As Adam and Ryan make preparations for the second survey to the Akolet tribe, one thing to be done was to purchase airline tickets. While last time they were able to schedule flights with our own mission's flight program, this time their only option was to fly commercial from Hoskins (where we are) to the small grass airstrip of Gasmata, located just at the edge the Akolet language group.
Because nothing is ever easy here in PNG, Adam had to make several trips to the airport before he was actually able to find a staff person there who was able to help him with buying the tickets. (This airline doesn't really keep regular hours.) And here is the actual conversation Adam had with the airline "customer service representative" when he finally did catch up to him.
Adam: "I would like to buy 4 tickets to go from Hoskins to Gasmata and then to return again."
Ticket Agent: "Okay, that will be 1000 Kina." (about $350 US)
Adam (thinking this price is awfully low): "Really? It's 1000 Kina to go to Gasmata and return again?"
Ticket Agent: "Oh, no. That's just one way. With return flights that will be 2000 Kina."
Adam: "Yes, I want 4 tickets to go and return." (He then pays for the tickets) "When can I get the actual tickets?"
Ticket Agent: "Oh, you can come and get them anytime, even on the day of the flight if you want."
Adam (knowing that getting the tickets the day of the flight would be a really bad idea): "How about I come and get the tickets tomorrow?"
Ticket Agent: "Yes, you can do that. Okay. We'll see you tomorrow then."
Adam: "Don't you need to know what days I want to fly?"
Ticket Agent: "Oh. Yes, that would probably be a good idea. And maybe I should get the passenger's names too."
Now as many of you may have already guessed, we went back today to pick up our tickets and........no one was there at the airport to help us. This is just a typical example of life in PNG! Depending on our mood at any given time, the differences of life here can be amusing, draining, or just plain exasperating! The mantra we keep repeating to ourselves when faced with these differences is something we learned during our 4 years of missions training: "The differences in cultures are not necessarily wrong, they are most often just simply different."
