I have pictures! Okay, Janey has pictures! But I'm in some! And I basically do the same things as she does so I have all the same shots. Go here!
http://janeytaylor.blogspot.com/
Yesterday we went to my very favorite village of Vanuakula. We spoke with my very favorite woman in all of Fiji, Vere. We were checking on her garden that we helped build last week, which looked good. Then we went over to her neighbor Lavenia's house to build her a garden. When we got there, she already had a beautiful frame set up with the darkest, richest soil all ready to go. This is rare because usually they need help building the frame and loading the soil. I asked her where she got it and she said that her husband did it all for her.
Let me tell you about this woman's husband: when we get there, he is in the kitchen preparing something for us to eat. And, he's watching the children. And since he is desiring to become a pastor, he doesn't smoke, drink or swear. And he allows his wife to go out clubbing at nights. He is the sweetest, most patient and giving man I think I've ever met. We all think she is lucky to have him and it's actually a common topic in my house.
So Lavenia reveals that her husband did all of this work for her. I asked her how she found such a husband because I wanted one. She said "I prayed for one". I asked her "oh? Is that what you did?" She laughed and responded "No, he prayed for me!"
Her sister then piped in and said "He prayed for a lazy wife?!" We all laughed so hard!
Later, Vere was showing me her plants and revealed that she had actually fed us with the crop from those plants last time we came! I said "wow, that's great!" and I turned around to my people and said "This is the eggplant she served us last time we came!" and then I whispered "which I didn't eat..." and I turned back around and Vere was close to my face and placed one finger under my chin and said half-kidding half-scolding "You didn't eat my food?!" It scared me so bad because I didn't know that she was that close to me! She of course was very sweet about it as I explained that I am a picky eater by nature and hate all things fish. I seriously love her. She is plump and quiet but she's funny.
One last thing that happened in that village was that Janey was introducing me to the new people as "heifer" because a. she thinks it's funny and 2. its really hard for them to say my name. So, she tells them it's heifer and because they think that's really my name and don't speak English well enough to know what it really means, they call me that. So she told Vere yesterday that she can call me heifer if she has a hard time pronouncing my name. I told Vere that she should NOT call me that because she is actually calling me a cow. She thought that was funny and told us that the Fijian name for cow is bulamacow. And now she calls me that. Knowing what it is. She's the best. Kinda.
Love it here. It's kata kata vaca levu and I love it.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Dead mouse
Also, I have a short story to tell. Remember how I said that there were mice in my house? Well, one of those mouse went into James' suitcase and ate a little bit of every one of his hidden granola bars. He had to throw out like twenty of them. The rage he was experiencing was almost humorous. He went into detail about how, WHEN (not if) he caught the mouse, he was going to break it's little legs and wear it's blood like war paint on his face. More details were given, not all need to be shared. So he set up this trap that involved a cinderblock falling onto the mouse. What happened? The cinderblock fell...on someone's foot. James' anger only increased as this small mouse seemed to be outsmarting him day after day.
One morning I awoke to Skyler, James' roommate, stating that the mouse was in their room. James yelled that he had been waiting all week for this. He and Skyler and Caleb made loud noises and yells for several minutes in their room. Then silence. Then cheers. James came out with the dead baby mouse on a fly swatter. With one swipe, he killed the little mouse. He grinned as he held it up for pictures. Told the mouse that he hoped it would burn in hell and as he threw it's carcass into the backyard, he yelled "tell all your mouse friends that you're dead!"
living with boys is as fun as I predicted. and they are clean.
One morning I awoke to Skyler, James' roommate, stating that the mouse was in their room. James yelled that he had been waiting all week for this. He and Skyler and Caleb made loud noises and yells for several minutes in their room. Then silence. Then cheers. James came out with the dead baby mouse on a fly swatter. With one swipe, he killed the little mouse. He grinned as he held it up for pictures. Told the mouse that he hoped it would burn in hell and as he threw it's carcass into the backyard, he yelled "tell all your mouse friends that you're dead!"
living with boys is as fun as I predicted. and they are clean.
