Christmas is Near

Christmas in Fiji.

Since New Zealand I have had two visitors, helped conduct a community capacity building workshop in the village, completed quotations for the virgin coconut oil supplies, handed out condoms to complete strangers for World Aids Day, and got all Christmas cards in the mail. Been busy. And rainy.

Basket Weaving

So my Dad always said that I needed to take basket weaving classes (as a joke of course). Well, I feel like I have completed the schooling, but still have no clue how to do it. Here are a few women in the village showing off their skills.The women in the village have been working on fans for the donors to our footpaths. There will be thank you gifts sent out soon... Fiji time.

The talented women in my village with their handicrafts.

Baby Leone is born


One of my best friends’ wife just had her baby. He is the most beautiful newborn I have ever laid eyes on - literally. Absolutely precious. Here are a few pics of him and his father – Bogi (night).

Father and son, baby Leone.
Baby Leone's belly.

My Town

Every Thursday the volunteers in my area meet up in Rakiraki for lunch and socializing. This tradition has had a huge influence on my happiness at site. Without friends and the comforts of a town (such as ice cream) I would not have constant advice, people to speak English with, the exchange of books and ideas, plus fun weekends together.

The bus stand in Rakiraki.
Munching on a mango towards the end of the season.

Condoms Anyone?

.The volunteers preparing for World Aids Day.

So World Aids Day was December 1st, but the volunteers in Ra put together a tent and awareness on the 3rd to reach out to more people (on a Friday). The health volunteers where the stars of the show, but of course I had my influence through handing out condoms to lots of strangers.

Pinning an Aids ribbon onto a little shopper in the market.

Community Capacity Building

The government is here! They have come to start the process for our Virgin Coconut Oil business. They are impressed with the business plan, have set aside the funds to purchase the supplies, and are completing our quotations with plans to purchase next week! Currently there are two people in the village conducting a community capacity building workshop. Crazy thing, the man is from my host village near Nausori. Such a small country!

Working on Community Capacity Building.

The workshop has been more successful than expected. Most of the elders have been present everyday and they are learning community maps, assessing resources, how to brainstorm, dream, discover, plan, and act. We have covered questions ranging from the problem of child abuse and ways to solve it to when the first boat arrived in the village. The participants are learning so much about their history of achievements, traditions, enforcing laws, how to work together, recognize successes, appreciate potentials, visualize a positive future, clarify motives, and reach goals.

Showing their community map.

My Visitors

A friend from Germany recently visited my village and got a taste for the real Fijian culture.

Next, came Lauren - my best friend from Perth Amboy, NJ.

Lauren and I visited Udre Udre's tomb. Legend has it he ate 872 people. Although, locals claim 99.

Lauren and I visited our private beach and reefs.
Lauren with her mysterious blue glove... yes, it is a sea star she mistaked for a laytex glove.
A giant clam.

I feel really bad that there were two days of work mixed in with her stay, but eventually we made it to the coral reefs, the watering hole, and a Fijian feast. She learned how to handwash clothes and just be disappointed that it rained the following two days so nothing dried. Tough lesson.

Mixing the grog.
Lauren's first taste of yaqona.
Playing at the watering hole.

Soon we will be leaving the village to explore the capital city, visit the orchid garden, play in thermal pools, and do some Fijian handicraft shopping.

Getting outta here

After leaving the village we hit up Suva for lots of souvenir shopping and the museum. Eventually we hopped in a mini bus for Nadi and continued our shopping spree. The day she left we visited the Garden of the Sleeping Giant and the hot pools/mud pool.

The Sleeping Giant in the mountains. The giant is the reason for the so called Garden of the Sleeping Giant.

Tranquil lilly pond in the gardens.


My dragon orchid.
Beautiful.
Planting and prunning the orchids.

The mud was towards the bottom of this small pool.
Robots of mud.

It was so much fun! I never knew getting dirty could be enjoyable. I am not sure it really helped our skin, but it definitely helped our spirits!

Airport
Lauren and Natalie Luisa just happen to be on the same flight back to the states, so I was there to with them both happy times back in America.

The crew wishing Luisa farewell.
Luisa and Taitusi's last few moments.
Me seeing Lauren off at the airport.

Funeral traditions

A funeral means the youth must kill a cow and get it to the village holding the ceremony.


After I returned to the village several of the young girls came over to play cards and show me some mekes (Fijian dances). I felt like an honored guest in my own house! They are so adorable.

The girls being sweet to my Mogli.

The sad puppies in the village are born only to suffer a long, excrutiating death. I am working on getting SPCA out here to spay and neuter.

Nana Bulou and her daughter, Vina, playing a numbers game late into the night.

Nothing to do.

A few more pics...
On the ride from Queenstown to Christchurch.


More emerald lakes.








And back in Fiji:
Playing flip cup during Beer Olympics the night before Thanksgiving.
Everyone eating our Thanksgiving feast.