#kalavata

[bobbieinfiji]

September 16, 2019

Two weeks down in my homestay, and three weeks down in Fiji! It’s amazing how quickly these days are going. I can already tell these two years will flash by quicker than sand through your fingers.

This past week has been much of the same with training in the iTaukei language (I love the spelling of this, it makes it seem like an Apple product), diversity training, workshops on white saviorism and how to avoid it, and classroom content. The garden we planted week one already has 6” high bean sprouts and cabbage seeds went in this morning. Things grow like mad here and it makes me excited for my permanent site where I can have my own little garden. We find out in the next two weeks where our two year site will be and I am just dying to know. My host family has been wonderful and I’m so lucky to have been able to come here first to learn and ease into the culture, but I am so looking forward to having a space to decorate and make my own. Though, I’m sure the minute I leave I will immediately miss the meals, warmth, routine, and security of these early stages.

Today we’re doing a cooking practicum along with language lessons so we know how to cook the basics of Fijian cuisine. I am psyched to roll out rotis and prepare bele (pronounced mm-bell-ey) which is a type of fern that grows rampant. Tomorrow is even more exciting because we’re entering a Fijian school for the first time. We’re just shadowing the primary school teacher for now, but still a very exciting step. I’m excited to see the kids from our village in a school setting and get an idea of what a part of my day to day will be for the next two years.

Last last weekend (a week ago Saturday) we held a little fundraising festival in our village. It was held in the town center and food was served, the kids performed a hula, and grog (or kava) was drunk until the wee hours. Some other peace corps trainees (PCTs) came from their host villages as well and the entire day was quite the success. My Na (host mom) got us sewn matching dresses which is a big thing here. Families or any other type of designated group will get outfits all sewn out of the same material. It’s called “kalavata”. When we are all sworn in as volunteers each training village will do kalavata when they come in to support us. I can’t wait.

This weekend the 5 other PCTs in Naila (our village) and myself lead a practice lesson with the kids in our neighborhood. We did a quick session on toothbrushing and flossing. Here toothbrushing is something kids do at school not at home and flossing was an entirely new concept. I was amazed at how attentive and respectful all the kids were- of all ages, and how willing they were to let us practice with them. We at least ended the “lesson” with a game of spike ball so it was a win win. Later that night two girls who live next door came over to get some floss before bed! Dental floss has never brought me such glee!!!!

Sunday’s are mostly comprised of church which has been a bit challenging as it is almost entirely in iTaukei. The music continues to be fantastic though and to be with the community is important. If anything it serves to encourage me to learn quicker so I can know what they’re saying!! I also use any free time to go on long walks with my fellow PCTs. The amount of food I’m being fed has not lessened so any opportunity for exercise is much appreciated. Women here don’t have many avenues for exercise outside school run netball (if the school offers it), owing in no small part to the restrictive dress expected. Long skirts and dresses are pretty much the only acceptable form of clothing for girls over 12 or 13. Not exactly conducive to going for a run or getting active. So long skirted walks it has been, and even that my family & neighbors don’t seem to understand why we are walking to no where but have mostly accepted our weird American ways.

The exercise being our number one motive, there is also the secondary benefits of being able to see more of the area and get comfortable in our surroundings, as well as spot local wildlife. Mongooses and giant toads abound as well as (my favorite) giant bats the size of hawks!!! They’re called beka here and you can catch me beka watching almost every night of the week. They’re fruit bats (a la Stella Luna) so no need to worry about imminent vampiric danger.

These experiences have been making me think a lot about all the people in my life who have traveled and adventured before me, inspiring me along this path. Especially my Grandma, Janet, who passed away in July. She would have loved to come visit me here and we could have had kalavata made for us, which she (and I) would have loved. It makes me frustrated I didn’t do this sooner so she could have made it out here.

More pictures of cooking and school and everything to follow. Much love to you all ❤️

[95tommy]

This photo was taken in Naqali featuring my cousin Losalini with our same colorvata. I was surprised seeing her wearing the same material. #happymoments #kalavata #blueprint #fjliving

[todayinfijiposts-blog]

Nalini’s notable goodye

LICE MOVONO

AS the junior students of Gau Secondary School began the all too familiar tune of “Isa Lei”, the awards ceremony atmosphere changed from what had been festive and fun to a bittersweet sadness.

