PNG and Beyond {Weeks 3-5}

I’ve only been home for less than two weeks and I’ve already eaten at Panera, had pancakes (a lot), eaten way too many sweet potatoes, and scrolled Instagram and Facebook wayyyyy more than I should. Luckily, I haven’t felt too jet-lagged and have been able to go to bed at a normal time and wake up at a normal time—I have no complaints. I’m still getting used to the fact that I can drink water from the tap and don’t have to worry about whether there’s enough water in the tank to take a shower. And then there’s the slightly annoying fact that it’s hotter in Indiana than it is in Papua New Guinea (not bitter at all).

ANYWAY…

I’m sure you’re all dying to read more about my trip, so here’s a recap of the last three weeks or so.

Other than getting engaged, I had a few more unique-to-PNG moments the last week and a half of my visit. One such moment was being able to go taping.

Now, before I show you pictures, I must explain what taping is. First off, taping is basically just like tping, but you use old VCR tape to decorate a person’s yard. Secondly, taping is done at night before curfew at 11pm…which is a bit tricky because most people don’t go to bed until around 10pm or later. Thirdly, taping is done all in good fun and is usually done to people to show that you love and appreciate them.

Ok, so now that you have an idea of what taping is, here are a few pictures from our escapade.

Don’t worry, we cleaned it all up.

I also had the opportunity to be a part of a Mumu (a PNG cookout). Traditionally, Mumus are put together in order to celebrate a special occasion. This Mumu was put together by the Currys to celebrate their friendship with all of their native PNG friends. Several of the native families on center came and set up the Mumu, which was quite interesting to observe.

They begin by placing stones on the bottom and then cover them with wood and cardboard in a pit. They light the wood and cardboard on fire, wait until they have a pretty sustainable fire, and then place stones on top to heat up the stones. While the stones heat, everyone else begins to prepare the food to go into tinfoil packets (traditionally, one would not use tinfoil, but for sanitary reasons we used tinfoil).

Everything that goes into the packet is placed very strategically as to ensure everything gets cooked evenly. First, they place the root veggies on the bottom (white and orange kau kau, white and purple taro, white yams, and white potato), then pumpkin, followed by meat (chicken and sausage), then cooking bananas, then mixed veggies and greens (green beans, carrots, dark greens, and cabbage), and finally a coconut sauce drizzled on top.

Before cooking

After cooking

Eventually, the wood and cardboard turn to ash, leaving the hot stones in their place. They take out the top layer of stones and place large tinfoil packets of food in the pit before covering them with the top layer of hot stones (this helps the food cook evenly). Once all of the stones are evenly spaced out amongst the packets, they place large banana leaves on top and then a sheet of tin to trap all of the heat. They leave the food to cook for about two hours.

And finally, you get to eat!! We had so many packets of food—which is very typical. At a Mumu, you are supposed to eat, and eat, and eat until you are stuffed and usually, there is food left over! And man…the food was spectacular—especially the kau kau. The only thing I didn’t particularly care for was the white yam—it was a bit too hard and starchy for me.

Papaya bigger than my head!

There was also the time I got to witness to Curry guys feed Kites (hawks) raw chicken scraps.

And then we got to swing around steel wool that was set on fire.

We also burned Daniel’s school papers because we love fire.

Unfortunately, there were two experiences I did not capture with my camera—when we played a two hour game of extreme coquet (it took us twenty minutes or so to actually set up the course and place obstacles..yes..obstacles in a game of CROQUET) and when we got to slide down a massive waterslide.

Even though all of those experiences were amazing and awesome, I think the one I will remember most is being able to attend Daniel’s High School graduation. It was such a wonderful ceremony filled with laughter and joy. There is something so special about the community in Ukarumpa, and that is that almost all of the classes that graduate have been together since they began school. I’m sure it is wonderful for the community in Ukarumpa to be able to see how much each person within a class has grown and be able to know each person on a personal level.

My favorite part of the ceremony was getting to witness Daniel give his Valedictorian speech…wow…he’s a great guy!!

And finally…food.

AUTHENTIC KOREAN FOOD.

Making Gimbap

Engagement dinner meal: Pork loin, roasted kau kau, steamed veggies, and juice/sprite drinks with frozen strawberries.

When we had to leave PNG, I was surprisingly more emotional than I thought I would be. This place is no longer a foreign, distant land, but a place with awesome people, spectacular views, and memories I will hang on to forever. This place means something to me. It has become the place where I met my future family and said yes to spending forever with my best friend.

But this place means so much more to Andrew and his family than it will ever mean to me, and that’s why it was so hard to leave. This place was their home—a place filled with friends, a comfortable house, good food, and quiet mornings on the veranda.

It’s a special place and always will be.

As we made our way back to the States, we passed through Manila and Tokyo.

In Manila, we had chance to try some authentic food.

Surprisingly, it was hard to find food that was not fried—they love their fried food (KFC and McDonalds are EVERYWHERE). They also really love rice and fish—which wasn’t that bad.

Although, I will most likely never have dried fish and rice for breakfast again (if I can help it). Not my favorite…I’ll stick to pancakes.

While we were there, we had quite the adventure getting to and from the Mall of Asia (the 13th largest mall in the world…and yeah….it was big). We took a taxi meant for only four people and we managed to squish four of us in the back (the taxi drivers weren’t so keen on us doing that…whoops) and we made it.

The Mall of Asia was super westernized—I felt like I was in America again.

Except there were soooooo many sales people coming up to you and trying to help you make a purchase. I tried to evade them as much as possible, but one reeled me in and I ended up buying socks with bananas on them…and I’m not mad about it.

Finally, we made it to Tokyo and OH MY WORD. I’m in love with Japan. Everything is so incredibly clean, everyone is incredibly nice, and everything is so incredibly CUTE. Even the manhole covers had little animated characters drawn on them!!!

Also, the food was pretty spectacular.

At almost every restaurant I looked for meals that came with miso soup because it is so stinking delicious.

Not going to lie, though, by the end of the trip I was a little “riced” out. I was craving a sweet potato…luckily, they had Japanese sweet potatoes at the store and they were sooooooo delicious.

Along with the delicious food, we had amazing sites to see!

I will definitely be coming back to Tokyo at some other point in my life.

Not going to lie, I was so ready to be home. I was ready to see my family and friends…I was even ready to get back to work (well..not immediately, but you know what I mean). I love feeling stable and comfortable. I feel that way the most when I’m at home with my family, eating pancakes on the couch, and watching an episode of Spongebob.

However, I also miss Andrew and his family. They’ve become like a second family to me and the past five weeks went by WAY too quickly. It’s weird not waking up in their house in PNG and smell coffee. It’s weird not to hear the birds chirping and squawking outside of my window. It’s weird not to walk outside and smell fresh mountain air. It’s weird not to sit at their dinner table and spend time together, laughing and talking about our day. But, I know the time I spent with them is only the beginning of a long-lasting relationship and that makes me oh so very happy.