Into July

Caged!!! That's how I feel. It is a comfortable and interesting cage but that's what it is. I need to be able to get off campus more soon or I am going to go insane. I have a better understanding now of what is safe and what's not, and I should for example be able to walk safely down to the Lodge, a nice place by the sea with a restaurant/bar overlooking the water, and a fitness centre and pool. That would make all the difference in the world, and it's only a ten minute walk, if that… down a single road populated by students walking around. But…. I've been told it will be safe for me to walk there alone, but not until I've walked it for at least a week with somebody else so that people get used to me first. So I am back in that position of needing to find somebody else to go with me. Almost everybody I've met here either has no time (work plus study or family duties), or else are older couples or Brothers and Fathers of various churches. Soooo, I'm still looking for takers! I met a researcher from ANU but he leaves tomorrow so that's useless!

I had been offered that a driver could help me by dropping me off places at the weekend but when I checked on that today it turns out he has been put on other duties, so I feel like a kid who's had the cookie jar lid slammed on my paw! I will get there somehow! Tomorrow I don't think I will be concentrating on work stuff, I will just be going round and talking to everybody who so much as looks at me… 'Do you want to go walking with me???? Go on, you know you do! 'I will have to try to take the faintly demented look off my face first though…. ;-)

I have just watched my first bit of EM TV, a PNG channel (and I think it is the only local channel). Lots of State of Origin merchandise adverts and 'Rait Music' with some great PMG rap songs, where the men are wearing total US gangsta rap gear but still with their billums (woven bags) on around their necks. Lovely! The former Miss PNG also had an inspirational message to give to young girls, "Maximise your potential by using your skills". So far so good. But then it all went downhill… 'Whether it is cooking, sewing or making billums….' So still a way to go. I have met some incredible women here already though who are still making headway despite the engrained male chauvinism and prevalence of domestic violence. Apparently if you are a lone female driver, some male drivers feel the need to swerve towards you to try to scare you. It makes my blood boil.

On a happier note, I met a young woman from Melbourne today who is also in Madang on an Endeavour Award but is based at the Medical Research Institute. She has been here for 2 weeks and is also looking for a pal… so if we can just work out a way to get to each other's place to start with we are in business!!

Lukim you!