New Life in Dili
After my break in NZ when I returned to Lospalos it was clear that I would no the able to stay for a variety of reasons. So I moved to Dili at Easter.
I am now living in a very different environment and have a new assignment with a mental health organisation called PRADET that does a huge variety of work here in Timor - Leste and I am beginning to get busy!
It has been huge lifestyle change too- I now have other VSA’s who I can call on for support, I have lots of things to do in my free time, I have a social life!
Good bye Many Hands Leaving was emotional as I had built up a bond with my colleagues but it was time to move on.
In the photo are Thomas and two of his children, Cesario the amazing artist and Ilde- Mr Fix It!
While at Many Hands I ran a weekly dance and art group at Luzero- the women's shelter, I started a girls group which was shut down by the nuns and I ran a very chaotic school holiday dance programme, I ran a mask making programme with performance and I did some work in a community preschool trying to show the teachers how to play with their little ones. I suppose I did show staff a very different way of working and the possibilities of using creative arts in their work.
The dance performance at the end of the weeks holiday programme.
The mask making crew.
Beautiful local children always ready with a smile.
The lovely tree across the road from my home in Lospalos. I will miss that tree.
Once I arrived in Dili my colleague- Nicky was about to end her posting in Lospalos, part of the reason I left, knowing it would be very hard to remain there alone. Once she hit Dili we had a farewell night and dressed to kill in outfits that would not look out of place on Dynasty….Dili has a wonderful selection of cheap second hand clothing. For only a few dollars we dressed up! Very sweaty though as all synthetic material. We thought we looked hideous! But apparently pink suits us.
The pink girls- Jeanette, Nicky and me. Note the matching bags, earrings and jandals!
At PRADET I have begun working in the local prison running two groups for the young men in there aged 18-25. It has been really interesting as simple things like playing games and even using crayons are new to them. I am also trying to set up weekly training and supervision with the Fatin Hametek(Safe Place) team- the domestic violence staff, however we are in the middle of moving buildings so it’s all a bit chaotic. And I do manage to sneak into the day programme for mental health clients and runs few dance exercises with them. And I have a weekly relaxation group for al staff which is proving popular.
I have also begun, outside of work, an ongoing group for young people using Open Floor and art to explore issues in their lives- and this has been amazing. I work with an incredible youth worker called Mana Nona and she is learning from me how to use dance and art in sessions.
The young peoples Open Floor group. That’s Lara, another VSA who was so desperate to dance she came along as well. The stories that they tell….life is such a struggle for young people here and their big dream is to further their education so they have the prospect at better employment opportunities.
I have rediscovered scuba diving- after 10 years since my last dive. I did a refresher dive and then had 5 dives on Atauro Island- 30km off the coast of Dili, and one of the most spectacular dive sites in the world in terms of coral health and species diversity. AMAZING! Staying for 2 nights on the west side of the island at a simple place- a hut right on the beach, a mattress on the floor and the sound of the sea lulling you to sleep, no frills but simply beautiful. Its another world down there. The diving firm- Compass Divers is training locals to scuba so they can see what is right on their doorstep and understand the importance of protecting this pristine environment.
So this will be my new hobby while I am here….lots of scuba time! I’m so lucky!
My lovely diving instructor- Kib.
I’ll leave the last word to the sun.