reflections on life in PNG

The past few days have been a time for reflection and reminiscing about my time here in PNG and the changes - outside, and within.

Personal growth has been immense and I hope that I have been able to teach others as much as I have learnt myself.

As I drive around at dusk, I see families gathering out the front of their homes after a hard day's work. The children come out to play in the cooler hours of the day. It is a social time now where many stories are shared. There is no hurry to go anywhere, or to do anything. Just a time to relax and reflect.

Apart from friendships made here, I think what I will miss the most is the priority that relationships have over everything else. It is more important to maintain that relationship than get that job done, or to help out where possible instead of rushing off and doing your own thing.

Sometimes I feel that Western Society as a whole is a little fast paced. Too fast to stop and enjoy the small things (which are really the big things) in life. I like that people stop to help you when you are stranded, or to pick up a heavy suitcase when it seems you can't. I like that strangers will smile and make time to kiss your baby and talk to you like a long lost friend. I will miss the focus on people, rather than the job at hand.

Talking doesn't even have to happen. Even just to sit and 'be'.

There are things that Western Society can learn from a Developing Country.

We just need to learn to find the right balance.