Trains, Continued.

I celebrated my birthday on New Year’s Day, which is my brother Manuel’s birthday as well. he is a big 3 years old now.

My papa found us a coconut crab to eat. My sister Clenda powdered our head.  I was stuffed, smelling of a baby booty and feeling good.

Only a few days later I had to leave to make my way to Vila. I missed my plane twice as I was stuck on my island due to bad water. Finally I made it in to town and spent the next few days running around, getting chest xrays and such to qualify for my health Visa. I was not sleeping well and basically scared to death about what would happen in Brisbane. I held myself together and spent a lot of time with friends, only breaking down on the plane ride to Brisbane while watching a Vanuatu tourism video jam packed with smiling NiVan faces. I was terrified that there might be a possibility of not returning to Vanuatu, but also happy coming to the realization that I love this country, my village, and am not ready to leave it.

Arrived in Brisbane, Colposcopy on my 26th birthday…. really fun stuff…. followed by my first movie theatre experience in 16 months.

I only had a few days to wait for the results, and…drumroll please….. the results were moy bien!! No cancer. No “procedure” necessary. I was cleared medically to return to Vanuatu! But more importantly at that moment, I was cleared to join my friends Mac and Melissa in SYDNEY! I bought a train ticket and rode 14 some hours to sydney, staying with a pal Blair (who gets his own post) for several days before joining my friends in a hostel.

Phew. I think that covers the major stuff! I kinda rushed this post, but I didn’t want anyone worrying about my non existent woman troubles. I do require follow up checkups in 6 months, but luckily that can be done in Vanuatu.

I almost forgot, while in Brisbane I hugged a koala and fed kangaroos!! (In Sydney I ate the roos, delicious)