Aelan Laef!

Every once in awhile I get these Vanuatu-moments. They are moments when all of a sudden I become really aware of the fact that I'm in a rather random corner of the Earth, on a tiny little island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, suuuuuuuuper far away from everything I'm used to (or well, now it's more like "used to be used to"). In those moments I'm usually filled with awe and amazement. It's a bit like in TV when all of a sudden the camera zooms out out out, very rapidly and in stead of looking at, say, two people talking, you've now zoomed so far out that you're looking at the globe, chilling in space with all its  planet pals. Yes, it's a bit like that, images flashing in my mind and many realizations happening all at once. These moments are always linked with extreme happiness and gratefulness.  A couple of days ago I had one while I was standing inside of a 40ft container that just recently shipped its way here from China. It...

Koittakaahan kestaa ilman pisteellisia kirjaimia! :) Tunnen viilean oisen tuulen henkayksen ihollani. Kuulen kaskaiden sirinan. Kasissani on mita suurin, kuuma teekupponen. Kello on liki 23, mika Vanuatun ajankulussa on jo todella myohaan. En olisi hereilla, ellen olisi saanut nauttia taivaallisista kolmen tunnin paikkareista aikaisemmin paivalla – varsin harvinainen herkku, mutta talla eraa todella ansaittu namupala. Oon hukassa jossain ajatusteni sopukoissa. Ensimmaista kertaa viikkoihin, ehka jopa kuukausiin, voin vain istua tassa. Miettia. Pohtia. Kirjoittaa. Totta. Olen tainnut karsia hieman ‘bloggaajan blokista’, ei ole runosuoni (tai ehka ennemmin tarinasuoni) pahemmin sykkinyt. Kaikki mista olin suunnitellut kirjoittavani ei yhtakkia tuntunutkaan tarkealle tai mielenkiintoiselle. Voisin toki yrittaa kuvailla tapahtumia taalla, mutta jotenkin tuntuu, etten kykenisi valittamaan noita kokemuksia saati niiden aiheuttamia tuntemuksia. Voisin toki kirjoittaa erinai...

A few days ago I was sitting in a classroom, making a plan for teaching basic science next term with my new co-teacher Mr. Tete. As we were working, all of a sudden we could hear an uncommon sound from the neighborhood. It was the sound of people crying, moaning and sobbing. "There's been a death", said Mr. Tete instantly. I had heard that sound before. A few weeks ago there was an accident on the Banban road.  Some folks from the Mango neighborhood had packed a truck with people (mostly kids) and driven somewhere for a swim. On their way back, something happened and the driver lost control of the vehicle. They hit a tree. Two people died and 19 got injured. The lady who was sitting at the front was holding her 1-year-old grandchild in her arms. They were the ones who were killed instantly. They were also close relatives of two of our staff members. One of our staff members had her 5 children injured in the accident. Two of them go to our school. W...

Suomeksi alempana! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello there! I hope this blog post finds you well and happy, for that's how things are at this end! For the past few days Santo has really started to feel more like a home. Up until this point, it sort of felt like I was here on holiday. I'd walk the streets and think "Oooooh, I wonder what it would be like to live here" and then realizing how silly a thought it was. I DO live here! Life doesn't feel quite the same. I don't feel the same. And this is good. I've had many dreams of family and friends this week. I wouldn't say I'm homesick, but I do miss my dear ones at home - mainly, because I've now started to realize how little words can convey. There's so much I'd like to share with you, but words seem to fail me. I have some big thoughts that I need to chew on a little more before I can share ...