Fiji Shark Studies
SS21 Update - Friday, July 20, 2012
Our Day At Galoa!
Today started off bright and early at 7:30am with the first few of us rustling around through the kitchenware trying to find bowls and spoons so that we could eat our cheerios appropriately. After we had all energized ourselves for the exciting day of community service we separated into our designated cleaning/cooking groups. We then took some time to put order to the house by organizing our outside patio and inside the villa. Then all dressed, and ready for the day (knee length shorts of course) we got in a taxi and headed to the village of Galoa.
Upon arrival at the village we were greeted with many smiles and shouts of “Bula”(hello!), something rarely found overseas. As we pulled up to the community centre we were welcomed by leaders of the community group who would soon lead us in a traditional ceremony. As we entered the large room each member of our group respectively removed our shoes and sat in a semi circle facing our leaders. As an offering to the village for allowing us to enter their village we presented them with kava. Kava is a traditional Fijian drink used during special events such as weddings or birthdays. The drink is actually made from the root which is then mixed with water. After each student and leader had been presented with a glass (a cup made from a coconut) they set us right to work. We were instructed to paint sections of the community centre. Everyone was ecstatic to beginning this helping out this fabulously cheerful village. As we began to paint more and more children would congregate to come watch us. After a while they got very comfortable with us and began to start playing with us which made it incredibly hard to keep working while having 5 young kids using you as their personal jungle gym. By the end of our service work we were presented with tea and Fijian donuts and of course Kava. All throughout the day actually Kava was being served, there was never a shortage of it. By the time we returned back to our mat in the common room we all had a kid sitting in our lap. After our joyful time spent in the community we filled the overly stuffed taxi and headed off to our next destination.
We spent an hour stocking up on our souvenirs, cookies and movies at the Arts Village Market. We then returned home to a bit of rest time some of us used smartly to study for our Mid-Term, others used it as an opportunity to take sometime to themselves listening to music or getting to know one another. We then all hopped back in the taxi and headed over to Uprising where we enjoyed another delicious dinner with our virgin fruity drinks at our side. After some great socializing and referencing to our favorite comedies we headed on home to all come together to enjoy a movie before we all went to bed for our next amazing day we have here in Fiji.
Jonathan Gregory
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