First of all - a shout out to Christina Jones for sending me my first piece of mail. It sooo made my millinium - and will go on a wall at my new home. Thank you thank you thank you - or vinaka!! Wow, so I feel VERY blessed that I am moving to the Yasawas --- it's pretty surreal actually. From what I have heard thus far, I will be living by the white sandy beach that most Americans associate with Fiji. May I just inform everyone that Fiji is NOT all beaches, not by a long shot.... and many of the beaches are brown and murky. The village I have been living/training in is below sea level and very swampy/muddy. Also, it's less than a mile from the ocean, but I've only seen the ocean once, and we had to sludge our way through dark, forboding mangroves for 1+ hours to get there. Just painting you a picture here. Anyway, if the rumor is true about my site, I'm truly lucky and soooo grateful for sure. As I mentioned in a previous blog, there are downsides: being REALLY far away from a town (5 hour speed boat ride) and from other Peace Corps Volunteers. The other thing I have heard is that fresh water is not abundant, as in, it's an isolated island chain that gets little rain, so there may be times where washing clothes (or long hair!) might not be an option. We'll see how all of this plays out because I have not gotten many facts yet. The best way to navigate the unknown here is to have NO expectations. Thank you peacecorps for this valuable lesson indeed!
Bogi, the cat, is fattening up nicely, although has developed something that looks suspiciously like mange. He also has tried my patience by constantly jumping up on the dining table to eat our food. In a Fijian village you'll often hear "I will pour boiling water on that cat (or dog) if he comes around here again." I thought it was just an exaggerated expression of annoyance until I saw a dog yesterday with 1/3 of his back melted up. YIKES. Bogi better watch his manners is all I have to say.
My living situation has gotten progressively more difficult and frustrating. If you're reading this Darcy, take deep breaths and have a seat. I don't know if it's just an accumulation of my stressors or if it's because the host family is slacking. Regardless, I had my first break down yesterday... a mini breakdown really. I woke up needing to use the loo, only to find that there was poop not only stagnating in the toilet, but was all over the outside of the toilet and a couple spots on the floor of the bathroom. Since I'm REALLY tired of my gross toilet scenario, I've taken to just holding it in... which maybe is a worse solution. ANYWAY, after resolving to just hold it, I noticed an appalling stench in the house and discovered rotting pieces of chicken floating in chunky water in the kitchen sink... Then, later in the day, I was trying to make french bread pizzas for my family and the pan they gave me had weird, large brown, shiny bug cocoons adhered to it. I had to scrape them off with my finger nails which made me gag. Add to that a couple other things and I had to retire to my room to cry a bit. I felt better, went back out and did my best to enjoy the big "good bye" ceremony my matasiga (church cell group) set up for me. They had me sit at the front of the ceremony with the priest (this took place in a house) for 1.5 hours and then they graciously offered me a couple gifts and a BEAUTIFUL speech. Sooo sweet and lovely. They really have the most generous hearts here. Then stayed up drinking grog (rude not to), and FINALLY went to bed. I'm tired, but still rocking out. Only a little longer before moving to site and having some control over cleanliness and such. Whew. Lots of love to you all!!! Lata
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