Friday, May 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Over the long Easter weekend I, and seven others, took a four-day cruise up to the Yasawa Island group. We left early Thursday morning and spent the majority of the 4 hour boat ride re-enacting Titanic on the front of the boat. Once, we stopped next to a tiny island to snorkel around the reef. It was beautiful weather and the reef was wonderfully colorful.
We spent every night on the same island. Its Fijian name is Drawaqa Island, but after the cruise line appropriated it, it became Barefoot Island. It lived up to its name as I didn't wear my flip flops for the entire four days.
Barefoot Island served as our home base and we stayed in little double bungalow thingies right on the water. Ours was on "Sunrise Beach." Some of the others were 100 meters behind us on "Sunset Beach." It was beautiful. I woke up early on the last day to catch the sunrise.
We went fishing on a little boat. Out of the 8 of us, two fish were caught but it was a lot of fun.
We also visited a village on another island. We had a Kava ceremony and were treated to a dance performance. The village was very cool but it was sort of just a very elaborate tourist trap. As my supervisor reminded me, the entire country is a tourist trap.
My roommate, Caleb, and I hung out mostly with the staff on the island. They were so friendly and were very excited that we were hanging out with them. The feeling was mutual and we drank Kava long into the nights.
On the third day, Bio, the man who organized everything for us announced that one of the German couples on the cruise with us was getting married. It was a perfect setting for a wedding but it was very strange because they only had a handful of friends with them to witness the marriage. The crew set up a nice altar on sunset beach and timed it perfectly so that the sun did indeed set behind them as the groom kissed the bride. I later found out that it was the groom's third wedding and the bride's fourth. I guess it was the ol' 'boy cried wolf' scenario and that's why nobody wanted to go to the wedding.
The crew was a very talented group. They made our suppers, played classic Fijian and American love songs, played some stellar volleyball and made our massive sailboat glide gracefully through the Pacific.
All in all, it was a great trip. Although I did feel bad about missing the Hallelujah Chorus at church on Sunday.
Now, its back to the workday grind.
We spent every night on the same island. Its Fijian name is Drawaqa Island, but after the cruise line appropriated it, it became Barefoot Island. It lived up to its name as I didn't wear my flip flops for the entire four days.
Barefoot Island served as our home base and we stayed in little double bungalow thingies right on the water. Ours was on "Sunrise Beach." Some of the others were 100 meters behind us on "Sunset Beach." It was beautiful. I woke up early on the last day to catch the sunrise.
We went fishing on a little boat. Out of the 8 of us, two fish were caught but it was a lot of fun.
We also visited a village on another island. We had a Kava ceremony and were treated to a dance performance. The village was very cool but it was sort of just a very elaborate tourist trap. As my supervisor reminded me, the entire country is a tourist trap.
My roommate, Caleb, and I hung out mostly with the staff on the island. They were so friendly and were very excited that we were hanging out with them. The feeling was mutual and we drank Kava long into the nights.
On the third day, Bio, the man who organized everything for us announced that one of the German couples on the cruise with us was getting married. It was a perfect setting for a wedding but it was very strange because they only had a handful of friends with them to witness the marriage. The crew set up a nice altar on sunset beach and timed it perfectly so that the sun did indeed set behind them as the groom kissed the bride. I later found out that it was the groom's third wedding and the bride's fourth. I guess it was the ol' 'boy cried wolf' scenario and that's why nobody wanted to go to the wedding.
The crew was a very talented group. They made our suppers, played classic Fijian and American love songs, played some stellar volleyball and made our massive sailboat glide gracefully through the Pacific.
All in all, it was a great trip. Although I did feel bad about missing the Hallelujah Chorus at church on Sunday.
Now, its back to the workday grind.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Ruggers
Last week, there was a massive rugby tournament going on in Hong Kong. Fiji was one of the favorites. At a barbecue a few nights ago, Fiji played the United States. I took so much crap from the Fijian family whose house we were at because the U.S. got crushed.
Everybody in the country was upset as Fiji lost in the semis to New Zealand.
Last night, a few of the volunteers went to a local hotel to play some poker and hang out by the pool and the Fijian rugby club walked in to have a meal at the restaurant. It was really cool seeing them in person. They were surprisingly not that big. I still wouldn't want to have to wrestle any of them. It was really cool to see these world class athletes just hanging out.
I thought that was exciting.
I am quite ready for my cruise tomorrow.
Everybody in the country was upset as Fiji lost in the semis to New Zealand.
Last night, a few of the volunteers went to a local hotel to play some poker and hang out by the pool and the Fijian rugby club walked in to have a meal at the restaurant. It was really cool seeing them in person. They were surprisingly not that big. I still wouldn't want to have to wrestle any of them. It was really cool to see these world class athletes just hanging out.
I thought that was exciting.
I am quite ready for my cruise tomorrow.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Farewells and Voyages
Today, I was moved from my 4th grade class and sent to help teach grades 1&2. This is because all of the volunteers were in one room and the real teachers wanted wanted some helpers. It was sort of disconcerting as I had just learned the names of all the kids in my class. Oh well, the little ones are cute but it will be more of a challenge.
Other than that, it have had a pretty peaceful weekend. A couple of volunteers left so there were barbecues for us to attend. On Saturday, all the male volunteers went to the fancy resort land of Denarau. There, we had pool wrestling matches all day and only took breaks to eat pizza. It was surprisingly fun and extremely exhausting.
Masaki, the Japanese student who was living at our house left. This was sad. But, we had a fantastic lovo in celebration. That means we dug a pit in the ground, used firewood to make large stones super hot and then we put several chickens and other tasty meaty treats in foil and dropped them in the hole. After that, we put the dirt back on top and let it cook for a couple hours. It turned out amazingly and I am definitely going to make one when I get home.
We have a long Easter weekend. Thursday morning, I embark on a 4 day sailing journey to the northern Yasawa Island group.
We get to go fishing and snorkeling and stay in huts and visit villages and lay on the beach and all of that fun stuff. I will definitely take a billion pictures.
SO STAY TUNED.
Other than that, it have had a pretty peaceful weekend. A couple of volunteers left so there were barbecues for us to attend. On Saturday, all the male volunteers went to the fancy resort land of Denarau. There, we had pool wrestling matches all day and only took breaks to eat pizza. It was surprisingly fun and extremely exhausting.
Masaki, the Japanese student who was living at our house left. This was sad. But, we had a fantastic lovo in celebration. That means we dug a pit in the ground, used firewood to make large stones super hot and then we put several chickens and other tasty meaty treats in foil and dropped them in the hole. After that, we put the dirt back on top and let it cook for a couple hours. It turned out amazingly and I am definitely going to make one when I get home.
We have a long Easter weekend. Thursday morning, I embark on a 4 day sailing journey to the northern Yasawa Island group.
We get to go fishing and snorkeling and stay in huts and visit villages and lay on the beach and all of that fun stuff. I will definitely take a billion pictures.
SO STAY TUNED.
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