February 13, Fiji Time

I'm in my third week here in Fiji. I have become much more comfortable here, but challenges have continued to present themselves. My parents had warned me the third week will probably be hard, and they were right. This week I experienced homesickness. I miss my family, friends, and just being in New York. I miss American food, my job, and although I never thought I'd say this- I miss the cold. I have also found it difficult to relax here. There is limited space to be by myself, and I don't have a lot of time during the day to unwind and process things, which I find is necessary here. In response, this week I have been writing, listening to music, and sleeping as much as I can. I know I will gradually become accustomed to life here in Fiji, I just have to give it time.

Traveling to Fiji is stepping out of my comfort zone in a big way. I write about the challenges I face here not to complain, or even to gain sympathy. I write about my challenges because it is all part of the experience of being here. In Fiji, the good certainly outweighs the bad, but to only write about the good things would be to only write half the story.

Mark Twain said: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's life." I needed to travel to gain some new perspective, and while I don't consider myself prejudiced, bigoted, or narrow minded as the quote says, I find that it is easy to make assumptions about the world if you never experience it beyond where you grew up. So in that sense I think this quote is really accurate to what I'm experiencing now. I feel myself growing every day, and my understanding of the world is expanding beyond that of just life in America.

Now the fun stuff!

On Friday I experienced a piece of real Fijian culture. Kava. From the internet: "Kava or kava-kava is a root found on South Pacific islands. Islanders have used Kava as medicine and in ceremonies for centuries. Kava has a calming effect, producing brain wave changes similar to changes that occur with calming medicines...." On Friday night, I went to town with a group of locals- mostly deaf. Seru asked me if I'd like to go try Kava, which he's been trying to get me to do for a week or so. I said sure, so off we went with 2 other friends to a town maybe 25 minutes outside of Suva. The town was not a place I would go alone in the day, never mind at night, but I reminded myself I was perfectly safe with locals. After a short walk, we arrived at the house of the woman in our group. Once inside we all sat in a circle on a floor mat, and she prepared the Kava. It is prepared by pouring water into a large bowl and then adding the Kava mixture- similar to making tea. When it was ready, they taught me the proper way to drink it: clap once, say "Bula" and drink it all without stopping. Once finished, clap 3 more times and hand the cup off. They had me go first. Kava is very bitter, but goes down easily. Apparently it makes some people feel sick the first time but I felt fine the whole night. We drank a lot of it, and they seemed surprised that I was able to keep up, but honestly I didn't feel much, I just felt like sleeping. All in all it was a fascinating peek into Fijian culture, which I wouldn't mind trying again.

Kava (from Google Images)

A quick note about coffee. On the trip to LA I ran into a man from New Zealand named Chris. He mentioned that it was hard to find a good cup of coffee in the states, and now I know what he meant. The coffee here in Fiji is fantastic, especially at a certain shop called Gloria Jean's. I have gone there 3 or 4 times now and each time I am blown away at the quality. I'm not sure what they do differently, but I'm happy with it!

I have been advancing in my knowledge of sign, and have begun sign more fluidly and understand what is said to me more consistently.  At the school I am still in Levenia's class, observing and helping the kids with their work. During my time in and out of the classrooms, I have found that getting to know someone has very little to do with what they say. Most of these kids do not speak at all, yet I feel I have a good grasp on who they are, simply by watching their facial expressions, body language, and how they interact with me and each other. It is fascinating to me how little language is required for true understanding of a person. The more sign I know, the easier it is to help the kids, so I have gradually begun to help more and more in the class.

Levenia's Class (featuring Jim Cooney, school director)

Over the weekend we made our way to Colo-I-Suva. It is a rainforest outside Suva, that has man-made nature paths and beautiful waterfalls. One spot has a natural pool deep enough to swim and dive in, and a rope swing. Having never been in a real rainforest before, this was an amazing experience. I only wish the paths were a little easier to navigate, as most of it was too wet and slippery to safely take pictures. I did manage to take a few pictures of the pool and the falls, however, in between swimming, playing tag, and flying off the rope swing at terrifying heights!

Rope Swing

Rainforest

To end the weekend, I spent two nights at a resort nearby the falls, called Colo-I-Suva Rainforest Eco Resort, or Raintree Lodge. The room was bare and small, and it was stiflingly hot in the rainforest, but I really enjoyed a chance to be alone, watch Netflix and unwind. It gave me the time I needed to process all that has gone on here in Fiji so far, and now having returned to Samabula, I feel refreshed and ready to take on week 4!