Always have a rain date!

As previously warned months ago by Sr Rose Mary about the unreliability of flights to the Solomon Islands, I arrived at the airport Tuesday morning to find that my flight to Honiara had been cancelled due to ‘cyclones’ (which is a little questionable, being that it is currently dry season…) However, this trip has not only reminded me of the numerous Dominican values that I’ve experienced in the variety of social justice programs, but also flexibility and patience. My mindset at this point: there’s a reason for everything!

I was able to take advantage of a few free days and do a little more sightseeing in the city, jetting over to Manly beach on a ferry to visit some family friends and enjoy the wonderfully warm, sunny weather. 

I’ve also spent some time brushing up on my Pijin-speaking skills (which brought more than a few laughs at the dinner table!) and some further research on the Solomon Islands. I came across a fun article on traditional shark worship in my travel book (this is for all those Jaws fans out there!): 

"The former animists on Laulasi traditionally worshipped sharks as their totem. In dramatic ceremonies, held until the 1970s, sharks were actually fed by hand after villagers had summoned them by rhythmically beating together stones underwater.

During the ceremony, the village priest calls out the name of a particular shark. In response, the shark swims to a boy standing on a rock in the water, who feeds it a piece of pork. The younger, smaller sharks are fed first, until finally the oldest and largest shark receives the biggest piece from the boy, who then climbs on its back. The shark swims around the lagoon, carrying the boy, before returning to the submerged rock for him to disembark.

The Laulasi people explain this ritual by saying a shark ancestor in the past had promised not to attack the islanders as long as they fed it and its descendants pork. In return, people would be left unharmed and the sharks would ensure that a plentiful supply of tuna would be left in the area.

Because of these traditions, predominantly red or black clothing is absolutely taboo on Laulasi (black being the color of local pigs, while red could be confused with blood, and thereby arousing the shark ancestors). Even today, visitors are not allowed to wear these colors while visiting."

(I'm beginning to regret all my red and black clothing choices for the Solomons...Shark Bait Hoo Ha Ha!)

Fingers crossed that Honiara will have some cyclone-free weather for tomorrow's flight!