Who doesn't love randomness?

I know I do. SO a few more random stories/thoughts from my crazy mind are fixing to be shared. So in the words of Samuel L. Jackson, quoted from Jurassic Park (with a cigarette in hand), 'hold onto yo butts.'

So I definitely have some photos of this up on my profile, but let me tell you about the time I woke up to an early morning bareback horseride. One normal/very pretty morning I was getting ready to go into Nausori for centerday. As I come out of the restroom to wash my hands, teeth, and face I suddenly hear my Bhabi shout something at me in Hindi. Of course I don't understand- it's 6:30am and my brain doesn't start functioning until at least 7. After I wash my face I look up out the window that's right in front of the sink. What do I see? Sosheila/Krissy going on a morning stroll on one very skinny bareback horse amongst a giant field of eggplants. cool. I dig Fiji. So of course I had to run out there myself and go for a ride down the ol' dirt road. coolio.

Some more random thoughts, a forgive me for this, but I'd like to take a second and describe in detail how hot the boys are here. Like seriously, the Fijians AND info-fijians. INdo-fijians, to me, are usually better looking in the face and fijians just have solid, rock hard bods. Like it's crazy! I don't know what they put in the milk here (oh wait I do know, straight up butter) but these boys are just mad ripped. It's kind of sad though, despite all the proposals I get....I just don't they could handle an american girl. WOmens roles here are very different (in the info fijian and fijian cultures) from american ones. In the words of Beyonce, they're not ready for this jelly. I think the fact that I really don't know how to cook ASTOUNDS them. I mean, I do know how to cook (american food), but since a lot of things aren't available here how they are in america I find myself sputtering about the kitchen. It's funny how all these women have recipes for EVERY kind of curry imprinted into their minds. I haven't seen any one of them bust out a recipe book.

As for my job- I'm working with Sanatan Dharm. It's a very large and ambitious hindustani organization in Fiji, the largest I think. BUT sadly it's extremely low on resources and man power. SO that's what I'm here to help with. I'm also going to be helping at the Shreedhar Maharaj College (secondary school/highschool) where I'll be doing environment and health workshops and hopefully getting More hindi classes for free. I'm a little confused with my life right now....because I think maybe my org thought I was going to be some awesome expert that could help them solve some mega problems (which ughh.......I'm sorry, what?) BUT that's actually to be expected in a sense that there are ALWAYS a lot of wrong assumptions made about the peace corps. A lot of people still don't get it and a lot of people still are asking you 'So, what is the peace corps?' on the day you leave from your service. So it's assumed that you have to do a lot of explaining. Anyways, I'm also hoping to help connect all the resources that Sanatan has and get their infrastructure settled. It sounds like a lot, and it WILL be...but for now I don't even know where to begin. I'm still learning what's going on, learning the hierchal system they have here (which is of course male dominated), and learning when and where I am allowed to do things. So for right now.....I'm lost. cool. That (as I've heard many times before) is the life of a volunteer.

As a volunteer, the first three months you actually don't have to do anything but socialize if you don't want to. Your job is to network, share cultures, get to know your village/settlement, potential 'co-workers', etc. This care free lifestyle definitely suits a village. However, because I am in a Hindi settlement, things are different. Hindi people in general are more about working. SO I feel like people are expecting all of these things from me (and expecting them quickly kind of) and then also misinterpreting what I'm here for (for ex. the school that I live at, a lot of them think I'll be teaching). SO thats cool. Really the Hindi world is VERY different from the Fijian. After a long day of rolling puri and being shouted at in Hindi, it's nice to relax and shoot some bowls of grog.

My house is great for FIji standards! It's cement with electricity and with multiple rooms. However, it's almost TOO big, seriously. FOr an American coming with a lot of stuff (of course) it would be great, but for a peace corps volunteer arriving with NO furniture into a big, lonely house that had only a table and small bed....what to do! Can I get $50 for 'Do I get any chairs?'...Answer is 'Who do you think you are?'. Coolio. But my organization actually helped me out and gave me some money to buy some furniture...because it IS impossible to function without a dresser. And because I have electricity, I definitely wanted a fridge. SO I got a small one- dorm room style and am making that work. There's no 'carpet' in the kitchen and in the bedroom but the rest of the house has tile. The MAIN thing I am SUPER PUMPED ABOUT is all the plants I have in my backyard- 3 PAPAYA trees, 3 chili plants..which I am using fyi, I'm growing mint now, some other kind of vegetable that I don't know what it is but will more than likely eat it, pumpkin!!!!!!!!, a lemon tree, and 2 other vegetable trees. WHOOP! I'm pumped! and there is a tilapia pond right by my house so I just might go fishing. :0)

I showered with frog last night. That's another thing actually, my house was so empty (oh and NO shelves btw..that was a bit ridiculous) they even took the shower head off the wall. SO it's just a tube pouring water....I choose to shower by bucket.

anywho.....thats all for now. more to come without a doubt. Again I love and miss everyone. I've definitely had my first wave of mega homesickness these past 2 weeks. It's cool though. If you're near a landline, remember I can call you for 30 minutes and it only costs 2 fijian dollars! so let me know! ok love you guys!
-Chandni chand se hoti he
sitarro se nahii
piyaar ek so hota he
hazarro se nahii