Yumi bung wantaim

Posted on 29 April, 201923 April, 2019 by cassmob

This series of blog posts is part of the A to Z 2019 Blogging Challenge in which I will write snapshot memories of my early married life in the then Territory of Papua New Guinea.

The start of our life together in Papua New Guinea brought many adventures and experiences, and challenges.

Mitupela: At our reception as we start our new life wantaim.

Peters 21st Tower Mill 1970 — The newly weds soon after our honeymoon. Dinner at the Tower Mill with his family and mine. Sadly, half of this group have already left us.

Norman and Joan Kunkel with Louisa and Nan and Olive Cass Currumbin prob 1972

Peter Louisa and Lee at Goroka airport 1972

Philip Pauleen and Louisa Brisbane airport Nov 1971

Tripela Time with the family. Above left: Great-grandmother Cass, Great aunt Olive Cass, maternal Grandma and spoiled baby. Lower left: Happy to be with dad and Aunty Lee. Right: Sending Uncle Philip home for Christmas.

Poppy Norman Kunkel with Louisa and Rach 1973

Tripela: My dad with the grandchildren. Tupela: I always loved this photo.

Fopela: Cass grandparents and the grandchildren. The dog was a visitor.

Fopela: In Brisbane with their maternal grandparents at a cousin’s christening.

This photo was taken not long before we left Papua New Guinea permanently. Before the year was out we would be faipela.

Tok Pisin:

Yumi bung wantaim – we come together

mitupela – the two of us

wantaim – together

tupela – two people

tripela – three people

fopela – four people

faipela – five people

4 thoughts on “Yumi bung wantaim”

lindamaycurry says:

29 April, 2019 at 1:45 pm

It’s sad looking back at weddings and family photos to think of those who have gone forever. Still the happy memories are there for as long as we are here. Maybe even longer if we leave a written or photographic record.

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1. cassmob says:
  
  29 April, 2019 at 9:47 pm
  
  Yes Linda, it brings mixed feelings but those who have left us are in those memories. I guess it’s also why we write our blogs, in part at least.
  
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Anne Young says:

30 April, 2019 at 3:10 pm

I like the phrase and it is funny how making the effort of taking a photo recording that we came together becomes the reminder of happy memories later. Sometimes it seems an effort to pause meeting and photograph the moment but great to have those moments captured 30 to 40 years later to help our memories.

Regards
Anne
Fellow A to Zedder
https://ayfamilyhistory.com/2019/04/29/y-is-for-yorks-and-lancs/

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1. cassmob says:
  
  30 April, 2019 at 11:16 pm
  
  Very true Anne…I’m so grateful that I was/am such a shutter bug once we had a camera in the household.
  
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