What's She Talking About?

PNG - Papua New Guinea, the country where I currently reside. 

Mambis or Mambisanda - my hometown in PNG

Enga - the province in which Mambis resides

Engan or tok ples - the local language in Enga (unfortunately, far too difficult for me to learn during my time here)

Tok pisin or pidgin - the trade language used by many language groups throughout PNG, has many roots based in English (the language I am learning)

Hagen or Mt. Hagen - the city about an hour and a half away where I do all of my shopping and errand running

Amapyaka - the location of the Highlands Lutheran International School where I can get internet access

UTB (United to Be) - the HIV awareness and social issues group with which I work in Mambis

VCT (Volunteer Counseling and Testing) Center - the center in Mambis where people can be tested to find out their HIV status

GLC (Gutnius Lutheran Church) - the governing church body which partners with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and has jurisdiction over the hospital and associated church in Mambis (where I attend)

PMV (Public Motorized Vehicle) - how I get from here to there when I’m not with the Lutz’s. Usually a 10-seater van that accommodates 13-15 people or a 15-seater bus that accommodates about 20 people. Yay for close quarters;-)

St. Paul’s or Pausa - the secondary school where I’ve been helping teachers incorporate HIV education into the curriculum. Serves about 800 students, about 50 per class, and little to no resources. No internet, no library, and few curriculum options.

Pimon committee - the committee of teachers at St. Paul’s that is dedicated to incorporating HIV education into the curriculum and spreading awareness about HIV. “Pimon” means “We will do it” in Engan.