Our life and our visitors

By Joanne Kanau and Kanau Sion

We have been away from home (PNG) for almost three years now, having arrived here in Perth in 2008. Weather wise, it has been both welcoming and atrocious at times, especially for the kids and their mother 

Rachel Pipai arriving for a long week-end holiday in September

who have to endure and deal with the unkind and uncompromising cold winter and the extreme summer heat. They swore a condition created by a bit of both would end their complaints once and for all...but I think they are kinda getting used to it all now as evident in the less number of complaints I get from them.  Being away from home can often be stressful and a cause of chronic home sickness and a degree of depression. Having seven members in the family kind of cushions things to some point, not to mention the nagging kids behavior...but hey! that's the beauty of having children aye!.

Peter Kengemmer visited us in September on his way back to Saudi Arabia

We have had visitors come our way over time: Joanne's parents who are the kids maternal grandparents spent two weeks with us towards the back end of 2008. My nephew Oliver Simeon spent a week in early 2009 here in Perth on a week's work training and it was good having him join us for tea (dinner) several times at our home and in the end driving him to the airport and seeing him off. Joanne's baby sister, Naomi spent the last summer with us and it was good for the kids to spend time with their favorite aunty again. Pwapei Minol, a cousin of mine was a regular visitor earlier and mid this year. It was fantastic having him around. I am sure he was all ecstatic with the whole 'Jadran' thing and I am glad to have introduced him to it. Peter Kengemmer, a long time buddy who also paid us a visit on his way back to Saudi Arabia last month, and we just had my cousin sister Rachel Pipai visit us from Adelaide for a long week-end a few weeks back.We all, and especially the kids are looking forward to another aunty, Fiona (Joanne's sister) spending this summer with us here in Perth.

Naomi on holidays with us last summer-with Joanne, Lois and Ludwina

Our last PNG visitor was Salamet Chapau who left this morning for PNG after three months of work assignment. We are greatly indebted to his lively stories and charisma and hope to catch him in Port Moresby two years from now. It was cool having a lot of relos and fiends come and visit. We have been immensely blessed by all the visitors. I should also acknowledge our Australian friends and members of the PNG community here in Perth who have also been tower of strengths to us and making us feeling pretty much at home. Much respect to them all.

Pwapei Minol with us

Salamet Chapau invited for dinner with us- September