Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
I just wrote a really really long note about how I tried going vegetarian and the reasons why it doesn't work for me. I think I sounded a little psycho so I erased it all. I think at one point I said I'd eat horse. Anyways, long story short, vegetarian and me don't mix. Nothing personal it's just a difference in opninions. We are unable to see eye to delicious cuts of meat..I mean eye! Eye. And smoking too. Sorry. Can't stop. I've cut down a lot but, baby I just can't quit you. I blame Crystal for leaving her purse unattended when I was 17 and allowing me to steal cigarettes from her. I didn't actually start smoking until about 2 years later but the damage was done. Thanks sis. When you're done poisoning me with your habits I think we should go down to the orphanage and punch some babies, is that something you'd be interesed in doing? Fascist.
Well today I am in town, coming back from a "fish pond open house" in some village somewhere in Fiji. Mysterious, eh? I couldnt find that place again if my life depended on it. It was a kind of pointless thing for me to go because I know (or believe I know) how to go about getting our ponds built, but I got my buddy Apolosi to come along and asked some important questions to ministry of fisheries people. I think he's excited and motivated now to get this thing off the ground. Bonus. Other volunteers were there too, double bonus. And we bailed early and walked for about 4 miles before we got picked up and shuttled back into town. And then my other friend showed up and we went dow....anyway, I digress.
I feel a little wired today. Mostly just in my hands though. I have my first Fijian illness! I have a cold. I can't believe I've been here so long without getting sick. (says mike days before he contracts ebola laced rabies). Luckily I used all my cold medicine when I found out I was allergic to Bigsby (who has moved in with another family, but comes around often to get some real lovin). So I'm a sniffling sorry mess at the moment. Could be worse. It could be better though too; now that I think about it.
I have some work related objectives in town today before I catch the bus back home, so I am off. But before I go would like to announce that my dog Bingo ate a dish sponge yesterday while I watched helplessly while talking on the telephone. He dragged it outside, my last sponge, and then shredded to a thousand pieces. When he was done he peed for good measure. He later tried to come into my house begging for food. I gave him the spiciest hunk of homemade chilie I could make. I am determined to get every piece of that sponge back.
Happy Early Birthday Kaitlyn!!
Well today I am in town, coming back from a "fish pond open house" in some village somewhere in Fiji. Mysterious, eh? I couldnt find that place again if my life depended on it. It was a kind of pointless thing for me to go because I know (or believe I know) how to go about getting our ponds built, but I got my buddy Apolosi to come along and asked some important questions to ministry of fisheries people. I think he's excited and motivated now to get this thing off the ground. Bonus. Other volunteers were there too, double bonus. And we bailed early and walked for about 4 miles before we got picked up and shuttled back into town. And then my other friend showed up and we went dow....anyway, I digress.
I feel a little wired today. Mostly just in my hands though. I have my first Fijian illness! I have a cold. I can't believe I've been here so long without getting sick. (says mike days before he contracts ebola laced rabies). Luckily I used all my cold medicine when I found out I was allergic to Bigsby (who has moved in with another family, but comes around often to get some real lovin). So I'm a sniffling sorry mess at the moment. Could be worse. It could be better though too; now that I think about it.
I have some work related objectives in town today before I catch the bus back home, so I am off. But before I go would like to announce that my dog Bingo ate a dish sponge yesterday while I watched helplessly while talking on the telephone. He dragged it outside, my last sponge, and then shredded to a thousand pieces. When he was done he peed for good measure. He later tried to come into my house begging for food. I gave him the spiciest hunk of homemade chilie I could make. I am determined to get every piece of that sponge back.
Happy Early Birthday Kaitlyn!!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Power Rangers Jungle Fury is a stupid show
Can someone back home find out if you can get stuff called Natralla? They are like little protein balls of spongey goodness. I cant keep meat so they are my substitute and very easy to cook with. I'm contemplating going vegetarian for the rest of my peace corps time. It would be easy as pie to do here, i just wouldnt eat fish in the village...and restrain myself from ordering chicken enchillada's at the Captain's Cafe in town.
Glad to hear that Mems is doing alright after her big surgery. And thanks aunt donna for sending those e-mails with updates. I think my mom tries to shelter me from anything that she thinks will "upset" me so I get little to no news about matters of concern. Good thing Ashley can't keep her mouth shut or I'd never know anything. So yeah, it's been a year since I left, one year today. I feel good about that. I've seen and done a lot in Fiji and looking forward to part 2 of the whole experience.
