Work and Travel

Vas is in Kalumburu this morning. 

It’s another aboriginal community where he does ‘home visits’ regarding domestic violence.  He also makes trips to Wyndum and Turkey Creek. 

I am not sure that it works all that well, but it is what the government dictates.  You have to have counseling if you are violent towards your family, at least if you are going to get your welfare money.  The system tries, I guess. 

“So what do you say to them Vassi?” I ask. 

I mean, how do you council people that are forced into ‘good’ behaviour, rather than actually believing they have done anything ‘bad’? A lot of the domestic violence is cultural… and is not seen as deviant behavior at all.  To many people it is normalized, through time and modeling by community leaders.  

“Don’t beat your wife and kids?”  He doesn’t appreciate the question.  I can understand why.  I mean, what can he say?  Why would they listen to him and not follow the lead of respected peers?

Glad it’s not my job. 

And not just because of what he does, but also because of where he does it. 

Kalumbaru is located in the far north Kimberely.  To get there, Vas was off in a little four-seater aircraft early this morning.  Getting there was probably fine, although I didn’t speak with him.  He is out of phone range…but the return flight, in the heat of the day when the thermals are their most powerful, will be hot and bumpy. 

It is in the 30’s here in the Kimberleys, with the relative humidity around 85%.. not the best weather to do much at all. I feel sorry for anyone that is working outdoors.  In the evening there are the bugs.. the rains have come which has brought them out: in hords. 

Kalumuru is another 'dry' community, run by the Kalumburu Aboriginal Corp; the people themselves.  It is considered a ‘modern’ little place.  I wonder who sets the standards of ‘modern’.  Hey, I guess if they think it works.  Vas doesn’t say much. 

He drives to Wyndum and Turkey Creek.  Sometimes he spends the night, while other times he may make the trip twice in a week. He is never really 'upbeat' when he gets back.  Mostly he just wants a beer. 

Yes.. he travels way too much for me. 

When we lived in Cairns it was me doing the travelling.  I would get on a commercial jet on Monday afternoons: fly a couple of hours to Normanton in Queensland and then onto Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpenteria, and then return again on Friday.

I flew over it again this past Monday, as I headed from Brisbane to Darwin.

There are a couple of time zones between Cairns and Mornington.  It didn’t bring back good memories. 

The Island was a ‘dry’ community too.  Someone should have told the locals. 

They weren’t too excited about learning either.  Training was another imposition from the powers that be.  The women would rather have been playing cards (who wouldn’t eh mom?) and the men, I am not sure what they were interested in, but it wasn’t spending time with me in a dingy training room. 

I just spent a lot of time wondering what I was doing there.. and flying back and forth seemed like a waste of time. 

Besides… I think flying is hard on a person.  As wonderful as the places you go can be, it really isn’t a natural state…

You can’t open a window.  The level of oxygen in a commercial jet is far lower than the air outside.  They pump a little extra to help the pilots.. which is a good thing, I guess.  But if they need it, what about the rest of us? 

And the radiation?  Well.. people who fly a lot are exposed to a lot more radiation than the average fellow on the ground.  There was a study in Finland that said that flight attendants are much more likely to suffer from breast and bone cancer. 

And some planes spray pesticides while you are actually in the plane.  Not all the airlines do this, but a number of them.  They tell us it is fine.. no problem.  Ya.. right.. for the admin staff on the ground maybe. 

The air pressure is always a problem for me.  I have to constantly clear my ears.. yawning, plugging my nose.  Pressure changes can cause permanent problems with your ears.

Flying increases the risk of heart attacks, and blood clots. 

But I think it also does something to your brain.  I mean why else does jet lag contribute to memory loss and anxiety? Why did I really really need that beer on Friday afternoons? 

I didn't give notice when I left my job... I just couldn't go back one day.  

Mary and Vas in Havana, Cuba

I love to fly, but there is a downside to travel.

Let's just say that flying to Cuba was well worth the risks. 

But Kolumburu?