- Even though Vanuatu is just a 'dot in the ocean', the people of Vanuatu speak 105 languages.
- Vanuatu is made up of 82 islands.
- These people are Melanesian.
- There is a population of 245,000.
- Even though there are a range of different people, they are one big family of the Pacific.
- No one has washing machines or dishwashers at home!
- Children don't normally play with toys, they play with woven toys made out of coconut leaves.
- Many Pacific people use coconuts to build, to weave, to drink, to eat.
- Coconut is described as the 'tree of life.'
- In Vanuatu women have to do everything, men are in charge of everything though!
- Elodie begins work at 5.30am after getting everything ready for her kids.
- She was paid to marry her husband. This was an arranged marriage, decided on by her uncles.
- Nate asked whether men who are not married have to do all the housework! No, their sister or mother would do this for them!
- Dillon asked if same gender marriage was allowed in Vanuatu, it is not.
- There are virtually no divorces - it would bring shame on the family.
- Gay people must hide how they feel.
- The chiefs are in charge of everything.
- Ezra asked how to become a chief - you must be a first born male.
- Ladies must only wear skirts outside their house.
- Your family's happiness is more important than your own happiness!
- Many other countries in the Pacific have similar rules, however, as people travel to other countries things are changing.
- Hugo wondered if one day there might be a female chief who would share the roles more equally - Elodie said that this would be "a miracle!"
- Each island has different cultures and ways of doing things.
- There are lots of markets to shop at, the main one has only organic food.
- There are no big supermarkets.
- There are many active volcanoes.
- Tourism is a huge resource for the country.
- The main food is rice, it is imported from Australia, also Taro, huge bananas, Laplap (baked underground)
- Most people from Vanuatu in NZ are either students or seasonal workers.
- Families are big in Vanuatu.
- Supermarkets are trying to go plastic free.
- Evelyn asked how Global Warming is effecting the island. There are great effects - super high tide, narrow white sand beaches, even though there are no factories and little pollution in Vanuatu.
- Every woman must learn to weave, to cook, to do chores, to create traditional foods. Men must learn to cut firewood.
- Their currency is Vatu.
It was fascinating to hear Elodie talk about her country, we learned so much about Vanuatu. Thank you Nikita for sharing her with our class.