Oh! and happy late birthday to my Pops. 60 years old. That's one year for every time you'd get mad doing yardwork or household maintenance. Priceless. Remember how you'd throw a fit every summer while trying to install the pool filter. Every year was a battle of wits against that unholy machine but you always pulled through with help from vulgar outbursts of profanities and sweat. Thanks for being you Dad! Love Ya!
Glad to hear that Mems is doing alright after her big surgery. And thanks aunt donna for sending those e-mails with updates. I think my mom tries to shelter me from anything that she thinks will "upset" me so I get little to no news about matters of concern. Good thing Ashley can't keep her mouth shut or I'd never know anything. So yeah, it's been a year since I left, one year today. I feel good about that. I've seen and done a lot in Fiji and looking forward to part 2 of the whole experience.
Oh! and happy late birthday to my Pops. 60 years old. That's one year for every time you'd get mad doing yardwork or household maintenance. Priceless. Remember how you'd throw a fit every summer while trying to install the pool filter. Every year was a battle of wits against that unholy machine but you always pulled through with help from vulgar outbursts of profanities and sweat. Thanks for being you Dad! Love Ya!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Hi Memere! Don't worry about your surgery, you'll be fine. If you were having surgery in a Fijian hospital then there would be reason for concern. But alas, you are in the States and in good hands. I wish I could be there to see you all doped up on those crazy knock out cocktails. Good luck with the new ticker!
Hello everyone else! My house was finally furnished with a working toilet, shower aaaaand running water two weeks ago. I got to cook my first meal in my house and it was awesome! I've been turned on to these little soy balls called Nutralla, or something like that. They are like little spongy balls of goodness that store easily and can be used as a meat substitute in a pinch. I cooked instant noodle pasta with nutralla ballz in a homemade sauce and it blew me away....and made my tummy hurt. I went a little nuts with the chili powder. It was a little sad to be eating alone in my house though. I've become very accustomed to dining with my neighbors for every meal. I certainly will not miss the Ika vakalolo for breakfast lunch and dinner (thats fish in coconut milk). I will miss the company though. In fiji it is bad to be hanging out by yourself a lot of the time. If you are waiting for the bus by yourself and someone walks by they'll probably end up sitting with you until the bus comes....sometimes without talking. When I was eating my first meal two old ladies walked by my front dor and saw me goin to town on lunch all by myself. So they came over and sat in my doorway, watching me eat and saying, "oilei, maikeli" every 2 minutes. Thats just something they say when they have nothing to say, just nod and smile and Oiiileiii.
Last week I worked with the mothers group from Nasinu school again to get some sports jerseys for the boys teams. A while back we wrote letters and had a big fundraiser for girls uniforms. This time the mothers club is going to go to work on a Yaqona plantation and the owner will give them the money they need. All they needed from me was to write a letter to all the resorts and business owners in the area asking for a donation to supply transportation for all the eager workers. I think there's gonna be like 50 moms out there sweatin balls in the sun for rugby jerseys. I'm not sure when they are actually going but I'd like to go with them...if not only to feel more connected to the group. The club president is a sweet old lady that I really like names Pa. I think I could do a lot of good work with her in the future.
The Fre-5's are leaving soon! Thats the group that was here when I got to Fiji. It stinks that they're goin. Good luck in the States, hope you can find jobs. That also means us 6's have hit the one year mark....Caaaa-raaaay-zeeee. Time has started to just kind of slid on by. 7 months ago I was worried cause I couldnt find any projects to take on and now I feel like there wont be enough time to finish everything the village and i have planned out.
I heard a story of some white dude who found out he was gonna be deported from Fiji. He was on a plan between the islands and freaked out and tried to jump out of the plane, claiming he was gonna take people with him. That guy sure loves Fiji.
Hello everyone else! My house was finally furnished with a working toilet, shower aaaaand running water two weeks ago. I got to cook my first meal in my house and it was awesome! I've been turned on to these little soy balls called Nutralla, or something like that. They are like little spongy balls of goodness that store easily and can be used as a meat substitute in a pinch. I cooked instant noodle pasta with nutralla ballz in a homemade sauce and it blew me away....and made my tummy hurt. I went a little nuts with the chili powder. It was a little sad to be eating alone in my house though. I've become very accustomed to dining with my neighbors for every meal. I certainly will not miss the Ika vakalolo for breakfast lunch and dinner (thats fish in coconut milk). I will miss the company though. In fiji it is bad to be hanging out by yourself a lot of the time. If you are waiting for the bus by yourself and someone walks by they'll probably end up sitting with you until the bus comes....sometimes without talking. When I was eating my first meal two old ladies walked by my front dor and saw me goin to town on lunch all by myself. So they came over and sat in my doorway, watching me eat and saying, "oilei, maikeli" every 2 minutes. Thats just something they say when they have nothing to say, just nod and smile and Oiiileiii.
