one last word

While reflecting during my last few days i've chosen some photos that represent my life living in this tiny dusty little sugar cane town in Fiji. There were days where I lived effortlessly, flowing through my daily simple routine with ease and grace.  And there were days, where I wanted nothing more to do with Fiji. Living through those days knowing there were 22 months to go were the hardest. However, learning what I needed to be happy without all the external influences that the U.S. offers was a huge personal accomplishment.

There are a few things I've come to understand while spending two years far from home. While traveling there are an infinite amount of tiny nuances that a person misses. Traveling is "oh its so beautiful", "wow look at this", "what a great experience" but living in a different culture can be shocking and difficult yet deeply personal and life changing. My experience living here will forever remind me that short term travels can rarely ever reveal the truth of a place, the truth is in the daily life and workings of the people and it is only though your repeated interaction with them that you can see the reality of their existence. Although my service was not perfect- it was full of mistakes, and there many days where I just wanted to leave and go home- having the ability to see the reality of Fiji and more specifically, the reality of Labasa was a life-changing experience.

My departure from Labasa is in 13 days and my arrival home is in 18 days. I am so excited to return home, visit with friends and family and experience life in U.S. I'm not sure where I'm going to go after this, but I do know that I am ready to "see the reality" of a new place again. Apart from California, there is the entire United States that I don't know. There is a whole world. The opportunities are endless.

So back to the photos, here are snapshots of people of Fiji. Reflections of my visions.

Hopefully I'll be seeing you soon.
And we can talk more about the beauties of life.

Love Dearly and Infinitely,
Monica

The Resurgence of the Community Spirit in Europe

"Indeed, this seems to be happening in our time.  Although there is still so much violence, negative emotion, fear and greed, it is palpably obvious to anyone open to it that there is also what I would call a 'rising tide of love'.  Perhaps this will prove to be a major phenomenon in our time.  It does not enforce itself.  It simply flows and where it meets resistance and adverse emotion it seeps around.  When a human being has overcome negative emotion, greed and criticism and is able to offer the chalice of self ready to receive it, then this tide of love will fill it.  To those who are alert and awake, it is very clear that people are drawn into groupings of love and companionship.

The geographers and scientists can tell us of global warming, melting of the ice-caps, and the rising of the seas.  In such a time of dismay and foreboding, the rising tide of love can bring joy.  It draws people to try and work together in group endeavor.  Some groups are small-and indeed it is right to begin small and develop organically.  The most important example of a successful community in this country is Findhorn.  This also started from the smallest unit, but from the first was a demonstration of working not for self but for the Whole, to the Glory or God and under divine guidance.  It is a precarious way of living, but may be a clue for many in the coming period of change, when the economic structure of our society seems to be breaking down.  This implies that the energies that vitalized the old structure, based on self-interest, are being withdrawn and in their place are being released living energies that are inherently powerful for the harmonizing of all life.  If we can take this concept, it can throw light on the present symptoms of breakdown, which could fill us with dismay unless we can accept that dying is always a necessary prelude to renewal, making way for the flooding in of transforming forces which could bring to birth a new society.

It may serve a really important function if groups working to build community make links with each other, and come together every now and then to look at what they are doing in the light of the greater picture. For the spirit has no meaning if it is working in vacio and detached from life.  We have to transform society, each one of us starting from precisely the point we are now at.  Increasingly we see that the guidance and the wisdom we need are within us; less and less do we need to search outside.  Having free will, we must learn to use it not for ego and self but for the whole. This is the coming to maturity of mankind.  There never was such a generation to be alive."

"The Resurgence of the Community Spirit in Europe or The Rising Tide of Love" by Sir George Trevelyan

maybe my last blog

hey everyone

 its been a few months. and there are only a few more to go!!

i'm in a funny transition stage where i'm trying to prepare for my life after fiji, yet still trying to soak up everything about living here.  my projects are going to be just fine so i don't really have to worry about them so i'm really just hanging out, reading a lot and enjoying the passing of days.