Foods
Contrary to what I thought and mostly desired, I am not getting thinner on this trip. I am certainly becoming more...plump?
Here is what I eat: in the morning we have what are called scorns with butter, which is essentially cornbread. It's delicious. I also often eat boiled eggs, which my peers laugh at me for. Then we are force fed cookies (like Iago on Aladdin) and often really watered down juices by the people we serve. They are so gracious. Too bad I am never hungry and almost never enjoy the food.
Then we go to the fresh market where I have recently discovered the pineapple. For one Fijian dollar, they will slice up a whole pineapple for you right there. And it's delicious and you can eat it on the go, which we always need to. Also at the market we find bananas and oranges. Weird note about fruits here in Fiji: you want to eat them while they're green. Oranges and bananas are ripe when they're green. After green they become brown (and they do it FAST!) and then they are rotten. And the bananas are so good that we call them banana grenades, so much flavor in such a small thing!
For dinner, a Fijian woman Arietta cooks for us. She makes rice and roti (if we're lucky) and some sort of curry. That's pretty much every night. Some night the curry has tuna or another fish in it so I just eat rice for dinner. And sometimes she makes tomato chutney. Oh. My. Gosh. It's my fave. Although it's filled with onions and peppers and leaks bubbles of oil, I love it. Speaking of oil, they sell it in bags here. Gross, huh? And everything they make is super oily. I sweat oil.
I also eat a lot of peanut butter, cakes (they seriously know how to do it in Fiji) and fiber bars. I have yet to open my giant bottles of Pepto Bismal. Perhaps my stomach is stronger than I ever believed it to be.
So I'm being well fed but would certainly appreciate some trail mix or candy or whatever. Those things are not to be found around here. Also, there is no dairy here. Milk is the powdered kind and I have yet to see a cheese.
Fat and happy.
me.
Here is what I eat: in the morning we have what are called scorns with butter, which is essentially cornbread. It's delicious. I also often eat boiled eggs, which my peers laugh at me for. Then we are force fed cookies (like Iago on Aladdin) and often really watered down juices by the people we serve. They are so gracious. Too bad I am never hungry and almost never enjoy the food.
Then we go to the fresh market where I have recently discovered the pineapple. For one Fijian dollar, they will slice up a whole pineapple for you right there. And it's delicious and you can eat it on the go, which we always need to. Also at the market we find bananas and oranges. Weird note about fruits here in Fiji: you want to eat them while they're green. Oranges and bananas are ripe when they're green. After green they become brown (and they do it FAST!) and then they are rotten. And the bananas are so good that we call them banana grenades, so much flavor in such a small thing!
For dinner, a Fijian woman Arietta cooks for us. She makes rice and roti (if we're lucky) and some sort of curry. That's pretty much every night. Some night the curry has tuna or another fish in it so I just eat rice for dinner. And sometimes she makes tomato chutney. Oh. My. Gosh. It's my fave. Although it's filled with onions and peppers and leaks bubbles of oil, I love it. Speaking of oil, they sell it in bags here. Gross, huh? And everything they make is super oily. I sweat oil.
I also eat a lot of peanut butter, cakes (they seriously know how to do it in Fiji) and fiber bars. I have yet to open my giant bottles of Pepto Bismal. Perhaps my stomach is stronger than I ever believed it to be.
So I'm being well fed but would certainly appreciate some trail mix or candy or whatever. Those things are not to be found around here. Also, there is no dairy here. Milk is the powdered kind and I have yet to see a cheese.
Fat and happy.
me.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
A day in the life of
me. I feel like the great thing about being here is that every day is so different! But I'll give you the last day or so, to give you an understanding of what COULD happen while here. Once again, each day is super different.
