I don’t remember how the conversation about Bougainville started, but there I was talking to a colleague about its natural beauty and how uncorrupted the place was due to it separateness from the rest of the world. Bougainville is where I grew up and the place my family moved to when I was only 1 year old. I have very fond memories of the place and I can’t remember anything bad from the place. Even when the war started and we had to evacuate I didn’t feel scared. Perhaps that was due to my naivety as a kid, but I definitely think it was also associated with the environment in which I grew up. Like I said, all memories were pretty much positive.

I always enjoy talking about Bougainville (despite the negative connotations of the name in Australia [for the uninitiated look up Bogan in Aussie slang]), because my memories of the place were so perfect. I can always remember how sincere the locals were every morning when greeting us. Our workers were always happy and everyone just smiled. The beach was just down the road and we could always enjoy a majestic sunset, although at 4 years old I would hardly appreciate such beauties. On occassions we would visit Loloho, which to me will always be the most beautiful beach in the world. The water was crystal clear and you could swim with an abundance of sea creatures, although my dad would argue that that was a good thing since he stepped on a sea urchin and needed to go to the hospital. It was a simple life that I loved.

I never did understand why we had to leave; all I knew was that the BRA started this war. And as a kid I would just do as I was told. I still remember gunshots at night and the helicopters, although I don’t remember being scared or worried. It was only until recently when I talked to a friend who asked me about the documentary, Coconut revolution. I had never heard of the documentary and after some googling, I became very interested in watching it seeing how little I knew about Bougainville and the BRA war. I managed to find a copy and it was an eye opener. I understood the cause of the war and came to respect it. Deep down I think I was angry at the war because it made me leave my home, most of all my belongings and my dog. But after seeing and hearing about some of the unjust that was happening, I am happy something was done. Although war is never the perfect solution, I can see why it broke out. Years of betrayal and corporate irresponsibility from the large mining companies would brew the anger that would drive a war.

I do wish that I day I can visit Kieta and Arawa again. It would bring back so many fond memories. To this day, it is still the only paradise I know of.