What will she be doing in Mt Hagen?

The question as to what I will actually be doing while I'm in PNG has arisen a few times so here it is.

I'll be based at the Church of the Nazarene Bible and Teacher Training College (let's hope they can cope with a heathen). The library is small and the staff are not library trained. My job will be to provide training and to develop training manuals and also to advise on IT solutions for managing the collection.
I'll be living in at the college which is couple of kms from town. What the accommodation is like and how often I'll get to go into town I'm yet to find out.
Mt Hagen is in the middle of coffee plantations so I'd better be able to get decent coffee. It's a large town of 40,000 people and from all accounts has a touch of the wild west about it.....(I've just watched season 3 of Deadwood so I'm up with the lingo and the social mores!)

Mt Hagen under siege!!

I've just read the front page of the PNG daily newspaper and Mt Hagen has been under siege (or under siegemann as a friend very wittily described it). Apparently consisting of intensive stone throwing and several stabbings.

Here's the front page of the Post-Courier

I believe I might have to stay cloistered in my compound for the whole 8 weeks.

Friday night may be my last chance to have fun for some time!!

Countdown to PNG

It's now only 10 days until I leave on 6 June. I think I have just about everything organised but I'm sure to forget something!!!!

I've been talking to a lot of people about PNG, its amazing when you mention it the number of people who have been there and also been there in a voluntary capacity.
The biggest thing I'm worrying about now is safety as the one thing that everyone tells me is to be careful and never go out on my own or at night. I suppose its just like any big city you just need to be aware of the conditions and act accordingly.

The other thing is the unknown, I have absolutelty no idea of my accomodation and you know me, 3 stars is roughing it!! I just hope its not too bad and there is a toilet close by!

But, this is all part of the journey, to get outside of my comfort zone and experience a different culture. I'm sure it will be fabulous. At the end of the day its only 8 weeks!!

Success

Due to the world wide web, and the wonders of email list servers, I've now been able to speak directly to people who have been to Hagen in recent times and they have given me the real story on what the weather will be like. Apparently its eternal spring, 20-25 degrees, with cold nights and cool mornings. (I think I'll be off to buy flannellette jamies.........v. attractive!).

It also rains a bit but I've got my raincoat and an umbrella so I'll be ready for all eventualities!!

I'm having second thoughts about the makeup.........perhaps I'll just take the basics, mascara, lipstick, lip line fixer, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow, blusher etc.etc. Just kidding. I think I can get away with mascara and lipstick!!

Preparation Update

I've been in touch via email with some of the people I'll be working with so it seems I'll be able to communicate with the outside world.

I'm in a dilemma as to what clothes to take as I can't seem to get an idea of the temperature. One person has told me its warm but not hot and to take a jumper as it gets cold at night. Another has told me to take warm clothes and to bring a doona with me!!! I'll have to do layers and take warm pjs.

Preparation

I'm off today to collect a mountain of medication from the chemist. Apparently I have to be prepared for all eventualities from gastric problems to malaria. Fortunately I didn't have to get a vaccination as I had it for Vietnam last year.

I've been considering not taking make-up or hair product and it seems I may have to leave all this behind just to fit the tablets and creams in!!!

And what on earth will I wear!!! What shoes do I take??? These and other important considerations will be answered in due course.