Chocolate Toads

Wow, I have not written in a really long time. I am so sorry. I have been quite busy! And no, the title has nothing to do with the post, except that, I wish all of the frogs in Fiji were chocolate, that would make me a happy camper!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Today I took all of my mats out of my house and removed all of the leaves underneath to replace them with dry leaves. A few small areas of my mats had begun to mold because they were sitting on top of wet soil and then wet leaves. The women in my village went to collect dead coconut leaves while I prepared the house for the new floor and sunned the mats. Now, I have a brand new floor, free of dust and very cushiony! Just lovely! Tomorrow morning I am headed to John and Leslie’s village to stay the night so that I can make it to our meeting on Sunday with the Peace Corps country director, her assistant, and our trainer from headquarters in Washington, D.C. A real meal from a hotel! Yes, and paid for by Peace Corps. I will take them up on that offer any day!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Well, we headed to Rakiraki first thing this morning to catch a ride with John and Judy (two ex-Patriots and previous Peace Corps volunteers) to their temporary house. They are currently renting a nice vacation home near my boat dock. So we helped the current Peace Corps volunteer, John, paint his newly built boat. We had amazing American food, including three pastas, tuna salad, and pancakes. Later in the day we took the boat out and went fishing at Nanu-i-ra Island. Of course, Lydia was the only one who caught anything worth eating, a white-spotted grouper. Since I am an impatient fisherwoman, I just kept getting my bait caught on the reef and gave up very quickly. Go figure. Anyways, we were treated like special guests and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

So, today we got up at the beach resort and headed to another beach resort, Voli Voli and had lunch with the country director and guests. The visit went well, I picked the wrong thing on the menu, and then I got to use the free internet! Wooo whooo! Soon I will be going there to talk to people on Skype… Friday nights in America for those of you that are interested in seeing my crazy self! Tonight I am back in John and Leslie’s village and we just finished eating Mexican food! Wow, I brought refried beans, corn, and cheese, then we all added in salsa, cilantro, yogurt, rice, and olives and made somewhat of a taco salad. Food, food, and more food talk. We get excited about not eating roro, dalo, tavioka, lolo, fish heads, and boiled dough.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Lydia and I were wanting a sundae, so in the pouring down rain she went to the store and bought cookies, then I went to the store and bought ice cream. We put the two together and enjoyed what we American’s call a sundae (their sundae is a mini tub of ice cream – no good). We decided to hire her Turaga-ni-koro to come and pick us up from the boat dock and take us back to her village. I had arranged with my Na to come and pick me up from Lydia’s village after she dropped the kids off at school. Well, guess what, she never took the kids to school. So, I am still in my village waiting until tomorrow for Nadau to drive by bringing coconuts to town. Au wawa (I wait). We made chili again, of which was too spicy, again. I ate all of her jam, go figure, I eat a lot of jelly in this country, a lot of sugar all around. Our plan was to catch our own dinner and then use their form of potato to make mashed potatoes. We waded out into the water in skirts with fishing line wrapped around a piece of wood, no luck… between our lack of fishing skills and our clam bait (which we collected ourselves) there were no fish in the ocean. Oh well. Spicy chili works too.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Boat never came. I drank some amazing cocoa and watched the sunrise, hoping Nadau’s boat would drive by. Nope, only the school boat, of which was going the wrong direction. Au wawa levu (I wait longer). I am determined to take a boat because I was promised two separate rides and neither of them have happened. I also brought my 35 pound backpack and my Chaco’s, which tear up my feet. Early this morning her village performed its weekly village clean-up. I helped by burning my neck in the sun picking up old clothes, glass, porcelain, and lots of batteries. Later in the afternoon, Lydia and I went snorkeling with a villager… Bubu Kesa! She has lived in Fiji all of her life and never snorkeled, much like Sisi, although, Bubu Kesa is more like 50 years old and has never seen the reef with her own eyes. She was so scared to put the mask on and swim into areas that she could not reach. We coaxed her into it and she enjoyed the little bits of coral she saw. Maybe next time we can show her the real beauty of our reefs! Right now Lydia is at a Community Meeting, discussing her village clean-up. I get to stay at her bure enjoying a good book and writing a blog. It is quite nice to not be responsible for sitting through a two hour bose (meeting).