Last week I worked with the mothers group from Nasinu school again to get some sports jerseys for the boys teams. A while back we wrote letters and had a big fundraiser for girls uniforms. This time the mothers club is going to go to work on a Yaqona plantation and the owner will give them the money they need. All they needed from me was to write a letter to all the resorts and business owners in the area asking for a donation to supply transportation for all the eager workers. I think there's gonna be like 50 moms out there sweatin balls in the sun for rugby jerseys. I'm not sure when they are actually going but I'd like to go with them...if not only to feel more connected to the group. The club president is a sweet old lady that I really like names Pa. I think I could do a lot of good work with her in the future.
The Fre-5's are leaving soon! Thats the group that was here when I got to Fiji. It stinks that they're goin. Good luck in the States, hope you can find jobs. That also means us 6's have hit the one year mark....Caaaa-raaaay-zeeee. Time has started to just kind of slid on by. 7 months ago I was worried cause I couldnt find any projects to take on and now I feel like there wont be enough time to finish everything the village and i have planned out.
I heard a story of some white dude who found out he was gonna be deported from Fiji. He was on a plan between the islands and freaked out and tried to jump out of the plane, claiming he was gonna take people with him. That guy sure loves Fiji.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Fish Ponds & junk
I'm trying to write an article for a newsletter but PCV BRETT is talking on Skype and is being really loud and I can't concentrate. Do you read my blog Brett? If you do you should keep your voice down in the internet cafe, cause it's really distracting.
Our new project in the village is to construct some groovy fishponds. We found out that ministry of fisheries will supply juvie fish and feed for one year if you pay to have the ponds dug. I'll be drafting a grant proposal soon that all you lovely people back home can donate money to in order to help us fund our pond. The money made from selling the fish will go towards school fee's for kids in the village and on going projects like building a community hall. I'm lucky to be in a village where they recognize you have to have patience and that I am not here to simply hand shit out or find wads of cash to give to them.
I was in labasa town this past weekend. I had a spectacular time seeing some PCV's i don't get to see that often and also I was surprised to have the pleasure of hanging out with some PCV's from Viti Levu who were doing a work exchange up here on Vanua Levu.
Sorry, but I don't feel very inspired to write much more, anyways i'm supposed to be writing some articles and now i've become a distraction for myself.
Later
Our new project in the village is to construct some groovy fishponds. We found out that ministry of fisheries will supply juvie fish and feed for one year if you pay to have the ponds dug. I'll be drafting a grant proposal soon that all you lovely people back home can donate money to in order to help us fund our pond. The money made from selling the fish will go towards school fee's for kids in the village and on going projects like building a community hall. I'm lucky to be in a village where they recognize you have to have patience and that I am not here to simply hand shit out or find wads of cash to give to them.
I was in labasa town this past weekend. I had a spectacular time seeing some PCV's i don't get to see that often and also I was surprised to have the pleasure of hanging out with some PCV's from Viti Levu who were doing a work exchange up here on Vanua Levu.
Sorry, but I don't feel very inspired to write much more, anyways i'm supposed to be writing some articles and now i've become a distraction for myself.
Later
Monday, March 9, 2009
It if wasn't for my Mom I would have died on the streets cold and hungry a long time ago
So the GYD meeting went very well! I learned a lot and I'm hopeful it will help me come up with new ideas for things to do around the village. However what was not awesome was on Friday night when the ATM machine ate my ANZ bank card and I got stranded with almost no money. I freaked out and called Peace Corps staff member who was very helpful kept me calm. Turned out the cards the machine eats get collected and you can just go to the bank and pick it up. Coincidentally, the banks were closed on Monday as it was the Prophet Mohammads birthday. I was going to just go back to the village and come back but 4 hour bus rides 6 times in a week did not intrigue me at all. Called my PM told her what was going on and stayed with a PCV in town. Today is Tuesday and I got my card back. However, I got the run around at the bank for about 2 hours and I missed my afternoon bus back to savusavu town...and from there i would have gone back to the village. So instead of getting into Savusavu at 9 tonight and paying for a hotel room for the night, i'm staying in labasa once more. I called my PM and when I said I missed my bus she laughed at me. Why does this shit always happen to me? It can never just be simple. Like I couldnt have lost my card on thursday night and gotten back the next day.. No, I had to loose it at the beginning of a long weekend.
I'm excited to get back and share with my counterpart what I learned at the conference and talk about future projects, as well as check on the status of some ongoing things we have working.
That's all for now,
I'm excited to get back and share with my counterpart what I learned at the conference and talk about future projects, as well as check on the status of some ongoing things we have working.
