About Papua New Guinea |

Orchids in Papua New Guinea – Real Beauty

Sam Smucker October 10, 2016 August 24, 2017About Papua New Guinea

I know this isn’t my usual topic of writing, but one of the things about living in Papua New Guinea is the sheer beauty of nature all around me. I never get tired of the breathtaking scenery and my orchids are blooming right now, so I thought I would share them…

Happy 40th Independence PNG!

Sam Smucker September 16, 2015 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

Red, yellow and black are the colors of the day as Papua New Guinea celebrates its independence. Forty years ago PNG became its own country through a peaceful handover from Australia. Today there were many activities including speeches, concerts, greased pole climbing, tug of war, flag raising, and parades. One…

Happy Independence Day, PNG!

Sam Smucker September 16, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

Today was Independence Day for Papua New Guinea. PNG is 39 years old today and it was celebrated here in Wewak with speeches, a parade, gun salute, and lots of red, black and yellow. What was it like? Take a tour with the pictures below.

Sepik and Israel

Sam Smucker September 8, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

There is a growing movement in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to associate with Israel. This is especially prevalent here in the Sepik. Did you notice the Israeli flag on the grandstand for the National Day of Prayer? A church raised K10,000 ($4,100 USD) for missions and sent it to help…

Covenant Day

Sam Smucker August 31, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

Tuesday was “Covenant Day” also known as the “National Repentance and Prayer Day” and was a national holiday. In the Melanesian world view where the spiritual and physical are intricately entwined and the government openly Christian, this holiday takes on a very different flavour than a national day of prayer…

Cultural Documentation

Sam Smucker August 26, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

Much of a person’s unique cultural identity is tied up in their language Papua New Guinea has over 820 languages making it home to almost 12% of the world’s languages. However, some of these languages are dying at an alarming rate. These languages range from a few speakers or one…

Death and Sanguma in Paradise

Sam Smucker January 30, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

The sky was just starting to get light when I heard the wailing next door. The death wail is fairly distinctive and instantly I knew someone had just died. Soon after that, someone inside the house started yelling, “Jesus, send her back” for the next 5 minutes. It wasn’t too…

Culture – Extra Food at the Market

Sam Smucker October 31, 2013 August 23, 2017Cultural Insights

The last cultural question was why someone entertained you on the veranda instead of inviting you into their home. For most PNG people, a house is only to store things in, to sleep in at night, and in some places where you eat. Outside is where you live. The veranda…

Surprises

Sam Smucker October 28, 2013 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is called “The land of the unexpected”. There are many ways that this is true! When my son went to wash, he found this big spider in the bathroom. I’m not really sure what kind of spider it is, though it looks like a tarantula to me.…

Culture – Meeting on the Veranda

Sam Smucker October 10, 2013 August 23, 2017Cultural Insights

The last cultural question was about displays of grief. Because of the 820 languages (and mini-cultures) in Papua New Guinea, there are many ways to display grief over the loss of someone. The most common of the ones listed that I have seen as I’ve traveled around PNG is that…

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