Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Souvenirs from Fiji

What do you give to a centenarian? And what do you give to the extended family members who are coming to the celebration/family reunion? In this hyperconnected world where anything can be purchased online, how do you give something that is truly authentic and one of a kind? Ok, well, maybe I have that one covered ONE time, but how do I keep that sentiment and find enough gifts for my extended family without going broke?

Here are my people/categories of gift that I need to buy for:
  • Grandma
  • Mom
  • Dad
  • Sisters & almost sister-in-law
  • Brother & brothers in law
  • housewarming gifts
  • Aunts
  • Uncles
  • Cousins
  • People I'm related to, and could probably tell you how if I really thought about it
  • Friends I'm seeing on my layover, friends I'm staying with when I get there, friends I run into that I don't have any idea to expect. 

Here's what I got: 
  • Pure Fiji gift packs. I love these products. I wish they had an unscented version, but although the strong fragrances slow me down, they don't stop me. My feet get all kinds of beat up wearing flip flops all the time and the sugar scrub totally revitalizes and rehydrates them. The coconut oil, lotions, and body butter are just icing on that cake.  
  • Pure Fiji mosquito repellent. I'm going to an outdoor family reunion... in Texas .... in the summer. The repellent is Fiji patio tested and mom-approved, pretty sure it will hold up to a summer reunion.   
  • hand printed sulus in a variety of colors and weights and designs. Pics will have to get posted later. I chose these because they're 2 meters of beautiful fabric. They can be used for their traditional purpose as a loose skirt, but they also make great table cloths and scarves or can be sewn into dresses or pillows or all kinds of other neat things. It's a good thing I'm coming back to Fiji because some of these sulus are so beautiful that I don't want to let them go! 
  • Individual packets of kava and bilos - This sort of walks the line between keychains and a truly useful gift. I get small packets of kava made up at the market, they're all individually wrapped and I give them with a coconut cup or bilo. They cost me about $1.50 per gift, and are very much a part of Fijian life here. That said, I know that many of the people I give them to are probably never going to open their kava and try it. Isa! 
  • Nature Fiji Mareqete Viti calendars - I started by attending NFMV events, somehow or another I found myself volunteering at their events. I have truly taken a deep drink of the kool-aid. That said, the calendars that NFMV publishes are simply awesome. Click the link to see for yourself! 
  • Fijian Pearl necklace
  • Salusalu
  • Pacific Dialogue greeting cards

So. That's my list. What would you give? 

Monday, June 22, 2015

Driving on the left side of the road, oh my!

This is one post that I wish I had actually written as I was learning to drive on the left hand side of the road.

For those who are joining us late I grew up in Texas. I think I was around 12 when on an occasional basis my dad started letting us drive down one block under his close supervision from the passenger seat. Then when I turned 15 I got a learner's permit and he started having me drive everywhere, again closely supervised from his spot in the passenger's seat. When I turned 16 I got my first driver's license.

And then I stopped driving. I lived in Europe and biked everywhere. I went to college and biked everywhere. I got a job and biked to work everyday.

Then I got a job that required me to drive about a thousand miles a week - that's about 1,600 km metric. Luckily - and I do say luckily with sincerity - I got a ticket a few months after I started that job. I chose to go to a defensive driving class. The instructor taught a class called "Grin and Take It" He was a professional stand up comedian that had been in a huge pileup years before. Think Jon Stewart for driver's school. He covered all the requisite topics with an incredible amount of humor - so much humor that 15+ years later I still remember tons of what he said.

"Time and Physics are working against you, so you always have to drive defensively."

But I digress.

Driving on the right side of the road is different from driving on the left side of the road, but it's not a mirror reverse. In some ways I think that would have been easier, but no, some things stay in the same spot.

And this is the spot that I really wish I'd written this portion as I was becoming accustomed to driving on the left hand side of the road. I don't have the muscle memory that I had back in October about what goes where. Now when I get in the car, it feels right to drive on the left.

And I'm headed back to the US soon!  

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Design Your Own Sulu Jaba

"You need a sulu jaba for next Friday"

That doesn't sound like it should be terrifying or stressful, but it was! We were recently arrived in Suva and my husband's office was welcoming him with a traditional ceremony. I love parties, but I didn't have the right clothes.... and didn't know how to get them.

One of my husband's coworkers took me to a couple of fabric stores and we chose a fabric that was neither too thick nor too thin. The print wasn't too dark or too light. And then the coworker had to go back to work. Before she left we tried to find a tailor, but none of them could finish my sulu jaba in time for the event.

*deep breath*

I had the name of a woman in the flea market and I found her stall only to find she couldn't finish within the week. She gave me the name of another seamstress who also was booked. I felt like Mary and Joseph going from one inn to another only to be turned away. Finally I came to the last aisle and the last stall and found a seamstress that could sew the sulu jaba in a week's time, just in time for my deadline.

