‘There’s no limit possible to the expansion of each one of us’. Charles M Schwab
Travel offers so much joy, so many wonderful adventures and, when times get tough, facing any fear or doubt offers the possibility of expansion. We are all so much more than we imagine.
Arriving in Vanuatu
A sticky afternoon, 24 February 2021: In searing heat, the sky grey and heavy, ten of us from the repatriation flight from Auckland, New Zealand are being transported through the streets of Vanuatu in a rickety old mini bus with a police escort, sirens wailing, bemused villagers along the way stopping and staring. I think ‘My God, what have I done?’ My heart is thumping, I feel nauseous, afraid. Arriving at Erakor Island, we’re facing two weeks in isolation, I have no idea how this will be.
To my surprise, the accommodation is a little bungalow, just steps from the water. I’m allowed to sit on the deck and look out on the blue lagoon, feel the breeze, watch the sunset. I feel my spirit rise. The perfect opportunity to stop, breathe, meditate, dream … if only I can relax.
Tsunami alert – pack your bags.
A few days later we’re awakened around 7 am by army officers knocking loudly on the door, there’s a tsunami alert. ‘Pack your passport and a change of clothes, it will all be over in a few hours’. Three days later, we return to Erakor. During these three days, there’s next to no communication from the authorities. We are awakened late at night by banging on the door – A Ministry of Health official wants a sample of blood and I don’t know why. I feel as if I’m holding it together by the skin of my teeth, afraid to feel in case I fall apart. In the end, the tears come and I pray ‘Please help, I just can’t do this’.
If you’re never challenged, you never learn what you’re capable of.
Two weeks in quarantine put us in a place where we had to let go of control and learn to simply be, letting things be. Experiencing a cyclone and a tsunami threat showed us not to take for granted who we are, we’re so much more, and taught us how little we need.
You never know what’s going to happen on an adventure. If ever you have a fear or doubt, it’s good to acknowledge it, know there’s a reason for what’s happening even if you don’t understand it yet. With that mindset, you can ask yourself how you can work through it, take one step, then another and just do your best.
Vanuatu became my home and despite many ‘disasters’, periods of unrelenting humidity and lack of supplies, the colours of Havannah Harbour, the warmth and friendliness of the people, the dazzling beauty of the human spirit, brought so much joy.