Kiribati story - Inane Chit chat

Expatriate life in Kiribati was just amazing as the people who were there during the time I lived in Betio were all great fun and the local people were just fabulous. I cannot express how much fun we had in the years 1986-88.

One of my stories of Kiribati was concerns 'chit chat and gossip'.

At the 60th birthday of one of the expatriates on Bairiki his partner/wife wished him happy birthday and announced to all present that she was leaving with her I-Kiribati lover and departing immediately for a new life elsewhere.This became a topic of conversation for most Europeans and was a reminder of another partner who left her mate and explained that she had left because she could no longer endure the 'inane conversation of the Europeans (Imatangs - local word for 'European') in Betio.

This provided endless idle 'morning tea' chit chat for some time as the first question would be  "so what pointless topic of discussion would we like to focus on today." Suggestions for pointless and endless discussion would be topics like 'the price of fish in the  market' or 'the impossibility of growing tomatoes in the sand' or why the local pumpkin was so stringy' and etc etc.

The scope of pointless discussion (ie: discussion without any possible resolution) was endless when you live in Paradise, especially when your are the homemaker with plenty of free time and your partner is consumed with his/her work with the difficulties and hazards in remote locations. Such is life in what is a truly beautiful environment.

Motivation and Inspiration

All you need sometimes is a reminder that connecting with your own memories can be an uplifting experience. I was reminded by a single email that I needed to revisit my blog and what a lovely time I have had. The email might just be the motivator I needed.

I also read a friend's memoirs recently and thought I must do something to keep 'my memories'  in case the brain starts to forget.

I listed all the places I've lived and loved and all the schools I taught at with pictures of my favourite people and happy times together . ie Kiribati 86-88, Solomon islands 88-93, Bahrain 93-94, Samoa 94-96 and OZ most of my life Ho Ho! So to remind myself for my next few blogs I will relate my favourite stories from these places starting with Kiribati. 

 Simply if I wanted to tell all my stories about it it would be easier to recommend the book 'The Sex Lives of Cannibals' by J Maarten Troost as all his funny stories are my stories too. He has written a wonderful comical collection of his experiences over his 2 years in Kiribati and his stories are so like my experience that it was a revelation and a total joy to read.. 

 Simply the wonderful people in Kiribati and the beauty of the place are unforgettable. One story I'll relate is of my friend Taoati whose son Ben who went missing at sea for 46 days in 2004 whilst they were visiting family. When all others had given up hope of his being found she still believed he would be found. Sure enough her optimism was right and he was found just in time to save his live and the life of his cousin and uncle. A manuscript of his experience and his mother's faith was written called 'One More Tomorrow' but could not find a publisher. His story was also on '60 minutes'. This sort of optimism seemed to be inherent in the Island people we met during our 10 years in the South Pacific and proved to be a wonderful life lesson.I  am a more optimistic person for having been in such happy places with happy people.  

Places lived in

Houses I have enjoyed .

 Home in Moe South Victoria for 25 years 1981-2006
(11 years were spent away from Home in far off places)

  Home in Kiribati 1986-88













Home in Solomon Islands 1988-1993

Home in Bahrain 1993-94














Home in Samoa 1994-96

Home in Alice Springs 2005-6

Home in Townsville 2006 -

More Reminiscing

 Time spent examining old hand me down gifts, old photos and old xmas cards is never a waste of time. I was in raptures remembering how I came by my sewing kit and spice set.  (Gifts from American teachers returning to California 1973.) What lovely things were said in Xmas cards from long ago and more recent years and how such things are not often spoken when they should be.  Finally what wonderful memories photos evoke.  I will upload some photos that evoke those wonderful memories of places and people  I have loved over the years as soon as I learn how.  Now I just need to spend more time learning new things and less time reminiscing over the old things.

