for starters I met my Contact Person from the organization I'll be working with. His name is Balram- yes, only one name (which he is very happy to share). This person is sort of a co-worker and a person we go to for any questions. It's a funny story actually, this past Thursday is when we all met our contact people. We were all asked to stand up and say a little about ourselves. I stood up, said the usual stuff, and ended with "how excited I was to learn Hindi!'. Then, Balram stood up...said the usual stuff, and then ended with a big smile on his face, "Even though Sanatan is a Hindustani organization, 95% of the students are Fijian." It's times like these where you can't do anything but laugh. (And just so everyone is clear on what this means to me- I PROBABLY HAVE TO ALSO LEARN FIJIAN...on top of Hindi.)....cool.
From what it sounds like I'll be teaching teachers about computers. Many people are computer illiterate here and need help with the basics. I'll also be working with the woman's groups to help motivate them and get them started on doing things they want to be doing. That's definitely not all I'll be doing though- Balram and I only know the general goals of what they want accomplished- nothing specific. So I'll be finding that out over the next couple of weeks.
Everyone in the settlement is SUPER pumped. PC does these cultural afternoons where once a week we go to the different villages and have awesome Fijian foods, partake in some fun Tra-la-la (dancing), and learn history about villages/tribes and such. Well next FRIDay it's Nukomoto's turn! WHOOP! oh- that's the name of our settlement btw. totally bad-a. Our settlement is very small- 10 houses total, a lot of them are farmers. But they've built this shed in front of my house that we'll have the Ramayaan under! My family and a few other families are going to make tons of delicious foods- tomato chutney, kadduu- pumpkin, nariyal ke chutney- coconut chutney (these three things are foods that have been blessed not only by the gods but also my mother's magic cooking hand...seriously they are my FAVORITES), puri- smaller but delicious tortilla type things, sena- fried dalo leaves with delicious seasonings, gogoola- friend yummy sweet balls of dough I think, and then of course the prasaad- the blessed food. We're going to have a short ramayaan- a short reading a one or two songs. Then we'll have mendi- henna, and yangona for everyone! Everyone in the village is so excited- and of course we3'll all be decked out in our best sari's and bracelets!
It's actually funny because, for the environmental volunteers we are suppose to get with our settlements/villages and find out what they think can be improved in their village. Then we facilitate a project to help do something within the community. When we had our meeting in Nukomoto, they mentioned both the pot-holey roads and the Hindi prayer temple that hasn't been finished. Well, thanks to our cultural afternoon that we planned- both of those things are being finished! woohoo! does that count as our project? probably not...we are thinking of doing a Composting workshop with the village- we'll see how that goes. We are nervous it might not happen with so much hype being over the ramayaan. I'll keep you guys posted.
But OH MY GOSH! Ok so even more great news that I am SUPER excited about! Right next to Nukomoto there is a Fijian village, Nakile. Krissy and I went to their Methodist church last SUnday and the people there were AMAZING! They were SO happy to have us, they invited us back for yangona (grog) later that night! It was so great to get to hang out with a village and really see how what it's like informally). We hadn't had the chance to do this yet seeing as we live in a Hindustani settlement. Tomorrow after church a lady named Sulu is going to teach us how to weave the fans made from coconut tree leaves. I'm pumped! They use these leaves to weave very large mats that everyone has in their living rooms to sit on. These people are awesome though, they were so happy to have us come and kept saying we should have been in a village. Now I feel like i have the bets of both worlds! And what's even more awesome is the fact that I'm going to be living very close, I can be great friends with them also! I am so happy! And there is a local village nearby to where I'll be living (like right across the street). ONe of the men from Nakile's cousin is the ratu in the village that I'll be living near. He's said we could go over one day and he'll introduce me so they know who I am and we can have a proper savusavu (more formal grog drinking fest). SAWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTT! I am so pumped.
