Our time in Kompiam, a remote village in the mountains of Papua New Guinea, is nearly complete. The purpose of our two-week trip was primarily language training -- but we have gained so much more than just language skills in this short time. From stepping out of the plane and being greeted by a crowd of onlookers to witnessing a woman getting chased away like a wild animal to stepping into our house and realizing that our cooler with our vegetables, meat, milk, cheese, and butter was missing, Kompiam has been an adventure and incredible learning experience from the outset.
One of the biggest takeaways from this time has been the opportunity to immerse in the richness (and complexities) of the culture. Our next-door neighbours live in a bamboo hut, and the smell of smoke wafting into our house means they are cooking their next meal. In our daily lessons, we learned many things: that pigs and money are the two main signs of wealth, and that pigs can be bought and sold for over a thousand dollars; that bride prices must still be paid in this area, which typically consist of a sum of money as well as a certain number of pigs; that the mothers' clan must be compensated if a child dies; and that there are still many superstitions and varied beliefs about healthcare, which results in complicated medical situations. We have learned so much in such a short time, and appreciate the openness of our teachers to discuss sensitive things about cultural values and practices.
We have also taken time to enjoy the beauty that is all around us. One of the first days that we were here, we hiked down a road to a nearby river. Today, Brandon went on a hike down the side of a cliff with a few men he met and was able to see their garden. As he went down, he saw a woman harvesting sweet potato. As he hiked back up, the same woman was carrying a large sack of sweet potato up the cliff like it weighed a feather. The strength and dexterity of the people here really puts our physical fitness to shame! We also explored the scenery of the area with our drone, explaining to curious passersby (who inevitably crowded around rather than passing by) that it is "a little airplane that can take pictures." The rolling hills and mountains, gurgling rivers that are peaceful on dry days and foamy after rain, and little dirt paths that lead to a house or garden in some isolated place never fail to awe us. Regardless of all the complexities, problems, and difficulties that come with the isolation and remoteness of Papua New Guinea, it really is a beautiful country.