People had come from all over the three Tikina of Gau; Navukailagi, Sawaieke and Vanuaso to join in celebrating the academic achievements of the islands young people.

Perched on a hill not too far inland from the jetty at Nawaikama, Gau Secondary School is but a baby, having been established in 1970 from the proceeds of sugar cane cutting.

The islands then elders, as told to this writer by former school manager Saiasi Mataitoga, realised in the 1960s that urban migration and the need for development would require the establishment of a school.

Mr Mataitoga, whose own three sons now work at the school, two are teachers and the eldest Marika Mataitoga its current manager, said they wanted to be sure the people of Gau could remain on the island.

“We wanted our people to be able to stay here and study, life in the city is not easy and it is very expensive,” Mr Mataitoga said.

At the time, some of the men from the village had worked on sugar cane plantations on Viti Levu and formed relationships with its Indian sirdars and so began what would become a life long relationship between the largely Itaukei population of Gau and their Indian neighbours.

In the late 1960s, men from Gau Island worked on plantations in the western division, raising the necessary funds to establish Gau Secondary School which opened its doors in 1970.

In 1975, new graduate from the University of the South Pacific, Shamima Ali was posted to the school.

Fourty years later, she was invited back to as chief guest at the schools awards ceremony.

“This school has always had a long history of multiethnic diversity. As a young teacher, this was my first posting and I loved it here,” Ms Ali told the Gau island community on Wednesday.

“It didnt look like this and im still trying to figure out where my Bure was.”

She praised the schools early fathers, now the Gau Island Council for their foresight and said her posting there, despite her already Itaukei connection, gave her a great learning experience.

Calling it a useful education for both teachers and students, Ms Ali said Fijians needed to celebrate their diversity.

“We all want the same thing in life, no matter the race. We all want to eat, to drink, to sleep. We all want to raise our families and to love and live a happy life – so we share the same needs and wants,” she said.

Ms Ali and several officials from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, led with tears streaming down their faces the rather unique farewell ceremony the Gau Secondary School community gave its Year 13 students.

As the school choir led the “Isa Lei” sobs rang through the line of senior students whose gratitude towards their fellow students and teachers they expressed with open emotion.

In the line were the 23 kalavata clad teachers, including Nalini Kumar, originally form Lautoka, who took the time like her other colleagues to say a personal farewell to the entire class.

What set the former Bucalevu Secondary School teacher apart though was the affection and emotion in her embrace as she consoled the emotional students.

In one instance, she could be heard almost admonishing school Dux Tailasi Bulamaibau but with a one hand on his tear laden cheeks to combine motherly love with the firm tone synonymous with teachers telling him to work hard in the year to come.

Bulamaibau had just earlier scooped three subject prizes and the best student award to take home more trophies than he could carry along with a laptop and printer.

Principal Atama Nakalevu himself in the line along with Ms Kumar told those present at the awards ceremony that the members of his faculty were dynamic.

He said the 23 teaching staff, who share only 12 quarters, some with two families in one building, worked hard to ensure the students received the best possible education on the island and resisted the influences of city living.

“These children are smart, they make good grades here but somehow when they went to Suva they ‘ do great. Those who go for further schooling fail or end up coming back here and those who pass from here go and do jobs like packing or become security guards,” Mr Nakalevu said.

“We realise that we had to work hard to keep them here and to make sure they passed well from here.”

#Fiji Stories #Fiji News #FijiEducation #Fiji Islands #Gau Secondary School #mrs kim

[findyourfeetfiji]

When too much Bula is not enough! #kalavata #expatlife #fijiliving (at Toorak, Central, Fiji) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoXzoXmHNgD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kilwg7cxi4qs

#kalavata #expatlife #fijiliving

[bobbieinfiji]

November 1, 2019

So little time has passed and yet so much has happened!

