An Interview with Councel Noami Sasagombi on her admission to practise law as a lawyer.

 

 A childhood dream that lives on.

We interviewed Naomi Sasagombi following her admission to practice law as a lawyer on April 12, 2024. Naomi, her family, and her friends will undoubtedly cherish her achievement at that date. 

Noami Stories is a captivating tale of resilience, determination, and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. It's an inspiring narrative that will leave you feeling motivated and uplifted, as you witness the struggles and hardships that the characters face and the unwavering perseverance they display in the face of even the toughest challenges. Get ready to be swept away by this unforgettable story!

Her stories are a source of inspiration for many. The tales she shares can ignite the fire of creativity and motivation within all who read them.

Happy reading!

1. Tell us about yourself (What you like, don’t like, etc

Name: Naomi Sasagombi

Date of birth: March 15th

Province: East Sepik, Papua New Guinea.

Village: Porombe and Urigembe, Yangoru/Sausia

Tribe: Helindogum

Degrees: 1. Law Degree  2.English Literature Degree.

Sibling: 3^rd Born

Religion: Christian Rival Crusade CRC.

Father: Retire Water Board Technician

Mother: Pastor CRC Church.

Dislikes: I never give up because losing is not an option for me.

2. Tell about the happiest moments in your study.

The happiest moment of my life was when both of my parents saw me being admitted as a lawyer, especially my dad witnessing it in the courtroom. It meant everything to me and gave me the confidence to face life's challenges.

3. Tell us about the saddest or toughest moment in your study.

Let me start with my degrees. I have two degrees - a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and English Communications and Journalism, and a Bachelor of Law, both from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).

I was fortunate enough to receive my first degree with a lot of financial support from my dad who gave me fortnightly allowances while I was on a government scholarship. I resided on the campus for four years, and it was an easy ride all through.

During my second degree in Law, I faced financial difficulties in my final year as my father had retired. There were days when I had to call home and ask for money to cover the cost of food, printing, bus fare, and other expenses. Sometimes, they weren't able to send enough money for everything, but I learned to manage.

 There were days when I went to school without food, and sometimes I walked back home from school because I had no bus fare. However, I lived at Rainbow AOG Jubilee, so I could easily walk to and fro school.

During difficult times, I refrained from telling my friends about my struggles or asking for their help. Seeking assistance was not something that came naturally to me. At times, I resorted to writing my assignments using a pen and submitting them as such due to my inability to afford printing. Despite these challenges, I never allowed them to hinder my progress.

My sole focus was on obtaining my law degree, as it had been my dream since the fourth grade. I envisioned the end result from the beginning and knew that any obstacles I faced along the way were insignificant in comparison to what I would achieve if I persevered.

Looking back, the time I spent becoming a lawyer was the most challenging of my life. At the time, I was too focused on my dream to realize it.

4. What motivated you to pursue law and to become a lawyer?

When I was in 4th grade, I developed an interest in becoming a lawyer because of my love for reading. I was an avid reader and my proficiency in English was good. My dream of becoming a lawyer has remained unchanged since then. However, it was my father's experience that strengthened my passion for law. I made a vow to become a lawyer and stand up for the voiceless and innocent individuals in society. I aim to be their advocate and voice. This dream has stayed with me and I cannot let it go regardless of where life takes me.

5. Who has been the biggest influence in your life? What lessons did that person or people teach you?

During my educational journey, my father has been the most influential person in my life. In our household, all we ever talked about was education and religion. My dad started instilling the value of education in us at a very young age. He would often share stories about successful people and how education can change one's life. My father himself is a university-educated person who was accepted to study Geology but left in his second year and never returned. Despite this, he always motivated us to complete our education and reach our goals.

6. If you were to go back in time, what would you say to your younger self?

I wouldn’t say anything. I love how my life was and is now. I grew up privileged in a middle-income family and had everything I needed to succeed.

7. What is your biggest regret?

"I have no regrets in my life. I love everything about it because every experience on my journey has shaped me into the woman I am today. I am grateful for life and all its facets. To me, life is beautiful."

8. Can you tell us about some kindness people have shown to you in your toughest times that make a big impact in your life?

Certainly. Besides my biological family, I have a few close friends who have become like family to me. They love and support me unconditionally, and they understand me just as well as my actual family members do. We often share snacks such as Snax biscuits, Bu drinks, and K2s. During my school days, they even let me stay at their places, and sometimes they helped me with my rent and bus fare. Their generosity and kindness make me believe in the goodness of humanity.

9. What is the most important lesson you learned in life?

The most important lesson I learned in life is to trust in God and to be kind. It comes back in unexpected ways.

