Bula Vinaka!

We settled into a rhythm for the rest of our first week in the village. In the mornings, we woke up to ti (breakfast) prepared by Master Leone’s wife Liti, and Vinnie, whose house the girls and Jolene are staying in, then worked on the project site. After a break for lunch and a rest, students spent part of the afternoon learning more about Fijian culture—including weaving, cooking, and making coconut oil—then enjoyed a couple of hours of free time before dinner at a home in the village. The evenings were spent socializing with villagers while dancing, baking, and enjoying a bonfire on the beach.

Friday was a rest day from our project to make time for a big village event. The Fijian government has declared this week Early Childhood Education week to raise awareness and promote the importance of preschool and kindergarten education, which is a recent concept in Fiji. The day was full of festivities, including a feast prepared in a lovo (earth oven with hot stones), kindergartners sharing their dreams of what they want to be when they grow up, a traditional meke (boys dance performance), and Fijian games and competitions. Our group got to try Fijian javelin throwing and face off against each other in tug-of-war.

After a full week, we are ready for a relaxed weekend excursion back to the northern part of Taveuni! We will be staying Saturday night at a hotel and exploring some of Fiji’s waterfalls and beaches, then it’s back to village life and project work on Monday.

— Jolene & Andrew