Part 3 - Steady State

29.10.2012

Hello hello,

I hope this finds all of you wonderful people very well.

Well it’s safe to say that life in Sol is treating me very well. Not even the lack of dairy products or missing out on good quality chocolates (ranked no.4 on the Kenn Worry List for this trip[1]) will curb my happy disposition.

Steady state, Solow style

I recently celebrated my one month anniversary last week, which made me think that time is flying by. My routine is now in a slower but happy equilibrium.

I cannot help but notice that the pace of my daily life has definitely decelerated. I think that with the heat and the culture, this was inevitable. Being annoyed about long waits for service at restaurants and adapting to Solomon time (DWP contingent – this is an even larger adjustment factor than the ETK) has been part and parcel of the settling in process. I’m gradually coming round to the idea that everything doesn't have to be so planned and that it’s OK to take a Saturday afternoon nap after doing my grocery shopping. Life is different but life is good - definitely a good thing for me.

And I would walk 500 miles

I think my favourite experience so far has to be the journey to work. Leaving my house at 7am for the 15 minute walk down the hilltops means you get to enjoy the views without the scorching heat present at lunchtimes. Now, before you even say it, please don’t mistake my observation for moaning; I heart the weather. Tis tres gorge indeed :)

Losing oneself is very easy on this daily adventure. Although I frequently do this journey and am now well versed in the daily events that take place on the way (saying good morning an average of 30 times a day, passing giggling teenage girls on their journey to school, the mutual acknowledgements in the form of raised eyebrows passed between myself and the cool guys hanging out at the little tuck shop named Touch Down), there is always something new to entertain my thoughts. Today, it was finally realising how banana fruit grows on banana trees – they look like weird aliens with tails that are ready to sting you at any given moment. Strange I know.

Spooky happenings

Went to a really fun ex-pat party on Saturday, for Carlos and Sophie’s birthdays (my ODI family). The Halloween theme was out of this world. They made tombstones and large crosses for the garden, countless pumpkins and props for the house, fake blood splattered everywhere not to mention the stuff dead bodies hung in garage – very gross. However, the costumes were the best part. Imagine standing in a dark room and a real dead girl from The Ring grabbing you from behind. I’ll upload some photos on my new webpage so you can see for yourself.

Finally found Nemo…or Dory at least

Since my first swimming session a few weeks back, I haven’t missed a weekend at the beach! For someone that is not a keen swimmer, this experience has been a game-changer for old Kenn. I love swimming now and am gradually venturing further out from the beach to enjoy the new coral landscapes that I've yet to snorkel to. As expected, the fish are varied and colourful, moving at different speeds. As I acquaint myself with each of their journeys in the vast blue desert, I have begun sensing their individual personalities – some are very snooty, you know. Dory is Dory, as one would expect although Nemo is never to be found. Perhaps I’ll have to venture out to the shipwrecks to find him (when I finally pluck up the courage to go that far).

In other news…

The house is more or less complete; the boys have done a super job. I finally have a new kettle, saucepan and fan (I can’t explain how much the fan is a life saving device). Alas, the shower is still cold (hard to believe, I know Mr. Lake).

For my economist buddies (especially Mr. P King) and all interested parties, an IMF technical assistant is coming to help us on a project on estimating real money demand in the Solomon Islands as well as developing a liquidity forecasting tool. I’ve downloaded a couple of papers from the BoE on this[2] but I’d be very grateful for any other papers.

Controversial as this will sound but I think frisbee is my new netball. I absolutely cannot get enough of it and always excited when it’s Tuesday. Don’t worry my netballing folk (hope Guernsey was fun by the way), I’m still training the Central Bank ladies every Wednesday although turnout varies unlike the teams in London (Go Stingers, SoS and Scorps and Vipers). Badders is going well and I made my debut appearance at the Bank’s gym recently although I haven’t returned again since then :). However, this doesn’t mean I will be progressing to protein shakes, Mr. Havill and M.r Tobiasz!

All in all, things are great. It’s all about being creative with the activities to occupy those idle moments, which pop up from time to time. 

Well, I best sign off now as the Bank is closing very soon. Thanks to everyone for sending your email updates. I’m slowly making my way through them and will reply very soon so watch this space. Pics are always welcome and always free for skype so just let me know.

Peace and love.

Kennton xx

[1] For further details, please enquire directly to kennalwaysworries@gmail.com

[2] Namely 1) Estimating a long-run money demand equation for the US: an exercise involving unit roots and cointegration and; 2) Handbook – No. 27 Liquidity Forecasting