PNG Independence Celebration 2013 follow-up

An early follow up to the post on PNG Independence Celebration 2013

The latest news is that I am really a novice on this blogger thing.

First, I found out that the domain name "Wantoks in Europe" has been used by another wantok.  Perhaps I, and the domain name, should have been "WICE" - get it?  To be WICE would be to be a "Wantok in Continental Europe". Indeed, the post on PNG Independence Celebration 2013 was targeted at the continental Europe wantoks. That is not to say that Wantoks off the continent or accross the channel like the UK or accross the Atlantic like USA or Canada are not welcome. They are! But the domain name issue is really an identity thing ... capito? Wantoks make a big issue about identity even if, at the end of the day, we are all wantoks.  Anyway, for as long as the wantok who coined the Wantoks in Europe domain name does not mind, I will continue to use it until I figure out how to change it. If someone out there is a wizard at these things, please help by posting an advisory comment. Thanks in advance.

The second issue is that I did not work out how to post pictures on this blog until now. (Yes I can hear suppressed laughter but that's the plain truth).  I found out just now that the browser I used on the other laptop was archaic and could not support the tool bar with icons for uploading photos etc. So this post will have at least a photo. But more quality blogs will be a long time coming until I really get the hang of how to work this blog thingy.

So back to the PNG Independence Celebration 2013.  If my co-organizers can read this, they really should get in touch on the latest. I'll be expecting a telling off or two as they really are the bosses, mi wokman tasol (I am just a worker).  What I have managed to do in the meantime is that I have given notice to some wantoks here in Rome that I will solicit their help on ideas for a good celebration. We, the main organizers, have our own ideas of course but you know, the more, the merrier.  For the moment, the typical PNG feasting is part of the celebration plans, which means that the mumu (food cooked in earth oven) or the lovo (mumu for Pacific Wantoks) will feature prominently.  Indeed it will be the main course ... yummy.

The picture above is of a mumu prepared by the wantok bung (get-together) in Wertach, Germany some time back.  It was the biggest and best cooked mumu I have seen and tasted so far.  If you saw and sampled a better mumu please post and toksave (inform us) about it.

PNG Independence Celebrations in Rome 2013

Here we go wantoks and poroman (friends) - my first post as a first time ever blogger. The thing that got this started is the Rome wantoks’ wish to have all Papua New Guinea (PNG) wantoks and ol poroman in Europe to celebrate a PNG Independence anniversary in Rome. Well, why not. Thanks to Paula (Germany) and Zita (Rome) for their encouragement and enthusiasm, it will happen in September 2013. More about these two Manus sisters later (much later).

For the time being, you might want to know that the old fashion means of communication, that is word-of-mouth, has beaten hands down, the fancy super fast info super highway of social networking, including this blog site. (No surprises, this blogger is painfully slow).  I am reliably informed that about 20 PNG friends and wantoks from Germany and Austria have already confirmed their participation in next year's PNG Independence Anniversary Celebrations in Rome, Italy.  So if you have not confirmed your participation yet, now is your chance.  This blog site "Wantoks in Europe" was set up to support the organization of the event. Over time, the blog might serve as a site for friendly chatter and for sharing interesting news and views about PNG and Oceania for wantoks in Europe, information about culture, inspirational events and personalities or simply catching up on news about your wantok or poroman.

For now the news, as already announced above is:
- Rome PNG wantoks are organizing/hosting PNG's Independence Celebration 2013 in Rome from 12-15 September;
- Wantoks and Poroman in Europe are welcome - but do not expect a grand event as it is, above all a friendly "bung" (gathering);
- Wantoks can book accommodation at Camping Village Fabulous Rome- http://www.ecvacanze.it/en/camping/camping-village/camping-village-fabulous/ where a number of confirmed participants are staying. However, there is no obligation to reserve accommodation there.
- information about the venue for the celebration and programmes will emerge as the organization progresses, so keep checking this blog.

Oh, and a brief word about me just to assure you that this wantok is real. I am Blaise, from Manus, PNG, working/living in Rome.  However I am using the pseudonym “Rome 1tok”  to post on this blog.  I will be the main focal point in Rome for info about the event and its organization for now. Later I will post email addresses and contact details of my other wantok collaborators in Rome and Germany.
 
 All poroman and wantoks  are welcome to post here. I expect that initial comments, information sharing and inquiries would be about the subject of the first post "PNG Independence in Rome 2013" and related matters.

In sharing information, offering views, commenting, asking questions or sharing a laugh on this blog site, please abide by these simple guidelines: be civil, be courteous and respectful, be honest.  Tenkyu tru.