Fortnight

On the way to Teredau

It is Friday afternoon on ‘fortnight’, the day when people get paid. There is no paid work in Ubuo village, but everyone has family somewhere who is getting paid today. The nearest waged labour is at Teredau, a timber mill upstream from us. All sorts of people are heading to Teredau on the rising tide, taking baskets of crabs and other things with them. They may give these to family there and receive other goods in exchange, or they may sell them at the market and use the income to buy other things.

Teredau

The teenage males in my household are also heading to Teredau. They’ve been sent with baskets of crabs from the women and instructions on who to give them to and what to return with. The teens are just looking to have a good time and try to escape before the crabs are ready for transport.

Each lad heads out with a bush knife and a paddle. Someone comes back to get fire to take with them. It looks like some crabs may be eaten on route and not make it to Teredau!

Hanging out when the work day is done

There is a sense of fun in all the preparations. The teens are off to have a good time with older relatives who’ve just been paid. The people staying home know they’ll return with goods to share.

Other canoe loads are getting ready to go to Kikori (the nearest town) or Sirebi, also to sell goods at market or to spend time with recently paid family.

Loaded with cargo, ready
to return to the village

Saturday is quiet, as so many people have gone away. On Sunday many start to return, when the tide is right. There is extra food at dinner, from the store at Teredau or from the gardens. There they have enough elevation to be safe from flooding, so can grow different foods.

Fortnight in the village.