What it is like living up there?

4POSTS

12 years ago

Hi. I am Mimi based in Sydney, an aussie but a filipino origin. My partner got a job offered to work in PNG as project manager in a building industry. Please can anyone tell me what it is like living up there? Is the weather condition same with the Philippines'? Coz I'm alright with it. And my main question is... Is there any Filipino Shop across the PNG coz I love cooking Filipino food and I want to shop a lot when I crave on these.. Cheers!

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samanthamjb New member

4POSTS

12 years ago

Oh no... That's gonna be the downfall

saddd...
What sorts of crime occurs up there? Do these people kill?

stumpy Laos Expert

18031POSTS

12 years ago

samanthamjb wrote:
Oh no... That's gonna be the downfall saddd...
What sorts of crime occurs up there? Do these people kill?

Yes they do kill. There are robberies, murders, rapes etc. They have what is called a payback system which means if I kill someone from your family, they will kill someone from my family. You also need to have a driver to take you around as it is not too safe for a newcomer to drive around. If you knock down someone and stop then you may well be beaten up for your troubles. Accommodation needs to have security guards.

If you are going to PNG then you should join a club of some kind there.

I suggest you look on the PNG forum and make contact with the pinoys that are working there.

samanthamjb New member

4POSTS

12 years ago

Sounds scarrrryyy.. Thank you Mr Stumpy for the informative intel, I think I have to think about it now,

stumpy Laos Expert

18031POSTS

12 years ago

samanthamjb wrote:
Sounds scarrrryyy.. Thank you Mr Stumpy for the informative intel, I think I have to think about it now,

It can be scary and it can be exciting as well. You just need to have the facts pointed out to you and then you can make an informed choice. Why not ask your partner to find out if other employees there have their wives and family there and you can contact them.
You will need someone to show you around the place until you get settled. I have worked on 7 different projects in PNG including 2 years in Port Moresby.
As I said previously, boredom can set in after you have been there for a while. There are social clubs in Moresby.

1 member reacted to this post

samanthamjb New member

4POSTS

12 years ago

We are offered to stay at Airways hotel (i think that's the accommodation name) under of Lamana. Has anyone heard of these?

Priscilla ViP

42358POSTS

12 years ago

Hi samanthamjb,

I created a new thread with your post on the Papua New Guinea forum in order to give it more visibility.

Thanks,

Priscilla

stumpy Laos Expert

18031POSTS

12 years ago

The airways hotel is next to the airport and is a very nice place but it is some distance from city centre. It has swimming pool etc. Google it to find out more about it.

Vintage Kiwi New member

6POSTS

12 years ago

#10

Mimi,
There is a Filipino supermarket with a restaurant above it. I haven't been there yet, I am waiting for my wife to arrive from Phils. There is also a very strong Philippine Association here that hold functions and events regularly. Many other great restaurants as well.

Facebook link for Filipino Association
facebook.com/fapng?ref=stream

Lady Anne New member

5POSTS

12 years ago

#11

Hi Mimi,
I am also a Filipina and currently in Pom, been working here for almost three years. I work for the MD of Airways. I have stayed there for more than two years but recently moved to town as it is closer to my office. Let me know once you are here so I can drive you around and introduce to some other Filipinos. Cheers.

1 member reacted to this post

Meri Wau New member

6POSTS

12 years ago

#12

There is a large and vibrant Filipino community in both Port Moresby and Lae . Do not be frightened by stories shared by other expats as these are often exaggerated. It certainly is a dangerous place, compared to life in Australia but if you have lived in the Phillipines you are probably street-wise enough to take care of your self. The PNG experience can be wonderful and quite personally I wouldn't trade the life and the experiences I have had in PNG for a life in suburbia, ever.
I am sure you will be very happy in Port Moresby and will take many positive experiences away with you when you leave .I also hope you get the chance to befriend at least one PNG person, preferably many of them, as the lesson that is learnt here is that rich or poor, black or white, Catholic or Protestant we are actually all the same and it takes all kinds of people to make a vibrant community.

Harriet13 New member

7POSTS

12 years ago

#13

Lovely to hear something positive about living and working in PNG! My husband and I will be moving to POM from Cairns within the next month and I am really looking forward to it. Realise it is not for everybody, but I am so hoping to meet and get to know not only other expats but also some of the locals. So if you have any tips and/or advise, please let me know.

Meri Wau New member

6POSTS

12 years ago

#14

You can cocoon yourself and become afraid of your own shadow or you can make friends with many people from all walks of life and love your PNG experience. The choice is yours and I guess it depends upon the kind of person you are .I do realise that things are not the same in PNG any more but if you are prepared to evolve with the changing times and re-invent yourself as necessary, you can be like me and many of my friends who love PNG and particularly in Port Moresby(although certainly not where we live as we are almost the only expat family in our small town) ,you can have a wonderful social life.PNG people are extremely friendly and as long as you are careful you can make many wonderful friends.

Michael Rangan Member

11POSTS

12 years ago

#15

Hi Samantha,
Troubles happen in every place in the world so dont be scared. PNG have over 800 different cultures and languages therefore there is great variations of people attitudes and habits. Alot of Pilipinos are in the country, some were born here and are business people now. Tropicana Limited is owned by Sandra Lau-A pilipino well respected woman and her shops are all over the country. You will feel at home when you attend a Catholic Church because most Pilipinos are Catholics.

Come to Papua New Guinea and you will forget that scary thought.

Welcome.