Posts Tagged ‘caqalai island’

Thursday 23rd September –

Arriving in the early hours of the morning our September 2010 gap year team were onto the TP bus and began the journey along the Queens Road of Viti Levu, winding its way along the coast through Sigatoka, the Coral Coast and Pacific Harbour. Reaching Suva there was time to stop off in the capital to pick up some lunch before we continued our road trip to Waidalice bridge, where the Caqalai boats were waiting for us.

The bags were loaded, and after a brief wait for the tide to make its way in a little where a “word association” game brought some funny moments, we were on our way to our castaway island. Sadly after weeks of clear blue skies the clouds had arrived, but there was not much time to notice as immediately after lunch we headed across to Niubasaga village to present a sevusevu to the Ratu (chief) of Moturiki. It is tabu on grog for the last two weeks of every month and therefore no kava was drunk, however that did not stop the ladies from singing and the guys getting out the guitars to kick off the “hop hop”(Fijian dancing). And what “hop hop” it was, with powder on faces and everyone up on their feet having a boogy, a taste of what is to come in the village! The evening was a quiet one, with many getting and early night after so many hours of travel, whilst a few were up for a few bowls of kava and a talanoa.

Friday 24th September –

Awaking this morning the sun had certainly put his hat on and come back out to play! After breakfast a big game of volleyball kicked off, whilst others relaxed on the beach. With the project partners then arriving from Suva and Levuka, by 11am we were ready for the Fiji briefing.

After some introductions of those present, including Kusitino Roko, the Assistant Roko for the Lomaiviti Province, and Poni, a representative of the Ministry of Health, Philip Komai delivered a presentation on the Towards a Healthy Fiji initiative which governs the project work that we do. Philip Komai was head of the National Centre for Health Promotion for many years, and it was the training conducted by his teams that established the community action plans and strategies for development that we are looking to implement through our projects. His passion for development is truly inspiring, and it was great for the team to have an insight into the value of the work they are about to undertake. Think Pacific’s gap year projects make a real impact to very real development issues and it’s great to see our volunteers so enthused and ready to being their volunteer initiatives ahead! It was also an opportunity for our expedition leaders to run through village life, the project objectives and Fijian culture and customs. Saki, our mata ni vanua (local guide and chief’s spokesperson) from Uluibau (the village where our gap team will be residing), was also there to introduce himself, our spokesperson in the community.

With the briefing completed the afternoon was once again time for some more activities - playing some volleyball, swimming in the sea, playing touch rugby on the beach and building a giant sand castle…good times! In the evening we came back together to run through the families that the team will be living with and get to know each other a little bit better, with a “speed dating” style finale and “buddy-buddy” hugs the perfect way to end!

In the evening villagers and children from Yanuca village had come across to perform traditional meke dances for the team, a chance for them to get a glimpse of what they themselves shall be doing during the fun day at the end of our gap year project in Uluibau. The mats were then down on the floor and the kava mixed as everyone enjoyed a few bowls of grog and a sing song with the guitars!