That's all for now,
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Veggie Sangichs are good in Labasa
Hello! Thanks Nana and Grampa for the e-birthday card the other day. I got a bit of a chuckle out of it. I had no idea you were internet savvy either. Way to go!
Today is Wednesday the 4th and i'm in Labasa town until Saturday. We're having a Gender and Youth Development conference at the North Pole hotel. GYD is a committee made up of 6 or 7 volunteers. I just received word I was approved to join the committee a few weeks ago so this is my first experience. I'm excited to jump in and see what kinds of things we're going to talk about for the next three days.
We're at the same hotel I stayed at when Ashley and I were in Labasa. It kind if sucks she still isnt here. However, last time we had a pretty nice room with a balcony and awesome AC. My room this time has no windows and the AC is forever set on arctic.
My birthday is also this week, tomorrow actually. Not too excited about that. I already feel pretty unmature for my age so getting older numerically does not help my situation.
Our meeting is starting soon so I must depart. Take Care
Today is Wednesday the 4th and i'm in Labasa town until Saturday. We're having a Gender and Youth Development conference at the North Pole hotel. GYD is a committee made up of 6 or 7 volunteers. I just received word I was approved to join the committee a few weeks ago so this is my first experience. I'm excited to jump in and see what kinds of things we're going to talk about for the next three days.
We're at the same hotel I stayed at when Ashley and I were in Labasa. It kind if sucks she still isnt here. However, last time we had a pretty nice room with a balcony and awesome AC. My room this time has no windows and the AC is forever set on arctic.
My birthday is also this week, tomorrow actually. Not too excited about that. I already feel pretty unmature for my age so getting older numerically does not help my situation.
Our meeting is starting soon so I must depart. Take Care
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Movie Quote Trivia Round 2: 80's Edition
Training Stage:
"Hey! You scratched my anchor!"
Level: Easy
"Seriously, Merv, everything is great. I was thinking about picking up some hash this weekend, maybe going up to the mountains."
Level: Medium
"Why do you keep calling me Felix?"
Level: Hard
"I always knew you'd end up in a Crow's cage"
Level: InSaNe!!
"I did it! I took the Lindbergh baby! I am Josef Mengle! Owww!!!!"
Bonus:
"Chicks dig me because I rarely wear underwear...and when I do it's usually something unusual.
I had a lot of fun remembering these lines from some of my all time favorite movies (of the 80's). I probably spent way more time doing this than I should have. Try not to rack your brains too hard. An don't cheat either!
Vinaka Viti
"Hey! You scratched my anchor!"
Level: Easy
"Seriously, Merv, everything is great. I was thinking about picking up some hash this weekend, maybe going up to the mountains."
Level: Medium
"Why do you keep calling me Felix?"
Level: Hard
"I always knew you'd end up in a Crow's cage"
Level: InSaNe!!
"I did it! I took the Lindbergh baby! I am Josef Mengle! Owww!!!!"
Bonus:
"Chicks dig me because I rarely wear underwear...and when I do it's usually something unusual.
I had a lot of fun remembering these lines from some of my all time favorite movies (of the 80's). I probably spent way more time doing this than I should have. Try not to rack your brains too hard. An don't cheat either!
Vinaka Viti
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
'Not sure if I like Dean Koontz but The Face gave me some cheap thrills and chills' - Or - 'Hello from Suva!'
Ten points for each movie/character indentified. Matt McGlone is not allowed to play.
Level: Beginner
"Sounds like my grandfather taking a leak, Mikey, so what"
Level: Intermediate
"Nothin left but a grease spot on the R&L"
Level: Novice
"I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas N' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone, drinking beers, no women anywhere?"
Level: Suicide
"We're in the Spirit World asshole"
My latest Doctors appointment was delayed yet again. Tuesday morning has now been moved to Friday morning, so I'm still in Suva. I'm really missing my island right about now. My tikina buddy & PCV, Rachel, spent the night in my bure last night while on a sort of business trip. I asked her to try and explain a bit to my counterpart and others where i've been and why I'm gone. Her Fijian is pretty awesome so I think they will be well informed, more so than if I had to explain myself.
The last two nights I've been joined by ms. Kiva at the hotel. She is in for medical stuff two but leaves tonight. We had some fun cooking dinner the last two nights even though she insisted on mixing tofu in with the veggies. I really miss cookingfor myself. Out in the village I eat all my meals with families. This is because my one room house does not allow me to operate a gas burner. Maybe once my bathroom is completed I can move the stove into the safer tin part of the house as opposed to the bamboo and grass bit.
