What I've realized in the past two days:
1. two years is a long time
2. little gets done without motivation
3. the post is slow in Fiji
4. my brother is cosmically connected to the universe
5. choices become harder as you get older
6. who ever said 'if I am not myself then who am I' should go home and rethink his/her words
7. habits are hard to break, unless you're me.
8. being an insomniac is a nuisance
9. sleeping pills make you groggy
Suffice it to say, work is slow at the moment.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sharing
Despite my recent insomnia, resulting in a general lack of energy, in the recent weeks, I decided I would have a dinner party with friends from work.
Fiji, as a communal society, is very good about sharing. No matter who you are, where you come from- if there is food, everyone should be able to eat. Sharing a meal is common practice. So, everyday at work I have people say "Gunu ti" (translation: drink tea) as an invitation to eat whatever is present on the table before them, whether it be a single cookie or an entire three course meal has no bearing on the offer.
I remember during an event put on for Ministry of Health staff a man came by to sell some peanuts. He's a known man in town, to most people he is the skinny-peanut-man who walks to and fro from one end of town to the other saying "bean, peanut, bean, peanut", sometimes he will change it up a little and say "bean,bean, bean, bean..." or simply "peanuts? peeeanutss..." Sufficed it to say, he is overlooked by most. But, during this particular function he happened to come around at the right time, everyone was sitting eating palau and a doctor invited him in for a plate. The skinny-peanut-man sat contented with a full meal to feed his belly.
Although I lived in a village during training and have seen and experienced evidence of this behavior, it was a formality among most who were well nourished and could return the favor in the near or distant future. This situation, however, had been different; a Fijian doctor had invited a skinny, peanut and bean selling, indian man who surly would not be able to reciprocate the gesture, to sit and join him for lunch at his work function. This is common in Fiji, and I wondered to myself, why is it not in other places? Ohh toto, I dont think we're in aMurica anymore.
This happened within the first month of living in Lautoka. But it still stands ou to me. People share their meals- granted, it's not always as generous or genuine, but it is always offered. And, since I dont alwyas bring my lunch to work I thought it might be nice to have people over for hamburgers as my invitation for 'ti'. It wasnt quite the same, but it was what it was. We ate like Americans... all 18 hamburgers between 6 people. It was delightful and we were all happy.
Fiji, as a communal society, is very good about sharing. No matter who you are, where you come from- if there is food, everyone should be able to eat. Sharing a meal is common practice. So, everyday at work I have people say "Gunu ti" (translation: drink tea) as an invitation to eat whatever is present on the table before them, whether it be a single cookie or an entire three course meal has no bearing on the offer.
I remember during an event put on for Ministry of Health staff a man came by to sell some peanuts. He's a known man in town, to most people he is the skinny-peanut-man who walks to and fro from one end of town to the other saying "bean, peanut, bean, peanut", sometimes he will change it up a little and say "bean,bean, bean, bean..." or simply "peanuts? peeeanutss..." Sufficed it to say, he is overlooked by most. But, during this particular function he happened to come around at the right time, everyone was sitting eating palau and a doctor invited him in for a plate. The skinny-peanut-man sat contented with a full meal to feed his belly.
Although I lived in a village during training and have seen and experienced evidence of this behavior, it was a formality among most who were well nourished and could return the favor in the near or distant future. This situation, however, had been different; a Fijian doctor had invited a skinny, peanut and bean selling, indian man who surly would not be able to reciprocate the gesture, to sit and join him for lunch at his work function. This is common in Fiji, and I wondered to myself, why is it not in other places? Ohh toto, I dont think we're in aMurica anymore.
This happened within the first month of living in Lautoka. But it still stands ou to me. People share their meals- granted, it's not always as generous or genuine, but it is always offered. And, since I dont alwyas bring my lunch to work I thought it might be nice to have people over for hamburgers as my invitation for 'ti'. It wasnt quite the same, but it was what it was. We ate like Americans... all 18 hamburgers between 6 people. It was delightful and we were all happy.
Monday, January 26, 2009
An 'uplifiting' project
So, who says international development can't be cosmetic AND health related?
I have been assigned an unusual task- it's quite fitting, if you ask me. I have two full boxes of bras to distribute to women around Lautoka. The program was something developed through Rotary Australia called "Project Uplift Fiji" - check it out: http://www.upliftbras.org/.
I have been assigned an unusual task- it's quite fitting, if you ask me. I have two full boxes of bras to distribute to women around Lautoka. The program was something developed through Rotary Australia called "Project Uplift Fiji" - check it out: http://www.upliftbras.org/.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Cyclone season
I've decided I'm not too fond of cyclones, as they have severely put a damper on my ability to access sunlight. hmm. The sun hasn't appeared in a week and a half and thats very uncommon here, in the burning west.
So how do I explain this. I live in Lautoka, as you all should know by now, and Lautoka is the only city in the west that doesn't have a river running through it. This means that we are safe from major flooding. Unfortunately for my neighbors, they are not so lucky all being cursed with large rivers that flood under extreme weather conditions (i.e. lots of rain= flooding). Their deluged state has put an even bigger damper on their lives, most of them have had to move to safe houses and consolidation areas like schools and large community halls. Water is scarce, and electricity is unreliable, so people have been collecting rain water like mad, and buying anything that isn't reliant on refrigeration. I don't know who the makers of tin tuna are, but they are surely making a fortune.
This is the worst flood seen in this area in 20 years.
