In Suva!

I have figured out the way to get all my pictures on my blog, but this internet cafe that I am at right now is not letting me download my pics. The computer isn't working. But I think I might be able to sometime early next week. Mom I got your package the other day! Thank you so much. The candy in there is already gone. Everyone kept saying this candy came all the way from America and somehow that makes the candy taste better. I said it came the great state of West Virginia and everyone starts to sing country roads take me home. That is a very popular song here. We are working on 4 projects right now. Two for our village that we are living in right now. An environmental and health project. The Chief and the elders are asking us to do a two hour program talking about waste management because there is a river at the end of village that everyone throws their trash in. So, we are going to try to explain how that isn't good because people bathe, use the bathroom, and eat prawns and shrimp from there and they taste like polution. And then they want like intro to CPR because the other day we all went to a high Chief's funeral in a close by village and being on time we still waited an hour for it to start. While we were waiting an old man was sitting in front of us and stopped breathing. So, all the sudden all the Fijians stood up and didn't know what to do and started to hit his back and then we realized what was going on and they few of us that know CPR laid him down and cleared the airway and so on. The Fijians we amazed and was so grateful that we were there because they think that if we weren't there the man would have passed away. So, now that news that the whities (American-PeaceCorps) in town has saved a Fijian as spread through the whole district. Now, our village is asking for us to do a CPR program. Which Kiva and I will be doing in a few weeks.

Next Monday, I am teaching a class 8 of about 16 students in a local school about how important nutrition and physical activity is in our daily life. I have an hour to myself. I met the teacher yesterday and the kids they all seem really nice. The kids are really respectful here to adults and especially to foreigners. They call the teachers Madam. Oh yeah! But anyways, I am trying to think of what else has been happening. We had a scavenger hunt this morning in Suva and of course my group won and I had 4 slices of pep. pizza from Pizza Hut. Yummy! That's why I am in Suva right now. I have to head back to Nausori and my village around 4. I am going to be buying a cellphone soon and it is free for me for people from the US to call me. So, as soon as I get my number I will be posting it. Also, text messages will be great too. Phone cards are just too expensive.

So, how is everyone doing? Rebecca how was the wedding? I thought about you all day when it was the time you were to get married, it was like the next day afternoon here. We have least then 2 weeks til we find out our sites. This is a huge deal. that is all we talk about. We also have our mini LPI language test Tuesday so I am a bit nervous about that. My classes are getting better too by the way. The teacher my group had before is now gone and things are much much better. I am actually learning alot. I can't wait for people (Chris, Kels, AND MOM) to visit so i can show off my language skills!!! And show you the ropes. I can't wait to get my own place. I am excited and so scared at the same time because I have to trust others with my safety. I haven't had any problems so far! so that is good. I am very interested to see what kind of job I will be doing. I do know I want to be on the west or north sides of the islands because it is hotter and drier there. Suva and the eastern coast sucks cause it always rains. So remember July 4th is the day.

I already have plans for Christmas this year. My host mom wants me to go to the southern island to visit her family for Christmas. Her dad is the chief so I will be living it up in the village. I am excited at least I have some where to go. If I can remain calm til Chris gets here in November I will be doing good. I thought I would be getting to a point where things should not be shocking me anymore, but they do. I am gotten used to the bucket baths and the babies crying everymorning I wake up and to the food. But other things are always popping up that you don't expect. Like my taxi driver the other day literally almost ran over a child the other day and I was in tears and he acted like he had no idea he almost ended a life. He was like is everything okay? I was like what the hell man? I get really tired of people laughing at us because the language is coming out of our mouths and they are not used of it and they think it is weird so all they do is laugh and all I want is for them to respond to what I am saying correctly in Fijian. That really pisses me off because I am making an effort and I just get laughed in the face. Still haven't gotten over the eguality issues either. I believe that will be an ongoing battle for me. Especially in the villages. But I may not be placed in a village. well I must be going keep checking the blog lots of pics will be up soon and please leave comments. I live for those comments!!!!(and mail)