Above all I have sworn in and am officially, as of yesterday, a Peace Corps Volunteer. Secondly I have just arrived in Nadroga Province, in the village I will call home for the next two years.

The beauty is overwhelming. When preparing to come to Fiji I spent a lot of time explaining to people that ‘no I would not be on a resort relaxing for two years, Fiji is a diverse country with many landscapes...it is unrealistic to think I will be sitting on a white sand beach under a palm tree with turquoise waters stretching in front of me.’ And here I am eating my words because it turns out that is exactly what I will be doing. The village is nestled between three resorts on a stretch of coast known through out the pacific region for its beauty. I keep pinching myself to see if it is real. The Peace Corps is supposed to be “the hardest job you’ll ever love” but how difficult can life get if you can end the day with a view like that. I can’t believe my good fortune and am brimming, bursting, overflowing with excitement to become a part of this village.

There was a small change of plans regarding my housing, in that the village still needs to do a few renovations to my future home, so I will be staying with two women in the village until the repairs are complete. Though initially disappointed to delay nesting into my house, I feel really lucky to have such an instant connection into village life. Especially since they are both women close to my age, their friendship and support will be invaluable when it comes to integrating successfully. Basically it’s going to be ladies night every night! Another plus is I can have a bit of a hand in some of the decisions regarding my house (re: paint color [pink, obv]).

The past few weeks have been a blur of trainings, goodbyes, feasts, dancing, grog circles, and being completely loved on by our host villages. It’s amazing the amount of comfort we gained by the end of the two months. The village really started to feel like home and the language started to feel like second nature (the small things at least). It is one of those times where you feel as though right when you get the hang of things you have to leave. It’s a good reminder to not get discouraged in the beginning here since took two entire months to feel at home even with the help of a host family, structured days, and a big group of Americans near by.

After tearful goodbyes (honestly, there was not a dry eye to be found. The beautiful farewell songs sung constantly was no help in that regard), we all headed to an ecolodge for a weekend to decompress and have some reflection time to process the intense experience we had all just gone through together. It really felt special that Peace Corps budgeted that time in before the mad dash of swear in week and departing for our sites. It truly made a huge difference. Plus, who can complain about being on the beach in Fiji for the weekend?

After reflecting and recharging the group headed to Fiji’s capital city, Suva, for a week of preparing to leave for site. For some volunteers leaving for outer islands this was their only chance to buy everything for their future homes until the next time they would have access to stores— which may not come for another few months at least. Again my housing situation proved to be a positive as I didn’t have to buy anything right away and will be able to see my house and know exactly what to buy before shopping. We also had the opportunity to meet counterparts from our future villages and start thinking about the next two years. Plus we all were able to finally let off a little steam, wear our American clothes, eat a more diverse diet, and go out on the town after two months of more rigid village rules and no drinking allowed. What I’m trying to say is we all were very excited, all over the place, and very tired.

The week ended with our swearing in ceremony. All of our host villages came to Suva to support us. Each village had clothing made from the same material, so when you looked out at the audience you could see exactly who was from what village depending on the kalavata. It was a truly special occasion that was marked by not only swearing of oaths but also the (questionable) dancing of a traditional meke and speeches made in both iTaukei and Hindi by the new volunteers. Afterwards, we all went out on the town to celebrate and cherish each other’s company one last time before we were spread all over the country.

So now completely exhausted and a little hung over, we have said more tearful goodbyes and I find myself here, in the place where it’s all going to happen.

What I’ve found, is the beginning of the Peace Corps is full of goodbye. First you leave your friends and family at home. Then you are given a new family who takes care of you and guides you through all the new changes, who you then must leave as well. Then you finally leave a tightly knit cohort of people you have experienced so much change and culture shock and laughter and diarrhea with to find yourself alone again starting afresh. The intensity surrounding the circumstances of the friendships makes them feel so much deeper than what correlates with the time you have spent together. It makes me fear the end of the two years and the difficultly of the goodbyes awaiting me there. But thankfully those tears are far away and here I stand at the brink of something so new and so full of possibility. I can’t help but feel like one of the luckiest.