End of term 1

Its been a while hasn't it. I am now four months in to my year in Vanuatu. It seems to have flown by. Mainly because I am having a great time! I will try to write down my feeling about the last four month, although it will not be easy.

After a difficult start to life here, with the term starting late and the expected culture differences (shock, i think, is a little strong),things have really been going well of late. Work is good and I live with good people. What more could I ask for. I think not having TV, internet, contact with friends and family etc is easier when it is all taken away. I always feel worse just after talking to my family or finding out a football result. It is the brief snippets of life away from Pentecost that make it most difficult. It may difficult to believe but being here everything else doesn't matter. Don't get me wrong if I don't get to watch the world cup (looks about 50-50 at the moment) it will be difficult, because I know it is going on and will get updates on the world service. You don't yearn for what you don't know is happening, if you don't know about it you don't miss it. I take comfort in the fact I don't yearn for too much information and news, this tells me and I am happy with where I am and who I am with. However feeling bad after hearing news is, in a slightly masochistic way, is quite nice. I can't deny that I miss people, and things, despite any contentment I feel with my present situation.

I am a creature of habit and routine. I think that's why I took to rowing with such relish. Once I got into a routine with my lesson planning, teaching, exploring and adventure I was set. I have almost total job security. I don't have money worries. I have no mortgage or rent to pay. My commute takes the best part of a minute and best of all the same is true for my colleagues (which means I don't have to listen to them moan about it to me).

Initially I had no computers, which makes teaching computing hard. I don't actually teach Maths anymore, i teach Physics now. Although given how much the timetable has changed already this term, and the upcoming changes in staff, I may teach more Maths before the year is out. I think I have started to hit my stride as a teacher. Which is good for me and also for my students!

Despite the ni-van influence I am still early for everything, maybe 7 more months here will change that. Although hopefully I will still turn up for lesson, at all and on time! Which is more than can be said for some of my colleagues. On a similar note I also hope I won't leave for three weeks in the middle of term for holiday and not tell anyone when I am coming back. The heat is not an issue anymore. It is hot, all the time, but as long as I don't run to melsisi (and I don't do this too much) it's ok. The one thing I have not taken to is laplap, for the majority who don't know what this is, I envy you! If it's hot and of the taro variety, fine; if not forget it!

The term was 12 weeks long, which is long let me tell you. In England you get half term breaks, not here. I was definitely ready for a holiday.

News on my holiday to come. My computer is having a paddy so the blog I had prepared before has been lost. Hence this is brief and hastily written in an internet cafe.