Smile for me please

So it's been a while since I've done anything to this blog slash had much interesting to add. But I have an excuse, I'm in Edmonton. (Enough said.) And I'm going to be here for just a little bit longer, I had planned to be on my way to Scotland this week, but it's been taking a bit longer than expected to get my Working Visa sorted so I'll be chillin' in Canada for extra week. But I realize I can't really complain all that much so I won't.

I've been looking through pictures and videos from my Solomons trip and thought I'd share this gem. I don't know if you will find it as amusing and heartwarming as I do (and obviously all the children watching in this clip), but if you don't- you should. If you need a hint on something amusing in this clip (even though in my opinion there are a number of things- but that just might be a "had to be there" type funny) just watch the big guy on the end, that should at LEAST bring about a half smile. And if it doesn't I give up on you. You are obviously humourless and I feel sorry for you.

 

Shaz

For those of you who have been thinking to themselves (and also those who have been thinking-not-so-much to themselves), the answer to your question is yes. Yes, I have met a special someone on my travels. He is super cute, loves to cuddle, a born and raised Aussie and I'm pretty sure I'm in love. His name is Shaz. He is also is really hairy, has a bit of a "distinctive" odor, has large amount of gray hair and spends most of his time sitting in trees completely stoned.

Before you get too concerned I should probably mention that Shaz is a Koala. (Perhaps that might make some more concerned though?) I've seen, held and smelt my first ever Koala and it was awesome! I also got to hang out with some classic aussie Kangaroos too, so basically now I can say my extended visit to Australia has been successful!

Although on one hand it would have been lovely to be home now with family and friends, and cold and snow and dirty, slushy roads and cold, it was ok being in warm and sunny and cute animal infested and beachy Australia. It was ok. I was blessed to be able to stay with some super cool and welcoming people here in the Brisbane area which made life a whole lot funner  and relaxing. (and cheaper!)

It seemed very fitting for me to finish off the final day of my travels up on a hill overlooking the beach. In my ears blasted First Days of Spring by Noah and the Whale, which even though is really about getting over a relationship, it is also about new beginnings. And in a lot of ways the end of this trip is signifying a new beginning for me, another new chapter for this chick. Also, very fittingly, at this exact moment a rainbow appeared in the sky, another symbol of promise and new beginnings. It was another one of THOSE moments. It was a tad bit of a cheesy moment, but those are the moments that are great in movies. So when movie "Robyn: The Incredible Life Story of the One of the World's Greatest Heroes." Part 1 of the epic trilogy (because OBVIOUSLY it will be a trilogy, one that will only be rivaled by one other trilogy- LOTR) can finish off with that scene. So keep that one in mind.

In all seriousness though, as much as I do think it would have been ideal to be back home in Edmonton now, I can see how God has defiantly used this extra time. I've met some more great people, had some incredible conversations and been able to relax and process some of what I've experienced these past two months.

Now I have about two weeks to get a few things done (aka get my UK Working Visa!) before I head off on my next adventure! Let's hope something sweet happens so that there is a good opening scene for Part 2 of the Epic Trilogy about Robyn Haarsma. 

Tengkiu Tumas

How do you summarize 2 months of adventure, experience, learning, laughter etc etc etc?

Well you can write a massive thesis but I am much to lazy (or some would say "sensible"- although after recent events most people probably wouldn't refer to me as sensible…) to do something like that, I'm going to settle for this brief (yet probably super profound) paragraph. Because in all seriousness I don't quite yet know what I have all taken away from this and probably won't for sometime. God tends to reveal things in small bits.

Out of all the things that I will miss about this place; palm trees, eating sweet fruit (I actually like banana's here!), daily iced coffees, beautiful hot sunny weather, riding in the back of trucks on the highway and it being totally acceptable and legal and fun, speaking English with a few pijin words and phrases thrown in with a terrible attempt at a Malaysian accent, "Solomon time"… and the things that I'm not exactly going to miss; like-to-ruin-all-my-good-food-stupid ants, creepy cockroaches, malaria infested mosquitoes, kokorako's who pick the least opportune times to crow (which is all the time), being sweaty the majority of the time,neighbours who sing at inconvenient times… most of all I will miss the people here.