Past and Current Pets

Memories of past pets were coming in dreams and in real time today. A quick list for others. We first saw a Maltese puppy at a friends home in 1974 and became passionate Maltese puppy fans. Since that date we've had Tiny in Frankston then Tiny 2 in Rosebud followed by Penny and Tilly in Moe. Tilly had puppies which was very exciting for us.Penny was one of her puppies that we kept. Tilly and Penny were given to friends at the start of our overseas journeying in 1986. On returning to live in Australia  we purchased our 5th Maltese puppy for our daughter's birthday in1997 when she turned 8. The comment from Lara was "but I wanted a real dog". Puppence who never received any other name is now 15 and very frail. We also have a maltese/silky terrier cross who was also purchased as a love object for our youngest daughter who is still waiting for a 'real dog'. The amazing associations that keep coming when you think of all the great times you had with your favourite pets. It just brings forth all those those warm and cosy feelings. Yes I will post pictures for other maltese lovers too.

The 'good old days'

Oh memories - one song can take you back to another time in another place so easily. I keep singing Cat Stevens, Joan Baez and Carole King songs in my head. Is that a sign of age or just musical inspiration.

'The night they drove old Dixie' down and 'I feel the earth move' just keep returning me to the 70's in McCrae, Victoria. They were great days when I started my career at Rosebud High School on the Mornington Peninsula.I recall it all clearly and the joy of teaching when the students were studious and the staff were all committed.

 Ah' the good old days.' My Rosebud years started for me in 1949 but my teaching years in  Rosebud were for 11 years (1971 until 1982) when, with one little daughter in tow we moved to the Latrobe Valley, Victoria.

Rosebud is my spiritual home as there were so many wonderful memories of my childhood and the start of my career and married life there.

Letter to a Kindred Spirit

So many things prompt wonderful memories that I feel I must record some of my stories as they occur to me.

The inspiration for this blog was reading another fellow travellers stories and so my stories will start with this letter that I sent to him.

Hello Peter
Let me introduce myself: my name is Robyn and I am a very happy 63 year old.

I feel comfortable addressing you as Peter as I am of the same vintage and I think we have lots of memories in common. How do I know this - because I have been reading your web page which I discovered last night during my Random Research. 

I start reading on something that is of interest and the links take me on a wonderful journey. Last night I was seeking another copy of ‘Faraway’ as I gave my copy away to another old Solomon Island expat. From that point I reached ‘your footnote’ to “And thereby hangs yet another tale”. It was wonderful reading and I then went on reading other parts of your personal website. It was a joy to read. 

My reason for reading about Pigeon Island is for me it was an ‘opportunity foregone’ . In about 1990 or 1991 I was asked by a friend who was promoting remote island tourism if I could house-sit for the owners who needed to go for a 6-week break to England. As I had 2 small children and a husband who worked for SIEA (an enterprise you are familiar with) I declined. Like so many other decisions in life it was a path not taken and still interesting to me 20 years later. 

It was very interesting to read your life’s travels and view your pictures. It so reminded that once (10 years ago) an acquaintance at a party said, “I guess no one is really interested in your stories as they have never been to the places you have so why don’t you write them all down at least for your own memory sake.” I have yet to follow this advice but after reading your web page I might now be inspired.

Unlike you I was accompanying my husband who got the jobs on Pacific Islands so I had plenty of time to make friends and go to social gatherings while he worked. He was Deputy General Manager at SIEA (your BSIEA). We lived on Lengakiki Ridge in a house owned by SIEA with fabulous views of Iron Bottom Sound (there is a picture of this house on my Facebook). By the time he worked there, SIEA had bought up 40 houses for staff. Briefly we were there 1988-1993.

Now you know why I love your web page and so admire what you have contributed to my reading pleasure. Just like you I now read all the books that relate to the places we have lived. I am a great Somerset Maugham fan and I read Lucy Irvine and passed on the book Faraway to heaps of contacts.

I feel I know you from reading so much of your life on the web. Congratulations on your fabulously interesting offerings.

Hope you enjoyed my little input and thank you for all the information and photos you provided for the pleasure and memory prompts for myself and others.

Regards
Robyn