Yesterday, Janey and I got up and went to the town of Dramasi to visit with an Indian lady (Urmelia) and her family and to help them build a garden. Because we are both relatively new to Fiji, we were a bit nervous about the traveling on our own. However, always ready for an adventure, we headed out! We rode the public buses (one of our FAVOURITE things to do because you are sitting and the windows are allowing a breeze from your sweaty body sticking to the pleather seats) and got off on a dirt road in Dramasi. Great, where do we go from there? An Indian man got off at the same stop and insisted that we go to his house and "rest" (super common here) for a while. We tried to politely decline but because of the language barrier - which is approximately 100% - he didn't understand and we ended up following him. He took us to his house and we sat on his porch, where we could see the road in case someone was going to come for us. His wife came out and served us juice (which happens everywhere we go...or it's cocoa or tea which I don't understand why they would drink that in this heat...) and stared at us. Palangi (white people) are super uncommon on this side of Fiji and people are often excited to see us. So, she watched us drink our juice. Janey and I tried to make conversation but the language barrier, as always, was too much and we were unsuccessful.
Finally, we called Urmelia and told her where we were. She yelled that that was far from her house and we shouldn't have gotten off the bus so early. Sorry? That's where the bus driver told us to get off! I handed the phone to our host and he spoke with her. He found out where she lived and agreed to walk us to her place. Before we went about our way, he chopped down two giant pieces of sugar cane for us. In case you don't know what sugar cane looks like, it's really similar looking to corn. It grows in tall green straws in rows. He grabbed his machete (they are everywhere. children literally run around with them in their hands) and hacked two down for us. They are what sugar is made of so they are kinda like giant candy canes. You just bite into it and suck and it's sugary water. I'm not in love with it but the Fijian people eat it all the time (which could account for their less than desirable teeth). So, Janey and I had these swords for sugar canes and were trying to eat them as we walked with this man on the dusty, hot road.
After about a mile uphill, he finally pointed out where we could go. He then gave us his phone number and told us to call him if we ever needed anything. The people here are so so nice!
We walked up the rest of the way and were greeted by Urmelia. She immediately took me into her arms and kissed me and called me her daughter. Her son brought out juice and cookies and we sat and ate. Though we were not hungry. Most of the time this is the case. After chatting for a while (understanding about 65% of what she was saying), we decided to get gardening. Urmelia did not want us to get burned so she put those large and in charge straw hats on our heads. Unfortunately for all involved, this put Janey and myself into a fit of giggles. I was trying to be professional as I explained to her the benefits of a square-foot garden and how we would plant it but as soon as I got myself under control, I would see Janey's pink face under that sun hat and start giggling again.
Then we built the garden. Her husband helped. Then they fed us gross food. Janey whispered that her mouth was on fire. I moved food about my plate as if I had tried it. Then she offered us coffee. No thanks. Really, we're full. Okay, thank you. The husband insisted we drink it. Normally this would be some sort of circumstance where I could stand out and say I don't drink coffee but no, they don't understand me. All they understand is how rude it is that we're just holding our cups. After several scoops of sugar, I managed a few sips. Uck.
Then Urmelia took an interest in Janey's age and realized that she would be the perfect bride for her son. She took her hand and led her into a back bedroom where she and her daughter-in-law stripped Janey to dress her in a sari. The best part of the whole day was when they were taking her clothes off and Janey begged to keep her shirt on. I turned around to get my camera and turned back to see that the shirt was off. Janey had lost that war. She was now their little doll (and future family member!) and they needed to dress her correctly. She was a good sport and went outside in her sari, posed with the family and declined to keep it as a gift. She then said that I wanted to try it on. Okay, I did. And they're beautiful. And I was disappointed to find out that the little dots that the Indian women wear on their foreheads are just for fashion. If you're married, you wear one. If you're not, you don't have to. And the jeweled ones are just to look nice. Here I was thinking that it was religious...
Then Janey and I hopped on the bus to come home. We got home and played Norwegataire and I won twice. Excellent. Since it gets dark at about 5 pm and we're not allowed outside after that, we play a lot of cards.
I fell asleep on Janey's bed while we all watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" and did not have restful sleep. I was in the fetal position at the bottom of her bed.