And it was ok. The fabric was comfortable and I felt fine.

but

but

the sulu jabas that I saw on the women in town were so beautiful! In passing I would hear others comment on the Samoan print or how traditionally Fijian another sulu jaba was. Everything looked tropical to me, I wanted to know how they could tell the fabrics apart, I wanted a sulu jaba that felt designed, and not just sewn!

A few months went by and I started to meet people. I also started to put together activities, and one of them was a Sulu Jaba Design excursion. This is what I sent out:

Sulu Jaba Excursion. $30 + cost of material, price includes a custom made sulu jaba made from the material you choose (material is purchased separately). The April meeting of the American Women's Association is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at noon in the US Embassy. What better way to welcome our new US Ambassador Judith Cefkin to her post in Fiji than with a friendly Bula Vinaka from the women of AWA in our festive bula wear? A Sulu Jaba is the traditional Fijian two piece outfit. It consists of a fitted tunic over an ankle length skirt in matching or coordinating fabric. The most traditional sulu jabas are made of 100% cotton and have a knee length top over the ankle length wrap skirt. Modern interpretations are limited only by your imagination and the skill of your tailor. This month's activity has two parts: first we'll visit a fabric shop guided by a local designer. At the fabric shop we'll learn about different natural and synthetic fibers and how they affect the weight and drape of a material. We'll also learn about Pacific Island design motifs and how the repeat of the pattern affects your buying decisions. Our guide will help you select a sulu jaba design that fits your personal sense of style and help you select a fabric that will work well with your chosen pattern. Your sulu jaba will be ready in 7 days, you'll arrange for a fitting and pickup date during your initial visit. Your fee of $30 includes your trip to the fabric store, design consultation, and the sewing of your sulu jaba. Material is purchased separately. You can also bring 4.5 meters of your own fabric to have your sulu sewn. Please note that the $30 cost does not include the cost of the fabric. If you're interested, please respond by email with your name and your cell phone number. If there is still space available you will receive a confirmation email with details about how to prepare for your visit and our meeting point. Space is very limited, so please RSVP quickly if you plan to join us for this outing.

First we met at a local fabric shop to choose a fabric:



Rosie Semisi, a local designer, met us at the store and taught us about the different prints. She also helped us visualize how these prints would look once made into a sulu jaba.

Then Rosie custom designed sulu jabas:


We met for fittings
Picked up the finished sulu jabas






And then we wore them to the US Embassy in April 

This definitely turned out better than my first sulu jaba design adventure.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Purple. Or when you love something that's all you see.

Soon after we moved to Tennessee I was standing in line at the campus snack bar. I realized the woman in front of me was dressed in purple from head to toe. She had on a purple top, purple pants, purple socks, purple shoes, and purple shoe laces.

I piped up and complimented her on her outfit. She responded that purple was her favorite color and she loved to wear it. I then asked, "Where did you find purple socks and shoelaces?"

The lady in purple smiled and said, "Honey, when you love something, that's all you see!"

That afternoon when I got home I looked in my closet and realized it was full of red clothing. Apparently I'd been unconsciously choosing red for years. At that point I gave up trying to squelch it and happily bought red purses, shoes, shirts, skirts, you name it. Funnily enough, it wasn't hard at all. Just as she'd told me, when you love something, that's all you see.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

A typical day

I posted this a few days ago on facebook:

What does a typical day in Fiji look like? I still can't tell you. Today I walked past the mangroves, shopped the first day of new stock at Value City, ate lunch at an open air food court, and saw some great art. We came home to a ginormous rhinoceros beetle crawling over our doorstep. Typical day? Maybe. Does it resemble any previous day of our life in New York? Definitely not.


Mangroves along the sea wall near My Suva Park

Harbor Court Open Air Food Court in Suva


Value City closes periodically to add new stock. It's a full house as shoppers look the secondhand merchandise over after.

Alice Hill of Hot Glass Fiji speaking at the British High Commission Residence

Side View of a female rhinoceros beetle. Bad pic, but I swear it was huge
Today during the chat portion of our Shut Up and Write group we were talking about what a "typical" day in Suva looks like. I really don't know. Some days it's not much different than my life in the states. Other days, like when I go to the store and can't find strawberry yogurt or fresh milk or spaghetti sauce, it feels incredibly frustrating and difficult. And still other days, like when I see a palm tree growing from a coconut, I'm amazed all over again that I live in Fiji. What's a typical day in Fiji like? I'll let you know when I get to one.

Exploring Suva

I'm pretty good at getting out and about on my own, but some things are just more fun with others. One of the things I've been doing this year is planning events for the American Women's Association here in Suva.

