Friday 20 September 2013
Saturday 21 September
We left for Cairns from the Ryan Catholic College Community Centre. We said goodbye to our parents and friends packed our luggage onto the bus found our spots and headed off.
The bus ride was quiet with most of us passed out some with headphone in ears or whispering to each other. We stopped in Hinchinbrook and had a stretch then hopped on the bus and drove to Cardwell where we had a toilet break then drove to Innisfail for breakfast at Maccas.
After we arrived in Cairns we filled out our slips then passed through the shops of Cairns airport. While at cairns airport we were told that there would be a sniffer dog training with a decoy bag turns out Mitch Locke had something that the dog liked cause he sat down and Mitch got inspected by the police, the look on his face was priceless.
We got on the plane to find out we were scattered all through the plane. Poor Darcy was all by himself. We arrived at Port Moresby (it was hot) then we had the long, hot and quite boring. We finally got on the plane and we were off to Wewak. On arrival we were greeted by smiling faces. We packed our luggage in the truck and then went off to the hostel. We got there and hallelujah they had aircon we were all so happy. We sat down and had dinner it was delicious we had rice, chicken,steak stew, beans and a few other things. We all had a quite night then went to sleep we were all so tired.
Tiarna Cafe
At Port Moresby airport waiting for flight to Wewak
Thursday 19 September 2013
Tuesday 1 October
We said our good-byes and were off on the early drive to Wewak. We did some shopping and had a restful afternoon. Barry found a fast food restaurant where we all had chicken and chips.
Monday 30 September
Visits to schools and seeing in the container that was sent from RCC
Farewell to our friends - the Brothers and Sisters who looked after us in Aitape
Saturday 28 September
The last couple of days have been very busy, so today was a chance to have some relaxation and enjoy each others company. We were joined by Bishop Otto today as he took us to the outskirts of town to see the logging depot. It was quite sad to see the natural resources of Papua New Guinea exploited by foreign companies and countries. We also learnt that the remains of two Australian soldiers from World War Two were discovered nearby, and were in the process of being excavated and sent to the commemorative cemetery in Port Moresby. After traveling to see the burial site of the soldiers, we returned to the sister's house for lunch and conversation. Today was Ella's birthday whom turned 15 and we celebrated with some cake that the sisters made. In the afternoon, we all went to the beach for a swim and then returned to our residences for the night.
Friday 27 September
We started the day by visiting our neighbours at St.Ignatius High School. We made an appearance at their assembly where we spoke to the students about our trip and how different we were finding it over here in Aitape. After presenting them with a gift pack of sports equipment and stationery we were lucky enough to be presented with a school t-shirt each. The students then took us around their school and asked us about ours. St. Ignatius is one of the bigger senior schools in the area and their facilities are quite good compared to some of the smaller schools we've visited this week. The kids are so thankful and proud of their school and tell us they even have to pitch in and look after the gardens around the grounds. After our tour we had a brief visit to the Aitape medical centre. The biggest hospital in the area only has 3 doctors and limited resources. Only a few beds even had mattresses, and patients were laying on wood beds and in the heat it looked extremely uncomfortable. It gives you a real appreciation for the luxurious air conditioned beds in Townsville hospital, and yet we complain about those.
After the hospital we were able to pay a visit to Aitape high, whose principal told us how hard it was for them to access books for their library. It made me pretty annoyed to find out that it was ridiculously expensive to get simple things like books to this area, something I especially take for granted. In the afternoon we were challenged by the kids we met earlier at St. Ignatius for a soccer match for the boys and a volleyball game for the girls. After an hour or so of embarrassing ourselves we finished the day with some more delicious food made by the sisters we were staying with (the girls did anyway) and had some well deserved rest. The trip has been amazing so far and I'm looking forward to the last few days we have left.
Lauren
The boys enjoyed a delicious feast shared by Bishop Otto, Michael and his family. It was a great night!
Thursday 26 September
After waking up to the sounds of birds, all the girls made their way down to breakfast. On offer was a traditional PNG 'flour ball', homemade by the sisters. It reminded us girls of hot cinnamon donuts from home.... But better. It was then time to prepare lunch for the busy day ahead. We made sandwiches for both ourselves and the boys, knowing they wouldn't be happy going hungry. Once again we sat at the gate waiting for our ride to pick us up, whilst being attacked by a range of bugs surrounding the beautiful garden. We drove through town in the ute and met the boys at the wharf. Two boats were waiting for us and everyone rushed to grab good seats. After a bumpy ride against the waves, we approached the first small island. We were greeted by the excited locals and were then shown around their school. We presented them, as well as the other two islands with a gift bag to thank them for welcoming us. It was at the second island where we finally got the chance to swim in the crystal clear water. All dripping with sweat, we raced into the water without hesitation. On the way back from the last island, to our surprise it began to rain, we weren't complaining. As we arrived home we all realised just how burnt we had gotten, aloe vera oil was our saviour. After demolishing yet another amazing dinner cooked by the sisters, the boys came over for some cards and bonding time.