We got up and headed out to check on some of our gardens. That was just this morning. While we were there, the kids were getting out of kindy (kindergarten) and saw the palangi and came RUNNING at us! I have learned important Fijian words like run, climb, hi, bye, come and some of the children's songs (though I'm certain I'm singing them wrong) and that makes the kids love us! We played with them for probably longer than we should have and decided to head out and be productive for the rest of the day.
As we jumped into the carrier (pick up truck with a cover over the bed that charges you to take you places), the children were literally hanging on as we drove off. We all screamed good-bye at them so they would jump off. They eventually did. I wanted to take EVERY one of them home.
We went to do work at the Church. I climbed a tree and asked Janey if she would give me money to jump out. She said no, that it was too easy of a jump. I jumped. It was not too easy. I think my chin is bruising as we speak. or read?
After that? Pizza. Now the internet cafe and I need to leave to go do a garden in the village of Yasi Yasi. This probably wasn't near as entertaining for you to read as it was for me to experience but alas, here it is.
Loves!
me
Yesterday, Janey and I got up and went to the town of Dramasi to visit with an Indian lady (Urmelia) and her family and to help them build a garden. Because we are both relatively new to Fiji, we were a bit nervous about the traveling on our own. However, always ready for an adventure, we headed out! We rode the public buses (one of our FAVOURITE things to do because you are sitting and the windows are allowing a breeze from your sweaty body sticking to the pleather seats) and got off on a dirt road in Dramasi. Great, where do we go from there? An Indian man got off at the same stop and insisted that we go to his house and "rest" (super common here) for a while. We tried to politely decline but because of the language barrier - which is approximately 100% - he didn't understand and we ended up following him. He took us to his house and we sat on his porch, where we could see the road in case someone was going to come for us. His wife came out and served us juice (which happens everywhere we go...or it's cocoa or tea which I don't understand why they would drink that in this heat...) and stared at us. Palangi (white people) are super uncommon on this side of Fiji and people are often excited to see us. So, she watched us drink our juice. Janey and I tried to make conversation but the language barrier, as always, was too much and we were unsuccessful.
Finally, we called Urmelia and told her where we were. She yelled that that was far from her house and we shouldn't have gotten off the bus so early. Sorry? That's where the bus driver told us to get off! I handed the phone to our host and he spoke with her. He found out where she lived and agreed to walk us to her place. Before we went about our way, he chopped down two giant pieces of sugar cane for us. In case you don't know what sugar cane looks like, it's really similar looking to corn. It grows in tall green straws in rows. He grabbed his machete (they are everywhere. children literally run around with them in their hands) and hacked two down for us. They are what sugar is made of so they are kinda like giant candy canes. You just bite into it and suck and it's sugary water. I'm not in love with it but the Fijian people eat it all the time (which could account for their less than desirable teeth). So, Janey and I had these swords for sugar canes and were trying to eat them as we walked with this man on the dusty, hot road.
After about a mile uphill, he finally pointed out where we could go. He then gave us his phone number and told us to call him if we ever needed anything. The people here are so so nice!
We walked up the rest of the way and were greeted by Urmelia. She immediately took me into her arms and kissed me and called me her daughter. Her son brought out juice and cookies and we sat and ate. Though we were not hungry. Most of the time this is the case. After chatting for a while (understanding about 65% of what she was saying), we decided to get gardening. Urmelia did not want us to get burned so she put those large and in charge straw hats on our heads. Unfortunately for all involved, this put Janey and myself into a fit of giggles. I was trying to be professional as I explained to her the benefits of a square-foot garden and how we would plant it but as soon as I got myself under control, I would see Janey's pink face under that sun hat and start giggling again.
Then we built the garden. Her husband helped. Then they fed us gross food. Janey whispered that her mouth was on fire. I moved food about my plate as if I had tried it. Then she offered us coffee. No thanks. Really, we're full. Okay, thank you. The husband insisted we drink it. Normally this would be some sort of circumstance where I could stand out and say I don't drink coffee but no, they don't understand me. All they understand is how rude it is that we're just holding our cups. After several scoops of sugar, I managed a few sips. Uck.
