I've had a busy few days acclimatising and settling into what we call 'The Vanuatu way'.
An example of this played out when I stopped into the University of South Pacific Emalus campus.
I had been in contact via email to meet with someone to discuss research methodology and find out more about ECC training provision.
When I turned up people were resting under trees, talking with each other in a relaxed fashion.
My brother (tutu) Sam asked to speak to someone but we were told it was lunchtime, so if we did want to meet with someone we would have to come back in a couple of hours. Yes you read that correctly - a couple of hours.
Lunchtime in Vanuatu means most people - at work and at school - will stop for two hours to rest, refresh and re-nourish themselves -generally from 11.30 to 1.30pm ready for the afternoon.
There is an unspoken expectation that you must not interrupt people's precious lunchtimes. It is a time to just be.
So as we headed back to the van, I couldn't help but reflect on what my own lunch breaks look like.
On any given day you will see me quickly throw my lunch on a plate (no such thing as the slow food movement in a 30 minute lunch break - yes I hear you tsk tsking me for not preparing my lunch the night before but ain't nobody got time for that) crossing my fingers the phone doesn't ring for me, or a tradesperson doesn't come in, or a parent doesn't need a conversation, or an urgent email doesn't need a response. If at least one of those events occur then say goodbye to that precious thirty minutes. I'm also the one at work who never takes the time to finish my hot beverage as I attend to the various responsibilities to be met.
I now reflect on whether or not this need to feel and look constantly busy is a hangover from our practicum days where we wouldn't dare be seen sitting, talking and just being. We needed to be doing - and lots of it - if we wanted to pass.
So back to my lunch break. Watching the clock while I eat probably isn't a strategy promoted in the latest mindfulness book I've just read, but this is the reality of a thirty minute lunch break - particularly as a Head Teacher.
Oh to have two hours in the middle of the day to rest, re-gather and refresh for the next half of the day as in the Vanuatu Way -remembering too that for many of we are still in caregiver mode when we get home.
So when we talk about wellbeing, these extended lunch breaks are an example of a daily practice here in Vanuatu that must surely contribute to overall happiness.
I use to love the one hour lunch breaks we enjoyed at FNC in Whangarei. They were absolute bliss. I could sit and enjoy lunch, go op shopping, read a chapter in a novel - it was a time to 'be' in the busy-ness of the day.
The Dalai Lama in his book "The Art of Happiness" says "when life becomes too complicated and we feel overwhelmed, it's useful to just stand back... to take an hour, an afternoon ... to simply reflect on what it is that will truely bring us happiness, and then reset our priorities on the basis of that".
I'm not in anyway suggesting we all go to our employers and demand two hour lunch breaks (although I have been cheekily considering the possibility of at least one) I am encouraged to use those thirty minutes in a more mindful fashion.
Setting clear boundaries at this time, spending some of this time connected to nature instead of wifi, and just closing my eyes to disconnect are just a few ideas that come to mind.
I would love to hear your thoughts - how can we create time and space throughout our busy day to relax, refresh and re-gather as is 'the Vanuatu way' so that we can be the best we can be? How do you achieve this in your thirty minutes? Come at me with your thoughts, comments, or critique
🌺
An example of this played out when I stopped into the University of South Pacific Emalus campus.
I had been in contact via email to meet with someone to discuss research methodology and find out more about ECC training provision.
When I turned up people were resting under trees, talking with each other in a relaxed fashion.
My brother (tutu) Sam asked to speak to someone but we were told it was lunchtime, so if we did want to meet with someone we would have to come back in a couple of hours. Yes you read that correctly - a couple of hours.
Lunchtime in Vanuatu means most people - at work and at school - will stop for two hours to rest, refresh and re-nourish themselves -generally from 11.30 to 1.30pm ready for the afternoon.
There is an unspoken expectation that you must not interrupt people's precious lunchtimes. It is a time to just be.
So as we headed back to the van, I couldn't help but reflect on what my own lunch breaks look like.
On any given day you will see me quickly throw my lunch on a plate (no such thing as the slow food movement in a 30 minute lunch break - yes I hear you tsk tsking me for not preparing my lunch the night before but ain't nobody got time for that) crossing my fingers the phone doesn't ring for me, or a tradesperson doesn't come in, or a parent doesn't need a conversation, or an urgent email doesn't need a response. If at least one of those events occur then say goodbye to that precious thirty minutes. I'm also the one at work who never takes the time to finish my hot beverage as I attend to the various responsibilities to be met.
I now reflect on whether or not this need to feel and look constantly busy is a hangover from our practicum days where we wouldn't dare be seen sitting, talking and just being. We needed to be doing - and lots of it - if we wanted to pass.
So back to my lunch break. Watching the clock while I eat probably isn't a strategy promoted in the latest mindfulness book I've just read, but this is the reality of a thirty minute lunch break - particularly as a Head Teacher.
Oh to have two hours in the middle of the day to rest, re-gather and refresh for the next half of the day as in the Vanuatu Way -remembering too that for many of we are still in caregiver mode when we get home.
So when we talk about wellbeing, these extended lunch breaks are an example of a daily practice here in Vanuatu that must surely contribute to overall happiness.
I use to love the one hour lunch breaks we enjoyed at FNC in Whangarei. They were absolute bliss. I could sit and enjoy lunch, go op shopping, read a chapter in a novel - it was a time to 'be' in the busy-ness of the day.
The Dalai Lama in his book "The Art of Happiness" says "when life becomes too complicated and we feel overwhelmed, it's useful to just stand back... to take an hour, an afternoon ... to simply reflect on what it is that will truely bring us happiness, and then reset our priorities on the basis of that".
I'm not in anyway suggesting we all go to our employers and demand two hour lunch breaks (although I have been cheekily considering the possibility of at least one) I am encouraged to use those thirty minutes in a more mindful fashion.
Setting clear boundaries at this time, spending some of this time connected to nature instead of wifi, and just closing my eyes to disconnect are just a few ideas that come to mind.
I would love to hear your thoughts - how can we create time and space throughout our busy day to relax, refresh and re-gather as is 'the Vanuatu way' so that we can be the best we can be? How do you achieve this in your thirty minutes? Come at me with your thoughts, comments, or critique
🌺
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