Today I was cruising around peoples blogs and noticed there are some new additions to the pile. The FRE-7's will be here pretty soon and it's kind of funny to see some of the same thoughts of excitement and terror that I had before leaving. Today I also noticed that I've forgotten how long i've been gone. For a long time you just knew the number of months absent from home. Today I had to count (on my fingers) how long I've been gone. The one year mark is creeping up on us Fre-6's and soon the Fre-5's will begin to depart from Fiji. It really doesn't feel like it's been so long since I left. Perhaps having the gift of visitors from the "before life" has made time do some sort of weird acrobatic trick thats both wonderous and gut wrenching to witness. What? Anyhow. If I can offer some insight to the soon to be PCT's, you're coming to Fiji. F-I-J-I, Fiji. Isn't that awesome!!??!? It did kind of suck to put up with smart ass comments before leaving. Comments such as, "Who joins the peace corps and goes to a tropical paradise?". When you arrive you will see what Fiji really is and not have the misconceptions of the ordinary tourists. "Well the resort was nice, but once you left it was kind of dirty".
Furthermore, try not to worry too much about exactly what this is like or where you will be living. Everyone you ask will give you different versions of what their Peace Corps experience is like. That, you will have to wait and see for yourself. Nobody will be able to tell where your site will be until the end of training, so really don't worry about that. I was very surprised, as were a lot of others, on site announcement day. I thought for sure I was gonna be in a city working under some ministry or NGO. Nope. I ended up on beautiful Vanua Levu, in the friendliest village and my closest town has so many amazing views that sometimes it makes me physically ill.
Personally i'm exciting for a new group to get here. And if I can offer one more bit of knowledge (if this in fact applies to you), staging is all about deception. First impressions are undeniably skewed in L.A. Don't believe the hype. Just wait for people to get a little comfortable and you'll see there are some cool people there after all. Just takes a little time and patience.
I feel a little lame for trying to be comforting or whatever. But, hey, this is the internet and by the time May comes around my cheeseball antics will be long forgotten.
Thanks for the brownies Mom! I havent eaten them yet but I heard they are in the post office back North.
Level: Beginner
"Sounds like my grandfather taking a leak, Mikey, so what"
Level: Intermediate
"Nothin left but a grease spot on the R&L"
Level: Novice
"I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas N' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone, drinking beers, no women anywhere?"
Level: Suicide
"We're in the Spirit World asshole"
My latest Doctors appointment was delayed yet again. Tuesday morning has now been moved to Friday morning, so I'm still in Suva. I'm really missing my island right about now. My tikina buddy & PCV, Rachel, spent the night in my bure last night while on a sort of business trip. I asked her to try and explain a bit to my counterpart and others where i've been and why I'm gone. Her Fijian is pretty awesome so I think they will be well informed, more so than if I had to explain myself.
The last two nights I've been joined by ms. Kiva at the hotel. She is in for medical stuff two but leaves tonight. We had some fun cooking dinner the last two nights even though she insisted on mixing tofu in with the veggies. I really miss cookingfor myself. Out in the village I eat all my meals with families. This is because my one room house does not allow me to operate a gas burner. Maybe once my bathroom is completed I can move the stove into the safer tin part of the house as opposed to the bamboo and grass bit.
Today I was cruising around peoples blogs and noticed there are some new additions to the pile. The FRE-7's will be here pretty soon and it's kind of funny to see some of the same thoughts of excitement and terror that I had before leaving. Today I also noticed that I've forgotten how long i've been gone. For a long time you just knew the number of months absent from home. Today I had to count (on my fingers) how long I've been gone. The one year mark is creeping up on us Fre-6's and soon the Fre-5's will begin to depart from Fiji. It really doesn't feel like it's been so long since I left. Perhaps having the gift of visitors from the "before life" has made time do some sort of weird acrobatic trick thats both wonderous and gut wrenching to witness. What? Anyhow. If I can offer some insight to the soon to be PCT's, you're coming to Fiji. F-I-J-I, Fiji. Isn't that awesome!!??!? It did kind of suck to put up with smart ass comments before leaving. Comments such as, "Who joins the peace corps and goes to a tropical paradise?". When you arrive you will see what Fiji really is and not have the misconceptions of the ordinary tourists. "Well the resort was nice, but once you left it was kind of dirty".
Furthermore, try not to worry too much about exactly what this is like or where you will be living. Everyone you ask will give you different versions of what their Peace Corps experience is like. That, you will have to wait and see for yourself. Nobody will be able to tell where your site will be until the end of training, so really don't worry about that. I was very surprised, as were a lot of others, on site announcement day. I thought for sure I was gonna be in a city working under some ministry or NGO. Nope. I ended up on beautiful Vanua Levu, in the friendliest village and my closest town has so many amazing views that sometimes it makes me physically ill.