i don't really know how to prepare to go back to the u.s. some people tell me that i'm going to be in for a huge culture shock, but others tell me its going to be a breeze.  i hope its at least amusing.  i don't want any breakdowns in grocery stores (although if i go to a mall maybe), i just want to be reminded of how strange and beautiful my home is.  we are a very strange culture, but i'm really excited to come back.  the thing i'm most excited for, other than being with family and friends, is hearing live music and being around art.  i might cry when i get to drink a nice beer and see someone on stage playing something that they've created. i'm not joking so don't be surprised.

another thing that might be funny is my reaction when seeing american men.  i've gotten really used to huge muscular black men walking around barefoot with big machete's in their hand.

sometimes when i'm bored i lay in bed and wonder what i'll actually miss about fiji.  most things in life come and go without much notice, but maybe there will be some things from here that i'll wish i still had in my life.  maybe i'll miss being a superstar in town and everyone always saying hello to me even though i don't really like it that much while i'm living here. i'll miss all the friendly people and definitely miss Indian food. maybe writing letters...who knows these things....

two years ago i was in south america wondering around and excited for what the future held.  even though i'm not doing any traveling, i know big changes are right around the corner and right now i'm excited.  life has gotten too easy here, small town life is one big routine and i'm definitely ready to move on to the next challenge. what? where? still undecided, but i'm sure it'll be great!  

anyways, enough talk, i know most of you come here for the pictures.  i've had some fun times and saw some new things, here are some of the moments i got on camera.

the road to bubba and michell's village to do a aerobics, nutrition and gardening workshop with them

greta and i got off the bus and hoped we were walking down the right road

we made it. bubba and michelle live in a village ON the beach. most people think that since I live in Fiji i get to be on the beach all the time. sadly its more like every 3 or 4 months. i loved this walk. i love being in pants and a sweater on the beach. i miss northern california.

and a beautiful sunset

preparing for my gardening and nutrition talk

bubba promoting herb gardens. their village youth are considering starting a business selling herbs at the market (a great idea because no one does it!)

hanging out with some wailevu easterners

drinking bu with a cat that apparently wanted some too

preparing for greta's aerobics class with the women. 

chels is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cheeky kids

on her way to snorkel

waitabu (forbidden waters) village. they protect and monitor the marine park where chels went snorkeling

Isa Anna, our receptionist and friend on our leaving from Lavena

And recently it was Greta's birthday! It was rainy and windy for weeks and all we wanted to do was dance, so we just went outside and danced in the rain.

                                                

going to see some pearl farming

oysters on a rope

harvesting

i forget what this is for

well, hope you enjoyed the photos.  i can't tell when i'm going to be in the mood to upload anything more (isn't that exciting because it means i'm almost done). my family comes in march and sara stays until april and then two more months and we can all party in my return. i can't wait to see you all.
much love
monica

snapshots

This one features a random collection of photos from my last couple months. I haven't been updating, but I'm hoping the pictures will give you a good idea of what I've been up to.  I went on a few trips to schools and outer islands with work, my friend Kris came to visit, we celebrated Diwali, spent some time in David's village, started teaching organic gardening at a vocational school and have done a bit of art.

This time of year gets really really really x 100 slow.  The heat is in full blast and the rains have been coming daily.  Last year I went a bit crazy because I was so board, but this year I have a pretty good plant to tackle the hundreds of hours I'll have to simply hang out.

If anyone is interested in food politics, here's a fun website http://civileats.com/

I am doing very well and continuing to become the woman I want to be.  I miss home so much right now though, especially with all my friends and family in the bay for the holidays.  I hope you all are doing great and are staying warm.  Know that I think of you all often, miss and love you all dearly.

hospital garden!

colorful kids

the christmas season is here, blow up santas, palm leaves and 100 degree heat

traveling with Ministry of Health Co-workers

we drink the green coconut

my butt is in great shape from all the traveling on dirt roads

it was at least 90 degrees and these boys were practicing rugby during the middle of the day

and they were so happy!

a traditional bure, a fellow volunteers home

vocational school garden week 1

vocational school garden now

awesome students and good friends turning the compost

kris came to visit!!!

mendi

i need to learn how to wrap my own sari

diwali

this picture was in the paper until the headline "cultures come together to celebrate diwali"

in the village we eat with the light from a lantern

tabua and david

i love this girl. 

wearing my glasses

made with tumeric powder

much love,
monica