BACK TO SCHOOL. Honeymoon: Day 4

BACK TO SCHOOL!

This was one of my favorite days in Fiji.   This was "village day".  And it's not some tourist trap where they have some fake made-up "village" that they haul all the tourist too and sell you Chinese trinkets.  This was a real, bona-fide small Fijian village!!  It's the village that Solo grew up in and still lives.  

We asked ahead of time if we could see the village school and in true Koro Sun fashion they said of course we could.  They'd arrange for us to see Hirem's (the bartender's) brother, who is one of the teachers and he'd tour us around the school.   We thought this was a real privilege and honor.  Not to gush too much about it but really, they basically stop everything to show the tourists around during the school day.  That's pretty generous.

So off we went --  The village is maybe 20 minutes the opposite way from the resort as the town of SavuSavu.  It's call Nagigi (pronounced: na-ning-ning).  The school is a cinder

block shell on a hill with a couple of dogs running around outside.  Well, a couple of dogs a couple of slippery kids that dashed out of their class room as soon as they saw the resort van.  They ran barefoot around and were rounded up and put back in their rooms.  There are 4 or 5 class rooms and about 150 students and 5 or 6 teachers.  The state provides 3 teachers, the 7th Day people provide 2 of the teachers and I don't know how the 6th one is funded (or if we didn't understand completely).  What we did totally understand is that the state only provides

 about half of what the village needs.

There were a couple of grades  in each room.  We met a couple of teachers including Hirem's brother who gave us the tour.  The rooms have posters and memos on every inch of them.  The desks are old and worn but are jammed in there wall to wall.  The kids are packed in.  School is not compulsory in Fiji but about 98% of kids go to school and they have an 87% literacy rate. They had a library of sorts.  It had a computer, but we don't know what it's used for or if they have Internet.  There were so many questions w

e didn't think to ask.  The library had 5 or 6 book shelves with 3 shelves on each.   They were all about 1/2 full of books.  There were two sets of encyclopedias. Needless to say, given how the Seattle Public Librarians know Aaron by name because of the frequency he's there, we were pretty moved by their little library.   Worn book neatly lined up with checkout cards sticking out.  Kids can't take books home and most don't have books at home (again, if we understood correct).  They can borrow the books and take them to their classroom.  They told us how some folks promised to fill the shelves but then backed out due to shipping costs.  

They showed us the water pump which the Rotary Club put in (a $60,000 well).  And the church folks were putting in a new class room and  a bure for another teacher. 

Class was nearly over so all the kids were dismissed to the hill. We said hi to them.  Some spoke a little bit of English, all were pretty shy until you get the camera out.  They love having their pictures taken (just like in the Marshalls).  The teacher rounded everyone up and told him that "the visitors would like to hear you sing".  They sang us their school song and we thanked them.  I thought we should sing back but no one was willing to sing with me and you know how bad I sing!  Well, that was that.  Class dismissed!  

The teacher had us sign their guest long.  He didn't say what info they wanted so we just signed and wrote a note and made a little donation.  Since then we've talked to the folks at Koro Sun.

We're planning on donating some school supplies by sending them through the resort.  One of the employees is an elder in the village who can probably see to the equitable distribution of whatever we send.  That's always the risk is that you wonder if it gets to where you intended, but from what I could tell from my tiny glimpse is that every kid could use a book or crayons or a notebook.  Assuming it gets to the school I'm sure it'll go to use.   If you want to donate just let us know and we'll tell you how.   We're excited about it besides it'll be really fun to do! Count us in!!  So that was just the first half.  Now we were off to the village.

Bula Village of Nagigi!  

Visiting the village was just as fun.  The village is made up of rudimentary houses.  They have electricity for 3 hours in the evening so kids can do homework.  Kitchens are little wood stoves outside the house.   Solo pointed out one and told us we could go up and look.  No one else went but Aaron and I tip-toed up there.  We felt a little weird just walking up to someone's kitchen  but I figured Solo wouldn't send us astray.  Out came a lady - turns out a cousin of Solo's - who greeted us with a big BULA!  She told us about her kitchen and said she had just made some "steamed pudding".  What's that???  She was more than happy to show us..."wait here, I give you some..."  Okay, now I feel really weird - rich tourist taking food from poor villagers.  Ugly American.  UGLY AMERICAN!!  I'm looking around.  What do I do??  And then

out comes the lady with a plate of  "steamed pudding" which is really what we would call sweet bread.  Like cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving the pudding has rings around it from the 

can it was cooked in.  Cool!  I can't resist it.  It's doughy goodness.  Enjoyment of doughy goodness is in my wedding vows...  Aaron couldn't say no either.  Besides, you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings so try it we did.  It was quite tasty!  We think it was plantains.  She informed us this was Solo's favorite food.  Ours too as we both helped ourselves to a second taste.  :)

We continued on through the village.  We saw the water tank where rain is collected.  And then we headed to a bright green building.  We should have asked but it must be a community gathering place.  There were a bunch of ladies, mostly adults and older women sitting outside on the porch with little things for sale.  There were shells, necklaces, and palm frawn hats.  They made some of it themselves, maybe all of it.  It's one of those things that in exchange for walking through their neighborhood and eating steamed pudding buying a few shells seemed like a fair deal to us. 

There was one lady who was like the ring leader.  She was super enthusiastic about their crafts and tried to pump up the rest of the ladies who seemed a little tired of it all.  Aaron and I were happy to check things out and select our shells and wear a hat.  The lady put hibiscus flowers in our hair.  And when we wanted to have a photo with here she insisted that the entire group pose with us.  She was just awesome!  So jolly is the best description.  When we got in the van she got the group together and  started singing the traditional good-bye song (which makes me weepy every time they sang it).  It was totally fabulous.  I'd love to go back.  I can't wait to send Nagigi a care package.  Fun. Fun. FUN!!