Personally i'm exciting for a new group to get here. And if I can offer one more bit of knowledge (if this in fact applies to you), staging is all about deception. First impressions are undeniably skewed in L.A. Don't believe the hype. Just wait for people to get a little comfortable and you'll see there are some cool people there after all. Just takes a little time and patience.
I feel a little lame for trying to be comforting or whatever. But, hey, this is the internet and by the time May comes around my cheeseball antics will be long forgotten.
Thanks for the brownies Mom! I havent eaten them yet but I heard they are in the post office back North.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
I'm stuck
I have been in the capital city of Suva for almost two full weeks now. I came in to get my eyes examined after I heard my twin has specific eye troubles. My medical officer was concerned so I came in to get checked. My appointents have been painfully spread out and I've been doing a lot of sitting around and waiting, especially since Dave, another volunteer, went back to his site. He was in Suva to recieve physical therapy for his foot which he messed up during training all those months ago. My final appointment was supposed to be today but the Doc is out sick and the earliest I can get in is next Tuesday. So here I am, in Suva...bored to tears. I have developed a routine though. I wake up in my hotel and go to the Peace Corps office and use the internet for a few hours. I'll cruise facebook as well as research possible projects to do in my village. When I start to get hungry around 11 or 12 I'll go back to the hotel and either make some noodles (tomatoe chow noodles of course cause they are the best kind) or change and go into town for some banging schwarma or doner kebab depending on where you go. After that I'll go see whats playing at the movies and but a cheap matinee ticket and then walk around aimlessly until the movie starts. Yesterday after I saw the Pink Panther 2 (which was awesome no matter what anyone says) I got lost trying to walk back to the hotel. I got a little mad at myself cause the hotel is only like 2 hundred yards away up a small hill. I just wasn't paying attention and ended up on a street I had never been on before. Now I know where to go to get hassled by drunk guys at 4 in the afternoon on Thursdays. Anyhow, after that I go home and make some more noodles and watch aljazeera on maiTV for about 5 hours and go to sleep. It's about all I can muster from my time in Suva. However two days of movies in a row is a bit much so today I will have to find another way to spend my afternoon. I could just go for a walk but it has been exceptionally hot the last few days and my stroll in the metropolis will quickly turn into a sweat bath followed by a game of 'where is that smell coming from?'. It's me!! Yay!
Yesterday I was sitting at a small retaurant waiting for the pink panther to start. I Fijian guy came over to my booth and made himself comfortable. I forgot his name but he was a nice guy, if not a little intoxicated, and we got to chattin (like I had a choice). He has been living and working in Suva for two years but he grew up on the same island and in the same area that I live. When he asked me what I thought about the weather in Fiji I told him 'katakata vei siga', which means it's hot everyday, but I used the dialect from his home island and dropped the K's. After I said it he smiled, reached out with both his hands and grabbed my face. then he half stood up and leaned across and planted one on me. I don't think this is part of Fijian culture but whatever he was having a good time. Me, I was a little confused. I mean, we barely knew each other. I'm not that kind of guy. At least this time my lips weren't on fire. Which leads me into my next story.
Back in mid December I was at a bar in Savusavu with some other volunteers on a Friday night. There was a live band playing there, the Long Beach Boys. I know these guys a little bit and had jammed with them a couple times before. After a while one of them asked me to go up and sing some songs with them. With a little reluctance I want up and did my thing. My third or 4th song was a Fijian track called Isa Lei, Leah. I only know the chorus but we rocked it anyway. When the second chorus came around this Big 'Ole Fijian woman came shuffling up to the stage area and smooched me in the middle of a sentence. I shook it off and kept playing but about 5 minutes later my lips started to tingle. After 10 minutes they hurt and 15 minutes later thay were absolutely burning. I went to the bathroom and washed my mouth with soap but nothing could stop the fire of emotion that woman burned onto my lips. Actually i think it might have been herpes. I should get that checked too.
By far the best kisser here is Bigsby. He doesn't use his little cat lips he uses his whole head. I know he is actually marking me as his territory with his spit but I'll take what I can get.
We watched the SuperBowl in town last Monday, that was special. The place we went was selling Milwaukee's Beast for cheap all day. I think one of the patrons there may have taken advantage of that deal in excess but it was exciting to watch a football game. I don't even really watch football al that much back home but I found myself rooting for the Steelers. I think it's because my dad rocks a Steelers sweatshirt. He wears it when we go out to dinner almost every time. It's like his dress sweatshirt or something.
