This town is already getting too "SMOL"

9.27.07

Lot’s of stuff happened yesterday. Interviewed with the country director. Connected on several levels including baseball but no clue which island I’ll be posted to. Others walked out with a narrowing to two.Me, he just mentioned 6 or 7 islands for Rural Training Centers (RTC). Five inoculations. No big deal.
Suddenly this town seems very small. As I was leaving the PC training for the day I walked across the Au Bon Marche parking lot (big modern supermarket), Justine (woman who runs our B&B) and her two daughters were getting out of their car. I escorted Jackie (oldest volunteer here) to see the local theatre production. Wan SmolBag Theatre, “Las Kad” Last Card).
It was a trek via the bus across town and near the airport. The bus system here is very good but very different. All the buses are mini-vans, seating 11 plus the driver. There are no specific routes. They take you where ever you request for 100 vat (approx $1.00). You may have to take a very circuitous route to your destination. We had to stop at the hospital (thought some of the patients looked like inmates in orange or blue jumpsuits), passed a big soccer match. Looked like grown men in uniform with over a 100 spectators. The grass was unmowed. Then across town and through a very rural, dirt road and poor area. Finally we were at the theatre. For 100 vat we entered a 7PM production. The theatre was quiet impressive. A classic community theatre but very large by Bay Area standards. The audience was on three sides, in stadium like arrangement with individual wooden chairs covered in heavy white paint. Tons of legroom. The stage was on a 6 inch raised platform and thrust into the audience. It was approximately 24 feet across and 40 feet deep. Entrances from two sides in back and from down center and corners through the audience. A cast of 14, all speaking Bislama very fast. Understood numerous words and phrases. There was aluminum rollable scaffolding used in numerous ways. The play was absolutely outstanding. The acting superb. Reminded me of the SF Mime Troupe. They are dedicated to relevant issues. This one domestic violence, marijuana, and literally getting away with murder. I recommend you check their website http://www.wansmolbag.org/ They understand how to get to an audience. Laughter and music. One actor played an olfala (old man), bent over, begging, black magic performer, while the comic relief he was outstanding in his acting skills.
Remember I said it was seeming like a small town. I’m sitting in the playhouse and the Chinese couple and the Belgian fellow, Luc, walked in. As did 3 others from my training group.
It’s very interesting to have talks with people from other countries. Enjoy hearing their perspective on Vanuatu. Of course the opportunity to see a local theatrical group is a great incite into the community. The place was packed. Probably about 250 in attendance.
So in preparation for our service we are getting tons of information on health and security, culture (kastom) and now language.