So, today was my first evaluation to check to see how I am progressing in learning Tok Pisin. I met up with Terry (the boss man) and Ben (a PNG man and friend) at the gate and we took off into the jungle. Terry listened and took notes as I conversed with Ben and often would ask me questions or tell me to say specific things. We eventually came to Ben’s house and we sat and talked for a couple hours.
During this time we did some different role plays putting me in different language or cultural situations to see if I knew the right way to act and the right things to say. We had a lot of fun with it (and Ben was a great actor) and I worked my way through all the situations, sometimes fluidly, sometimes haltingly. Some of the role plays were; ordering food at a restaurant, borrowing something from a friend, inviting someone over, and explaining how to change the oil on a lawnmower.
I know not the results of my evaluation but will find out (and let you know) in the next few days. Tomorrow (Thursday) Maggie has her evaluation. She’ll pretty much go through the same routine that I did but with one of her friends.
I’ve now played touch rugby twice with many of the young nationals here. Many boys and young men gather to play (about a half mile from here) everyday in the late afternoon for an hour or so. I think, but am not totally certain, that I know all the rules now and I’ve enjoyed the exercise.
The kids are healthy and doing pretty well. I can’t believe how dirty they are at the end of every day. It’s ridiculous. Cole is going through a little bit of a rough patch now as he’s learning the importance of telling the truth. Maisie thinks everything (in the world) should be hers and Bailey is now mobile (crawling). Micah is still Micah, but now he’s warmed up to shaking hands with the PNG people.
And Maggie, well, she is constantly busy watching four children, keeping up with all the work around the house, learning the language, and finding time to watch her birthday present (the tv show “House”).