Valentines Day is coming up and I'm sorry to say I can't be with Ashley this year. I don't remember what we did last year...I know I was living in Keene. We probably went to the Olive Garden or something. Two years ago I bought her as good a bouquet of flowers as I could find and filled the plastic wrapping with as many taco bell taco's it could support. She loved it. Nothing says I love you like a greasy ass Taco Bell valentine.
I wonder if my vilage misses me at all? Last time I left the village for more than a few days someone had been sleeping in my house and messing with my stuff. It doesn't bother me too much cause I knew who it was, but at the same time he is kind of young and probably had a bunch of people hanging out there at night going through all my letters and electronic stuff. Pretty creepy. See the sliding lock on my front door was put on upside down so no matter how large the padlock is you can open the door. I couldn't get the nails out to fix it myself so I asked someone else to do it the day before I left. When I left they had moved the bolt down about a half inch and left it upside down.
This was supposed to be the month when I started working with a village committee to draft a grant proposal for the district. This was a big one and they want $40,000 (Fijian) to do it. I've tried to start before but when I set a time to get together someone just drops off more sheets of paper and I think they expect me to just whip up a proposal out of nothing. The people backing this proposal are not very good at relaying information to me about exactly what is going on and they cross refernce other projects they want to do until I get so confused I feel like my head will seperate from my body and launch itself into the stratosphere.
Today I think I will go to the history museum here in Suva. I've heard it might be a little pricey for tourists but i'll see if I can't get the local rate, or perhaps just Kerekere my way in. If that doesn't work out...well...I hope someting good is playing at Village 6 cinema!
Yesterday I was sitting at a small retaurant waiting for the pink panther to start. I Fijian guy came over to my booth and made himself comfortable. I forgot his name but he was a nice guy, if not a little intoxicated, and we got to chattin (like I had a choice). He has been living and working in Suva for two years but he grew up on the same island and in the same area that I live. When he asked me what I thought about the weather in Fiji I told him 'katakata vei siga', which means it's hot everyday, but I used the dialect from his home island and dropped the K's. After I said it he smiled, reached out with both his hands and grabbed my face. then he half stood up and leaned across and planted one on me. I don't think this is part of Fijian culture but whatever he was having a good time. Me, I was a little confused. I mean, we barely knew each other. I'm not that kind of guy. At least this time my lips weren't on fire. Which leads me into my next story.
Back in mid December I was at a bar in Savusavu with some other volunteers on a Friday night. There was a live band playing there, the Long Beach Boys. I know these guys a little bit and had jammed with them a couple times before. After a while one of them asked me to go up and sing some songs with them. With a little reluctance I want up and did my thing. My third or 4th song was a Fijian track called Isa Lei, Leah. I only know the chorus but we rocked it anyway. When the second chorus came around this Big 'Ole Fijian woman came shuffling up to the stage area and smooched me in the middle of a sentence. I shook it off and kept playing but about 5 minutes later my lips started to tingle. After 10 minutes they hurt and 15 minutes later thay were absolutely burning. I went to the bathroom and washed my mouth with soap but nothing could stop the fire of emotion that woman burned onto my lips. Actually i think it might have been herpes. I should get that checked too.
By far the best kisser here is Bigsby. He doesn't use his little cat lips he uses his whole head. I know he is actually marking me as his territory with his spit but I'll take what I can get.
We watched the SuperBowl in town last Monday, that was special. The place we went was selling Milwaukee's Beast for cheap all day. I think one of the patrons there may have taken advantage of that deal in excess but it was exciting to watch a football game. I don't even really watch football al that much back home but I found myself rooting for the Steelers. I think it's because my dad rocks a Steelers sweatshirt. He wears it when we go out to dinner almost every time. It's like his dress sweatshirt or something.
Valentines Day is coming up and I'm sorry to say I can't be with Ashley this year. I don't remember what we did last year...I know I was living in Keene. We probably went to the Olive Garden or something. Two years ago I bought her as good a bouquet of flowers as I could find and filled the plastic wrapping with as many taco bell taco's it could support. She loved it. Nothing says I love you like a greasy ass Taco Bell valentine.
I wonder if my vilage misses me at all? Last time I left the village for more than a few days someone had been sleeping in my house and messing with my stuff. It doesn't bother me too much cause I knew who it was, but at the same time he is kind of young and probably had a bunch of people hanging out there at night going through all my letters and electronic stuff. Pretty creepy. See the sliding lock on my front door was put on upside down so no matter how large the padlock is you can open the door. I couldn't get the nails out to fix it myself so I asked someone else to do it the day before I left. When I left they had moved the bolt down about a half inch and left it upside down.
