WANTOK

Already I’ve started drawing comparisons between PNG and Africa. I’ve discovered some similarities like the weather, community culture and the wantok (another new pigeon word meaning friendship.) The wantok system is very common in Africa also, it’s like an unspoken rule. When you make a friend or have grown up alongside someone, if they come under some kind of difficulty you look after them by feeding them, sharing with them, letting them live in your house, whatever they need. If the same happens to you they must return the favour. This wantok system plays a huge part in the PNG culture because they're so community based. If a local is going into town for the day to do something important and they meet a friend they haven't seen in a while along the way, they'll stop and chat. They'll forget about what they have to do in town because their way of thinking is completely relational.

This made me think about home and how we're so driven by our schedules, to-do lists and calanders. Don't get me wrong sometimes things need to get done, but it wouldn't hurt to slow down sometimes and try a bit of wantok.

Emma x