Getting involved

Last monday was Queens Birthday here, so a short working week, i'm not sure why they celebrate it! We also had the first decent rain for nearly two months. It rained hard for a day and then on and off for another couple. Things have cooled down a lot, as a consequence. The other day I was sitting at the beach and it felt like an Autumn day in NZ.
Today is overcast and the temperature is very nice. We walked (UP early) to the local sports field, as some other volunteers play basketball with the local kids. Some days they have a large number playing. The ball is "donated" to one of the kids at the end of the game as most don't have any sports equipment.
More kids usually turn up on Saturday. Spence and Susanne spent last weekend at a big camp with 600 kids, so decided that this week Sunday for basketball was ok.

The rain meant that some of the potholes in the local road became larger and its easy to see how the roads can become "chopped up" very quickly. I've haven't seen a road repair crew yet, mostly the local just fill the potholes with dirt from the side of the road, which of course empty out at the next rain. The rain brought down a power pole with a transformer on it and so our side of Kokopo; where we live was without power for quite a bit of the day. Our compound has a generator, so it kicked in and kept us going while the power was out. Most businesses seem to have an emergency generator, as the power can go out suddenly without warning and for an unknown length of time. As happened at the supermarket yesterday.
I've started to feel comfortable with Kokopo and I now know a few people around about. With no farm visits this week I've been chewing the fat with Elizabeth and Neli, at FPDA and helping them sort out a few things, as well as visiting the market and talking to the team that runs it.
There are at least three tiers of government in PNG, national, provincial and local. Most people would have regular contact with the local government (more like a regional council in NZ) but hardly any with the provincial, or national government, except at election time. In my work I'm in contact with all three, as the local farm extension officers are employed by the local government. I'm starting to get a handle on how things "work" here; going through the right "channel" is important.

After our visit to Goroka last week I've started to appreciate the important function the market  provides in each town, or village; economic as well as social. The market in Kokopo is very well set up, organized and kept tidy and is seen as a "secure" place, with no "trouble". The locals make sure it is kept "secure." The Goroka market wasn't very tidy in comparison, even though there was a greater variety of produce and generally of better quality. In Goroka they can grow temperate crops like broccolli, carrots, onions and cabbage, plus they have access to tropical crops and fruits. Onions are a sort after vegetable here in PNG as they are hard to grow well in the tropics and don't keep. Transport around PNG is expensive so, what would be considered a commodity in NZ, is often in short supply.
I can see that the marketing situation for produce is in a state of change here in Kokopo, which is different from other parts of PNG. Middle men are starting to emerge, collecting, buying and transporting produce. There is no central buying, or provisioning body as yet. As a result, I think some of the local farmers are missing out as the local supermarkets buy in a lot of their produce from Moresby, or elsewhere. I'm not sure how the local hotels and resorts get their produce. 
Christine:
The rain was welcome and refreshing however we found our hot water is heated by solar power and has no backup. So, cool/cold showers for a couple of days and a wee chat with the landlord about getting a booster button installed on the power board.
It took Anton and I about 45 minutes to walk to the basketball court this morning as the PNV's aren't operating that early (6:45) on a sunday. It would take about another 45mins to walk into Kokopo market from the court. I wondered how long it would take if I had to walk to market. The highest accolade from the PNGers is "you walk around town like we do. You black fella. You one of us". The more people we get to know and who get to see and know us the safer it is and the more accepted we feel.
I would very much like to visit the nearest village to us which is about 5 minutes walk away. We have been told it would not be at all acceptable for anyone to just walk in there and must wait for someone who is known to them.  Food is always gratefully accepted but still only when with someone they know.
One of the young student univols has 2 weeks holiday at the school where she is a teacher aid. I am looking forward to spending some time with her at the op shops and market. I miss family and friends but facebook videos of Sofia Rose getting up to mischief are a joy!