Another kastom picture.

Kids from class 1. Little Kalo up in the front there is my favorite, mostly because his parents fully committed to the outfit. Love it.

My favorite child (now that she doesn't hate me)

Here is my favorite child on Tongariki (now that she doesn't hate me), my little ... niece? Miriam.

She's my tawi Nerry's daughter, maybe sixteen months old, something like that? When I first got to Tongariki, the kid really didn't like me--she'd cry if I tried to pick her up or if she was away from her mom--but she's used to me now. Really sweet baby--likes to get tossed into the air and to walk around carrying my nalgenes.

Cooking in the nakamal

Just a normal day in the nakamal. Erata, Atong.

Tongariki boys doing kastom dance from Pentecost

Here are some boys from Class 3 doing a kastom dance from Pentecost, which is the long, skinny island up north where they do land diving. I am terrible (I know, I know) and I don't have everyone's name perfect yet. On the left is Kalron, my neighbor, who comes from the generally most attractive family on the island; in the middle is my kid brother Morris, looking like a rock star, as per usual, and on the far right is a kid whose name I have temporarily forgotten as I'm away from the island. (I'm writing this on 5/20 in town--I've been away for a bit.)

This dance was great. So the boys used brooms made of coconut leaves to sword play, essentially. They're wearing modern variations on kastom wear--skirts made out of pandanas, yep, but shorts on underneath. Hey, kastom continues, but life moves on ...

Me with Ruth outside my house

Me with Ruth outside of my house, not really doing anything. (Yes, I look this homeless all the time.) I'm really sad she moved away--she was my age and really cool, but she's moved to Vila to go take care of one of her brother's kids.