Gradually gaining more insights into IT access in the Solomon Islands - Tomorrow I might make some inquires about buying a pigeon.
Slowly settling into life in the Solomon Islands. Despite the dense population and general services, Honiara is a Third World Country. In the evenings when we go walking around Honiara you can see how improvised, under developed and poorly maintained everything is. In the majority of cases, there appears to be a lack of pride or interest in public facilities, personal belongings and personal appearances. Similarly to Indigenous communities, their cars and homes are poorly maintained, their clothes are soiled by humid, dry and monsoonal conditions, and their oral hygiene is poor.
When we pass the villages the children greet us innocently and joyfully, with wide eyes, generous smiles, and enthusiastic waves. The women are often seen seated on the ground talking in clusters, tending to leaves outside their homes, washing clothes in the rivers or waking down dirt roads carrying baskets on their heads. The men are often seated in small huts or crouched beside a box on the side of the road, selling a few cigarettes and beatle nuts.
When we pass the villages the children greet us innocently and joyfully, with wide eyes, generous smiles, and enthusiastic waves. The women are often seen seated on the ground talking in clusters, tending to leaves outside their homes, washing clothes in the rivers or waking down dirt roads carrying baskets on their heads. The men are often seated in small huts or crouched beside a box on the side of the road, selling a few cigarettes and beatle nuts.
The Solomon Islanders that work alongside us at Aspen Medical appear diligent, gentle, humble people with beautiful faces and dispositions. They are appear so gentle, that it is hard for me to believe that human safety (especially for women) can be an such an issue here.
A few of my colleagues cycle to work, so I have been desperately trying to acquire a second hand bike to ride to and from work and to explore the island. However, despite my perseverance, I'm not having any success and now after talking to the locals, it appears that it is truly unsafe for me to cycle through the streets (especially alone or after dusk). Many have indicated unpleasant incidences could arise, that the locals can become uninhibited at night, intolerable and aggressive towards foreigners (especially if it comes to protecting their tribe or retailing). In the Solomon Islands tradiational beliefs in witchcraft, myths and legends exists alongside conventional religion and devotion.
Then there is the GBR - the base where I work for Aspen Medical - a microcosmos with completely different, interesting and insightful experiences. On the GBR base, there are mostly men - all shapes and sizes: tall well built handsome men (in uniform), middle ages chubby unfit men, lanky pimple faced naive (young boys) men. We frequently pass them whilst walking through the grounds on the base and sit amongst them in Mess Hall where we go to eat.
When I first met the Army Soldiers (Tonga, Australia, NZ, Pacific Island), Navy Officers, and Australian Federal Police and Defence Officers, I kept thinking that these are the men that guard our nation and risk their lives for our Country. Initially I felt a little intimidated, but gradually I'm developing more fluidity in my interactions and less self conscious.
All in all an amazing an extremely interesting experience.
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