Chronicles

We invite our patients, whether they be returned travellers, international students or other visitors, to share brief stories and tips. We hope that we can learn from each others cross cultural observations and experiences.

Alessandra Perna is a childhood educator with extensive travel experience. She recounts her culturally immersive perspective of teaching in the Solomon Islands.

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By Alessandra Perna

I recall walking into a kindergarten classroom in Solomon Islands where more than 50 children were playing with some paint-worn wooden blocks; in a corner of the room, labeled 'dramatic play', there was but a pile of empty boxes; and on the floor a few tattered books.

The YWCA kindy in Honiara, where I began my Australian Volunteer assignment as a curriculum development advisor, is one of the better resourced Kindies in Solomon Islands.

The kindy had received a large number of donations and the classroom was filled with second-hand books. Some were quite old and many were not entirely age appropriate, not to mention culturally appropriate, and lacking in illustrations. Similarly, the only toys were also second-hand, and many were neither durable nor that educational.

We, in the 'western' world, have come to realise how important early childhood education can be as the building blocks of the future. We have recognised that young children learn best through play – even a simple puzzle can teach a child to think critically, to count, and to recognise shapes and colours.

As a literate community, we have been exposed to hundreds of books from a very early age. Age-appropriate picture books with big, bright illustrations, rich vocabulary and a simple style will engage young children, promoting literacy through interest in, and exposure to, the written word

I soon realised that I was sitting on a gold mine of local talent. Not only was there a wealth of local 'Kastom Storis' in the oral tradition told by the teachers at the kindy, passed down from parents and grandparents, but also beautifully crafted artifacts and impressive visual art.

And so a project was born - which I undertook during my assignment - to develop examples of high quality early childhood resources that could be produced using all that was fabulously local from oral stories to wooden toys.

Kekero and Kwadu is a Solomon Islands story about how a parrot and blackbird got their colours. It was told to me by the YWCA hostel supervisor ('matron') and I adapted it in English. To promote not only a local story but also the local vernacular, I had the English text translated into Solomon Islands Pijin. I was fortunate to secure one of Honiara's finest visual artists, Selwyn Palmer, to illustrate the picture book.

Mr Palmer also jumped on board with the production of a carefully selected sample of toys, including simple wooden puzzles, a fishing game, Noah's Ark with wooden animals, and a dolls' house with furniture. These toys were made using readily available, affordable materials and tools.

The project resulted in 2000 copies of Kekero and Kwadu being printed, thanks to support from the expat community, with the majority of copies to be made accessible to Solomon Islands children.

As for the toys, the idea is to expand the production by involving many other artists and carvers through demonstrations and workshops, and liaising with the Ministry of Education's resource development unit.

The ingredients are already there –all that is needed is a good and sustainable recipe for success. Why not make early childhood resource production local and better. After all, young children can relate more to what is familiar and comes from home.

I think the answer to these empty classrooms is not in a constant flow of overseas donations, but it is right in their own backyard – it's just a matter of digging it up.

- Alessandra Perna

BIO

Alessandra Perna is an early childhood educator who has worked in the United States, Australian and Solomon Islands education systems over the past 12 years. She holds a BA Hons. in modern languages and a Master of Education with a focus on literacy development.

Alessandra has travelled extensively throughout her life. She has lived in nine countries in four different continents, the ninth being Solomon Islands from where she recently returned to Australia from a volunteer assignment as a curriculum development advisor to an early childhood education centre.

She is currently based in Adelaide and hopes to write and publish children's books in the future.

Gerard tells us about his experience climibing Asia's highest mountain - Mt Kinabalu.

I remember the air at 4095 metres on the summit of South East Asia's highest mountain, Kinabalu. It was the freshest I've ever breathed.

The Mt Kinabalu climb takes, for most people, two days with an overnight stay at Laban Rata. The annual Mt Kinabalu race winner completes the return journey in less than three hours!

Though the track is well marked, it is a requirement that a guide be used for the journey. Our guide tended to disappear only to reappear whenever we reached a significant landmark. As steady as a mountain goat in slippers and umbrella, he contrasted our lumbering boots, jackets and backpacks.

