Our PNG Home...

Hello Everyone!

As the last blog indicated, we finally have our visas. Well, they are on their way from Brisbane, but we've been sent the electronic copies, so I can be certain that they actually exist!!

Late Friday afternoon we also found out some even more exciting news - where we'll be living!!!

As I posted a while ago, there were a number of "options" which weren't really options because we had no say. We were just told we'd be allocated to the most appropriate place for our "individual circumstances". Of the 8 or so different apartment complexes we saw, the standard was quite varied. They all looked in good condition,  but some of the apartments were from the 1970s/80s, and looked a bit dated. All had a pool and a gym, but in some of them the gym was only a weights bench. Only 2 had children's play areas, one looked AMAZING, the other looked dated and definitely for much older children.

Well my best case scenario was the one we were allocated!! HOORAY!!!

We are going to be living at the Airways Residential - the residential part of the Airways Hotel. Here is a link from their website that shows an example of a residential apartment (when you're finished, click on "fitness& spa" to check out the gym!) http://www.airways.com.pg/residences/

I am sooooo excited! Especially the little blurb about what's included:

"Features Include; 24 HRS Reception, Free Airport Transfers, Daily Maid Service, Swimming Pool, Complimentary Laundry, Balcony Furniture, Full Kitchen Facilities and Wifi Internet Services.

Our Residences are specially designed for relocating executives or those in need of short to medium term fully serviced residence."

Niiiiice. I also hear that the restaurant is one of the best in Pt Moresby!


And, the other reasons why I'm so excited....

The lap pool...

One of the adult's pools....

and best of all.....

The kid's pool and playground!!!

I was so so so excited when I found out! Also, it really changed my perspective on this whole trip. I think until now I still had my previous PNG adventure in my mind. But clearly this is not going to be in the same sort of league as the in the mountains and washing your clothes by hand. We are going to be living in a resort!!! I still can't quite wrap my head around it.

So, that was some great news for us on Friday.

Then, on Saturday, Niamh went to Grandma Helen for the afternoon while I packed up her room. I don't know what it was, but all of a sudden I found myself crying as I was boxing everything up. 

Part of it is that I feel so guilty for taking her away from all her family and her baby friends - everyone who loves her and everyone she loves back! (except for us, obviously). Right now Niamh spends a lot of time with her grandparents in particular, and I know they consider her to be like one of their own babies. I know it's going to be so tough on them. 

Another reason is that Niamh has definitely been out of sorts the last week or so. Not her happy self, crying when she doesn't get exactly what she wants (when she's normally pretty easygoing), and being a bit more cranky in general. I've also been sick, Dan's been a bit sick - we've got about 4 different viruses at the moment! So I'm not sure whether Niamh's unwell, or whether she's just confused about the house being packed up and her routine being disrupted. Anyway, I felt a bit responsible for her being unhappy, so of course being her Mum that makes me unhappy.

And I'm going to miss everyone too! I've never lived away from family and friends for longer than 3 months! This is going to be very different. Although I think we'll be back in December, so that's not too far away, is it?

As far as Biscuit goes, we've tried a number of times to explain to her what's happening, but I think most of it's going straight over her head. Tonight we tried acting it out in language she understands. I'm writing her a little picture book tonight, and I'll go and get it printed tomorrow. I hope it will help her to understand what's going on a little bit better. I've tried to put our faces into it, so that she can identify with it a bit better, even though it is an extremely amateur effort!

Finally, on a brighter note, today our Tok Pisin teacher Therese had us over to her house for afternoon tea. Therese is such a champion, I love her to bits! She really goes above and beyond for us! She'd arranged for a "lapun" (old man) Bill to come and chat with us about his experiences in the Australian Army in PNG in the 1950s. 

Afterwards, Therese had made us all sorts of yummy Papua New Guinean food! There was cassava, tapioca cakes, fish, sweet potato... Yum yum!

Therese with Biscuit

 

Biscuit learning to play a "kundu"

We  had a great afternoon, and are so fortunate to have Therese looking after us before we go!

Thanks for reading, I know it's a long one today. Hope you're all well, please drop us a line :)

We still haven't sorted out details for goodbye drinks. We'll let you all know soon!