid adieu as about five people have poked their heads in hoping for the computer.

I have arrived safely in Kiribati.

The people are really really nice, the food is really really good, the weather is really really hot, the scenery is beautiful, and there are more pigs than anticipated (and yes, they taste really really good).

Last night, I was taken to a man's (I call him Fade-Go as this is the literal interpretation of his I-Kiribati name, which I can't pronounce) home to join in the celebrations to farewell his brother who's becoming a sailor. The people were lovely, and very generous. I'll have to show you the photos later.

Also last night, there was a celebration at the MSC (a Catholic religious order) house in which I'm staying. We had some "Croc", which I thought was a Kiribati way of saying "grog". It turned out (I found out today) to be Kava. It was a great celebration, and I stayed up until the wee hours listening to them play the guitar and eukilale, singing amazing harmonies in the I-Kiribati language.

This morning we were held up in traffic by a house. I've heard that Kava is slightly drug like but this is ridiculous.