Fiji Time
I am adjusting to life in Fiji. Everything here runs on Fiji time-meaning nothing is on time, and I mean nothing. Also, everything takes literally 5 times as long to do here. The people here are so relaxed and take their time in whatever they do. Often when we are working on a project, they will tell us multiple times to sit down and take a "rest." They will lay mats out under a tree and try to get us to sit or lay on them for hours. It is so different from the go, go, go of America.
The people we are working with are living in extreme poverty, but they have enough food to eat. The land here is so fertile, that they can grow enough to survive on. Also, many of them have sugar cane that they can sell a couple of times a year to bring in a little money to buy the things that they cannot grow. Everywhere we go, they feed us. I thought I was going to lose weight here....that might not be true.
I spent Friday working with a family to build an adobe stove. This allows them to stop cooking over an open fire inside their homes. They women were so excited to have one built. I spent all day there working with the family and playing with their kids. I became an expert at mixing adobe with my feet. The grandfather of the family kept calling me "Gilmore Girl" because he was convinced I looked like Lorelei off of the TV show Gilmore Girls. I'm not sure I agree, but I'll take it as a compliment.
I have been placed as the lead over the fitness classes. The people we work with are extremely strong. However, they have never done anything in their life to get their heart rate up. Also, the cook everything they eat in a ton of oil. There are lot of problems with high blood pressure and type II diabetes. We are working on teaching them how to manage and take care of these problems because they are so prevalent. We are teaching classes on fitness, health, and nutrition in hopes of helping them to have better health.
As soon as I find an effective way to post pictures, I'll put some up.
The people we are working with are living in extreme poverty, but they have enough food to eat. The land here is so fertile, that they can grow enough to survive on. Also, many of them have sugar cane that they can sell a couple of times a year to bring in a little money to buy the things that they cannot grow. Everywhere we go, they feed us. I thought I was going to lose weight here....that might not be true.
I spent Friday working with a family to build an adobe stove. This allows them to stop cooking over an open fire inside their homes. They women were so excited to have one built. I spent all day there working with the family and playing with their kids. I became an expert at mixing adobe with my feet. The grandfather of the family kept calling me "Gilmore Girl" because he was convinced I looked like Lorelei off of the TV show Gilmore Girls. I'm not sure I agree, but I'll take it as a compliment.
I have been placed as the lead over the fitness classes. The people we work with are extremely strong. However, they have never done anything in their life to get their heart rate up. Also, the cook everything they eat in a ton of oil. There are lot of problems with high blood pressure and type II diabetes. We are working on teaching them how to manage and take care of these problems because they are so prevalent. We are teaching classes on fitness, health, and nutrition in hopes of helping them to have better health.
As soon as I find an effective way to post pictures, I'll put some up.
Gilmore Girl?!? I like it:)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are having a great time. I am so glad you have entered the blogging world so we can keep up on your adventures.
ReplyDeleteMy first HELP experience in Venezuela was unique because there we all had the opportunity to live a in a trailer, and it was not a double wide. For some strange reason I felt nostalgic thinking about 25 people and one bathroom. there is something really wrong with that. Enjoy!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteSounds awesome- take lots of pictures and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great experience! Just reading your posts have given me a new appreciation for the lives we are able to live in the US... but also jealous I can't be mixing adobe with my feet. :)
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