Then Urmelia took an interest in Janey's age and realized that she would be the perfect bride for her son. She took her hand and led her into a back bedroom where she and her daughter-in-law stripped Janey to dress her in a sari. The best part of the whole day was when they were taking her clothes off and Janey begged to keep her shirt on. I turned around to get my camera and turned back to see that the shirt was off. Janey had lost that war. She was now their little doll (and future family member!) and they needed to dress her correctly. She was a good sport and went outside in her sari, posed with the family and declined to keep it as a gift. She then said that I wanted to try it on. Okay, I did. And they're beautiful. And I was disappointed to find out that the little dots that the Indian women wear on their foreheads are just for fashion. If you're married, you wear one. If you're not, you don't have to. And the jeweled ones are just to look nice. Here I was thinking that it was religious...
Then Janey and I hopped on the bus to come home. We got home and played Norwegataire and I won twice. Excellent. Since it gets dark at about 5 pm and we're not allowed outside after that, we play a lot of cards.
I fell asleep on Janey's bed while we all watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" and did not have restful sleep. I was in the fetal position at the bottom of her bed.
We got up and headed out to check on some of our gardens. That was just this morning. While we were there, the kids were getting out of kindy (kindergarten) and saw the palangi and came RUNNING at us! I have learned important Fijian words like run, climb, hi, bye, come and some of the children's songs (though I'm certain I'm singing them wrong) and that makes the kids love us! We played with them for probably longer than we should have and decided to head out and be productive for the rest of the day.
As we jumped into the carrier (pick up truck with a cover over the bed that charges you to take you places), the children were literally hanging on as we drove off. We all screamed good-bye at them so they would jump off. They eventually did. I wanted to take EVERY one of them home.
We went to do work at the Church. I climbed a tree and asked Janey if she would give me money to jump out. She said no, that it was too easy of a jump. I jumped. It was not too easy. I think my chin is bruising as we speak. or read?
After that? Pizza. Now the internet cafe and I need to leave to go do a garden in the village of Yasi Yasi. This probably wasn't near as entertaining for you to read as it was for me to experience but alas, here it is.
Loves!
me
Friday, June 18, 2010
Numbers
These are not all completely accurate numbers, though they are rough estimates and are pretty close to absolute truth:
2 live mice have been seen in my house
0 have been evacuated
1 stared at my roommate as she used the bathroom
19 dead frogs on my street (dried up)
2400 is the population of the town I'm living in
1 dead cockroach stuck in our screen door
24 living cockroaches attacking us per day (in the house)
2 missing deodorant sticks
100 percent love for the people
1 marriage proposal
2 times being asked out by a local
19 people living in my house (6 returned to America)
1 bathroom
1 fridge
0 complaints
0 washing machines
0 dishwashers
20 dollars we paid for a pizza
16 bug bits on my calves
3 schools I have visited
3 I have adored
195 times I have heard the song "Baby baby baby" by Justin Bieber
5 fans we have going in our house at all times
1 new favorite person that also will coincidentally be my roommate in the Fall
1 hair wrap on my head
5 days a week we work
2 days to play
1 week down
11 weeks to go
I love it here! I always think about how much I wish everyone I know could be experiencing these things. The people are the NICEST and they would do anything for you. Really. Oh Fijians.
2 live mice have been seen in my house
0 have been evacuated
1 stared at my roommate as she used the bathroom
19 dead frogs on my street (dried up)
2400 is the population of the town I'm living in
1 dead cockroach stuck in our screen door
24 living cockroaches attacking us per day (in the house)
2 missing deodorant sticks
100 percent love for the people
1 marriage proposal
2 times being asked out by a local
19 people living in my house (6 returned to America)
1 bathroom
1 fridge
0 complaints
0 washing machines
0 dishwashers
20 dollars we paid for a pizza
16 bug bits on my calves
3 schools I have visited
3 I have adored
195 times I have heard the song "Baby baby baby" by Justin Bieber
5 fans we have going in our house at all times
1 new favorite person that also will coincidentally be my roommate in the Fall
1 hair wrap on my head
5 days a week we work
2 days to play
1 week down
11 weeks to go
I love it here! I always think about how much I wish everyone I know could be experiencing these things. The people are the NICEST and they would do anything for you. Really. Oh Fijians.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Loving it!
