Talanoa at Natanuku

I always enjoyed the yaqona drinking session after Mass at Natanuku village. In most other villages it was very formal – the matua tabu (priest) sitting in front with the elders forming a semi-circle facing him and the young men serving the yaqona. The women would be absent – preparing the Sunday meal. But in Natanuku the women sat around with the men and youths and joined in the conversation and story-telling.

Today we had a few Catholics from the next village. We don’t see them too often so it was good to meet them. One of them, Mariko, had been to New Zealand picking fruit a few years previously. He told us that his flight there was the first time he was ever on an airplane and he was mesmerized by the experience. He felt the insecurity of leaving mother earth and looking out at the clouds drifting by. It was nice to be served his food – though the quantity left a lot to be desired!

However his worst experience was when he went to the toilet. Having passed motion he had to search for the right toilet paper – there were at least three different kinds half hidden in the tight space. Then he had to find the flush button. When he pressed what he thought was the right button he heard a massive noisy rush of air. He panicked. “I must have put a hole in the airplane,” he thought. Turning in terror he smashed the toilet door outwards to escape back into the cabin of the plane. He had forgotten that the door opens inwards. Now he had to explain to the hostess how it happened that he had broken the toilet door!