Varmari/Papua New Guinea

 

When I was a child,

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my dad was my hero. He had been a chemist working for Panguna mine before he lost his job for the Bougainville Crisis*. After he had lost his job, he stayed at home and we spent a lot of time together.

It was a cloudy Saturday morning. I sang an Easter song in front of my dad. We were both very happy. I was proud of him, who was a choirmaster in the village and often composed his own songs. I’m still wondering why he could tell different sounds despite his impaired left ear. It seemed to me like a magic. He won many prizes, and I liked to see the trophies showcased at my regional church.

 

Bougainville Crisis*.... A conflict between Bougainville District and Papua New                                       Guinean government over the dominance of  the                                                 copper mine