'Tau Bada' (Big White Man)

'Tau Bada' (Big White Man)

Hi everyone, finally getting around to using the blogsite again. I'll be uploading some excerpts from a book I am writing about the most recent adventures I've been having in Australia/Papua New Guinea. Don't forget to check out the Earth and Spirit Facebook page as well because it contains lots of photos and videos. I'll include the introduction today, and would appreciate any feedback or ideas you have about the book. 

Thanks for the support!  John Quinlan

TAU BADA

Meanderings, Anecdotes, and Thoughts of a Change Agent

By

John E. Quinlan

John E. Quinlan, Jr. founded Growth Strategies Global L.L.C. (GSG), headquartered in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, in 1986. He serves as Managing Director. Mr. Quinlan has designed the firm to operate from a unique philosophy that balances his broad range of experiences in upper management with tested management consulting practices, underpinned by behavioral science knowledge.

Mr. Quinlan has provided integrated financial, operational and change management services to U.S. and international companies. He was a founding CEO of a publicly traded financial services company. The successes and failures he experienced during that period played a major role in creating the foundation and operating philosophy of GSG. He has been an advisor to for-profit, non-profit and municipal organizations and has extensive experience in executive coaching.

Mr. Quinlan holds a BA degree in Economics from Albion College, Albion, Michigan and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development (MSOD) from the American University, Washington, D.C.

In late 1999, Mr. Quinlan met Fiona Tanner while solo motorcycling across America. The serendipity of sharing one motorcycle ride through a remote mountain valley in Colorado, to living in a secluded village nestled in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea, is chronicled in a manuscript entitled “Tau Bada.” This globe-spanning adventure has provided unexpected insights and applications to John Quinlan’s personal life and his professional work.

The two lingua fracas of Papua New Guinea are Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu. Between these languages and assorted 700 dialects, Tok Pisin Bikman translated means “Big Man,” i.e. respect for a white man. In Hiri Motu the word for a leader who is a big man is “Taubada.” Living in Oro Province on the Managalas Plateau as John and Fiona do, both languages are subtly integrated. The primary dialect in Oro Province is Barai or Ese, and the name for big white man is “Tau Bada.” John Quinlan earned this title through both his position as a local business owner as well as his physical stature in comparison to the area population.

Over a period of seven years, John and his wife Fiona traversed rivers, valleys and mountains, entering innumerable villages. Frequently the farmers and children would shout out “Tau Bada” as the couple went about the business of building a coffee company.

The following excerpts are selected for your enjoyment. Please comment.

Warmest regards,

John E. Quinlan

Ese (Welcome) John!
Ese Tau Bada to Numba Village, July 2009
Managalas Plateau, Oro Province
Papua New Guinea