Visiting Kiribati

Hi Eveyone
I will be visiting Kiribati in June as a volunteer nurse for three months and would like to know more about Tarawa and what to expect with regards to culture and beliefs of the locals; so that I am informed. Anyone with any information to share would be most appreciated.

Have you read "The Sex Life of Cannibals" by J. Maarten Troost. Besides being amusing, he goes into some of the history and cultural mores of the nation, especially Tarawa.

Mary wrote:

Have you read "The Sex Life of Cannibals" by J. Maarten Troost. Besides being amusing, he goes into some of the history and cultural mores of the nation, especially Tarawa.

Thanks Mary, I will try and find this book

The Sex life of Cannibals by J.Maarten Troost, claimed to be a reasonable reference to give an account about Kiribati and other pacific islands is nothing but a myth of the author's romantising his starange adventurous experience in the pacific. Most bizzar is the title does not match the contents at all. It is only a catchy phrase to comb $$ but nothing much worthy than other references written by the islanders.
Nothing scarely about to work in Kiribati. Your experience and diary or note book will teach you a lot. You better learn the moment you step on the soil till the time you left. People can tell you something which can be truely the opposite to what you will be expecting. Of course, Kiribati is a developing country, poor (materialistically but not in happiness, as the people are cheerful despite the many difficulties of life) and has a hot and humid climate. From those simple facts you can start to analyse the kind of situation you will face.
Cheers.

Thanks for info. I'm in contact with some locals which is helpful; though I believe there are lots of health problems due to poverty, some nutrition related. Highest morbidity and mortality rate for mothers and babies in the Pacific.

hey Wendy,

Join us at the kiribati social online network. You can contact any Ikiribati person any question you would like to ask and they will provide you the answer.

Here is the site address.

http://www.kiribationlinecommunity.com

Thanks Joel I will try this.
I am currently in Kiribati so much easier to find information now
Thanks again

The Sex life of Cannibals by J.Maarten Troost is a good book but perhaps not the best tour guide for first-timers in Kiribati... in fact, the book is outdated as many things have happened rapidly within the last decade.

I'd recommend you do some browsing at www.kiribatitourism.gov.ki or drop me a line any time.

Wendy wrote:

Hi Eveyone
I will be visiting Kiribati in June as a volunteer nurse for three months and would like to know more about Tarawa and what to expect with regards to culture and beliefs of the locals; so that I am informed. Anyone with any information to share would be most appreciated.

I visited Kiribati in the summer of l999. The islands are beautiful and the people friendly and appeared to have a wonderful sense of humuor. I hope you enjoy your time as a volunteer nurse