10. What would you say to others who look up to you?

a. Put God first in Your life.

b. Develop a strong mind and you will win in life.

c. Be disciplined and apply self-discipline in every area of your life and you will win

d. Having a clear vision for your life is like having a map or strategy that guides you towards your goals.

e. To all the young girls out there, I want to convey a message that in this modern age, females must be financially independent and literate. These skills will help you sustain yourself in the tough world out there. So, make sure you have a life of your own before getting married.

f. Stay committed and focused on your dreams. Be determined to reach the finish line, no matter what obstacles come your way. Avoid comparing yourself and your achievements with others. Self-motivation is crucial. Learn from your strengths and weaknesses, and believe in yourself and your abilities. Be honest with yourself and your studies, and always maintain a positive attitude, regardless of the outcome. Remember, nothing is impossible, and this world has no place for those who give up.

By Joshua Sasahombi

(The Author)

Challengens and struggles of living in Japan.

My Challenges and Struggles of Living in Japan as a Foreigner.

I’ve been reflecting on my life in Japan and wanted to share some of the challenges I’ve faced as a foreigner living here. In my previous article, I discussed the convenience of living in Japan, but this time, I want to focus on the struggles.

I arrived in Japan in 2019 on the Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental Science, with a focus on Remote Sensing Imagery and Earthquake Management. It was my first time traveling abroad, and I was filled with enthusiasm, positivity, and joy.

I didn’t take the time to consider what life in Japan would be like, how people would interact, how things function, and what would be required to live here as an exchange student, worker, or foreigner. In other words, I didn’t anticipate the struggles I would face.

I was so excited that I only informed my UNDP colleagues, family, and friends a few days before my departure. I packed just one bag and left for Japan.

Like many from Papua New Guinea, I tend to take things as they come and find my path along the way, even if it means facing challenges. Taking risks has always been my strength.

As of 2025, I have been living in Japan for five years, first as an exchange student and now as a working adult. Here are some of the struggles I’ve faced during my time here:

1. Language Barrier

The language barrier tops my list of struggles. Before coming to Japan, I assumed that many people would speak English. However, I was completely wrong. Around 90% of Japanese people do not speak English. This is an important fact to remember if you plan to come to Japan.

While you may see many signs and company names in English, don’t be fooled. English is often used for aesthetic purposes, and many people do not speak it. This makes it challenging to get directions, make appointments, or handle official matters without a translator or basic knowledge of Japanese.

Although English is taught in elementary schools, the majority of people still cannot speak it fluently. Therefore, I strongly recommend learning some basic Japanese before coming here. Without knowing the language, life can be quite difficult.

2. Making Native Friends

In my five years in Japan, I had  made only a Japanese friends. This may sound surprising compared to other countries where making friends is relatively easy. Almost all foreigners in Japan find it challenging to make Japanese friends.

Many Japanese people also find it difficult to make friends among their own ethnic group. Japan is known for its “hikikomori” individuals who live in complete isolation. It’s hard to believe such people exist, but it’s a reality here.

Friendship in Japan can be expensive. To spend time with friends, you often need to hang out at cafes, restaurants, or entertainment areas, which can be costly. In contrast, back home, friends could be family, neighbors, or school buddies, and you can hang out at local markets or at home without spending much. Everyone is satisfied and happy without trying to impress each other.

3. Shallow Conversations

Another struggle is having deep conversations on important subjects like research, medical consultations, and other significant topics. It is very difficult to have in-depth discussions in English with Japanese people at an elite level.

I experienced this issue with my professor. I was unable to have meaningful conversations with my supervisor regarding my research. It was incredibly frustrating. In my two years of master’s study, I had less than five conversations with him, each lasting less than five minutes and very shallow.

I also faced this issue during my knee surgery consultations. If you cannot speak Japanese fluently, every conversation with professionals will be shallow. This is one of the biggest struggles I face.

4. Public Transport Discrimination

Another challenge is the so-called “gaijin seat” on Japanese public transportation. Many foreigners in Japan have experienced this form of discrimination. If you are a foreigner on public transport, especially trains, you may notice that no Japanese person will sit next to you, even if the train is fully packed.

There are various theories about why this happens, such as body odor or size differences, but these are just assumptions. For me, it seems to be due to a lack of understanding and a discriminatory attitude.

It is important to note that many Japanese people are kind and respectful.

5. Learning the Japanese Language

Finally, learning the Japanese language is a significant challenge. According to a study by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) from the U.S. Department of State, Japanese is considered a super-difficult language. Learning Japanese is especially challenging if you are not from an Asian region with similar language structures.

There are a few aspects that make learning Japanese difficult:

1. Sentence structure.

The sentence structure is the complete opposite of English. In English, the action part of the sentence comes in the middle, but in Japanese, it comes at the end. This requires a lot of time to understand the sentence’s meaning.