Ella and Isabella
Wednesday 25 September
Today was the first of many school visits in PNG. We started by visiting Pes Peris and were welcomed by the youth and teachers of Saint Joseph's. The students were on holidays as well, and we were pleased to see that they came in to school to welcome us. the students presented us with lays and gave us a welcoming traditional dance. We engaged in some of the traditional Papuan New Guinean customs; a young 13 year old climbed a 12 metre tree to fetch us coconuts where Mitch, Tim and El Diãmó displayed their coconut cracking abilities. After that we walked up the road for 3 days (10 minutes) to see the saigo palms and saigo making. We also witnessed a spectacular stack by the one and only Barry whilst trekking across the death defying, crocodile infested river (small creek). The procedure to making saigo was quite unusual yet we were all amazed at the end product. After walking back to the school, we were led on a tour around the primary classrooms to gain insight to the PNG education system. The difference between their school and Ryan was something that the students took in with great admiration. After that we picked our partners and had a hoe down with the students in some traditional dance. After a hot and sweaty day, we all headed to the river for a swim and to meet our fellow brothers and end the day.
Mitch and Lachie
Tuesday 24 September
It was a nice start to the morning driving into Aitape markets, Mitchell, Darcy and Tim decided to purchase some bush knives and mail them back home to Barry's dislike, while everyone else bought different kinds of food and souvenirs. While looking around in the market our guide Rodney found one of Tyler's aunties which he didn't know lived in Aitape. After the markets we all went back to our accommodation. The boys group headed had lunch and played cards with the guides waiting for it to cool down and have a swim at the beach. While waiting for it to cool down the boys had many deep discussions about politics and the economy among other subjects. Once it had cooled down we headed to the girls accommodation and versed them in a competitive game of volleyball where we found out the boys are dominate in volleyball and the Sisters have skills. Once the annihilation of the girls had ended, we headed down to the Beach to have a swim, quickly finishing to head down to the river to meet up with some young village children we had befriended the day before and spending the rest of the afternoon playing frisbee with the village kids in the river.
Monday 23 September
It was an early start off to the local markets to have a look around at some local food and produce markets some of the local crafting that was on offer, we them headed on to Aitape on our long and bumpy 6 hour journey. After a couple of short pit stops due we made it and were warmly welcomed into the town, welcomed in by some young students with some flower lays and a lovely song they presented us with. After mingling with some of the locals we then hopped back into the "troopeys". We made our way to the girls dormitory where the girls were staying with the sisters. After unpacking the girls luggage we then made our way over to The Boys house. After shortly unpacking we quickly made our way down to the local 'Raihu' river and had a great river session with the young boys it was time to pack it up and have dinner. Shortly after we went for a meeting with the girls then came home and hit the mosquito blankets.
Tyler
Sunday 22 September
We got up early and put on our best (that we brought) and hopped in the truck and ute (well in the back) and headed off to Mass, we decided to attended early Mass. It was so fun we talked to locals and saw all of their smiling faces. The service was great, most of it was in pidgin ( the language of PNG) but there was one section in English, listening to the choir and the whole church singing was like music to our ears.
After Mass we returned to the hostel and changed into out day clothes, we then headed up Mission Hill to Boystown and a Japenese war memorial. It was really good to see the memorial and the view was amazing. After that we headed back down the hill but took a small detour and stopped to see some of the guns from the war. We then headed to one of the schools where students learn to become teachers. After our quick visit we went and Cape Wow war memorial were Japanese forces surrendered World War II in PNG. Then we went for a quick swim at a small beach area.
After the swims we headed to the road side market where we all had a taste of coconut water where Mitch and Chantelle had a coconut drinking competition. Chantelle won by popular demand. We then went to the town markets and got some lunch.
Once back at the hostel we all had a lazy day playing cards until we started a game of questions where we pondered the answer to life after death, how big the universe is and Barry's first kiss. We then had a delicious dinner of rice, chicken and steak stew after which Mitch, Chantelle, Adam, the great King Kong Tim, Tyler, Darcy and Ella had chilly. Wethen packed up the stationery bags and then headed off to bed ready for the long trip to Aitape in the morning.
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