Hey all,
Thanks so much again to those who contributed to help me get out here. I feel like you would be proud of the work I'm doing. I have been put as project lead over square foot gardening. That means that I travel from village to village with my new BFF (best Fiji friend) and co-lead Janey to teach the people how to tend gardens. I'm in a town called Tavua on the island of Viti Levu and Tavua is the second poorest town on the whole island. So, these people are so impoverished! Is that a work? My intelligence is deteriorating every day. Did I spell that right? Oh my gosh, I'm so dumb.
So, the people live in these homes with barely any water (let alone hot water) and basically no means to be self-sufficient. They are barefoot and their children walk around with torn up clothes and often nowhere to go. It's very communal so they all kinda raise each other's children. One great thing about the Fijian people (there are so many!) is that there is not an orphange. Why is this? Because when they see an abandoned child, they take it in as their own. Literally. Adoption is huge here and there are just villages with so many mothers and so many more children. And the kids? Oh my gosh, I want to bring them all home. They are BEAUTIFUL. Sadly I'm on an old-school computer and can't upload pictures but I promise that I already have a lot.
I lvoe the people and I love that Janey and I are teaching them that they can garden (we provide seeds) and either grow their own food or food to sell on the streets or in the market. And they are so happy to have us come teach them. I feel like other cultures might be stubborn or offended that people are coming to tell them how to live. But not the Fijians, they are happy to have us teach them what we know.
I love it here. It's hot as hell and that's okay. My hair is nappy and has only been washed twice. Sorry Ash.
Also, to those of you that I gave my phone number, I have to tell you something. We are about 18 hours ahead of you so think of that before you call me. :) Also, Saturdays and Sundays are a great time to reach me. Or after 6 pm my time.
I love you all and often wish that I had the people I loved with me so they could see all the wonderful things I am experiencing.
I'll be safe if you are too.
me
Thanks so much again to those who contributed to help me get out here. I feel like you would be proud of the work I'm doing. I have been put as project lead over square foot gardening. That means that I travel from village to village with my new BFF (best Fiji friend) and co-lead Janey to teach the people how to tend gardens. I'm in a town called Tavua on the island of Viti Levu and Tavua is the second poorest town on the whole island. So, these people are so impoverished! Is that a work? My intelligence is deteriorating every day. Did I spell that right? Oh my gosh, I'm so dumb.
So, the people live in these homes with barely any water (let alone hot water) and basically no means to be self-sufficient. They are barefoot and their children walk around with torn up clothes and often nowhere to go. It's very communal so they all kinda raise each other's children. One great thing about the Fijian people (there are so many!) is that there is not an orphange. Why is this? Because when they see an abandoned child, they take it in as their own. Literally. Adoption is huge here and there are just villages with so many mothers and so many more children. And the kids? Oh my gosh, I want to bring them all home. They are BEAUTIFUL. Sadly I'm on an old-school computer and can't upload pictures but I promise that I already have a lot.
I lvoe the people and I love that Janey and I are teaching them that they can garden (we provide seeds) and either grow their own food or food to sell on the streets or in the market. And they are so happy to have us come teach them. I feel like other cultures might be stubborn or offended that people are coming to tell them how to live. But not the Fijians, they are happy to have us teach them what we know.
I love it here. It's hot as hell and that's okay. My hair is nappy and has only been washed twice. Sorry Ash.
Also, to those of you that I gave my phone number, I have to tell you something. We are about 18 hours ahead of you so think of that before you call me. :) Also, Saturdays and Sundays are a great time to reach me. Or after 6 pm my time.
I love you all and often wish that I had the people I loved with me so they could see all the wonderful things I am experiencing.
