Avery and Kathleen flew into Ambae on an early morning direct flight, in hopes of heading to site earlier in the day. The plane was too small to take everything, so they had to leave their bags behind in Vila. Thomas and I flew in on a later flight through Santo, but when we went to pick up our stuff from baggage claim, still no sight of Avery and Kathleen's bags! We went back to the airport every time a flight came in, and after 3 or 4 days, finally got all the checked bags. Thomas and I took an adventure up North to drop them off, and were able to check out Kathleen's site for free! It's normally a $6000 Vatu ($60) chartered truck ride, or a 4 hour walk, one way.
The hike up to Kathleen's site with the stuff
Kathleen's host parent's garden
On the drive back; the nicest stretch of road on the whole way
Headed back with some bamboo
We all shipped some of our stuff as well, because you're only allowed 10 kilos of checked baggage on flights, and at about $2 a kilo after that, the price quickly adds up. Since shipping it ourselves didn't line up schedule-wise with flights, the Peace Corps office said they'd take care of it for us. They ended up putting our stuff on a ship called the Makila, We asked around, and asked around, and asked around, and finally last Friday were told it might be coming in. We called the office, and they said it would unload Saturday morning, but wanting to double check, we called the ship itself as well. The man on the ship said it was headed our way in the evening. Thomas and I walked over to Lolowai (about 30 minutes) just after lunch to hang out and wait, in hopes that the ship would come. A couple of other boats came and left, but still no sign of the Makila. We asked around, and people said that even if it came in that night, they wouldn't unload it in the dark. At about 5, we called it a day and caught a truck home. We woke up early the next morning, and walked back again to Lolowai. But when we got there, we were told that the ship had arrived at 10PM the night before, and when there wasn't anyone there to help unload things, had left again at 11PM, on it's way to Santo. Disappointed, and a little frustrated, we walked back home, stuffless.
Waiting for our stuff in Lolowai
Monday morning, Kathleen made the trek from her site to ours, to wait for her stuff to come so she could take it up. Avery elected to stay up at his site, and Kathleen offered to bring his stuff with her when she came back. Tuesday afternoon, we get word that the Makila left Santo that morning and would be coming in to Ambae that evening! Thomas called the ship to confirm, and we walked over at about 5 to wait. A couple of long, damp hours later, the boat finally showed up! We waited onshore while the boat unloaded goods for the stores, and finally hear someone shout out: Pis Kop!
It was a pretty consistent drizzle at this point, and we, and our stuff, was all pretty wet. But man, was it good to finally have it! By the time the boat was finally unloaded, the truck was loaded back up again, and we were headed out, it was about 9. Thomas had helped some fishermen, and they'd given him some fish in return, so he was sitting inside the cab of the truck with the fish hanging out the window. I sat in the back, straddling a couple of boxes to make sure they (and I) didn't fall off, Kathleen was in a similar situation, and my two of my host brothers stood on the back bumper.
The Makila!
Thomas and his fish
Unfortunately, Kathleen's stuff had been put on a different ship, going to Santo by the office staff, and hers is supposed to come in on the Brisk today. When talking to people yesterday, they said it would be in early this morning, potentially before sunrise. Kathleen and I, having already been back and forth to Lolowai many a time in search of our stuff, didn't want to miss it again. We woke up at 4:30, and in the darkness of the pre-dawn and in the pouring rain, walked back to the wharf. Luckily, we found a dry place to sit and wait, but were wet to the bone and chilled by the brisk (see what I did there?) morning air. We waited and waited, and when 7:45 came around called the office. Turns out that when it rains, they don't load the ship, so it doesn't come on time. When we called, they said it'd be in between 8 and 10 tonight. I think I've spent a total of about 12 hours sitting at the Lolowai wharf, so far. and looks I get to add a few more hours to that count tonight. Here's hoping the rain holds off this time, and that the saga has a happy ending!
Welcome to Vanuatu, eh?
Update: Kathleen and Thomas went back early this morning to wait for the Brisk again. This time, however, they caught a truck and when they showed up there were other people already waiting. A much more promising sign than yesterday! When the ship came, they called me and I headed over with the truck. After waiting for them to unload, we finally had all of our stuff! (Plus 19 extra boxes of books from a project a previous volunteer had organized)
The brisk being unloaded. You can see Kathleen in the middle with her stuff and boxes of books.
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