{"id":250,"date":"2020-02-12T11:04:15","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T11:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jenstutoring.com\/wordpress\/?p=250"},"modified":"2020-02-12T11:04:15","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T11:04:15","slug":"made-it-to-malekula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jenstutoring.com\/wordpress\/uncategorized\/made-it-to-malekula\/","title":{"rendered":"Made it to Malekula!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Feb 12th, 2020 – Lakatoro<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I’ve finally made it to the village of Lakatoro, on the island of Malekula, where my assignment is to be based!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a very sunny day, temps well into the 30s, but with all the water about after the last few days, I can honestly say I’ve had drier steam baths, and so the apparent temperature was well into the 40s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had a relaxed breakfast on the balcony of the digs I had been in for the last few days, and then Brigitte came to pick me up to take me to Santo airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Breakfast fit for a king
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This time, there was no stopping us! We checked in, weighing ourselves again, and after a few hot hours wait, we got to board the plane! A twin-otter, it was the smallest plane I’ve ever flown on. The flight was only fifteen minutes long, making it the shortest flight I’ve ever been on, too. So many firsts in one day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walking out to the plane on the runway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Brigitte about to board<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This photo successfully captures everyone on the flight, excluding me<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My window pane was a bit battered, but you can nevertheless make out some of the lovely island reefs we flew over<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The plane having landed on the runway on Malekula!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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On arrival, Kevin was at the airport to greet us. Note the airport in the background – Malekula’s largest airport is literally a 6ft X 6ft tin shack!
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Kevin is my counterpart. He works for the Provincial Government of Malampa, and it is therefore alongside and with him that I’m going to be working. He seems a solid chap so far, and I’m really looking forward to getting to know him better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kevin apologised, but he had to do some work, so he took us to my lodgings, and then Brigitte gave us a walking tour of the village of Lakatoro. I’ve taken quite a few photos, but the village is quite spread out through the jungle, so it’s not easy to capture in a single photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The house where I’m going to be staying for the next couple of months. It’s basic, with a dreadful smell of sewerage, but there’s no other option.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A view of downtown Lakatoro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In front of Lakatoro police station<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The office in which I’ll be working with Kevin. No, I don’t know why one of my legs looks twice the size of the other.
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The road from the airport and through the village is tarred – it was sealed last year, apparently, financed and built by the Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After exploring the town, we went for a meal with the only other two VSA volunteers on Malekula, Dave and Andrea, wine growers from Marlborough who as I understand it are trying to help a farming project here on the island. I look forward to getting to know them, although after the coming weekend they are returning to NZ for a couple of weeks to attend a wedding, so I’ll be the only VSA on the island, which is both a touch scary and exhilarating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the dinner table<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Supper, comprising fish and prawn curries, with rice, fried banana and stuffed island cabbage leaves. Delish!
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Jen and H are leaving for a holiday with Nana and Grandpa in Cuba today. I’m missing them sorely. I guess I’ll be busy over the next couple of days settling in, so at least that will take my mind off them. Further blog postings to follow as I discover new things here!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Feb 12th, 2020 – Lakatoro So I’ve finally made it to the village of Lakatoro, on the island of Malekula, where my assignment is to be based! It was a very sunny day, temps well into the 30s, but with all the water about after the last few days, I can honestly say I’ve had drier steam baths, and so the apparent temperature was well into the 40s. I had a relaxed breakfast on the balcony of the digs I…<\/p>\n

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