2. Complicated sets of writing systems.
You need to learn Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. These are three separate sets of characters. As a beginner, you may be taught Hiragana and Katakana, but in reality, most official documents and signs are written in Kanji.

3. Sound and pronunciation.

Pronunciation is crucial. Unlike English, where words can sound similar but have different spellings, Japanese pronunciation must be precise.

4. Memorization.
Learning the Japanese language often involves a lot of memorization, including repetition and pronunciation practice. While this method helps in memorizing sentences, it can be challenging for new learners to understand how to use these sentences in real-life situations.

 5. Ambiguity.

The Japanese language can be quite ambiguous. A single word or sentence can have multiple meanings, making it difficult to understand and contextualize in everyday conversations.

6. Work and Business.

I'm currently encountering significant challenges as a foreigner living in Japan due to the country's strict visa and immigration policies. Japan is known for having some of the strictest visa processes among developed nations. While finding a job in Japan is somewhat difficult, the real challenge is securing a job that aligns with my experience and field of study. Although my current job is great, the pay is inadequate. Even workers in the service industry earn more than I do. My salary covers my basic living expenses, but it hinders my ability to pursue my long-term goals and plans. Additionally, finding a job in Japan after graduation is particularly challenging for foreigners, and the process is quite complicated.

One of the biggest challenges I faced here was due to the strict visa rules. I can't engage in any business activities or anything other than what my visa specifically allows. Japan is a country with numerous business opportunities, but it is very difficult to start a business due to the extremely strict visa regulations. To have the right to start a business in Japan, one has to live in Japan for 10 years and work for 5 years, which is quite challenging. Even more challenging is the requirement to live in the country continuously for 10 years. It's mind-blowing!

---

By Joshua

The Author

My top 3 favourite Pickups Trucks Review

Three of my favourits   pickup trucks 

Many of you have seen or have driven at least one of these famously known pickup tricks from the Toyota Hilux to the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara.

These cars have revolutionized our lives, facilitated the transportation of goods, and navigated us through the most challenging terrains.

They are more than just vehicles; they are a part of our culture, influencing our social status, fostering connections, and bringing people together.

Let's explore these incredible machines that any person would love to own.

1. Ford Ranger

The top spot for best pickup trucks goes to the Ford Ranger, which has been the best-selling car of 2023. It is a mid-size pickup available in two types: the Ford Ranger Turbodiesel V6 and the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with turbocharge as standard.

But even better, there is an additional option available: the more powerful twin-turbo gas-fired V-6 engine.

Let's take a closer look at the Ford Ranger 4 Cylinder, which is commonly found in many countries.

The 4-cylinder Ford Ranger is available in the compact form of the Ford Ranger Wildtrack. It has a power output of 154kW and a torque of 500Nm. The transmission is a 10-speed automatic with a 4x4 part-time system, allowing for high-performance traction that can be turned on and off in off-road situations.

Engine, transmission, and Performance.

The entry-level Ranger comes with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 270 horsepower.

The twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 engine is available on higher trims and produces 315 horsepower.

Both transmissions are 10-speed automatics and are compatible with rear-wheel or four-wheel drive configurations.

Speed.

The four-cylinder engine is estimated to reach a speed of 0-60 MPH in 6.5 seconds.

Towing and Payload Capacity

The Ford Ranger can tow up to 3,401 kg, but with the four-wheel drive system, its payload decreases to a maximum of 770 kg.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Ford Ranger four-cylinder consumes 80L mpd within city limits and 95L mpg on highways with rear-wheel drive but drops by 1 mpg for a four-wheel drive.

For the V6 it is estimated to consume a fuel of 21L mpg city and 95L mpg highway.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features.

The rangers come with a basic driver assistance feature but are more significant in high-ranges 

These are some specific safety features for Rangers 

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
• Available adaptive cruise control

Global sales statics

In 2023, Ford sold around 1 million units of its cars globally; this year, it has sold 86,000 units. 

2. Toyota Hilux.

This car is one of my personal favorites. I have driven it. It's extremely durable, tough, and can last for decades. The people of Papua New Guinea adore this car.

My father owned two of these cars. The first one is the 3rd generation Toyota Hilux 1978-1983 model. Very tough, reliable, and a car you can truly trust.

The second one is the 5th Genenral Toyota Hilux 1988-1997 model. A Toyota Hilux Ute two-wheel drive pickup. It is a very strong and powerful car.

Hilux comes in two types. The 2.4-litter engine and the 2.8L engine. Both are a four-cylinder engine with slightly different torque and horse of power.

The 2.4L engine produces a torque of 500Mn a house power of 148/ bhp and the engine rpm of 1600-2000. The 2.8 L is slightly up.

Speed.

The Hilux can accelerate from 0-62mph takes 13.2 seconds with the manual gearbox and 12.7 seconds with the automatic. This is the speed of the entry-level Hilux 2.4 L engine.

