Where Am I Again?

Well… I’m here, and I still can’t believe that I’m sitting on a bed in the Wild Pig Hotel in Port Vila in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, miles away from home enjoying a warm, if muggy, night with a group of people who, until this morning, were strangers.
What’s happened? Well, on Thursday night Alley, Luke, Sophia, Elycia and Kylie slept over… well, no one really slept, and then they accompanied me to the airport. It was all so surreal, but as I was walking away from my friends and family I couldn’t help but ask myself ‘what the hell am I doing???’ It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, and I felt so alone and insignificant. It was confusing and very, very daunting.
At the moment it still feels a little like a dream, but I have an excitement throbbing inside me only dulled by lack of sleep. My plane trips were really uneventful, I was asleep the whole time, but when my plane came into land and I saw all those palm trees, green hills and islands I felt like I’d been slapped in the face. It suddenly hit and I couldn’t believe where I was.
Bec, Ali, Emma, Hugh and I were greeted by singing locals and Charlie, who took us to our hotel and then left us ourselves. It was weird, we were completely free and responsible for ourselves. So we went out to Port Vila, which startled me as a really rural city. We strolled through markets jammed with sweet smelling fruit and banana leaf baskets and looked out at a beach we still couldn’t believe was right in front of us.
We tried our luck with some Vanuatu cuisine, prepared by a local lady at one of the markets. I ended up paying $2.50 for a plate of food I could barely dent – it was that big! And it was so utterly delicious. It was made with beef, little fish, beans, spices and green things on rice. I loved it! Even the little fish. I also tried Sagico, a pineapple flavoured drink that was really nice.
After that we made our way back to the Wild Pig for some vodka and a game of pool. I retired early feeling overwhelmed and needing time to myself, the lack of sleep might also contribute to that feeling.
And so now it’s the second day. I’ve eaten lots and lots of different types of bananas, and Hugh, Emma and I just broke into a coconut. It’s so nice!!! I also got my hair braided (check it out!!!) It’s so cool, I’m gonna keep it this way!
Well… maybe I’ll post again soon but my brain really isn’t with it at the mo, Miss you all already! Enjoying the super cheap prices, I got a snorkel set for $8.00, and I think I’m finally settling in. Love you all to death!!! And I’ve got postcards I’ll send tomorrow.

Jess (22nd July)