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Jus'Do It 3 - a formal welcoming to Tanna



Wednesday 9th 2008

After another rocky, rolly night at anchor it’s breakfast aboard then packing for the day ashore. The village has arranged a formal welcome for the visiting yachties which will involve a ceremony, exchange of gifts and a feast at night. This turn’s out to be one of the most memorable and colourful days of our whole trip. After an initial dancing display on the village meeting area, the villagers lead us singing (the villagers) to the yacht club green where everyone is presented with a neck garland. The yachties then go to one side of the green while the villagers go to the other. The skippers are asked to stand at the front where they are presented with hats. The villagers then place all their gifts on one pile (woven baskets, fruit, vegetables, kava, handicrafts and a live trussed up pig!) and the yachties are invited to place their gifts on the other. The village chief then formally welcomes us to the village, and Andrew ( Arc boss) addresses the village. Once the gifts are exchanged there is more dancing and singing – the singing is soulful, guttural and harmonic, and the grass skirts, flowers and colourful clothing are a sight to behold. The Arc have sponsored the building of a new accommodation hut and the day also includes it’s official opening. Everyone returns briefly to their boats with the gifts – there’s considerable concern about our wee pig. Stewy overhears a suggestion that it’s to be killed there and then so quickly manages to tip off the Dad of a young girl that they should leave quickly – she’s been in tears and stroking the wee pig ever since it was presented. Kieron is approached by one of the villagers regarding what is to be done with the pig – this is a generous gift and after some discussion it’s agreed that one of the locals will kill the pig and butcher it for a BBQ tomorrow. At night a feast has been prepared which is served on woven palm frond platters under a little shelter decorated with flowers. The villagers all sit round in a circle singing and playing guitars. There’s a kava session going on too – a much stronger brew than in Fiji or Tonga with the result that there are lots of dopey, smiley yachties dotting about! There’s lots of dancing – Stewy decides to sacrifice his knees and dances all night.




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