The advertised speaker this morning was unwell and couldn't make it. BUT never fear, exuberant and energetic Roger was there! Members thoroughly enjoyed Roger's wonderful ad-lib narrative which gave us the low-down on his recent (and epic) teaching trip around the Pacific Islands. His Island-Hopping itinerary was so vast and so rapidly reported, the morning Editor/Scribe was simply unable to keep up. Thankfully, our resourceful Roger was happy to provide a written account, something every Editor totally appreciates!
But first, a great photo of Roger doing his very best haka pose while in the Islands.
Click Read More to learn about Roger's intriguing trip.
Planning to go to Osaka in September (of this year) for my Granddaughter’s second birthday and the first meeting with Grandpa, I was thwarted by my son’s suggestion that instead his family come to NZ in 2018. Almost immediately in early August, serendipity stepped up in the form of an offer from the University of the South Pacific (USP) to undertake block teaching of a certificate level course in Project Management around the Pacific, Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Palau and possibly the Federated States of Micronesia. The funding was provided by US Aid through an intermediary contractor, AECOM, who contracted USP who contracted Hilary Carlile & Associates, who contracted me (Roger) who... delivered the training!
SO, the six weeks began on September 20 downloading the course presentation slides while awaiting the boarding call for the flight to Nadi, after which a series of stops around the Pacific and an aside to Osaka (hello grand-daughter) ensued.
Nadi, Tarawa, Nauru, Honiara, Brisbane, Port Moresby, Cairns, Osaka (for six days with son Chris, daughter-in-law Kayo and grand-daughter, Luna), Incheon, Palau, Incheon (with a layover at the Grand Hyatt - thank you Korean Air) Nadi, Tarawa, Nauru, Nadi, Auckland.
I was required to teach a 4 module course in two one week “blocks”, a course which is normally spread over two semesters! Normally, students would have access to on-line learning through the USP Moodle system - that neither Kiribati nor Palau had stable internet capable of supporting video streaming of webinars was of no moment to the organisers, and the ingenuity (aka native cunning) of the trainer was fully exploited to deliver the results required with appropriate academic robustness. And there were Challenges, not only “Island Time”.
Tarawa, where I was for twenty days (to deliver 10 days of training) is barely 2-3 metres ASL, composed of coral with minimal friable soil, little potable water and no agriculture. Most food is imported with the exception of fish and pet pigs. Rubbish is everywhere except around houses where the ground is assiduously swept by youngsters first thing in the morning. Religion is truly the opiate of the masses. There were 120+ Churches on Tarawa and 50 kilometres of road. Lutheran, Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness, Latter Day Saints, Uniting Church…massive open air tiled and covered congregational areas and modern palatial staff accommodation. In Palau I witnessed a Banana storm – where the winds were so strong that bananas were stripped from the trees and the fronds shredded.
The courses were huge successes…I learnt later that the students were paid to be there $20…for the week! The hourly labour rate is alleged to be $1.80.
It was very clear, despite the barriers he encountered as a trainer (e.g. lack of technology, lack of functioning equipment, missing text books, poorly equipped classrooms, break down in the chain of communication, working around 'Island time', limited flights, limited nutritious food, etc) Roger met the challenge with improvisation and (St John's Rotary members could plainly hear) great gusto! Some questions and discussion ensued about substantial American Aid into these countries which does not seem to be well strategised, with sustainability seemingly not even on the radar.
Thank you Roger for sharing so fully and dynamically with us at such incredibly short notice!
