Island Time...

We had our third awesome lesson with Therese, our Tok Pisin teacher tonight. She is a great laugh, and very knowledgeable. She is also pretty good at smacking me down.

On Monday night, remembering how much fun we had at the market in the PNG highlands, I asked her if the Pt Moresby markets are safe.

"No, Erin, it isn't a good idea to go there. Sometimes fights break out, and people can steal from you. If you have haus meri or haus boi (housekeepers) you can ask them to go for you to the market."

"But, can I go if I go with someone? Like if I go with the haus meri?"

"No! Erin, listen to me, I know you are outgoing, but you listen to your black Mama now".

No word of a lie.

Tonight Therese's daughter Tina came for the lesson. Therese pointed at me and said "em i tu pikinnini bilong mi" (she is my child also), and we had a bit of a laugh. We then laughed that unfortunately this means that Dan is "tambu" to Therese (literally "taboo" - mother in laws and son in laws must not look at each other, speak to each other or even be in each other's presence. Interestingly it's the same in a lot of Aboriginal cultures...) and would be unable to continue to receive lessons from her.

Anyway, part of tonight's lesson was on time. As in time of the day, you know, "good morning, good afternoon, good night". Should be simple, only 3 phrases to learn, right? 

WRONG!!

Check this out.....

Biknait                between 10.30 and 4.30am       (literally "big night" or late night)

Nait                    between 7.00pm and 10.00pm

Hapnait              between 6.00pm and 7.00pm   

Apinun tru          between 5.00pm and 6.00pm

Apinun                between 3.00pm and 5.00pm

Belo bek             between 1.00pm and 2.00pm

Belo kaikai         Lunch 12 noon                        (kaikai means "eat")

Moningtaim        between 7.00am and 11.00am

Taim bilong san kamap        between 6.30am and 7.00am         ("time belong sun come-up")

Tulait                between 5.30am and 6.30am

I asked Therese "Just to clarify, if I asked someone "mi likim go long stoa long belo bek" (I'd like to go to the store at "belo bek"), is there any way that they could confuse this with just some time after lunch? As in 3 or 4 o'clock?"

Therese just laughed and said "No, no, never!"

Hmmmm..... Mi lainim planti tete