Last week in Kokopo

It looks as if the last week is going to be busy, with a full day's training for farmers etc on Tuesday.
Of course there is the usual tiding- up stuff to complete; making sure all the FPDA handouts I've updated are on the office computer as well as master copies of the print outs for easy photocopying.
It looks as if the Kokopo office is going to expand staff wise in the next 6 months, so there have been discussions in the office about space and who is going to manage the extra people, and also regarding vehicles, as the office really needs two and definitely a third once two extra staff for a particular project are appointed. Often while Ive been here, visiting staff snaffle the only vehicle and the local work that should be done is put on hold. We also had some discussions with the land lord about extending the existing building; office space like houses is in short supply in Kokopo.

Elizabeth is the OIC of the office but gets no extra pay for that responsibility; the governance and administration problems make it a headache. She has started to complain about the work involved in other staff visiting from Goroka and expecting to tie up the vehicle for however long they need it.
She realises that some "negotiation" with Head Office is needed. In some ways its a bit of a joke really because the stance of most employers in PNG "is our way or the highway" ie no negotiation, take it, or leave it. But she is the longest serving and most experienced employee of FPDA and she has called their bluff a couple of times over the last few years. I've noticed over the last few months she has started to stand up to some of the nonsense that employees are expected to put up with here.

At the moment the discussion that has everybody here, up in arms, is the purchase of the 40 Maseratis for APEC. They will be absolutely useless given the state of PNG roads. We also heard last week that there are another 400 cars, including some Bentleys that the Government has ordered and tried to keep secret but arriving for the same conference. Locals are embarrassed and angry, given the stuff that isn't getting done in the country as a result of "shortage" of money; for example spending on health is down in real terms by nearly 40% since 2104, hence the polio outbreak, etc, etc. Its about time countries like NZ and Australia stand up and tell it like it is to put pressure on the PNG government.
 
We fly out of here early Saturday morning, so Friday is going to be a day to make sure everything is packed and the house we've been living in, is clean an tidy and to have our last PMV ride. I doubt that another volunteer will be coming into it and I suspect the lease will be given up.
The dust here is constant, clothes, bed clothes, floors, shelves, etc get pretty dirty quickly.
We've offered to come back for a shorter period next year but one of the conditions will be that we have a house, in town near the shops. We're (particularly Christine) over trying to jump on a PMV with an armful of groceries etc and the constant slog getting our supplies here. Living out of town with no transport of our own means that we feel trapped; we cant very easily get into Kokopo and back after 5:30pm.  The constant buffeting on the PMVs over the crap roads is wearying.
We'll see what happens with VSA!

Although we have a love -hate relationship with PMVs its been interesting to see how efficient they are at moving people around. There are literally hundreds operating around Kokopo. Things work ok in the week but the weekends are a problem for two reasons. Most people go to church here in PNG. There are a lot of Seven Day Adventists around Kokopo, so they don't work on Saturday, including of course the SDA, PMV drivers, so a few less PMV on the road on Saturdays. Which is the main shopping day for most who work, so lots of people in town. On Sunday there are not so many PMVs on the road because they go to church. So long waits for PMVs on occasions but not so many people travelling. For us this came to a head last weekend. It was the start of large, week long youth camp at the Catholic Church, about 2000 people camping on the church grounds. Of course that has meant a significant increase in numbers of people using the PMVs, particularly the route we catch. So both days, last weekend we had long waits in the heat to catch a PMV back to Seaview. For us it showed how a bit of extra pressure on the system, can end up causing chaos.

We had our final morning at Church this morning and we were moved by the send off. They gave us some gifts which was unexpected. They see some significance in us attending their "church"  for the last 5 months. It looks to me as if it is growing.

Christine:
The number one comment from the church people was that not only did we come to their church but that we attended sunday by sunday. In other words in our coming back they felt accepted and valued! We met some very interesting people. Attending wasn't an easy thing to do given it often took an hour just to get to Kokopo as PNV's on a Sunday morning are few and fare between.
We are often questioned about NZ Maori e.g. language, customs and about their 'villages'!!
I am very happy to be coming home but sad to be leaving friends. PNG is in need of acceptance (corruption aside), understanding and encouragement. Aren't we all.