AWA was founded in the 1980's and is a non-profit volunteer-run organization. Among other things AWA provides social activities that enhance friendships and personal development. While AWA embraces the American culture, membership is open to anyone regardless of nationality. Members come from all over the world and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and interests.

Here's are the activities I've organized so far this year for AWA:

February: 
Suva Municipal Market Tour. 
Meet the AWA group at the Flower Stalls at the south east corner of the municipal market (closest to Tappoo City). The tour will go through the upstairs spice and yaqona stalls, outside through the vegetable and fruit vendors, around the seafood sellers and conclude at the back of the market near the tailors. Each attendee will receive a reusable shopping bag compliments of MH Flagstaff.

Scuba Dive. Certified Divers Only. 
Meet the AWA group at Suva Scuba on the Royal Yacht Club grounds. We'll gear up and leave at 10:00 for Navakavu Reef. This is a marine protected area and is home to numerous turtles. The reef itself is undercut by the prevailing SE swell. This, combined with an earthquake in 1953, dislodged the reef edge causing a tsunami to shoot across the bay and onwards to Kadavu island.  The remnants of this can still be seen as huge reef slabs sitting at the base of the wall in around 60-70' (20-25m). There are also several crevasses where the reef crest did not completely part company from the main reef body.

Movie Night at Damodar Event Cinemas 50 Shades of Gray.

Are you all tied up in knots about Tuesday's night's showing of 50 Shades of Gray? Don't be! Here's the plan:

Check in at Damodar Event Cinema anytime before 8:00 PM. Choose your seat from one of the groupings held for the American Women's Association. Then come into the Premium Lounge and join the rest of our movie night group.

At 8:00 our Guest Speaker Roshika Deo will facilitate a fun and interactive Q&A session about the book 50 Shades of Gray and the BDSM lifestyle. Ms. Deo is an Attorney and Consultant at the International Center for Advocates Against Discrimination (ICAAD) Her review of the 50 Shades of Gray books was quoted in the Fiji Times "(T)here however also needs to be spaces and avenues for open and frank discussions on the subject of BDSM, sexuality, intimate relationships and domestic violence, which she believes is lacking in Fiji." Don't worry that the discussions might stray into your red zones, there will be plenty of discreet ways to interact without crossing your boundaries. In addition, the more questions you ask, the more chances you'll have to win a door prize. If things get too intense, use your safe word.

Spoken English Practice & Coffee. 
Join us and meet Native English speakers and learners in a friendly, casual atmosphere.  We will have formal and informal introductions and everybody gets a chance to talk. The conversations are fun, relaxed, and are organized by a native English speaker. Your facilitator will make sure everybody is talking and learning English conversation skills.

March 
Waterfall Hike Colo-i-Suva Park 
This hike ended up not happening as scheduled because of TC Pam.
If Colo-i-Suva Forest National Park were anywhere else in the world, it would be overrun with visitors. As it is, it's relatively unknown, even to us locals. This lush rainforest park is an oasis teeming with vivid and melodic birdlife and tropical flora. Among the wildlife are 14 different bird species, including scarlet robins, spotted fantails, Fiji goshawks, sulphur-breasted musk parrots, Fiji warblers, golden doves and barking pigeons. Our group will take a mountainside trail that leads to the lower natural pool. Once there, we'll be able to relax and swim in a cool, clear mountain pool before hiking back to our cars at the lodge.

Easter Eggstravaganza 
We’ll have a crazy-fun egg hunt and Easter crafts for the kids. Sponsored by US Embassy CLO & AWA

Spoken English Practice & Coffee. 

April
Sulu Jaba Excursion. $30 + cost of material, price includes a custom made sulu jaba made from the material you choose (material is purchased separately).

The April meeting of the American Women's Association is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at noon in the US Embassy. What better way to welcome our new US Ambassador Judith Cefkin to her post in Fiji than with a friendly Bula Vinaka from the women of AWA in our festive bula wear?

A Sulu Jaba is the traditional Fijian two piece outfit. It consists of a fitted tunic over an ankle length skirt in matching or coordinating fabric. The most traditional sulu jabas are made of 100% cotton and have a knee length top over the ankle length wrap skirt. Modern interpretations are limited only by your imagination and the skill of your tailor.

This month's activity has two parts: first we'll visit a fabric shop guided by a local designer. At the fabric shop we'll learn about different natural and synthetic fibers and how they affect the weight and drape of a material. We'll also learn about Pacific Island design motifs and how the repeat of the pattern affects your buying decisions. Our guide will help you select a sulu jaba design that fits your personal sense of style and help you select a fabric that will work well with your chosen pattern.

Your sulu jaba will be ready in 7 days, you'll arrange for a fitting and pickup date during your initial visit.

