Friday, April 10, 2015

Family Memberships - April 2015 NFMV Event - A Frog Night with Nunia

So much to do, so little time!

When I moved to New York I remember having an awful sense that I was missing things. There were simply too many things going on and I was too new and I couldn't parse the info quickly enough to find activities that our family wanted to participate in. One thing that I'd learned when we moved to Tennessee was that if something AMAZING was missed to talk to the organizers and ask when they planned to hold it next year and add that to my calendar with enough advance notice to be sure to RSVP. 

Got it. 

But how to handle a huge number of activities coming at you from every direction?

One of my coworkers gave me some advice for which I will forever be grateful. She suggested that we join one institution each year and for that one year make that institution our priority in planning our outings. We didn't need to be monogamous, we could of course go to different places and do different things, but for one year we should try to do as many events as that institution offered and we could fit in our schedule. 

So we did. We joined the zoo one year and stopped in on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays and Sundays. We were members, so it didn't matter if we were only going for an hour or for hours, We would go and only look at one exhibit. We would go, leave, get some lunch, and come back. Instead of feeling tied to one place, we had this incredible sense of freedom. It was awesome. 

Another year we joined the Museum of Modern Art. (My turn! Can you tell?) I LOVED it and dragged my son along more times that he would like to admit. One time in the middle of the year I met a friend there to see the Diego Rivera exhibit. We were spending ages with each painting and our son was bored to tears. He politely asked if he could go down to the gift shop and I said yes. My friend and I came to the end of the exhibit and decided to meet up with my preteen in the gift shop.

Except... there was no pre-teen in the gift shop. At first I was bemused, I figured he was sitting on the floor reading a book or perhaps listening to music while he waited. I checked all the corners, walked all the aisles. No son. I was one minute away from talking to security when I remembered he had a cell phone (bear with me, you don't always think straight when you're anxious) 

He promptly answered

"I'm in the Design Exhibit. I wanted to look at some things we saw last time."

This is the kid I had to cajole and bribe to go with me choosing of his own volition to look at an exhibit. That one line made that year's membership fee worth it. 

So, long story short, after six months here it's getting to be time for us to choose our cultural institution. This one looks pretty good, what do you think? 





  


NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is Fiji's only domestic NGO working solely for the conservation and sustainable management of Fiji's unique natural heritage

Learn from the Scientists


Frog Night with Nunia


Join Nunia for a night walk at Colo-I-Suva and discover her fascination for frogs

25th April 2015

 

Saturday night 6.30pm - 8.30pm
 

Colo I Suva Forest Park


Hate frogs? Scared of frogs?
Join Nunia for a night walk at Colo I Suva and discover her fascination for frogs. They come in many colours, not just green as most people think.

Nunia used to be terrified of frogs, lizards and snakes. On her first frog survey, she could not stand handling a frog and would chase it so that the next person could catch it. She now thinks Fiji's frogs are the cutest frogs in the whole world.

Meet: at the car park of Colo I Suva Forest Park at 6.30pm.

Minimum Age: 10 years.

Cost: $10 for NatureFiji member. $15 for non-member.

Estimated walk is 1.5 hours. Wear long pants and suitable shoes for walking.

Bring a torch and mosquito repellent.

Buses from Suva bus station (aprox.$2, 30 minutes) or a faster taxi ride for $15-$20. 


Become an NFMV member today!


Become a member and enjoy the discounted rate. Limited places available so book and make payment early. Contact :
 
Anna Billings annab@naturefiji.org t - 310 0598
or
Swee Kok sweekok@gmail.com t - 8338608

Nunia Thomas

Nunia Thomas, is the Director of NatureFiji, Fiji's only local NGO for the conservation and sustainable use of Fiji's biodiversity.

She is a passionate herpetologist and is often called upon for her expertise in biodiversity expeditions.

Nunia is the Fiji NGO focal point of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, technical advisor on the government led American Iguana Eradication Campaign, National Protected Areas Committee and NBSAP Species working group.

Prior to NatureFiji, Nunia was involved in planning and establishing long-term monitoring plots for invasive plants in two of Fiji's protected areas; and conducted ecological studies on some of Fiji's endangered species.




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Our mailing address is:
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Fiji

Am I in control?

“If you don’t feel that you are possibly on the edge of humiliating yourself, of losing control of the whole thing, then probably what you are doing isn’t very vital.” – John Irving.

Well, glad we cleared that up.