I'll be safe if you are too.
me
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
I'm HEEEEERE!!!
It turns out that my phone access is relatively limited. This is no surprise but internet is definitely the easiest way to contact me. I'm currently sitting in a little booth in a hot hot room paying about 1.5 Fijian dollars per hour.
The flight to LAX was easy peasy. The flight from LAX to Nadi, Fiji was so long! Seriously. And the worst part was that by the time we got through security to fly internationally out of LAX, there were no restaurants. Therefore, I did not have one "last" American meal. Mak, we should have eaten. I was starving and I wanted to have a nasty hamburger and greasy fries before I wouldn't be allowed that benefit any longer. Too late. Bummer.
Anyway, flying to Fiji was a really long flight! We had little TVs in front of us but they didn't do much. I found myself in some sort of comatose state where I would watch fifteen minutes of a movie and then fall asleep. Wake up and eat something and then back to sleep. When they FINALLY turned on the cabin lights, my heart jumped for joy! Only to be shattered when they announced that they were just serving breakfast and we still had two and a half hours to go. But I was sitting next to this chick from Scotland with a sweet accent so it wasn't too bad.
When we landed (at 5 am, after 13 hours of flying) and walked outside, it literally took my breath away. Not because it was so beautiful (it was too dark to tell) but because I couldn't breathe! 73 degrees at 5 am and so humid that my arms felt sticky and I felt like I was inhaling straight from a humidifier.
I was with nine other girls from my program, some that I took to more than others. Fortunately for me, the ones I took to ended up being my roommates. Sweet. There are twenty five people in one house. With one bathroom. And no mirrors. ha ha. I am really roughing it! But I'm so excited!
They gave us about fifteen minutes to brush our teeth and put on sunscreen and we were out! The first place we visited was a hospital. I literally bit my bottom lip to avoid crying. It was so beautiful to see that in this hot, unsanitary and dirty place that the people were so welcoming and loving. Everyone yelled "bula!" at us, which means hello. I have already learned a few words and not to do some things (maybe I was scolded in public? maybe I've only been here about six hours? oh well). So many nice people in such a poverty stricken area. I guess that's how it goes though, huh?
We also went out to eat and just toured around the town. My feet are super swollen. I should never have made fun of my sister's pregnant feet because I'm sure mine are just as big. Embarrassing and painful. Sorry Ash. Beyond swollen feet, my legs are oily from some special sort of bug spray, my arms are greased with sweat and sunscreen and I'm happy. I already love it and am excited to work on projects!
Don't worry about me (cough Mom cough) because Fiji is safe! The town that we are living in was just given a crime-free award. We live next door to the missionaries and across the street from a police officer. Our street is basically full of government people. Too bad they can't outlaw BUGS! Word on the street is that cochroaches are around here. Yuck.
I have already eaten things I wouldn't normally in the U.S. such as salami, swiss cheese and onions. I guess this really is life-altering, eh?
Kim just chatted with me on gmail (my first outside contact) and wants to know about the house. It's one story and it's bright green. Four bedrooms. One for the boys (four boys) and three for the girls (twenty one girls). The bunk beds are placed inside that house like a jigsaw puzzle! The shower does not provide warm water and the toilet seems clean. So, no hole in the ground. Huzzah!
I love it love it love it and promise to be safe and smart. That's what everyone keeps saying to me. I don't know why...
ps. I think we're skydiving on Saturday!!! that's safe. and smart.
Love you all!
Thanks to Ambs and Mak for your emails and for both of you sending me self portraits. I knew I loved you fools for a reason.
Have fun you uncultured Americans!!! (just kidding)
me
The flight to LAX was easy peasy. The flight from LAX to Nadi, Fiji was so long! Seriously. And the worst part was that by the time we got through security to fly internationally out of LAX, there were no restaurants. Therefore, I did not have one "last" American meal. Mak, we should have eaten. I was starving and I wanted to have a nasty hamburger and greasy fries before I wouldn't be allowed that benefit any longer. Too late. Bummer.