In the end, it all comes down to the people. They say, (I don't actually know who "they" are, but I'm sure they are a reliable source) that it is the people that make a place and that is most defiantly the case for me. I have met some truly incredible people here in the Solomons, people that in more ways than one have made massive impact on my life. I count myself truly am blessed to have met and known them. Below are just a FEW of some of these wonderful people.

So, tengkiu tumas Solomon Islands, hemi ben barava gud tumas! Mi lovem yufala!

God is good, all the time.

All the time, God is good.

PS: I made my flight this time! And a tad bit of an update for you who are not informed, I "have" to stay an extra 6 days in Brisbane area as I couldn't get on a flight back to Edmonton until April 18. So I'm "stuck" here until then. ( I know, life is hard sometimes.)

Oops

This blog post was supposed to be all about saying goodbyes and coming home. But due to recent events I'm going to have to save that one for later.

To make a long (and slightly painful) story short, I missed my afternoon flight and thus will not be sleeping in my own bed tomorrow night. There were a number of factors that contributed to this fact, but in the end I cannot really blame anyone but myself.

I've already openly sobbed in front of everyone in the airport, including four male airport employees who obviously were a bit awkarded out  by my public display of affrontation. So I think by now I've gotten it all out of my system.

Now, to keep myself from being too angry at myself and being too upset about it all .. I'm going to list some of the positives of this situation.

• I left a bucket of chocolate ice cream in the freezer of friend's of mine- and they have graciously allowed me to come over and consume some. (2nd best cure for a bad day, 1st of course being some sort of alcoholic beverage but unfortunately I don't have that at my immediate disposal.*)
• This extra time has provided an opportunity to finally watch the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, something that I feel as a woman I am obligated to have watched. (And that’s another ingredient to cure a bad day- a nice good ol' chickie movie!)

• I get to stay in the nice hot sun for longer. Aka I don't have to go back to the cold town of Edmonton quite yet where there recently has been snow.

• I don't have to say bye to people yet. (Well, I guess I already said goodbye- but now I don't actually have to live that goodbye out quite yet...of course that means i'll have to do the whole goodbye thing again, but thats not something that I should put on this list. THINK POSITIVE ROBYN.)
• I don't have to eat airplane food tomorrow.
• I get to eat more really super sweet and delicious pineapple.
• I get to eat more fantastic iced coffee.
• I'm sure there's a couple more out there too….

So, I guess now if you are wanting to know of what things you can pray for, you can pray against my own stupidity so I can actually one day get back home. :)

That would be much appreciated.

*Disclaimer: I am in no way promoting alcoholism or gluttony to solve one's issues, because it's just not the answer. But let's be honest, sometimes it is nice for it to be a part of the answer.

The Little Pikinini

On Good Friday I got to see a play depicting the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. I, along with crowds of people, followed the group through the streets as the actors traveled from location to location and eventually ended up at the top of the hill where the Catholic church is located.

As I stood watching I couldn't help but be struck by the kids in-front of me watching in earnest as Jesus was beaten and whipped. These children seeing what Christ did for them, even if it only a simple performance, was pretty incredible.

A certain verse immediately came to my mind.
Here it is in Pijin, see if you can figure out which one it is.

So Jisas hemi sei, "Yufala letem olketa pikinini fo kam long mi. Yufala no stopem olketa ya. Bikos olketa hu I olsem olketa pikinini ya, olketa nao fitim fo stap insaet long kingdom long Heaven."

Matiu 19:14

So, on this Easter weekend I am again reminded of how blessed I am to be a "pikinini" of such a Good God. 

Fauabu

I just got back from a little vacation. A little holiday on the island of Malatia. More specifically the village of Fauabu. I stayed with my friend Florrie's sister, Everlyn, and her family. Now, this wasn't the type of vacation that I imagine would first come to mind when you hear the words "holiday" and "island" in the same sentence.

Instead of an air conditioned tour bus with cushy seats; I had a hot, dusty, bumpy ride in the back of a truck as I got a tour of the Malatian bush and viewed it's highest bridge.

Instead of a jolly tour guide with really lame jokes; I had a group of nurses who explained the sites and got to see what they do best; care for their people. (Everlyn's husband, Aloysious, is a nurse at Fuabu clinic. This clinic cares for many other villages in the area, too great of an area and to great a number of people compared to the resources they have available to them.)

Instead of visiting local museums; I felt like a walking museum as people stopped and stared (and often pointed) at the sight of me.

