Bill Weir takes in the vista after a long climb.
It has been almost a week since I have had either the time or energy to write. From the last posting, most readers know that my wife went through full knee replacement 6 days ago. I am happy to report that my wife is doing amazingly well. I truly mean that. She has gone through the pain and rehab in a way that one might even wonder if she truly had surgery. This week has had me thankful that we live in the place and time that we do. I am grateful that my wife was able to have this surgery to improve her life. I wondered just where we would be without all of the advances in the medical and technological realms. Then today happened.
This morning we watched on a show titled, The Wonder List. The tag line of the show is, “stories of extraordinary people, places, cultures and creatures at a crossroads.” This morning’s episode was about a Pacific Island Nation in the South Pacific, Vanuatu. This nation might be what some call a “backwards” nation. Yet, I sat and watched the show wondering if they had it right.
The show took me back to my days of being a young person and being given National Geographic Magazines. Yes. I thought it was so cool to see women that were topless and not be yelled at for looking. I remember looking at how the villagers ran around with as little clothes as possible – just covering what was needed. As a kid, I used to wonder what it would have been like to live in those places. I envied the kids not having to go to school or where shoes. The articles would describe people that had only what they needed to live nothing more. As I grew I started wondering how hard it would have been to live without the comforts of home. I never thought about the fact that they didn’t know those things so they never missed them.
This morning’s show took me back to those thoughts. Our daughter and I watched the show. At first she was shocked to see women running around in grass skirts and nothing else. She kept asking where their clothes were. She then started asking what the men were wearing. Fortunately, before I had to explain the host of the show asked the head of the village to explain. He went on to explain how a young boy was given one around the age of three to cover his penis. It looked like a large whisk broom and far from comfortable. The chief said it was comfortable and showed how it was also used to sit on. Our daughter started asking the same questions I asked when I saw similar villages all those years ago.
The show did move to other villages where the people dresses in clothes similar to ours and even had cell phones. It showed the contrast between villages and how modern society was starting to permeate into these last places of, what I guess you would call, ancient civilizations. The one island had had an offer from a resort to purchase most of the island. The citizens turned them down. Another island, given a similar offer, struck a deal. The talk turned to how the modern world was invading these beautiful gems and bringing with them their waterparks, spas, and other attractions. The offer was probably less than 10% of the actual worth. I felt sad.
The host talked with a photographer, Jimmy Nelson, about what was happening in these places and how the people feel. One question came right from my own mind so long ago, “Aren’t these people missing out on all of the advances that have been made?” Jimmy answered no. He told the host to look around at the people. People from outside feel the need to bring in new medicines, technology, ideologies, and other aspects of the “modern” world. He then pointed out how these people didn’t need that. They were happy and content with how they lived. They didn’t need our medicine since they didn’t suffer the diseases. It appears that those from the civilized world look at life only from our eyes and feel the need make everybody as happy as we are.
Yet, our daughter and I talked about how these people lived. It was mentioned that there was no formal education offered in the villages. Children could be sent to private schools but at a cost of more than the annual salary of most villagers. The bigger question should be whether or not such an education is required for the life that these people lead. The know how to hunt, fish, and grow food. They know how to settle disputes. They know how to trade with other villagers. Just how much better could a cell phone, computer, or car make them?
One of the villagers had been sent to school to learn English and how to deal with people from the big city. When asked what he would do if one of the boys of the village wanted to move away, he said he would tell them that life was better here. He would tell them how difficult life would be in the city without money. He mentioned that the village life was the life.
As we continued to watch the rest of the episode, our daughter had more questions to ask. I answered the best I could. She thought that it would be cool to be there – I think she liked the no school. I started feeling sad for this society. They mentioned how the road was getting bigger and more tourists were coming. The one area that had sold their land was waiting for the tourist parts to come. The one man said he would be proud if his children could work in the restaurants for the tourists. I started to question this, but then realized that I too was viewing their life through my society. I tried to see it through theirs. The expansion and tourism was something they wanted and worked for – I hope it works.
In the end, though, I found myself cheering for the island that turned away the resorts. They held a pride in who they are and the way of life that had been theirs for so long. I am not sure if these places will exist during my grand-children’s lives, but one can hope. They are happy. As a matter of fact, I felt envious of them and the way they lived. They woke and went diving for breakfast – there is no such thing as rush hour for them.
So, as I started this post. I am happy that I live in a time in which my wife can get surgery to make her daily life easier. I am glad that I can call my family 3000 miles away just to say hi. I am glad my friends and relatives back east had indoor heat to keep them warm during a May snow. But I still can’t help wonder how happy the island life would be.
Thanks for meandering with me tonight.
If you would like to see more on the show, click http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/24/travel/vanuatu-bill-weir-twl/index.html
Jimmy Nelson photography http://beforethey.com/