Lukim Yu Vanuatu: Josiah’s Island Experience

This post was originally published on Josiah’s personal newsletter, Oysterology, via his Substack. You can find it here.

From December 2022 to July 2023, I was living in Vanuatu, a small island developing state in the South Pacific, thanks to the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program. I reflect on the vital lessons learnt during studying, working, socialising, and living in Vanuatu.

Outer islands: views of Emao from the village of Launamoa on Pele

Island time

Aelan taem or taem blong em (island time) was one of the most significant differences between life in Australia and here. Pasifika cultures are much more polychronic – they have a flexible interpretation of time – than Western cultures. This means if an event (say a basketball game) starts at 6 pm, no one will be there until 6.30 pm (and they will arrive early).

Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) is the name of Vanuatu’s small military unit – and my local basketball team.

On a more profound level, however, I found island time as an invitation to step off the treadmill, take stock of my life and surroundings, and realise that career, achieving goals, work, hustle, et cetera was not as important as we are told. The pace at which life moves here is not because of some inherent laziness or simplicity but rather a differentiation of priorities. In Vanuatu, as in many Pacific islands, family and community are far more important than vocation. Every person has an extended network of aunties, uncles, and cousins, creating a social safety net. Caring for others is built into the culture and considered much more important than laying bricks, filing forms, or selling knick-knacks to tourists. Island time is a mutual agreement amongst ni-Vanuatu that participating in a community of reciprocal support is much more important than individual wealth, accomplishments or purpose.

The importance of faith

In addition to family and community, faith undoubtedly plays an important role in life in Vanuatu. My experience here has convinced me of the importance of social organisations like churches in keeping societies held together at the seams. The positive effects of this religious substructure are tangible and observable.

In my view, it is no coincidence that Vanuatu is such a safe place to live, and its residents are so good-natured that 82% of the population is Christian. There is a clear moral compass to abide by, and Vanuatu’s close knit communities help reinforce these mutual norms.

Evangel Temple Tebakor, an Assemblies of God church in Vanuatu, after a service

Churches in Vanuatu provide a refuge for the community from life’s storms, both literal (churches are some of the safest buildings in a cyclone) and figurative. It provides a place where patrons can offer and receive help and creates a system for the organic and voluntary redistribution of resources from the more to the less fortunate. Faith organisations also play an important role in development by attracting financial and human resources from their international networks.

Undoubtedly, there are exceptions to this generalisation – as with any social unit – and issues still must be addressed, such as family and domestic violence, gender inequalities, and —. Yet, churches can (and should) help to drive discussions and develop solutions that properly accommodate everyone in their congregations.

Growing opportunities

Vanuatu, and the Pacific region, are growing and diversifying the opportunities available for its people and others worldwide every day. These countries' young populations and burgeoning middle classes will create business, trade, and development and affect geopolitics. This part of the world, long forgotten because of its remoteness, lack of modernisation and strategic insignificance, is now looking to lead across fields such as disaster risk and resilience, resource security, digital transformation, sustainability, and more.

For all readers, if you have not yet visited the Pacific, I would highly recommend it. I will return here soon and look forward to exploring the region more. However, this country and the people with who I spent an incredible seven months will always occupy a special place in my heart.

Lukim yu Vanuatu!

Written by Josiah W Neal - PAYA Manager of Operations