'Staying strong until the end!'

Without Sunlight, there is no Moonlight

 This last blog goes out to Roshni, someone who I believe I was sent here to meet, work with, and share so much with. Without her, God only knows where or what I'd be doing. It's so crazy, her name means 'Sunlight' in Hindi and mine just so happens to mean 'Moonlight'. Roshni and Chandani. The day I realized this I was on the verge of tears; I just realized how much she means to me, how her ability to give is an unyielding force much like the sun, and how I don't think I would have been successful in my community here without her. It was truly meant to be. It's amazing, and it's Chisu (Jesus). As much as I'm SO ready to be HOME, everytime I think of leaving her, I blubber like a baby. However, if someone were to ask me what I'm most proud of or my greatest accomplishment, this would be my answer: Among all the things I've shared with Roshni, computers, working as a businesswoman, etc, I feel privileged that I had the opportunity to be able to teach her her worth as a woman and as a hard worker. Above all things, I believe this to matter most...and it's definitely taken two years for her and myself to come to this realization.  I look at her and see how she's now able to stand up for herself and is such a bright, professional, and caring businesswoman. She is the epitome of compassionate, and I will never forget it. 

My last breast cancer workshop and first HIV/AIDS one as well!

Lately it's been SUPER BUSY with closing up things in the office, continuing to do breast cancer workshops  (still so fun!), introducing new HIV/AIDS workshops into my community, and then also visiting with my community on evenings & weekends! As much as I've been stressed out I've still enjoyed it (although shout-out to my friends and family who I've called whilst mid-breakdown, it's helped more than you know).

These last few weeks have been really great because I feel like I've actually seen and heard ways that my presence has actually changed the office for the better. Listening in on conversations where men are talking about the importance of women and have realized just how hard they work, especially here in Fiji. I truly feel like I was constantly challenging my organization to better themselves...and turns out, I succeeded! I'm not trying to toot my own horn, believe you me, I just feel better about leaving Roshni here in a more positive working environment.

I donated these flowers to the office, that way when I come back they'll all be abloom!

Now I march on to eat my last few meals of curry (last night I had some of THE best fish curry I think I've ever had) and tonight will be my last grog sitting at my host family's house. I'm pumped!


Once again, thank you to all my friends and family who have supported me the past two years, it's really meant a lot to me. I hope I've kept you slightly entertained while reading this ridiculous blog and that I'll get to see you upon returning home! Fijian grog, Indian snacks, and maybe even some Fijian Bounty Rum will be at the house on Sunday the 26th for lunch!

My Bhabi cleaning some mussels for curry!

Cheers,
Vinaka Vaka Levu (Thank you very much in Fijian),
Bahut DHaanywaad (Thank you very much in Hindi)
and MOCE (see you later in Fijian)!

Random Compilation of Stories...

...that I'm sure you're all just DYING to hear about. ;0)

Lessons Learned:
-People who have less give more
-Kindness knows no culture
-How wasteful Americans can be
-I like to cook and I'm pretty good at it
-I like to cook even more with groups
-Everything tastes better when you share
-I get comfortable with people much faster than they get comfortable with me
-I process things differently than other people
-I second guess myself far too much

 -the grass is always greener in the other village: as much as I enjoy visiting my friend's villages (and wish that I were in one), I've realized that every site has it's pro's and con's and that I should be content in the community I'm in...because it's a wonderful one.

My host mom sewing on her Singer peddle sewing machine!

Things I thought were extinct but aren't:
-Peddle sewing machines (see photo)
-plowing via cattle

Things that frustrate me about the Fijian Culture:
-When you ask questions that end in this or that? The answer from a local is always Yes.

Will appreciate in America:
--CUSTOMER SERVICE: whilst having breakfast in my favorite town, savusavu, I spent approximately 2 1/2 hours walking back and forth through town searching for some panackes. Apparently when a sign says 'Open 8am' it really means 10am. I finally found a place that had some normal pancakes (aka not deep friend half uncooked dough)  I received them alongside some vegemite syrup and had to ask for plain syrup about 4 times. And who doesn't love lukewarm coffee? oh wait, no one does.
--The Little things: Having your feet clean (not sandy) & having air conditioning on vacation
--Just feeling clean and staying that way: My House is an Easy Bake Oven...no really (temperature-wise, color-wise, and 'cool-as' wise) Thus I will HIGHLY appreciate Air Conditioning! This past year at the heat of summer I recall myself taking 7 showers a day and just wasting away in my 'full body sweats'.
-I think because of the heat, however; you do learn to enjoy the art of doing nothing. I remember many times of just laying on my host families floor staring at my hands and the ceiling, talking about nothing, and drinking lots of grog.
-Amazing friends and family of course

Things I've Struggled With Lately....
-Despite the job as a capacity builder, how do you politely tell a grown adult that they should be washing their hands after they use the restroom? I don't want to seem like that 'pompous American' who thinks they're better...and I also don't want to hurt their feelings
- In the same sense, it's hard to tell women that they need to go specifically to a gynecologist for a check up once a year when it's obvious they have no money to do so, it kind of hurts a little bit....

Feel accomplished when:
-I take clothes off line
-I wear out clothing, a sensation of 'YES, I've used this to it's max capacity'...I can't remember the last time I said that in America

New things that have seen molding:
-cooking apron
-spicket from my wine box
-nose pads on my glasses
-spices...SO annoying!

Story time:
Once upon a time, when I visited my friend Sally in her village...they said 'Yandra Bhaini' to me! so Yandra in Fijian means good morning but Bhaini is Hindi for Sister. This seems random but I remember feeling so appreciative at that moment. Why? Because her village friends recognized that I wasn't working with Fijians but with Indian people, and they made a point to represent that in the language they spoke. I just felt so grateful because I know many people don't think that anything with Indo-Fijians isn't the 'Real Fiji'. I get frustrated at this because not only is it a bit racist but it also disregards all that Indo-Fijians have brought to the country of Fiji...which is a LOT.

Awesome food days- where I found myself giggling to myself like a 12 year old school girl:
-Egg plant parmesan (when I discovered...hey I can cook)
-omelette with Dill

Beignets- compliments of Sandra!

-PB & J fluff sandwich
-Taco salad
-sushi on my b-day (mostly bc of the real cream cheese)
-Eggplant curry at office
-When I discovered Beets!
-cobbler with Kara
-coconut chutney at Christmas
-beignets

 Mystery Taki Song  **Taki means Chug in Fijian**
It's time for the Mystery Taki
Who gonna get the Mystery Taki
Time for the Mystery Taki
Who's it gonna be!?
It's ME!