Language is still stressful of course BUT all the local taxi drivers and shop keepers tell me my Hindi is good. I think they're lying. Actually, I know it. I would really like to have a conversation in HIndi that lasts longer than 2 minutes. ONe day....I hope it will happen.
anyways, until then Ham kosis kartaa hai.
As always, I love and miss everyone!
-Chandni
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
IM LIVING IN NAUSORI FOR SURE!
WHOOP! I am super pumped because if I have to live near a city then I wanted it to be one that was close to my host family......and the fact that I'm living in Nausori means I can literally walk to my family's house! I am so happy...my host dad has already started saying "Forget me not" with his cute accent. And honestly, I won't be living in a full city...It's more like a suburb...but suburbs here still have lots of beautiful greenery. I'm working with the organization that helps local people with the different projects they are doing. From what I understand, I will be working with lcoal business women and also with setting up business classes at a local vocational school. I am pumped! And if I am ever tired of living in the 'city' then I will for sure hop on a bus and visit my cool friends who are in the sticks/rainforest I guess you could say.
OK and this is random but it's fate. So I found out that my host dad's birthday is the SAME DAY (Dec. 29th) and my actual dad's birthday in America!!! AAAANNNDDD My host mom's name is Shanti- which means Peace in Hindi. Divine intervention? yes. I love them and it's meant to be.
oK that's all I have today I think! I dont have a lot of time right now- i just wanted to let everyone know where my site will be for the next two years! whoop!
love everyone!
raam raam
-Chandni
OK and this is random but it's fate. So I found out that my host dad's birthday is the SAME DAY (Dec. 29th) and my actual dad's birthday in America!!! AAAANNNDDD My host mom's name is Shanti- which means Peace in Hindi. Divine intervention? yes. I love them and it's meant to be.
oK that's all I have today I think! I dont have a lot of time right now- i just wanted to let everyone know where my site will be for the next two years! whoop!
love everyone!
raam raam
-Chandni
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Ham sochtaa hai ki ham Suva and Nausori me rahegaa!
Raam Raam everyone!
Ok I know it's been a while since I wrote so bear with me on the random things that I write about!
So things are still really busy of course, and honestly are only going to get busier. Last weekend we had our volunteer visits where we go and visit a current volunteer serving on the main island, viti levu. It's basically a weekend where we get to relax and hangout, and really get a sense for how a volunteer actually lives after they have been placed at their sites. It was a great weekend- Julie (another awesome trainee who is a really cool acupuncturist--spelling on that? the computer is too slow to google the correct spelling...don't hate me) and I went to Nadi, which is near the west coast, to visit Christa---SO FUN! We had to ride on a bus for like 5 hours each way (because we were coming from the completely opposite side of the island) and yes my butt did go numb, but it was still great to see a lot of Fiji. ....RANDOM STORY/FACT: Ok so in terms of being conservative Fiji is kind of whack. First off they say to wear looser fitting tops that cover your shoulders and long skirts that have to go past your knees. So that's whatever. But what's ridiculous is that for some reason, it's completely OK here to drop a boob (or two) right in public to feed your baby. I was shocked when I would hear stories of women with both of their boobs hanging out while the whole community was hanging out around the grog bowl. I didn't believe it at first until we were on the butt-numbing-bus ride and then it happened. The lady right next to me. I mean that's cool and all...but just comparing that to how conservative you have to be (especially with your skirts), it's just funny. I love Fiji. :0)
But anyways Nadi was great, we got relax and cook some homemade American food...Yes, it IS possible to make homemade pizza with no oven and 2 pots on a stove. SO that was a fun skill to learn!
Oh and yeah there was this AMAZING restaurant that was called Buleccino's that we went to for breakfast. Good god, it was so good. It was very americanized- which don't hate me, it's very nice eat American style when you've gone a long time without it. The food was extremely good- for example: smoked salmon, cream, cheese, and grilled onion bagels, creamy eggs with bacon, and also bruscetta with grilled onions, tomato, and cream cheese. Considering breakfast is my favorite meal....I was in heaven. Plus I got my first latte in Fiji there!
