Kari's visit...

So, for anyone planning to come out and visit, I would advise to contact Kari first. She was my first non Peace Corps visitor, and while I really tried to prepare her for village life, apparently I have forgotten everything that is foreign to westerners. Thanks for being a great sport, Kari!

I told her not to panic if she heard really loud drums being beaten at 4:00AM. Those were just sounding for the morning church service. Then, before 6:00AM, the village headman might stand outside my door and shout to the entire village the morning announcements. Amazingly, she slept through both. I did, unfortunately forget to warn her of the very loud blowing of the conch that is also sounded outside my door for the entire village to be informed of the start of the village work day!

The lali, or drums that are sounded for church service

Just to give you an idea of how loud those drums are... I can often hear the ones that are beaten in the next village on the mainland (about a 5-10 minute boat ride away)!

I also tried to warn of the types of food, but it's kind of hard to teach someone how to eat a whole fish in coconut milk without a visual aid! And, for the untrained stomach, it's not very easy to stomach pounds and pounds of taro!

Our Sunday meal

Me, tasting the miti, or coconut milk sauce, I was instructed to make

My host parents have recently become empty nesters. Thier youngest daughter just moved off the island to start secondary school. I think I have picked up many of her Sunday chores, like scraping and grating coconuts. In fact, the other day, the church sermon began with a story about how good I was at scraping coconuts! I was not that surprised, as the sermon often begins with a story about me when my host mother is preaching!

I also had forgotten that Kari's stay coincided with a communion day, which means that the church service was extra long. Kari took communion. Though I have explained to several people why I don't take communion, many people still think it's because I don't drink wine!

Kari taking communion with the women

I also did not realize that this day, when each of the clans went up to tithe, they would also be singing. Kari and I went up with my clan, and then of course had to stay up and join in on the song!

One of the clans singing with their tithing

Then, on the morning of our departure from the village, Kari dragged her large suitcase across the island, then down the 102 steps. I think someone in the village, on the other side of the island, heard each of the clunks down the steps and called the boat captain to come get her bag and bring it to the boat!

Kids making their way to the school boat

The boat captain effortlessly carrying the 60 pound case to the boat, while talking on his cell phone, without breaking a sweat!

After the village visit, we had a bit of a change of scenery when we travelled across the country to another set of isolated, gourgeous islands (the Yasawas). It was a very relaxing, enjoyable few days filled with great snorkeling, tasty food, beautiful sunsets, and getting to meet some really nice tourists.

Octopus Resort, on Waya Island. Notice the reef offshore- it was great. One highlight- a beautiful leopard shark, that looked just like the one I had eaten in the village a few months prior!







The beach in front of one of the villages on the island

But, my new, "waterproof" camera was not as waterproof as it claimed to be, and unfortunately leaked the second time I took it in the water :( So, you will have to again stay tuned to more photos!

I am very much looking forward to the coming of April, when it's supposed to start cooling down a bit. It's bloody hot here at the moment! But, on a brighter note, it's also orange and avocado season, and they are both delicious and plentiful on my island, and people often stop by to make sure I'm well stocked on both!

Hope all is well with everyone.

Love,
Rachel