Anyway, flying to Fiji was a really long flight! We had little TVs in front of us but they didn't do much. I found myself in some sort of comatose state where I would watch fifteen minutes of a movie and then fall asleep. Wake up and eat something and then back to sleep. When they FINALLY turned on the cabin lights, my heart jumped for joy! Only to be shattered when they announced that they were just serving breakfast and we still had two and a half hours to go. But I was sitting next to this chick from Scotland with a sweet accent so it wasn't too bad.
When we landed (at 5 am, after 13 hours of flying) and walked outside, it literally took my breath away. Not because it was so beautiful (it was too dark to tell) but because I couldn't breathe! 73 degrees at 5 am and so humid that my arms felt sticky and I felt like I was inhaling straight from a humidifier.
I was with nine other girls from my program, some that I took to more than others. Fortunately for me, the ones I took to ended up being my roommates. Sweet. There are twenty five people in one house. With one bathroom. And no mirrors. ha ha. I am really roughing it! But I'm so excited!
They gave us about fifteen minutes to brush our teeth and put on sunscreen and we were out! The first place we visited was a hospital. I literally bit my bottom lip to avoid crying. It was so beautiful to see that in this hot, unsanitary and dirty place that the people were so welcoming and loving. Everyone yelled "bula!" at us, which means hello. I have already learned a few words and not to do some things (maybe I was scolded in public? maybe I've only been here about six hours? oh well). So many nice people in such a poverty stricken area. I guess that's how it goes though, huh?
We also went out to eat and just toured around the town. My feet are super swollen. I should never have made fun of my sister's pregnant feet because I'm sure mine are just as big. Embarrassing and painful. Sorry Ash. Beyond swollen feet, my legs are oily from some special sort of bug spray, my arms are greased with sweat and sunscreen and I'm happy. I already love it and am excited to work on projects!
Don't worry about me (cough Mom cough) because Fiji is safe! The town that we are living in was just given a crime-free award. We live next door to the missionaries and across the street from a police officer. Our street is basically full of government people. Too bad they can't outlaw BUGS! Word on the street is that cochroaches are around here. Yuck.
I have already eaten things I wouldn't normally in the U.S. such as salami, swiss cheese and onions. I guess this really is life-altering, eh?
Kim just chatted with me on gmail (my first outside contact) and wants to know about the house. It's one story and it's bright green. Four bedrooms. One for the boys (four boys) and three for the girls (twenty one girls). The bunk beds are placed inside that house like a jigsaw puzzle! The shower does not provide warm water and the toilet seems clean. So, no hole in the ground. Huzzah!
I love it love it love it and promise to be safe and smart. That's what everyone keeps saying to me. I don't know why...
ps. I think we're skydiving on Saturday!!! that's safe. and smart.
Love you all!
Thanks to Ambs and Mak for your emails and for both of you sending me self portraits. I knew I loved you fools for a reason.
Have fun you uncultured Americans!!! (just kidding)
me
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Day after tomorrow.
Wow, this is really happening. Maybe I should finish packing?
I think I'm starting to become nervous..
I think I'm starting to become nervous..
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Approximately
120 hours from now, I will be getting on the airplane. Oh yeah, and I only have about eight skirts or dresses. This shouldn't be as hard as it is.
I'm getting EXCITED!
Once again, thanks so so much to all of you who donated to help make this possible.
These are my actual people there in Fiji, playing amongst the people. I'll be there in just a few days.
I'm getting EXCITED!
Once again, thanks so so much to all of you who donated to help make this possible.
These are my actual people there in Fiji, playing amongst the people. I'll be there in just a few days.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Today I bought
Two large bottles of Pepto Bismol
Fiber bars
Beef jerky
Fiber bars
Dried mangoes that taste like peppers
Tampons
and I paid off the rest of my trip. One week from today.
Fiber bars
Beef jerky
Fiber bars
Dried mangoes that taste like peppers
Tampons
and I paid off the rest of my trip. One week from today.
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