Thursday, February 4, 2010
This morning I had to decide which boat to take… the regular Thursday boat that stops at every village, or my Ta’s boat which was overloaded and small. I decided on the regular boat, My Tata Mai Moli’s colorful, wooden boat so that I could lay down on the bow. I was in no hurry, but the decision turned out to be a stinky one. I got stuck sitting right next to two goats. One was small and one was quite large. I was told the Indian’s buy the small ones for the sweet tasting oil and they buy the large ones for the meat. Halfway to the dock Humpty Dumpty decides to fall, well, jump. It is all slow motion until Leone jumps up to drag the goat back onto the boat and I move back out of the dangerous horns’ way. It takes two more people to help Leone pull the goat back onto the bow. The rest of the trip Mr. Humpty Dumpty was tied down to the boat by his legs and neck so that he didn’t pull that little trick again. They were both forced to sit or lay in their own urine and feces. I on the other hand just tried to avoid the feces.
I do not get away from the goats there. Once we pull load into the carrier I am told to switch to the bigger carrier. I get in first, forcing me to scoot down next to the poor goats again. Oh well, they were sold in town for a pretty penny.
The highlight of today, well for one, I got my pictures from September that I could not retrieve off of my memory stick, and for two tomorrow is Lisa’s birthday so we had cake and ice cream after lunch. What a treat! The rest of town was normal.
When we reached the village ( I didn’t want to = Au bese) get off the boat. So, I rode along to the settlements past my village and got to study the tide pools full of crabs, fish, snails, and a weird fire worm looking creature that may have been a mantis shrimp. All I know is it looked like a centipede that lives under rocks in salt water.
Back in the village did a whole lot of nothing.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Slept until 10 or so then went to help in the kindergarten. After kindy I enjoyed a nice dip in the watering hole with Mogli (my cat).
She followed me over half way and then started getting spooked and was jumping from tree to tree with lightening speed. I eventually picked her up and carried her down to the river so that she would not run off into the woods. As I swam she walked back and forth along the pool’s edge, talking to me and studying the fish in the water. After a while we headed back, with her chasing after my heels the entire walk home. She is such a cutie!
On the way back I passed a few of the boys cutting wood with the biggest chain saw ever. They are making their own posts for a new house in one of the settlements!
Back in the village I took a couple of showers to escape the heat, read a little, worked on my Fijian dictionary, and wrote Megan a letter. I hope she is doing all right over there in Peru.
Tomorrow I will be going to town because my sink will not turn off and I think I need to replace a black, rubber seal.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
It is very rainy today. Just maybe the rain season is a little late. I was not sure if the boat would be going, but sure enough, around 9 o’clock, Pio came down to ask if I was going to town. By this time I had decided to stay cooped up in the house enjoying my bed in the rainy weather. I did not leave my bed except to cook pancakes until 2 PM. Then I was up and active pulling weeds, doing laundry, took a few showers, same ole, same ole.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
I fell asleep at like 6:30 last night! What is my deal? I got up at 6:00 AM and walked around the peninsula to sit on the beach and watch the sunrise. It was breathtaking. The weather was actually slightly breezy, the birds were softly chirping, and there was rain in the distance hinting at a small drizzle coming my way.
Do you see my seaturtle shaped by the waves on the limb of a delapitated tree?
After the photo shoot I ran into two different Bubus (elderly). They had so much spunk this morning. Hugging me, laughing, telling stories about their children. The Bubus are extremely entertaining and kind. I have not come across one person over the age of 70 that I didn’t just fall in love with.
One of the Bubus. He was quite giddy!
Crazy looking flowers.
I also crossed paths with one of my sisters and her children. They were collecting oranges for breakfast. My sister found out that I had taken a picture of her three year old son and begged me to print it for her as he had not had his picture taken since he was an infant!
Back at the house I had several visitors, did all of my laundry, watched my little brother (Suli) and his friends use sticks to brush cut the village, sounds and all, and ate rice, the only food left in my cabinet.
Kids heading to church.
The Gentleman of the Village (Turaganikoro) came over and we planned everything that needs to be discussed at the big meeting (bosevakoro) tomorrow. We will be re-voting for the Turaganikoro as well as picking committees. It is truly a big deal and will hopefully organize the village into working committees for the rest of my stay. We will have a women’s group, working committee (footpaths and generator), youth committee, health committee, water committee, village committee, development committee, and who knows what else. “Committee” is my “shrimp” of Forrest Gump.
Finally it was bed time. A friend came over and gave me an amazing massage until I passed out cold.
Monday, February 8, 2010
We had our BIG bose today, and I wish I didn’t stay in the village for it. I was needing a replacement for the kindergarten committee, a footpath committee, we were voting on Turaganikoro, as well as changing out our village committee. Everything would have gone the same way whether I was present or not. I told them about the enrollment and term fees for the kindergarten and the news on the Virgin Coconut Oil, but as far as progress goes maybe the new staff will be more productive and organized. It looks like I just have to wait and see.
