School Solomons Style

'We travelled out to a little village to do four days of intensive language training... what an adventure! I decided to get a bad case of gastro on the morning we left for the 4 hour boat trip (which turned into six hours)... not good when there is no toilet! To add injury to insult, the boat broke down and we drifted at sea while the driver managed to fix it, then recieved a seriously bad dose of sunburn because we were sitting in the sun for so long (and yes mum, I was wearing sunscreen!) It was no fancy yacht by the way... a little tinny with 15 of us crammed in, being drenched with water at every bump! Eventually we made it though to what I call paradise...

We spent four days 'learning' in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Hundreds of tiny little islands surrounded by white sandy beaches lined with coconut trees, the bluesest water I have ever seen and the nicest people you could ever meet. We canoed in little wooden canoes, went snorkelling, swimming, visited neighboring islands, played with the cutest kids ever... and of course learnt pidgin... sort of. I still have a long way to go but I can at least communicate the basics. And the food... yum! The villagers cooked us a great feast everynight... fresh caught tuna, sweet potatoes, rice, pawpaw, bananas, coconut stews... It is seriously good tucker. And to think I am being paid to do this... jealous?

Luckily the boat ride back to Honiara was much smoother. As sad as we were to leave, we were all in dia need of a shower and some clean clothes... 15 people living in one shack with no shower is definately testing! I have to say, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life (so far)! I have a few more days in the capital before I head out to my own little Island... Gizo!