Archive for July, 2011

Becky and Amy’s best blog ever;

Despite only being in the village for ten days so far, Naicabecabe feels like home. Our Fijian families have given us an unbelievable welcome and we feel like we belong here. We’ve both hit the jackpot – It just so happens our families are amazing cooks and there’s never a meal time where we don’t have to say “ma maoul” and lie down on the floor cradling our food babies. As Ronnie has reminded us many a time: “You’ll never out eat a Fijian!”

Hop hop has quickly become one of our favourite Fijian traditions. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night we put on our sulus and head on down to the village hall for a crazy night of grog and hop hop – We may pass on the grog, but never on the hop hop! Best hop hop so far has been the fancy dress night. The Fijian’s found it hilarious when the whole team rocked up in full Fijian tribal wear. Definitely a night to remember!

Project is in full swing. We’ve both spent a week in school and a week in Kindi with an odd afternoon on build, and we’re absolutely loving it! We’ve both separately spent a week teaching on our own in class 3 which has been fun, but a challenge to say the least. In true Fijian style we found out on several mornings that our teacher was taking a day off to go shopping in Levuka or just not coming in at all!

The children are so full of enthusiasm and eager to learn however, that they’ve thrown themselves into everything we’ve given them. Favourites have been “the monster project” which we’ve carried on over the last two weeks, learning the time and a very manic drama lesson on the three little pigs!

Kindi certainly lived up to our high expectations and the madness began the moment we got there. Elisa, the Kindi teacher does an excellent job of controlling twenty or so very lively 3 to 5 year olds, but it’s clear that us volunteers really make a difference when we arrive. Handprinting went down a bit too well with most of us coming out covered head to toe in paint and glitter. Yesterday was ‘library day” and great effort had been put into Kindi costumes. Captain “Heg-arrr-ty” made an appearance and led the merry mob in a parade from the Kindi ship, around the field, and back.

Every afternoon is sports and the two of us have been coaching netball along with Anna, Annabelle, Becca and Zoe. Our training has become very important with the looming netball tournament in Levuka on Friday in which we hope our girls will be scouted. The boys have also been training kids for the rugby tournament which will be held at the same time and the whole team is excited for a day out supporting the girls and boys from the school. GO MOTURIKI!!! We’ve also been subject to a vigorous training schedule ourselves  from the locals as we’ll be playing for the TP netball cup next week. It’s down to us to regain the cup as the rugby didn’t go so well for the lads last week!

Alongside our busy schedule we’ve had many TP events going on. Special events have been laid on for us and we have now experienced mat weaving and bilo making which we’ll all be taking back to England and using as replacements for shot glasses! The village kid’s party went down really well and tomorrow’s “Fiji Factor” and next week’s village fun day are sure to be just as successful. The fight is on for the quiz team of the project, with previous rounds of cracker eating, wheelbarrow races and twister all proving who the real men are!

Tonight is guy’s and girl’s night, with the boys having a poker competition and the girl’s a slumber party (although we have a feeling that a few of the lads will be joining; Ronnie in particular seems to be very in touch with his feminine side!) Saturday won’t be a day for relaxing though, as the team will be climbing the highest peak on the island of Ovaulau, Ruku Ruku, which should be a great challenge for even the fittest of TP members.

HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR: Stepping off the plane after days of travelling, our first outing in our jumba dresses and bula shirts, our welcome to the island, going to Nasara for a feast and hop hop, the tide being out so we don’t have to walk the twenty minute jungle trek to school, Nicole’s call from home telling her she’s been accepted to her Universities (congrats!), village feast for Jack the builder’s leaving, the girls digging a perfect trench, the village children knowing the words to Justin Bieber and Rihanna, pigs in the shower, chickens in the beds, frogs in the toilet, spear fishing (although our group haven’t gone yet), singing “Fijian boy”, buddy hugs (we love you buddies!), winning our first netball game 15-20, chocolate doughnuts, basically everything has been a highlight – WE LOVE FIJI!!

So mum’s and dad’s, “sega na leqa” – no worries, we’re all okay and loving life!

Becky and Amy, Moturiki Island, Fiji x