That pretty much sums up the weather for the past two or three weeks! It's the dry season and yet it's rained a lot. Today is sunny and hot, though. I'll try to give as much a summary as I can about Fiji and my life!
DAILY LIFE
I initially wake up around 6:30. For awhile the family was getting up around 4 to pray, but they haven't been lately. I bathe, using the bucket method of showering. Then we kana (eat). A typical breakfast for me is bread and butter with some fruit- papayas or bananas or apples. We drink instant coffee (oh Alterra I miss you!). Marika, my 25 year old brother, goes to work and I go to my language trainer's for language and cross-cultural learning. Lunch is usually some kind of stir fried veggies, rice or roti, or bread. Sometimes soup w/ veggies and tavioka (cassava). After lunch is technical training and we usually travel to different villages. WE've had speakers from different ministries talking about fisheries, agriculture, and the ecology of fiji. Last week we did reef monitoring and I snorkeled for the first time! it was, needless to say, quite a sight. I had no training and was with a group of certified SCUBA divers and marine biologists. it was amazing though. The ocean is beautiful. We've learned about waste management (let me sum it up: there is no waste management legislation in Fiji and basically the introduction of packaged/processed goods has basically ruined Fiji), conservation, etc. There isn't environmental policy from the government, which is pretty inactive and will be until elections can take place, and the villages aren't concerned with environmentalism, at least they can't name it as suych.
I usually go to bed around 8 or 9. It gets dark at 6. My Na is 62 and has bad ankles. She stays at home everyday and does all the cooking. My Ta works in the plantation/farming and is also the Turaga ni koro, which is the village spokesperson/unofficial policeman/mayor and if you want to come into the village, you need to see him first. Basically, you want to see my dad if you want to do anything in the village.
Sundays is church day; the Methodist church is huge in Fiji and in our village. Uit's the place to be. Our first Sunday in the village we were very cordially welcomed and had to make a speech and everyone greeted us. On Sundays you can't do anything- I'm not kidding. YOu go to church and you eat. No reading in public, no running, no playing, no laundry, no teaching Americans how to cook. Fridays and Saturdays are grog (kava) drinking and socializing days. The parties go well into the night.
GROG
Very ceremonial in Fijian life. When you're first meeting someone or entering a village, you present the "sevusevu" to the Turaga ni koro and/or Chief. There is a formal presentation of the yaqona, a blessing of the tanoa (the bowl you mix the grog in), clapping and each first boli(cup) is drank with a "vinaka" (thank you) to each participant. Then you can be more informal- you can talk, stretch, etc. (you have to sit cross-legged) There are rules to drinking grog, such as where women can sit, how you walk, what you can do, etc. A thing to note is that Fijians drink grog the way we drink alcohol-socially, celebratory, or to relieve the stress of work. They can be mixed genders or more often the women have their own and the men have their own.
GENDER
Yup, strict gender roles. As a woman, I can't walk alone. I have very prescribed roles. This is tough.
Best gear I brought: Chacos! Except they're slippery. Very slippery.
Worst regret not bringing: sleeping bag! (Laura, I should have listened to you!!)
Biggest packing regret: brining too much stuff!!!! Especially clothes I can't wear. Like shorts.
If anyone feels like sending me anything, my host mom wants a mug with USA/ American flag on it. I would like a recent family photo and pictures of the family (cousins, aunts, uncles). And: MIX CDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please! My iPod is my sanctuary because all I hear are church hymns, bad pop songs from two or three years ago, and I think it's Natasha Beningfield. It's a realyl really annoying song. Shania Twain is pretty popular here, too (I even know that she and Mutt Lange are getting divorced), and so is a lot of R and B- Chris Brown? i'm itching to get to a nightclub here in Suva, but my brother doesn't really go out and my family doesn't like us to be out late so... it's difficult. Last night we went to a "Gunu Sede" which literally is drink cents. It' was a fundraiser for the rugby club. You pay for bilos of grog for people, 20 or 50 cents a cup. Then they're supposed to return the drink. There was dancing (you can pay for dances for people, too) mainly by/for me which everyone seemed to find hilarious. Picture an 8th grade dance in the 1950's and that's what this was like, except outside and with 17-35 year olds (the youth of the village). No one really talks to one another, especially not the opposite sex. It was fun. I have a friend in the village named Vara who is 30 and not married (gasp!) I went with. It's nice being able to talk to someone my own age, and a middle class professional at that! We have lots of plans for things to do so hopefully next time I'll be able to talk more about them!
I found some peanut butter and let me say never has PB tasted so deliciuos! I am about to go drink a beer (I'm dying for a beer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but other than that I dont' crave too much. I was on a chocolate kick but Cadbury is pretty easy to get.
Miss you all! My family doesn't go to town that often and PC keeps us really really busy so I dno't have too much time for stuff like internet! Please write me letters! Send me CDs! I'd love you for it!