Your fee of $30 includes your trip to the fabric store, design consultation, and the sewing of your sulu jaba. Material is purchased separately. You can also bring 4.5 meters of your own fabric to have your sulu sewn. Please note that the $30 cost does not include the cost of the fabric.

If you're interested, please respond by email with your name and your cell phone number. If there is still space available you will receive a confirmation email with details about how to prepare for your visit and our meeting point. Space is very limited, so please RSVP quickly if you plan to join us for this outing.

May 
Fiji Rum Co. Tasting
Have you seen the lineup of Fiji Rum Co. Rums?

Banana Rum - Coconut Rum - Coffee Rum - Golden Honey Rum - Rum Liqueur - White Chocolate Rum - 2 year old White Rum - 8 year old Rum

Have you tried them all?

Please join the American Women’s Association for an introduction to the Fiji Rum Co. and their flavorful lineup on Tuesday, May 19 at 1:00 PM. Paradise Beverage’s Rum Development Manager Liam Costello will give us a history of spirits in Fiji and some background on the distillation and bottling process. We’ll hear about the Fiji Rum Co story and finish with a tasting flight of the distinctive Fiji Rum Co. rums.

Meet the Family
Thank you for your involvement in the American Women’s Association this year. By now you’ve seen how AWA helps you meet others here in Suva and get connected, now is your chance to introduce your family to the friends you’ve made in AWA.

You’re invited to a “Meet the Family” potluck. This will be on Sunday, May 17, starting at 2:PM with the meal beginning at 3PM. The pool is open and we’ll have some traditional yard games like cornhole, bocce, and yard yahtzee available as well as a movie room for the tweens and a playroom for younger children.

FAQ:

Q: Can I come even if my family isn't in Fiji?
A: Of course!

Q: Can I bring a guest?
A: Yes, we do ask that you each bring a dish for the potluck if you are coming with a guest. There's a spot in the signup for you to indicate how many people are coming in your group. This is a family home, so attendance will be capped once we hit capacity.  

Q: Will there be alcohol at this event?
A: This will be a BYOB event. Coolers are available onsite.

Q: Oh no, I hate to cook! Can I come without bringing a dish?
A: Please come as we want your company most of all. If you are in a rush before the potluck or just don't enjoy cooking, never fear. Perhaps you could stop by the market and pick up some seasonal fruits that you bring home, rinse, and maybe chop and serve with a little bit of lime juice? Another good idea may be to pick up hummus and a whole grained bread. Or what about a liter or two of a delicious ice cream?

Q: What's the dress code?
A: Casual!

Q: I'm on your mailing list but I'm not (yet) a member - can I come?
A: We would love to meet you! Feel free to come to a few events, but please consider joining the group.

Q: Is parking available?
A: Our host family live in the Domain area. The homes on their street have 24 hour security and there is ample parking in the cul-de-sac leading to their home.

Q: Is there a rain plan?
A: Our host family's home includes a large covered porch, well fenced pool, a sloping front lawn and an ample back garden, all of which lend themselves easily to indoor and outdoor activities.

Q: I have yard darts, can I bring them?
A: Please feel free to bring SAFE pool and outdoor games and toys. You may want to label them to make sure they go home at the end of the afternoon. And please, leave the yard darts at home.

Q: My dog is my family, can I add Rover to my RSVP?
A: Please leave the pets home this time.

June
Sustainable Seafood. An Ethical Fish Buying Guide
Patricia of Pacific Dialogue Ltd (a local NGO) is a fisheries scientist. She will lead a guided tour through the Suva Fish market the morning of Friday, June 12 and answer questions such as What is 'sustainable' seafood?; Where do we find these fish?; Why have they have this colour; this shape?; which ones are safer to buy?

There is no charge for this event, but Patricia does ask for donations to the NGO she supports (Pacific Dialogue). The NGO's  mission is to promote dialogue and education on human rights and good governance issues in Fiji and the Pacific as a means to resolve conflict, develop understanding and uphold basic human rights.

We're almost at the halfway point in the year. I'm looking forward to what the rest of 2015 will bring.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Goodbye (but no gifts)

People disappear so quickly here. Most of the people I've met are on short 3 year contracts, which means just as you start to get to know them they're on their way out.

Goodbyes are turning out to be pretty low key as a result. No gifts, because their shipment already left. It's very strange, but apparently it's the way it is around here. One long term resident told me soon after I arrived that she wasn't in the habit of friending expats because their contracts were so short that it was like having pets - they passed on so quickly that it was too painful to have them in your life.

I haven't yet wrapped my head around this yet.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Fiji Fashion Week 2015

Ever have an experience that turns out to be so much more than you ever expected it could be? That was Fiji Fashion Week for me.