Kovol gardens produce the following vegetables: sweet potato, yam, taro, Singapore taro, cassava, corn, banana, pandanus seeds, soy beans, green beans, peanuts, cabbage, chayote greens, aibika greens, aupa greens, green onions, cucumbers, sugar cane and papaya. I realise that is quite a list but I think what people here eat Read more
It’s over 5 years now since we moved into Kovol. That feels like a long time and I guess it is. I feel that I should have mastered this Kovol language by now. I know there are good reasons I haven’t yet, having twins being one of them. I feel Read more
One of the villages in Kovol, and in particular, one family, is extremely eager for us to be here. Even after four and a half years of us being here, they are very willing to teach us and often make the 1.5-hour hike to come see us. When we first got here, Mongongam had told me she would teach me all about how the ladies hunt. We would go hunting rats, frogs, and all kinds. I had always said, “I will at some point.”
Now that Alice and Millie are bigger, it’s doable for Steve if I go away for a night. Also, summer break from school means I have more time for language and culture learning. So I planned with Mongongam to finally make this long-awaited trip to their place so they could teach me all about how ladies hunt.
A couple of days ago I wandered into our village intending to arrange for someone to take me to their garden to spend some time together. I wanted to get out of the confines of the village, but not too far! The Kovol people have learned that we white people don’t hike so well! Amon agreed to take me to her garden close by, just 10 minutes away. I had asked to go on Monday, having arranged for Steve to teach Oscar that day. But then on Friday Amon came by and said she wanted to go to her garden the next morning. Meaning Saturday, our day off. Of course, I said I would come though.
I would love to put Oscar in school and let him experience all the benefits that come with that, but that’s not possible and I actually also see the benefits of homeschooling him, spending much time with him and seeing him learn. So I’m ending the week positive, but very, very tired and ready for a sleep 😉
Last week I filmed myself throughout the whole day to try and give an impression of what a day in my life as a full-time mum and part-time language learner looks like.
Today I put in more than 8 hours of language learning time! Thanks to Steve for looking after Oscar 🙂
I started off looking at the sunrise this morning, which I intended to do on my own, but a dog saw me and started barking, so people got up and came to me wondering what stranger was sitting on the field in the middle of the night… They thought it was weird for me to look at the sun coming up. But I learned some interesting language from it. And the sunrise was so pretty!
Milling has been tough. It was always something Steve wasn’t looking forward to, but it had/has to be done. After 8 weeks of milling and many, many disappointments (chainsaws breaking, difficulties with repairs, trees falling wrong and rotten trees to name a few), Steve’s fed up with milling and needs Read more
I have never been this long without Steve since we are married. It seems strange but I do get used to it, I get into a routine for myself and for Oscar and it works. But it’s hard work to be the one always responsible. So I am definitely looking Read more
