Vanuatu

Even with the devastation of Cyclone Pam Vanuatu was still smiling

Category 5 Cyclone Pam hit the island nation of Vanuatu in March.  For a long time, we did not think we would stop because the port and capital of Port Vila took the brunt of the storm – pictures after the Cyclone showed considerable damage.  Some cruise ships stopped at the island right after the storm but only to deliver supplies – no passengers were allowed off the ship.  Shortly after we boarded the Oosterdam in Auckland we were told we would be stopping.  The woman from Cruise Critics who organized our tour checked with the tour operator and everything was confirmed.   Even before the storm, we had arranged to visit a school and to take school supplies.  They were even more needed now!

Our day in Vanuatu was amazing.  When we got off the ship, there was a sign that said Welcome to Vanuatu – with the hashtag #vanuatutillsmiling.  The country has been designated the happiest on earth in two recent surveys.  The people are amazing – always smiling, happy, and obviously very resilient.  Our guide and driver – Manu and James were good examples. 

One of our first stops was at a native village down a long and bumpy road.  The tribe showed us how they survived the Cyclone in the traditional way.  There were huge Banyan Trees with natural shelters inside the tendrils that come down from the limbs to the ground.  With three of these trees, the 30₊ people in the village rode out the storm. They explained that for the first few weeks they survived on fruits that had been blown down in the storm.  They also demonstrated the traditional way they prepare and store bananas for drying.  This staple can last for years.   We were welcomed to the village with the traditional ceremony – they also presented dances and fire walking.

Next on our tour was the school where we were taking the supplies.  This took us to a part of the island that was hit more severely by Cyclone Pam.  The road still had sand in places were the ocean surge had crossed the highway.  Many trees were on the ground and many houses had makeshift repairs, including tarps covering the roofs.  The school had survived but sustained some damage.  When we arrived, it was lunch break and all the children came out to greet us.  We presented the supplies to the teacher and were treated to a song by the kids.  Every kid got in a line and walked past us shaking everyone’s hand. Quite an experience!

From here we went to a small hotel for lunch and then on to see a waterfall.  This took us through property of the Catholic Church where they have a school and a Seminary.  This is where we saw the most destruction – huge Banyan Trees had been blown over with their massive root balls on their sides as testimony to the power of the storm.  Our guide explained that these trees were on rocky soil and did not have the stability of the one we had seen in the village. 

The road was diverted in places to avoid the downed trees.   The school showed signs of damage to the buildings but the Seminary was the worst with buildings collapsed.  One was the library with books still strewn about the area.   Students were in the fields tending the crops for the school and others were helping with the clean-up. 

Our ship brought relief supplies to Vanuatu at no cost to the country and Holland America Line has contributed a large sum to the relief efforts.  Passengers were given the opportunity to make contributions to Save the Children (Australian Branch) that is coordinating relief efforts or to the Holland America Foundation.  

Vanuatu is a wonderful country and we pray it will recover quickly.