The Fijian Post

Last Thursday I took off to Suva for a High School Concert and the Agriculture Fair. My Out of Community Leave was perfect! The concert was so much more than I expected. Two of my really good friends, Filo and Ana, were in different items throughout the concert. Filo was up on the stage as a teacher and as a traditional Polynesian dancer whereas Ana was dressed up in a fancy, red dress doing a “grow up to be a lady” number. I ended up finding myself enjoying a multicultural show. The students performed traditional dances from the Lau Group, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Polynesia, Korea, and India. It was absolutely amazing. Plus they through in some modern rap, pop, and country dance moves. The choir sang several uplifting beats with several beautifully sung solos. Really, I can’t say enough about how well St. Joseph’s High School did at their annual concert!


Filo and Ana before the concert.

The next day I spent running errands in Suva, walking around the Agriculture Show: “Grow Local, Buy Local”, and helping NCSMED with their honey and beekeeping stall.


Our Beekeeping display at the Agriculture Show.

While at the show I was able to get vital information from Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas (FLMMA), SPCA, IHRDP (National Planning/Fiji Government), Fiji Nursing Association, Coconut Industry Development Authority (CIDA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Bird Life International, Ministry of Health, information on climate change, planting giant clams, goat rearing, chicken raising, marine protected areas, and I actually found a much needed poster of the food pyramid here in Fiji. They only have three categories instead of six like in America. I will be teaching the topic of nutrition to the kindergarteners and their parents on Wednesday! I also scoured the show for posters, bringing home about 35 new ones. I bet the villagers are getting tired of my decorating the community hall with random information.

Anyhow, I am not sure if I have mentioned this before now, but I am going to start a “Fijian Documentary” on my blog. So far it doesn’t have a name, someday I will think of one. I will be starting it as soon as I get my new camera, but for this week I can do a short example on what the new idea will involve.

The Salusalu Boogie

A salusalu is the equivalent of a Hawaiian Lei, but Fijians do it quite differently. First they scour the land for a Crinuni asiaticum (viavia) tree. The trunk of this tree grows in shiny, white, fibrous layers.


The viavia.

The women bring their large bush knife with them to chop the tree down at the bottom of the trunk. They cut the top end off so that only the mid section of the trunk remains. Next, they cut the trunk lengthwise and unravel the layers until they are left with a shiny, white piece about 3 inches by 6 inches.


Tying the viavia into the voivoi to make a salusalu.

Step two involves the women hunting down different leavesand flowers including hibiscus, Phaleria sp. (sinu), and Evodia hprtensis (uci). A twine of voivoi (dried pandanas leaf – explained in a later documentary) is then braided, interspersing a piece of folded viavia into the braid. After the length of salusalu is finished, the flowers are tied together and placed securely in front of the folded viavia. Finally, the salusalu is given time to dry and the next day will be tied around a highly respectable guest or member of the village. Salusalu is a symbol of importance and often used at times of celebration.


The beautiful arrangement of flowers the women place in front of the viavia.


Putting all the pieces together.

Early Childhood Education Week


My kingergarten in front of the banner I made for Early Childhood Education Week.


Tying the salusalu onto our Chief.


Torika placing the salusalu she made onto her Bubu.

The week of July 26th through 30th is devoted to Early Childhood Education throughout Fiji. Of course, that means I am a busy bee running around in preparation for our activities in the kindergarten.


So sweet.


The children playing with their toys sent from First Christian Church in Gainesville, Texas.

Today, Monday, we had our kindergarten’s opening day. The Chief of the village accepted the kindergarten as a part of the community and thanked the teacher and I for all of our hard work. The children performed a few songs, made their own salusalu to give to an elder, and we had a huge community tea. Guest speakers included the kindergarten committee’s chairman, Sisi (the teacher), and the Father of the Catholic Church. Later in the day I spent 4 hours hand washing my clothes from this past weekend, then took a nice, relaxed break from Fijian life by hiding in my bure.


My little brother singing into his Bible.


The children waiting to pray so that they can eat lunch.


Lots of Bubus.


The men drinking that nasty muddy water... kava (yaqona).


Junior playing the lali (drum made of bamboo or vesi wood).


Lol. Look at Pau, she is meditating with frangipani leaves.


Sisi teaching the kids.


Three of my Bubus.


Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Kindergarten went well again today! We had two guest speakers: the headmaster from each of the two closest primary schools. They both spoke on behalf of the importance of early childhood education, they saw the kids’ folders, and enjoyed a nice feast with us. Everything went well and the week is off to a good start.


How sweet, father and son.


Coloring


Reading, they LOVE the books.

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010


Bubu Moli and I on Wednesday.