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Fidji Salads - Lunch Delivery

Something I miss like crazy is food delivery. It's starting to happen more and more, but it's not always healthy options. Hooray! Here's a healthy option!!  

 

From: Mes Fidji [mailto:mesfidji@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 8 April 2015 5:47 PM
Subject: Fidji Salads - Lunch Delivery

 

Greetings, 

 

I trust your Easter Weekend was restful.  We are taking orders for Thursday and Friday, cut-off time for orders is 10am of each day.

 

Do pardon the late posting of this week's menu:

 

Ceylon spinach and red lettuce are the stars of this week's salad, complemented by Tamari raosted sunflower seeds, kidney-beans, carrots, slices of Lebanese cucumber, Spanish Onions, freshly home-sprouted beans, atop a bed of local lettuce and watercress, completed with garlic flat bread, and our specially made vinegrette on the side.

 

Thank you for your support.

 

Best Regards,

 

Jo Mesake Nacola

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Mes Fidji - Fashion Design

mobile: +679 912 1047

 



Monday, April 6, 2015

New Guide to Suva

This is awesome. I'm newbie enough to appreciate it as a resource,  seasoned enough to say it's on the mark.
==========================================
Dear International Community,

The United Nationals Local Expatriate Spouse Association (UNLESA) committee has recently revised and updated the UNLESA Settling in Fiji Guide, as well as developed an interactive and informative website.  We are excited to share these two initiatives with the International Community in Fiji.  Please forward onto and share with your members!  
Our new website: http://un-lesa-fiji.wix.com/settling-in-fiji You will find a pdf version of the Guide on the Resources page.
We look forward to your feedback and input as to anything we have missed or what could be improved.  We trust the Guide and Website will further assist in the arrival and settling in of international staff and their families and help them to enjoy Fiji to its fullest!
Kind regards,
Mary-Ann G. Schreiner
Chair
==========================================
Psst! Was this useful? You'll probably find this post helpful, too http://www.amerikaonline.net/2015/03/ill-ask-mary.html 

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Pacific Fusion Restaurant - Dinner and Cocktail

Wonder where I am? I might be at one or all of these dinners!


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Timaima Marawa <Timaima.Marawa@aptc.edu.au>
Date: Wed, Apr 1, 2015, 19:22
Subject: Pacific Fusion Restaurant - Dinner and Cocktail
To:


Bula,

 

Thank you for the support you have given Fusion Restaurant and the students of Australia Pacific Technical College during Term I.

 

Please see below for our updated function list. Unfortunately we have had to cancel a lunch, however we have added a fun evening of "cocktails and canapes and a little bling" instead.

 

 

Date

Style of Function

Restaurant opening time

9th April

 

Lunch A la Carte 3 course

12 Cancelled

16th April

 

Dinner A la Carte

6 pm – taking bookings now.

23rd April

 

Dinner Buffet

6 pm

30th April

 

Dinner A la Carte

6 pm

7th May

 

Breakfast Buffet & A la Carte

6.30am

8th May

Cocktail Party

5pm – NEW!

 

21st May

 

Dinner A la Carte & Dessert Buffet

6 pm

28th May

 

Dinner A la Carte w/ Petit Fours

6 pm

 

 

Please see attached flyers for further details. (Dinner 16th April Flyer & Menu, Cocktail Function Flyer and Map for Directions).

 

We look forward to seeing you and your friends at Pacific Fusion Restaurant Term II. Remember to book early with Isikeli to avoid disappointment 3307447.

 

Vinaka.

 

 

 

 

Timaima A W Marawa

Campus Administration & Reception Clerk

Australia-Pacific Technical College

 

Lot 1, Wainivula Road, Centerpoint, Suva

PO Box 14319, Suva, Fiji Island

P +679 334 3958 ext 110    M +679 702 1798 and 716 8815    F +679 334 3958

E Timaima.Marawa@aptc.edu.au     S timaima.aptc   

 

 

Creating Skills for Life

   

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Kindergarten activities during the Easter Holiday

Passing on some more info about kid stuff around Suva

==========================================

Holiday Programme activities from 30 March to 2 April, please call or email 9267800 for booking. Space limited for 15 children. Attached is the Holiday Programme for the week. Thank you.

Warmly,

Waldorf Teachers

Waldorf Kindergarten Fiji

240 Richards Road   Suva

Postal address:  P.O. Box 14465 Suva Fiji Islands

Tel 3310417   or   9267800

www.waldorfinfiji.com