The 2.8L engine Hilux can accelerate from 0-62mph in 10.13 seconds.

Engine, transmission, and Performance.

The Hilux is available in two models

2.4 L entry level with 6-speed MT

2.8L Turbo Diese. with 6-speed has around 3 variants.

Let's look at the engine specification for the 2.8L model

It has a power of 112kW and a 171hp much less the Navara. However, Rev at its max power gives out a whooping 4,800rpm higher than Navara.

The model has a torque of 403 Nm or Newton Metres; at Max torque, it gives out a 2000rpm or revolution per minute.

The standard 2.4L model produced power at a maximum  output of 149 BHP @ 3,400 RPM and a maximum torque  of 400 Nm @ 1,600–2,000 RPM,

It is equipment with power steering and a turning radius of 6.4m.

Towing and Payload Capacity.

Both Hilux 2.4L and 2.8 L engines have the same towing of 3500kg and a payload capacity of 1000kg.

When it comes to driving on highways, windy and off-road conditions with loads. The 2.8 L has the upper hand to negotiate well in these conditions with a smooth feel and drive.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Hilux 2.4 liter engine consumes fuel of 31.7mpg and produces a CO@ emission of 223-269g/km.

On the other hand, the 2.8L consumes fuel of 33 mpg and produces a CO2 emission of 223g/km of CO2

The fuel economy of this car also depends on the body style and each model's specifications.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features.

The Latest Hilux model gets seven airbags, vehicle stability control (VSC), brake assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.

Hilux also gets Sense driver assistance features as part of a range-wide

pre-collision safety system with day and night pedestrian detection and day cyclist detection (PCS), high-speed active cruise control (ACC), lane departure alert (LDA) with steering assistance, and road sign assist (RSA).

3. Nissan Navara

Coming in third place is the powerful Nissan Navara, which has been around for a long time. Many of us have seen the Navara running around with its powerful engine.

Nissan Navara is manufactured for light work in construction and so on. The 4x4 is built to conquer all terrain conditions and is best equipped for off-road.

Every Navara is powered by a 2.3 dCi diesel. The Visia and Acenta tricks have a 163 PS or 16q bhp for a single turbo,

While N-Connecta, Tekna, and N-Guard versions (as well as the special edition variants) use a 190PS (187bhp) twin-turbo diesel,

They come with a six-speed manual gearbox as a standard. However, the more powerful diesel engine is available with six-speed auto transmission.

Let's look at Nissan's specifications compared to other pickups on the market.

Speed

The Navara can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 11.4.11.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 170km/h

Towing and payload capacity.

The payload capacity of Navara double cap, meaning the weight it can carry is up to 1,086kg while the single cap can carry a log of up to 1144kg.

Navara can tow or pull loads of up to 3500kg. This feature is similar to Hilux and Rangers.

Engine, transmission, and Performance.

There are various variants of Navara but let's look at the 2.4dCI 4x4. There is not much difference among each Navara variant, they only differ in single figures.

The Navara 2.5dCi 4x4 has a power of 126kW and a 171 hp. The engine at max power rotates at a whooping 4000rpm.

The torque on the engine gets 403Nm and with a Max torque at 2000rpm

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

All Navara fuel consumption remains the same, even if you choose the single to dualbel nac or the dCi 163 or dCi 190 engines. 

They all consume a fuel economy of 40.4mpg and 184g/km of CO2 for the manual gearbox version of both while adding the 7-speed auto to the dCi 190 engine sees these figures blunted at 38.2mpg and 194g/km. 

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features.

The current models are fitted with these basic safety features.

Feature	Value
Anti-Lock Braking System	Yes
Brake Assist	Yes
Ebd	Yes
Crash Sensor	Yes
Driver Airbag	Yes
Passenger Airbag	Yes
Curtain Airbags	Yes
Side Airbag-Front	Yes
Knee Airbags	No
Seat Belt Warning	Yes
Rear Seat Belts	Yes
Child Safety Locks	Yes
ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts	Yes
Day & Night Rear View Mirror	Auto Dimming
Parking Sensors	Yes
Front Parking Sensors	No
Rear Parking Sensors	Yes
Park Assist	No
Hill-Start Assist Control	Yes
Downhill Assist Control	Yes
Front Impact Beams	Yes
Side Impact Beams	Yes
Engine Check Warning	Yes
Blind Spot monitor	Yes
Lane Departure Warning System	Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Yes
Advance Safety Feature	Driver Attension Alert, Forward Collision Warning

By Joshua 

The Author.

Reference Links ;

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/ranger

https://www.caranddriver.com/ford/ranger

https://www.carwow.co.uk/nissan/navara

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-reviews/2024-nissan-navara-review

https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/toyota-hilux-safety-upgraded-119164/