Instead of soft, pink, free-range-but-not-too-free-so-that-they-are-too-tough-chicken; I got to eat "village chicken." (The best way to describe "village chicken" is to tell you the cooking directions someone recently shared with me; "You throw a stone in the pot and cook the chicken until the stone is soft, then you throw out the chicken and eat the stone.")

Instead of a five star restaurant with a large menu;  I ate at a place that would be best be described as "sketchy" if located in my part of the world and a place where the only thing available was fried kumara and fish. (my favourite!!)

Instead of any type of selection of food; I was limited to essentially kumara, rice and fish… and village chicken of course. (Although I can't complain too much, Florrie is a pretty good cook! And one day we even had freshly caught Mud Crab which was a nice little treat too.)

Instead of a large king sized bed with soft white sheets; I slept on what I am pretty sure was an old hospital mattress. (I didn't want to think about that too much though.)

Instead of lazing in the hot sun on a beach; I walked down the road in the hot sun to see the local school and "stori" with students, teachers, the principle, the headmaster, the head girl and even the head of education who happened to be there at the time. (I felt kind of like a big deal for a moment there…)(And I still did get to walk along the beach a bit too- just no suntanning...but I did get some tanning in as we walked, so don't worry too much.)

Instead of a clean, sparkling bathroom with fluffy white towels and a porcelain throne; I had rusting, slimy corrugated metal and concrete with a toilet lacking a decent seat so that one had no choice but to squat on top. (which was probably a good idea anyways…plus its what the locals all do, just being cultural!).

Instead of unimpressed teenagers; I was in a place where I impressed my hosts by simply sitting  wherever (steps, ground, wood plank etc.) as opposed to having to sit on a chair. (the only legit chair they had in the home)

Instead of a resort filled with annoying tourists; I was in a home filled with adorable children. (and annoying kokorokos!!)

It was a pretty good holiday. 

The first photo I love mainly because the look on Stella's face is priceless, clearly describes a typical reaction to whatever I am doing.

The second photo is of Everlyn's family(minus one child, Winnie, who was not in the mood for a photo and also minus her niece, Esme, who was too shy for a photo) 
Me, Everlyn, Alina, Stella, Aloysious, Alfonce, Alorrine, and Florrie.

Solomon Style

On this part of the world April Fools day is over. Now, seeing as its not even begun at home yet I suppose I could sneak  a little prank in and get away with it, but its now nighttime for me and I'm not feeling particularly clever enough to come up with anything good.  This has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm going to be posting- but as I've just mentioned I'm not feeling very clever at the moment and thus couldn't think of anything else to put as a little introduction for this post.

Yaaa... so, just I'm going to share a couple few photos that tell a bit about this wonderful country they call the Solomon Islands. Here you go:

Solomon Scaffolding

I'm not so sure how well you can see this in the picture, but this is classic Solomon scaffolding... something that would make a health and safety inspector on my side of the world have a hissy fit. It's literally a bunch of timber laid across the beams of the church they are working on. I was a bit nervous watching my friends Chris and Philip, along with number of the young boys who were helping them out a bit, crawl and climb on these loosely nailed in boards  so high off the cement floor of the church, but they didn't seem to mind all that much. 

 Solomon View

When traveling by vehicle, you will more often than not find yourself sitting in a truck bed. It's quite nice though on a hot day to be cooled down in the breeze and not to mention a good view of what's around you. If your stopped in traffic though it you tend to bake a bit.

Solomon Carwash

The river, a perfect place to wash one's vehicle. Seems obvious enough. Thing is though, here this is THE car wash. You drive down to the gate, pay your 10 or whatever dollars to get through and you've got yourself a clean car. No soapy- drive in car washes over here.

Solomon Store

Ya, that’s store here in the Solomons. Pretty self-explanatory. They operate pretty much the same way as shops all over the world. Stores sell stuff, people by stuff, pretty basic. But its kind of a nice picture. 

SO. I will be off for a few days to visit a friend of mine's family (well her sister and her family) out on Malaita island. I'm quite looking forward to checking out this place, I feel as if most of the people I've met are from this island. (Which makes sense I suppose seeing as somewhere like a third of the entire Solomon's population is Malatian) Lucky me, I get to bust out the lava lava and prepare for public showering again!