If there were ever a time to highlight cultural differences between the two major ethnic groups in Fiji, this would be it. The extreme downpours have left, [almost] rivers running through the streets. Any crevice, any groove, there is water, and A LOT of it at that (and like I said, comparatively speaking its not even that bad in Lautoka), forming water-slide like entertainment for those who squint enough to imagine it to be so. As Fijians flock outside with their wild imaginations, Indians retreat to the comforts of their dry couches and televisions. I'm not sure what exactly this all means, but I DO know that I think I might be turning Fijian. Dont be surprised if I come back 100lbs heavier with a mustache-- it could happen. I LOVE rain and I too have seen the water slides, splash in the puddles and sit on my roof is the heaviest of rainfall.
The rain should be dying down soon, but peoples houses are left with a single dirt line marking the duress left behind by the last few weeks.
For those of you planning to visit.... Take note: January= not a good time to visit Fiji.
So how do I explain this. I live in Lautoka, as you all should know by now, and Lautoka is the only city in the west that doesn't have a river running through it. This means that we are safe from major flooding. Unfortunately for my neighbors, they are not so lucky all being cursed with large rivers that flood under extreme weather conditions (i.e. lots of rain= flooding). Their deluged state has put an even bigger damper on their lives, most of them have had to move to safe houses and consolidation areas like schools and large community halls. Water is scarce, and electricity is unreliable, so people have been collecting rain water like mad, and buying anything that isn't reliant on refrigeration. I don't know who the makers of tin tuna are, but they are surely making a fortune.
This is the worst flood seen in this area in 20 years.
If there were ever a time to highlight cultural differences between the two major ethnic groups in Fiji, this would be it. The extreme downpours have left, [almost] rivers running through the streets. Any crevice, any groove, there is water, and A LOT of it at that (and like I said, comparatively speaking its not even that bad in Lautoka), forming water-slide like entertainment for those who squint enough to imagine it to be so. As Fijians flock outside with their wild imaginations, Indians retreat to the comforts of their dry couches and televisions. I'm not sure what exactly this all means, but I DO know that I think I might be turning Fijian. Dont be surprised if I come back 100lbs heavier with a mustache-- it could happen. I LOVE rain and I too have seen the water slides, splash in the puddles and sit on my roof is the heaviest of rainfall.
The rain should be dying down soon, but peoples houses are left with a single dirt line marking the duress left behind by the last few weeks.
For those of you planning to visit.... Take note: January= not a good time to visit Fiji.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Testing in paradise
Upon my return from the tumultuous Suva experience I was informed that I was off to paradise. A team was being sent to top end resorts to provide HIV information and test their staff. As you might imagine, resorts are importing testing places with their influx of oversees tourists. Without so much as a blink, I was pushing my schedule forward by a week. A going away party for a friend happened on a Tuesday instead of Friday- who holds a going away party on Tuesday? My hosting skills are clearly deteriorating, not to mention we had to change the venue. Nothing else really changed, because after all, 'Fiji time' takes occasions like this into account- in other words, very little is set in stone.
The boat departed on Wednesday morning, 10 December- three days before my dad was scheduled to arrive, and with 'Fiji time' I wasn't sure whether I would be back in time to pick him up... but I went anyway. Four hours on a catamaran and we were off to the last island in the Yasawa group- Yasawa i-ra ra. I looked out into the crystal clear water at the boats coming to retrieve passengers to take them to their respective destinations. Amidst the modern/steel looking boats I saw a single boat painted blue, a village boat, and I knew that our ride had arrived. We were off.
the boat... stuck.
We stayed at the medical center on Nacula island. A single doctor provides all medical services for 6,000 people on a bunch of different islands. hmm, again, hmmm. I guess I can better understand why a chopper was needed for an asthmatic patient that day (if you've been following my blog, you would know this reference...).
Upon arrival we immediately starting working. At Orasmans Bay resort, we sat around the Tanoa bowl (where kava is served) and gave an informational session followed by a Q&A. The Q&A sessions seem to be the most informative and helpful for everyone. When the sessions were finished, the testing started. There were three counsellors, two women and one man. Fiji has taken the VCT (voluntary counseling and testing) approach to HIV testing- therefore every person tested must undergo pre and post test counselling. This process was repeated at- Yasawa Lodge, Nanuya resort and Turtle Resort (where McCain decided to spent his Christmas this year). There were around 20 people tested at each resort, and more who attended the informational sessions.
Overall the program was quite successful. The only problem is that everyone is required to travel into Lautoka to pick up their results. I suppose it sounds worse than it really is. Almost everyone, these days, comes in to do their shopping once a month or so. That said, I am still trying to convince the doctor and counselors to return and personally deliver the results.
Oh, and I did make it back in time to pick up my dad from the airport at 5am on Saturday morning.
We stayed at the medical center on Nacula island. A single doctor provides all medical services for 6,000 people on a bunch of different islands. hmm, again, hmmm. I guess I can better understand why a chopper was needed for an asthmatic patient that day (if you've been following my blog, you would know this reference...).
Upon arrival we immediately starting working. At Orasmans Bay resort, we sat around the Tanoa bowl (where kava is served) and gave an informational session followed by a Q&A. The Q&A sessions seem to be the most informative and helpful for everyone. When the sessions were finished, the testing started. There were three counsellors, two women and one man. Fiji has taken the VCT (voluntary counseling and testing) approach to HIV testing- therefore every person tested must undergo pre and post test counselling. This process was repeated at- Yasawa Lodge, Nanuya resort and Turtle Resort (where McCain decided to spent his Christmas this year). There were around 20 people tested at each resort, and more who attended the informational sessions.
Overall the program was quite successful. The only problem is that everyone is required to travel into Lautoka to pick up their results. I suppose it sounds worse than it really is. Almost everyone, these days, comes in to do their shopping once a month or so. That said, I am still trying to convince the doctor and counselors to return and personally deliver the results.
Oh, and I did make it back in time to pick up my dad from the airport at 5am on Saturday morning.
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