This past week has been VERY busy for me- My family has been having this celebration/week 9-day long prayer called a Pooja. My youngest sister and her husband were having it for their in-laws. (their in-laws were sick and now they're better so you throw this Pooja to thank Paghuan). It's basically the same thing as Ramayaan except LONGER. Except there was a lot of people there anywhere from 60-200 people all packed in this small room. It was fun though, a highlight of the evening (which this is also shocking considering how conservative the Hindi culture is) was when some gay men who were dressed like women got up and started dancing. And it was totally ok, no one was angry or anything. I guess it just boils down to if you're a man or not. boo. but it's whatev. So I went to that Thursday, Friday, and all day Sunday. You go to as many out of the 9 that you can. And since it was my family I had to be there for a lot of it. The other girls in my settlement, my language instructor, and I all went to a wedding on Saturday night...again very fun colors (of the sari's and all...Which I LOVE!), the same reading from the ramayaan, and songs and such, even the same gay men dancing....one of whom came over and asked me to do dance with her. It was actually SO fun! A little embarrassing when it was just us up there, but then a lot of other girls came up and then it was so fun!
My family did Mendi (henna) on my hands which I SUPER DUPER love. Yes, I said super duper. I swear it makes anything you do with your hands twice as much fun.
If there's two things I'm SOLD on doing when I have a house in America is 1. Compost toilet. Look it up. very effective! 2. Beekeeping!!! We got to go visit a Hindi volunteer worker and saw the projects she was working one. One of which was beekeeping, and it was so amazing! I seriously want to work with bees if I can! We all got to eat honey straight from the comb afterwards...so delicious. Everyone was on a sugar high. It was really cool because you could just pick a piece of the comb off and chew on it to get the honey out. Then there was just some wax left in your mouth. No it was not like burts bees (trust me, I tried to use it as chapstick...didn't work), but I imagine that's what they make it from.
Ok so basically I think (90% sure) that I'll be living in Nausori and working in Suva! which after seeing how Christa lives in nady (which is a city), I am excited to live closer to a city. There are positives and negatives to living in both rural and urban areas, but I think what I am most excited about is the fact that I will be living near my host family. I'm pretty sure I might be one of few who actually want to stay with their host families. I can't say anything for sure of what I'll be doing because nothing is set in stone yet. BUT we find out on Saturday so I'll know then.
Language is of course EXTREMELY stressful, but you get through it. My language instructor, Mahend, is 100% certified badass and is SO funny. Just a fun-loving guy who is laid back and is such a social butterfly and really quirky. He reminds me a lot of myself- Fijian style.
Ok...and if anyone is looking for things to send me...travel hand sanitizers, cd's with music on them- PLEASE!, and any other random items are always appreciated! I love and miss everyone so much!
Ok and I'm really sorry for my spelling errors and run-on sentences. Internet is pricy and our PC salaries aren't that great. Instead of correcting my errors I'd rather be able to buy me a diet coke. :0)
-Fir Milegaa!
Chandni
Ok I know it's been a while since I wrote so bear with me on the random things that I write about!
So things are still really busy of course, and honestly are only going to get busier. Last weekend we had our volunteer visits where we go and visit a current volunteer serving on the main island, viti levu. It's basically a weekend where we get to relax and hangout, and really get a sense for how a volunteer actually lives after they have been placed at their sites. It was a great weekend- Julie (another awesome trainee who is a really cool acupuncturist--spelling on that? the computer is too slow to google the correct spelling...don't hate me) and I went to Nadi, which is near the west coast, to visit Christa---SO FUN! We had to ride on a bus for like 5 hours each way (because we were coming from the completely opposite side of the island) and yes my butt did go numb, but it was still great to see a lot of Fiji. ....RANDOM STORY/FACT: Ok so in terms of being conservative Fiji is kind of whack. First off they say to wear looser fitting tops that cover your shoulders and long skirts that have to go past your knees. So that's whatever. But what's ridiculous is that for some reason, it's completely OK here to drop a boob (or two) right in public to feed your baby. I was shocked when I would hear stories of women with both of their boobs hanging out while the whole community was hanging out around the grog bowl. I didn't believe it at first until we were on the butt-numbing-bus ride and then it happened. The lady right next to me. I mean that's cool and all...but just comparing that to how conservative you have to be (especially with your skirts), it's just funny. I love Fiji. :0)
But anyways Nadi was great, we got relax and cook some homemade American food...Yes, it IS possible to make homemade pizza with no oven and 2 pots on a stove. SO that was a fun skill to learn!
