20 March
 

Before I begin, just a quick update on the NetBall situation--we actually won our "semi-final" game last wednesday, and we are going to the tournament finals! Now before you start asking for autographs from members of our winning team rememeber, this is the B leagues, in Nhulunbuy, in a region with only 5000 people nearby. In any case 1, and if a miracle 2 games to go before that slice o' Australiana comes to an end. I have mixed feelings about this of course. On the one hand, physical activity is good. On the other, oh no! Physical exercise!

So you should know that it is really hot outside when this photo was taken, we're back at Gunyangara again, just hanging out and practicing yolngu matha (aboriginal language). Not alot of it mind you, because my head starts to hurt after a while, but some. The kids above are rehearsing a dance that they will be performing at ceremony on Sunday. This ceremony has been going on for weeks, and is for the same fellow who passed away mid-February, and for whom various locations have been closed. Amazing isn't it? This man died over a month ago, and they are still bidding farewell. There was a joke going around that one of the reasons why the Yolngu have such long funeral ceremonies is because by the time they are done with it, everyone is so over that person that they are just begging to forget about them. Enough already!

This bunggal is being performed to pre-recorded synth music, of a christian nature. Randy and I are looking on from the porch along with a couple French fellows and the visiting Ngapaki Marcus who accompanied us on my failed pandanus trip. Shana and Roberta have the best seats in the house though--is there anything more fun than an upturned wheelbarrow?