Sista blong Joceline - Black Sand, Efate

Joceline's sister, whose name no one has thought to tell me, and which I cannot ask for (without signalling marital interest), actually lives with an uncle in Simbollo, a neighbourhood about 3 kilometres from Freswota. She and Edwina, the youngest, are inseparable, however, and she's more often to be found in Freswota than at 'home' in Simbollo.

The practice of farming out family among cousins is quite common throughout Vanuatu. It sometimes has the effect of making women more vulnerable than usual to abuse of various kinds. I suspect, based on past events, that this is what brings this young woman to Freswota so frequently.

September 2005

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