Bosevakoro
The meeting started at 3:00 today, but was supposed to start at 2:00. So from 2 until 7 I sat in the community hall drawing, taking notes, trying to figure out what was being said in Fijian, and trying to figure out what information they wanted me to reveal. It seemed like every angle I hit they were rushing me along. Honestly, I would have loved to have rushed their hour long conversation about a village fundraising event. I swear it took about 45 minutes to pick a day and another 45 to decide how to allocate the proceeds. Apparently what I feel is important and progressive is a little different than the Fijian’s idea. Thank goodness I was not PMSing this time.
So, the bose took up the entire day. Other than that I showered and tried to scrounge up some food to eat. Since I was planning on leaving Saturday I did not buy any food in town on Thursday. It’s been extremely tough eating rice for most of my meals. I leave for Suva tomorrow morning!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Early morning off to SUVA! Beautiful boat ride, bus ride, and arrival in Suva. The weather is cooling down a bit because of the tropical depression coming our way. Upon arriving in Suva I checked into the hotel, went to the market to buy fruit for some friends’ mom, and went to their house to pay a little visit. All went smoothly and I was back at the hotel will all of the Peace Corps Volunteers making food for Mexican night! We cherish to times we get together because of the food! Well, a side benefit is the company… JK. The conversations were good and the games even better. Good times with Peace Corps.
Mexican Night!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Training starts! I got up at 6:00 to walk around Suva but as I walked outside it was pitch black. All I knew was that I did not get up so early for nothing, but the dark streets were laden with trouble. So, I went down to the bus stop and hopped on a bus that goes in circles around Suva and enjoyed a tour of the city at sunrise. Honestly it was extremely calming and enjoyable. If I lived in Suva it would be one of my coping strategies for 70 cents a pop.
Soon enough my counterpart for the training was on her way in from Nausori. I met her at the bus stop and we headed on it to the training conference: Alternative Livelihoods by John C. and Leslie.
The training is going very well with so far no complaints. We did a skit, played a game, and learned a lot about preparing a business plan.
After training a little pool time, then Pizza Hut! I swear the Pizza Hut pizza in Fiji is way better than in America. It is so fresh, crispy, and perfect! Maybe I have lowered my standards a bit, but definitely a nice treat!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
More training, this time, financial training. Several people are a little frustrated with the charts and math, but honestly it is quite a simple example. My counterpart (my namesake) is loving all of the information because John and Leslie are speaking about beekeeping, her ‘other’ business. She is getting lots of facts and figures while learning how to calculate the information. Score!
Since we had already written a lot of the business plan we were able to edit a lot of the information and prepare a final “Business Plan for Village Level Virgin Coconut Oil Producing Enterprise”. We also somewhat named the company “Virgin Niu”. Virgin because it is virgin coconut oil, and the ‘niu’ means coconut in Fijian. I thought it was a cute and somewhat mysterious name. We will see what happens with it in the future. Throughout all of the financial training, VCO proved to be the most profitable, making at least 11.70 F$ per hour and up to 27.76 F$ per hour. An extremely high hourly rate for Fiji! An average hourly rate is 2.50 – 3.00 F$ per hour.
After training my namesake and I went around town with her husband and baby. We visited the park, shopped a little, and then it was time for her family to head home.
She and I continued to walk around Suva as she taught me what Suva used to be (well, maybe 10 years ago). We stopped at the market in front of some odd looking green balls. The seller preceded to tell me they were Fijian grapes. Sceptical I wanted to try one. As I bit into it my lips burned like a really sour candy and my mouth transformed into a goey mess. The inside of this "Fijian grape" was a nasty glue substance. Ok, note to self, if other people are not eating it, don't try it. We checked out menus at all sorts of restaurants we had never been in (even a restaurant on a boat in the bay!) and goofed around. She is so much fun! I really enjoyed the time we spent together this afternoon!
Some of our entertainment along the seawall.
Eventually it got dark so we headed back to the hotel and went to a volunteer’s room for a mini party, with lots of chocolate!
The aftermath of purchasing beer and chocolate.
Friday, February 12, 2010
More training, today it was short and sweet, about Benchmarking, Bookkeeping, and a ledger activity, then certificates and we were free.
Final last moments.
My namesake and I went shopping for the items on the cash expenses list in our business plan. We got a better idea of what it would cost to start our business and keep it going. Then we ran several errands, stopping by the IHRDP office, post office, pharmacy, Fiji Times, and others. Eventually it came time for her to head back to Nausori to see her family.
I stayed in town running more errands in the torrential downpour. I hopped on a bus, went to Cost-U-Less, spent lots of money, then met up with John and Judy for dinner at my favorite restaurant “Hook and Chook”! I got the Fish Burger and it was to die for! Afterwards, we stopped by MHCC and got two huge pieces of cake and gouged ourselves in chocolate! Mmmmm.