The journey is steep and short with most trekkers starting at 9am and slowly but steadily arriving at Laban Rata by 3pm. After a hot shower we settled into our dormitory accommodation. The heaters turned on at 8pm, dinner at 9pm then a sleep before the 2am start.

Waking at 2am everyone dressed for the cold. I found the first part of the night climb the hardest of all the sections. The city lights of Kota Kinabalu sparkled in the distance, as did the line of climbers' head lights in front and behind. The guide of course, torch in hand, was never out of breath.

I had heard of summit attempts being cancelled due to heavy rain or thick fog so it was with huge relief that I clambered onto the summit at around 6am. My friends and I found a small space together with about 25 other climbers, many of whom were texting family and friends from their mobiles.

We were rewarded with brilliant views over Mt Kinabalu on a crystal clear day. We stayed on the summit for nearly an hour reflecting on our accomplishment. Reluctantly we made the descent knowing our fantastic journey was nearing its end.

See more images from Gerard's climb here

The following chronicle is from one of our regular travellers to Africa. He has a "real job" but also a passion for the animals of Africa. His favourites are the Wild dogs.

The following chronicle is from one of our regular travellers to Africa. He has a "real job" but also a passion for the animals of Africa. His favourites are the Wild dogs. For a great treat visit his album in our photo gallery. A big thankyou to Chris for allowing us to share these wonderful images.

Elephants, so unbelievably huge, almost silent except for the sound of their feeding. Giraffes, with their languid walk, silent too as they move through the bush. The sweet call of the tiny Scops Owl in the gloom of an African night as it states its claim to a territory. Or the African Fish Eagle as its cry rings out over a new dawn, the very sound of Africa itself. The constant chatter of francolin and hornbills as they go about their day, an almost constant sound track. The suddenness of the dawn of a new day and the stunning sunsets of the Luangwa Valley in Zambia, nature enhanced by the smoke of poacher's fires and the dust of a late dry season. The fragrance of wild sage in the Okavango Delta in Botswana and the smell of African wood smoke at the camp fire. The malevolent stare of an old Cape Buffalo bull.

How beguiling are the young of those fierce predators of Africa that we all know so well, who, with time, turn into merciless killers. Not for killing's sake but to survive, the great imperative of all creatures. To see a kill, exciting, awful and compelling all at the same time. The chilling eyes of a Luangwa lioness only an arm's length from your own eyes. The sheer power of the pride male, huge and menacing. The almost impossibly beautiful leopard, secretive, deadly and a privilege every time you see one. The amazing societies of the African Wild dog and spotted hyena, their care and devotion to all in their pack or clan a lesson for us all. All the night sounds, especially the lions and the hyenas, reaching into something primordial within all of us. To see the tracks in the morning and try to piece together who, and what, was about during the night. I have seen and heard and smelt all these things, and more. But it can never be enough. The bush holds her secrets tightly, giving them out reluctantly bit by bit to the patient or the lucky. Or both.

-Chris Pullen

See more images from Chris's trip here

Bob trained hard for six months on the Mount Lofty trails and is to be congratulated on reaching the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (altitude 5890 metres).

Bob trained hard for six months on the Mount Lofty trails and is to be congratulated on reaching the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (altitude 5890 metres). Take a look at his album in the photo library. He was very well researched and well prepared. His biggest problem on the trip was feeling the cold at altitude. " I found out from an experienced climber I met that mittens are much better than gloves because less skin surface area interfaces with the air directly. I also regret not taking a down jacket. The thermal layering and Gortex were not enough. My fleecy sleeping clothes were good."

Maggie recently visited Vietnam (Hanoi) for the first time and would like to share what I learnt about the extreme sport of crossing the road in a sea of motor bikes.

I recently visited Vietnam (Hanoi) for the first time and would like to share what I learnt about the extreme sport of crossing the road in a sea of motor bikes. Do not attempt to run the gauntlet. Walk slowly and deliberately on the diagonal towards the oncoming traffic. Look occasionally over your shoulder even in a predominantly one way street. If terror or panic sets in, stop dead still and pretend to be an object. The locals are adept at manoeuvring around objects."

See more images from Maggie's trip here