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Boat never came. I was told that if we walked to the neighboring village then I could catch the boat with the preacher coming from my village. We decided to set off towards the church (45 minute walk). As we came up to the village I noticed there were no boats there from my village. Wow, I knew I was just going to have to walk at that point. Main problems, bad shoes, heavy pack, and the tide was coming back in. I set off immediately along the coast. About halfway home I began walking through knee deep water. By the time I reached home I was walking through waist deep water. I did not mind the tides as much as I minded my stupid Chaco’s that were slowly tearing up my feet. Of course, tonight I am mending my sores, basting them in Neosporin. This is why I avoid walking home. I am going to have to find a good pair of shoes for hiking long distances in mudflats, coastal waters, rocks, and forest. It is a beautiful walk though and I have the chance of stopping at various settlements to rest and visit. I love where I live!

Heaven Sent!

It is confirmed, the generous First Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) in Gainesville, Texas, USA has announced their commitment to helping out my village’s kindergarten! Led by the Minister and his wife, Rev. Mark and Sarah Loewen, the Outreach Committee along with the congregation are taking it upon themselves to gather supplies such as books, craft supplies, games, posters, writing utensils, etc. to donate. Thank you all for your generosity and loving hearts! The village is so thankful and excited to begin teaching their children with supplies from America! God bless you all!


Well, there were a few days of not a lot of action, but it has picked up again. I have caught up on my sleep and started The Lord of the Rings, Part One.

I received another package!! From Kate, my Bestie! Wooo wooo! She sent me dark chocolate Hershey kisses, a few kids’ toys, Swiss Miss, antibacterial hand soap, a foot scrubber, Starbursts!, UNO cards!, Kleenexes, and what am I missing? The Kleenexes came in handy immediately! While I was in town I went to a restaurant without toilet paper, oh, but I had my Bestie looking out for me!

Last Thursday after town I spent the night with Lydia in her village where we cooked chili and grilled cheese sandwiches! We are so Americanized! The following morning we trecked the 3 hours back towards my village, along the beautiful coast of Fiji of course. I stopped in a nearby settlement to visit the Kindy teacher whose birthday was on Thursday. She cooked me a delicious meal of fried fish with onions, a plantain dessert, boiled plantains, and kauii (tastes like a dry baked potato). Yum! Everything I have to say these days has to do with food, not good! As soon as I hiked through the coconut trees and forest back to my village I was bombarded with neighbors! I pulled out the UNO cards from my package from Kate and taught them all how to play. We were entertained for two hours! Thank you Kate! Perfect!

Saturday I walked around the peninsula and hung out at a white sand beach. It turns out a 15 year old boy had a baby horse a few months ago and for some reason it passed away recently, so it was buried on that beach. It was a beautiful pony, so sad. Na and I also baked some cinnamon swirl cake. Fijians do not attempt new foods very often and so I bring in all kinds of recipes with spices most have never heard of and show them how to make it. So far I have had a lot of fun with my experimentations. This day I also wrote Kate and Teresa, so you should both be getting a letter in the mail around September 18!

On Sunday I ended up sleeping a lot (very religious here and no one does anything on Sundays). I wrote Vodafone and Digicel a letter asking them to set up a booster tower near my village so that we will have cell service. Played UNO with my brothers and sisters and made an amazing video for you all to see... that definitely is not loading today!

Monday (today), village meeting, I discussed the Kindy and the electricity scenario with the village. We will have a fundraising event this Friday for the men to pay Provincial fees. The men are also collecting $5 each for the Kindergarten fund. Also, the women are having a fundraising event next Friday, $10 each, for the Kindergarten. The village is really putting a lot of effort into the new school. Everyone is extremely excited! Marau! (Happy)! Sisi, the Kindy teacher, went back to school today to teach the Kindergarten in town (attachment). She will return in two weeks totally prepared to take on our village Kindergarten! We just need to get her house ready with a toilet, shower, and kitchen! Isa! (Sad day)! Lots to do! After my nap, I headed up the river to the waterfalls. It is so breathtaking here, and to imagine walking 10 minutes and being engulfed in large hanging vines and pools of crystal clear water with water cascading all around you. Amazing! As I was walking back down the mountain I passed my cousin Buka. He was chasing down 5 cows telling them to go back to their pen. I had not crossed paths with the cow pen before and it really is picturesque: cows roaming around inside a garden with tall palm trees shadowing their steps. Like a farm in paradise. On our way home he told me about how his dad milks the cows and they have fresh milk every morning. What?? Crazy! I am going with him tomorrow to watch him milk the cow. Soon, I will be doing it too!
Oh, and I must brag a little about the amazing lemon tea (well, it is the leaves from some form of citrus up the hill) I drink everyday! Smells so incredible and tastes so refreshing! Also, mango season is coming and I had my first mango ever yesterday. I liked it, tasted a lot like a sour apple. Supposedly I can make really good jam out of mangoes. I am pretty excited, right now I am spending $6 a jar for jam and when I make it myself it is about 50 cents a jar! Much better!