Bubu Moli and I back in August

Today was my day. Lol, well, it was my turn to be the vulagi dokai (Guest Speaker). I spoke on the importance of nutrition, the food pyramid, as well as interacted with the kids on what is a fruit and what is a vegetable. Following my talk, Bubu Moli spoke on the interactions of food within the body and reinstated what I said, but in Fijian. Thank you Bubu Moli for your gracious help!


Bubu Moli teaching about the passage of food through the digestive system.


Aren't they cute!


Unaisi, isn't she beautiful.

Anyhow, everything went well, the kids were well behaved today, and everything is ready for visiting a local Primary School on Friday. I think they are calling this event “Fun Day” in which every kindergarten in the surrounding area, plus the parents, are coming together to celebrate. Tomorrow is town, yay!


My papa, Ulamila. She is growing so fast!

wHaT's Up WiTh JaMiE

The Sparks Flew



Phew it’s been a while. So, I am now a Fiji sensation. Lol, kinda, sorta, really. Everywhere I go people are stopping me and asking if I am the one on Close Up. You should be able to check it out at FijiTV.com then the icon Close Up. It was aired on July 4th which in Fiji numbers means 4/7/2010. Also on the 4th was our big Independence Day celebration with pecan pie coming in as the winner and a quarter shaped cake as the creative winner. Definitely amazing American food and American friends.



After my TV premiere we conducted a fireworks war, to say the least. Good times. You should have been there!

Since then I have gone to Nausori/Suva for the new volunteers’ swearing in ceremony.





Staff at swearing in.

All of them made it through training! 35 newbies! I have really been enjoying their company this past week. I don’t have one complaint about the new group. They are all extremely mature, intelligent, and enthusiastic about getting started.






I just hope they don’t get their hopes and dreams busted at the seam when they realize living in a rural village is much less “work” than they are expecting. There is lots of down time.

While I was in Nausori I attended a music festival (if you can call it that) twice. It had two ferris wheels and three rides for the kids, plus about 15 stands selling BBQ. I didn’t even have to read the menu at each one, I had the ‘to go’ box memorized. Every single one offers fried egg, lamb flank, two “scrap meat” sausages (sometimes fried), some stir fry, and a slice of cucumber. All of this for just 6 F$ (3 USD). I mean, there is no better deal out there for a heart attack in a box. Anyways, the music was good enough. One night was an Indian pooftah (transvestite) dancing around half nude and the next night was island music which included lots of acoustic gospel songs. Oh yes, Fiji is predictable.


Random festival game

I also had the opportunity to stay a night at the Westin in Denarau, only 400 F$ a night, but absolutely worth it if you have money to waste. I went with Lydia, my best PC friend in Fiji (probably because we are always stuck in the same boat…) and we ate at The Hard Rock Café and hung out at the wharf. She is now with her mom and dad in Taveuni. Oh so jealous!

Speaking of down time, I have been waiting on National Planning/Integrated Human Resources Development Program to come to my rescue on this Virgin Coconut Oil business for about 7 months now. I have been promised economic and technical assistance since December.


The TuragaNiKoro and I at the IHRDP meeting.

Well, the first sign of hope came just two nights ago! On Tuesday, during a wedding ceremony, I was whisked away to speak to some military officers in another house. What? I was so confused. Then I was told that the police and military were here for something to do with Virgin Coconut Oil. Lol, because the current government is run by all military officials it was simply a few prestigious military gentlemen, one police officer, and one lady who works for IHRDP. They were really here! We discussed the possibilities and my business plan and I am now satisfied that someone out there is able to help us. Yay! Hopefully our village leader has been writing good reports in the past few quarters or else we are doomed.


The kids during the wedding ceremony.

Other exciting news: I have finally decided the reason I am so content in Fiji. I have lots of friends! Well, they feel like friends to me. I guess because when they pass my house they always say “hi” and “what are you doing?” Then, when I walk around the village I am always invited for tea or a meal. My greatest gift though is my namesake, her husband, and their child. They are the root that holds me up. If I am ever upset, wondering about a Fijian tradition, trying to figure out how to run a village, wanting to learn how to cook, fish, put a napkin on a baby’s butt, or just want to hang out, they are ALWAYS there for me. Without them I would not be near as happy as I am. I know you may never get to read this Yaca, Sio and Papa, but thank you for everything you are to me!



Another thing on Wednesday, July 14, the LOWEST tide I have seen in Fiji. Look at the reef, it is suffocating above water. A few of these corals have expelled (bleaching) the tips of their polyps who were stranded. They will recover pretty quickly. It was really neat to see the reef without wearing a snorkel and mask!