This was supposed to be the month when I started working with a village committee to draft a grant proposal for the district. This was a big one and they want $40,000 (Fijian) to do it. I've tried to start before but when I set a time to get together someone just drops off more sheets of paper and I think they expect me to just whip up a proposal out of nothing. The people backing this proposal are not very good at relaying information to me about exactly what is going on and they cross refernce other projects they want to do until I get so confused I feel like my head will seperate from my body and launch itself into the stratosphere.
Today I think I will go to the history museum here in Suva. I've heard it might be a little pricey for tourists but i'll see if I can't get the local rate, or perhaps just Kerekere my way in. If that doesn't work out...well...I hope someting good is playing at Village 6 cinema!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
MMmmmmm
Know what I could go for? Those Little Debbie brownies with the little nuts on top. Yeah, that'd be awesome. I have no shame either.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Labasa Takes a Dip '09
I'm pretty sure the storm has ended here in the beautiful town of Labasa. The streets paved with gold are shining again in all their splendour. And the sugar plant smells that much sweeter after the storm. It didn't get to bad here but there was flodding two nights ago. We woke up early to see the town under about 1-3 feet of water. The levels subsided by mid-afternoon and the shops downtown were swamped but nothing like what happened down in Viti in places like Ba and Nadi town. Ashley ius still stranded here with me (tough luck). We just got back from the airport, and despite the sunny weather today we were told the flights to Nadi were cancelled today and to try again tomorrow. Meanwhile, the road back to Savusavu (and subsequently my village) are washed out. I have no clue when I will be able to return to normal life. And for the whiny bit. For this to happen right after the holidays, and with ashley visiting and now stuck in Labasa town has left me more broke than a hobo. BooHoo.
I am thankful for the hospitality of the volunteers up here and for Aric being cool with us crashing in his swanky 2nd floor apartment eventhough he is stranded in Suva. Today I think Ash and I will help the two girls here clean their place up. Their house was swamped and the entire floor is caked in mud and slimy things.
I wish I could keep ash here with me but she has a "life" and "responsibilities" to get back to. It's been really fun and comforting to have her here with me and to show her what I've been up to in Fiji for the past 8 months. I have a feeling tomorrow she'll get lucky and she'll be on a plane to somewhere other than here. She didn't cry when she got off the plane 3 weeks ago so I am certain she will cry when she gets back on. I, however, will not weep. Not because I do not love her but I have hidden her wallet and she will have to come back here to get it, mwa-hahaha
I am thankful for the hospitality of the volunteers up here and for Aric being cool with us crashing in his swanky 2nd floor apartment eventhough he is stranded in Suva. Today I think Ash and I will help the two girls here clean their place up. Their house was swamped and the entire floor is caked in mud and slimy things.
I wish I could keep ash here with me but she has a "life" and "responsibilities" to get back to. It's been really fun and comforting to have her here with me and to show her what I've been up to in Fiji for the past 8 months. I have a feeling tomorrow she'll get lucky and she'll be on a plane to somewhere other than here. She didn't cry when she got off the plane 3 weeks ago so I am certain she will cry when she gets back on. I, however, will not weep. Not because I do not love her but I have hidden her wallet and she will have to come back here to get it, mwa-hahaha
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Happy New Year!
Hey all, been a while. Whats new? My Christmas in the village was pretty much like any other day. There was no signs of merry making anywhere, I suppose it was too hot. My New Years however was the best in a long time. I picked Ashley up at the airport and we spent the night in a decent hotel in Lautoka. It even had Air Conditioning! We enjoyed our duty free goodies and ate a lot of food. The nextnight we spent with a volunteer in her beautiful apartment in the city. Our boat ride back up north was a bit much. We were both incredibly hot and just wanted the 12 hour ride to be over with.
Being in the village with ash has been great. We presented the chief with a sevusevu and ash has been made an official member of the village gang. We went and found a mildly secluded area on the river and floated for an entire morning before we made our way back to a lunch of bananas and tea.
Wish I could write more but I'm pretty scatter brained right now. There is a storm approaching and it might be the big one people have been waiting for. I'm Excited!!
I hope everyone back home had a great holiday with family and friends and maybe I'll be home next year for a visit to celebrate with you.
Being in the village with ash has been great. We presented the chief with a sevusevu and ash has been made an official member of the village gang. We went and found a mildly secluded area on the river and floated for an entire morning before we made our way back to a lunch of bananas and tea.
Wish I could write more but I'm pretty scatter brained right now. There is a storm approaching and it might be the big one people have been waiting for. I'm Excited!!
I hope everyone back home had a great holiday with family and friends and maybe I'll be home next year for a visit to celebrate with you.
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