Tomorrow I am planning on watching Tata Levu milk the cow, go to the primary school (3rd term, starts on a Tuesday) to drop my brothers and sisters off, come back and hike to the large waterfall to consider a mini hydro system for electricity, and get together with the Kindergarten committee to write a letter to customs so that we will not have to pay duty taxes on the donation. Let’s see how much of that I get done.

On Wednesday morning I will be hiking up and over the mountain to spend the night with Lisa, another Peace Corps Volunteer. It is about a two hour hike. No biggie. Then, on Thursday go to town and get a lot of things accomplished via internet and cell phone.

Oh, and this Sunday and Monday the Country Director is coming to our area for lunch at a nearby hotel. I cannot wait! Maybe they will have hamburgers! Although, I am probably setting myself up for disappointment. I may try and meet them for lunch both days and stay with another volunteer near to the hotel. Isn’t Peace Corps amazing! I would recommend this path to anyone who is eligible! Apply and see what happens!

I also wanted to share with everyone my favorite Fijian meal (I think it is Indian, but Fijians cook it too)

DHAL SOUP

2 cups dhal (split peas)
½ bulb of garlic
Salt and chilies to taste (I do not use)
10 curry leaves (I do not use)
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp whole cumin seeds (I do not use)
1 tsp black mustard seed
1 medium sliced onion
1 tsp turmeric powder
½ lemon (I do not use)
I use garlic salt at the end to taste

1. Rinse dhal under running water. Add to pot and add water until covered. Bring to a boil.
2. Mash garlic, chilies, salt, and curry leaves with mortar and pestle.
3. In a separate skillet, heat oil over a medium flame and add cumin and mustard seeds.
4. When seed are popping, add onions. When onions start to brown add garlic mixture.
5. Fry to 5 minutes or until everything has turned golden brown, then turn off flame.
6. When dhal are soft, turn off flame and add garlic/onion mixture, turmeric powder, lemon juice, and garlic salt.

Serve alone or with rice, bread, crackers, etc. Enjoy!
September 10, 2009

So Tuesday I watched Tata Levu milk the cow and I hiked to the waterfall. Extremely eventful day! The waterfall is breathtaking, although, I tried to boulder the rocks around it to get a good picture and of course I fell in. So, I ended up swimming a little bit, getting the picture taken and then getting out to look down into the water and yell, “SNAKE”! It turns out with was just an eel, but scary that I was swimming with it none the less. Then Buka decided to show me how to get water in the forest if there is no water around. I will try and load the video if it loads fast enough. So, then I started taking pictures of the bees drinking water along the pool’s edge and I look up to talk to Buka and the dang bee stings my foot. What in the hell? I didn’t do anything to him! I guess he did not want his picture taken. So, after falling in, seeing the eel, and getting stung it was time to head back down to the village. It is amazing that most of the village women have never seen the waterfall. It is literally less than half a mile up the mountain. I will show Na soon!

Yesterday (Wednesday), I made the 2 ½ hour hike to Lisa’s village and stayed the night with her. We cooked Dhal soup, walked to the store, and went to a women’s meeting, then got up at 5:30AM this morning to come to town by 8:00 AM. Early, early! Charging my computer in town now, so that I can watch Eragon this week! Yes!

One more thing, my cat has fleas, and I cannot thank you enough Aunt Lisa for sending the flea and tick powder! It has definitely been used in the past two weeks and my head would not be surviving without it! Thank you… and Mogli thanks you!