Oh and yeah there was this AMAZING restaurant that was called Buleccino's that we went to for breakfast. Good god, it was so good. It was very americanized- which don't hate me, it's very nice eat American style when you've gone a long time without it. The food was extremely good- for example: smoked salmon, cream, cheese, and grilled onion bagels, creamy eggs with bacon, and also bruscetta with grilled onions, tomato, and cream cheese. Considering breakfast is my favorite meal....I was in heaven. Plus I got my first latte in Fiji there!
This past week has been VERY busy for me- My family has been having this celebration/week 9-day long prayer called a Pooja. My youngest sister and her husband were having it for their in-laws. (their in-laws were sick and now they're better so you throw this Pooja to thank Paghuan). It's basically the same thing as Ramayaan except LONGER. Except there was a lot of people there anywhere from 60-200 people all packed in this small room. It was fun though, a highlight of the evening (which this is also shocking considering how conservative the Hindi culture is) was when some gay men who were dressed like women got up and started dancing. And it was totally ok, no one was angry or anything. I guess it just boils down to if you're a man or not. boo. but it's whatev. So I went to that Thursday, Friday, and all day Sunday. You go to as many out of the 9 that you can. And since it was my family I had to be there for a lot of it. The other girls in my settlement, my language instructor, and I all went to a wedding on Saturday night...again very fun colors (of the sari's and all...Which I LOVE!), the same reading from the ramayaan, and songs and such, even the same gay men dancing....one of whom came over and asked me to do dance with her. It was actually SO fun! A little embarrassing when it was just us up there, but then a lot of other girls came up and then it was so fun!
My family did Mendi (henna) on my hands which I SUPER DUPER love. Yes, I said super duper. I swear it makes anything you do with your hands twice as much fun.
If there's two things I'm SOLD on doing when I have a house in America is 1. Compost toilet. Look it up. very effective! 2. Beekeeping!!! We got to go visit a Hindi volunteer worker and saw the projects she was working one. One of which was beekeeping, and it was so amazing! I seriously want to work with bees if I can! We all got to eat honey straight from the comb afterwards...so delicious. Everyone was on a sugar high. It was really cool because you could just pick a piece of the comb off and chew on it to get the honey out. Then there was just some wax left in your mouth. No it was not like burts bees (trust me, I tried to use it as chapstick...didn't work), but I imagine that's what they make it from.
Ok so basically I think (90% sure) that I'll be living in Nausori and working in Suva! which after seeing how Christa lives in nady (which is a city), I am excited to live closer to a city. There are positives and negatives to living in both rural and urban areas, but I think what I am most excited about is the fact that I will be living near my host family. I'm pretty sure I might be one of few who actually want to stay with their host families. I can't say anything for sure of what I'll be doing because nothing is set in stone yet. BUT we find out on Saturday so I'll know then.
Language is of course EXTREMELY stressful, but you get through it. My language instructor, Mahend, is 100% certified badass and is SO funny. Just a fun-loving guy who is laid back and is such a social butterfly and really quirky. He reminds me a lot of myself- Fijian style.
Ok...and if anyone is looking for things to send me...travel hand sanitizers, cd's with music on them- PLEASE!, and any other random items are always appreciated! I love and miss everyone so much!
Ok and I'm really sorry for my spelling errors and run-on sentences. Internet is pricy and our PC salaries aren't that great. Instead of correcting my errors I'd rather be able to buy me a diet coke. :0)
-Fir Milegaa!
Chandni
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