Visitor MO0301 
| Visitor |
| Sex? |
male |
| Profession/occupation? |
electrician, fourth-year apprentice |
| Home country? |
Switzerland |
| What made you want to go to
Solomon Islands? |
an offer by my employer |
| Arriving in Solomon
Islands |
| When did you arrive in Solomon
Islands? |
May 2003 |
| Did you encounter any
bureaucratic difficulties? |
no |
| What was your first impression
after arrival? |
very hot, scattered litter, friendly people |
| Living in Solomon
Islands |
| What did positively surprise
you? |
people are very friendly, communicative, and not
stressed |
| What did negatively surprise
you? |
working together with some local craftsmen needed a lot
of patience |
| What took longest to get used
to? |
initial operation of the rainwater pump took place at the
last possible moment |
| What did you miss most in
Solomon Islands? |
the mountains |
| What should you have brought
along? |
[-] |
| What did you do to prevent
malaria? |
take a Doxycyclin pill every day |
| Place and province where you
spent most of your time? |
Gizo, Western Province |
| Where did you stay? |
Travellers Motel in Honiara, Gelvinas Motel in Gizo |
| How long did you stay at each
location? |
1 week in Honiara, 2 weeks in Gizo |
| How much did you pay for
each? |
SBD 150 |
| Where did you usually eat? |
at a restaurant or at home |
| What did you typically pay for
a normal meal? |
SBD 50 |
| What local food/beverage did
you like most? |
fresh fruits and fish |
| What local food/beverage did
you like least? |
there was always something I liked |
| Working in Solomon
Islands |
| How did you usually go to
work? |
walk |
| Where did you work? |
NRH and Gizo Hospital |
| What was your occupation? |
installation of a rainwater pump and electrical
installations in a building |
| What were your working days and
hours? |
Mon to Fri (occasionally Sat), 8am to 4pm, with lunch
break |
| What was particularly difficult
in regard to your work? |
depending on plumbers in Honiara; electrical
installations without conduits and wall boxes |
| Did you feel accepted by the
locals? |
yes |
| What did you usually do in your
spare time after work? |
drink beer, cook, do the laundry, sleep |
| Leaving Solomon Islands and
looking back |
| When did you leave Solomon
Islands? |
May 2003 |
| How long was your stay? |
3 weeks |
| How do you judge the length of
your stay? |
just about right |
| What did you learn from the
locals? |
a little Pijin, everyday life is possible with less
stress |
| Your advice to prospective
visitors? |
enjoy a few weeks without stress and few obligations and
the beautiful landscape with islands and the sea |
| What did you miss most when
back at home again? |
nothing, I have memorized all those beautiful
impressions |
| What did you enjoy most when
back at home again? |
meet my family and mates, take up orienteering again |
| Would you go back for another
stay? |
maybe |
| Estimated total cost of your
stay (including travel costs)? |
nothing for me, it was all financed by my employer, EW
Altdorf. Many thanks! |
| Additional comments? |
It was great to experience this country together with my
pal and at the same time do something useful. It was
intriguing to meet people who have no money, and yet - in my
opinion - are not poor. |
