A great time with our visitors

Bula everyone!
No entries for a while.. we have been very busy showing my sister-in-law Helen and my brother James, the sights of Fiji. They spent a few days on Mana Island which they loved, before we headed down to the Coral coast together for 3 days of sightseeing and snorkelling ! This I did for the first time ever in my life and am now hooked ! Simon had not been snorkelling since I had met him, so 35 years ago and he is sorry to have left it that long ! It was so good to see them both. James visited the Asco Motors, the Toyota dealership here,to check out the different models etc and the workshop area. We were enthralled by the beautiful famous orchid gardens at the Land of the Sleeping Giant started by Raymond Burr, the US actor, many years ago. We scrambled over the Sigatoka Sand Dunes and visited the Tavuni Hill Fort hearing gory stories of the early days of cannibalism in Fiji.
Simon continues to play a little golf, shopping, cooking, reads a lot and does heaps of crosswords sent over by Lauren ! She will be our next visitor in a few weeks time. Christopher is planning to visit later in the year.
My work is very hectic as the students are coming to the end of the Certificate 3 in Children's services. There will be a 3 week break before many continue in the Diploma course. We hope to go home to Melbourne for a period during that break. I have extended my contract until Dec 31st 09.
The weather continue to become less humid, and drier now. It is just delightful, we are making the most of it, as we about hear the chilly temperatures back home.... brrrr.......
It is around three months now since our arrival in Fiji and the many letters and parcels from home are always very welcome... they create that special link...

Time is passing quickly AND the weather is cooling down slightly !

Much has happened in the past few weeks. Suva was so different from Nadi. The photo shows the spectacular view over the city of Suva from our hotel window on the 9th floor ! It is a much bigger city and more urbanized. Simon and I enjoyed our time there, and took pride in finding our way around quite easily. We were there at a very historical time when Commodore Bainimarama was ousted and then re-instated within a short time. At any time, we did not feel in danger, but did return to Nadi on Easter Saturday in time for Easter Bunny. Since then, I have been extra busy at my work as we are beginning a Resort Kids Club stream of Certificate 3 in Children's Services in July, so have been in contact with all the large resorts both on Denerau Island and the Coral Coast. At the weekend we welcomed my sister-in-law Helen and my brother James to Fiji and have been busy showing them the wonderful sights of Fiji and feasting on scrumptious pineapple and pawpaw etc. Lovely blue sunny skies of 28 degrees and very little breeze. The weather is MUCH less humid now and the days not quite as hot as before and drier. Next weekend, the 4 of us, we will head to the Coral Coast for a few days snorkelling and enjoying the sun and sand. I still cannot get my head around working in such a holiday destination. It is so nice to see them both as our first visitors.. we hope many more will join us here. It does appear to be quite safe and one would hardly know what was happening politically on the other side of the island. The Fijian school holidays are about to start as they have 3 terms here.
I have been to many teacher's meetings, building my professional network and loving the teaching side of things. Simon has played some more golf and made more new friends. We do love the Aussie butcher here and Simon has made some yummy meals...
I tested the oven again and made Anzac Biscuits for Anzac Day. My students had not tasted them before and want the recipe !

Off to Suva for Easter

Simon and I are both well and looking forward to a few days away together.
It is now time to visit the southern Coral Coast region and the eastern side of Fiji. We have a break from classes for 2 weeks, as the APTC follows the Victorian school terms. I will still be working a few days over in Suva leading up to Easter. There are 4 students from there, who travel weekly over to Nadi for classes. I will then be working the second week back her in Nadi, for the four days, but reduced hours slightly ! More swimming time !
We are very excited as it will be a real change from this side, they even have traffic lights in Suva. Our 2 sets in Nadi have not worked since the floods in January and they are pedestrain crossings , not at an intersection. So it is a bit odd not to have travelled through a traffic light for 7 weeks !
We spoke to Christopher on Skpe tonight, so good to know that he is home safely from Europe and Lauren as a new job at Hahndorf chocolates ! Yum Yum

Becoming quite established here now..

Bula everyone !
After five weeks here in Fiji, we feel as though we know our way around now, without becoming too lost, in the Nadi area at least. The pattern of our week is emerging, as I teach the 3 evenings and Saturday morning. I do enjoy walking into the unit complex and smelling the yummy meals that Simon prepares for us. I am being thoroughly spoilt ! I do still have a turn to cook on some other days. We are just getting to know the oven, making one batch of cupcakes, yet to try scones. Shopping is a most intriguing experience, as we discover a wide variety of brands and foodstuffs never seen in suburban Blackburn South !
Simon played golf this week, but found the course "like a goat track " very soggy, stinking hot and rather hilly. He will return when they take delivery of golf carts from New Zealand in a week or two. Many items come from there as it is quite close.
There was a bit of panic here yesterday as they experienced an earthquake in nearby Tonga and issued a tsunami warning for Fiji as well. The school kids loved having an extra day off, especially as Monday is a public holiday here for World Youth Day.
We are especially enjoying our daily swims, even when it's raining ! Simon worries though,that his hair may go curly ! Take care !

Classes now in full swing

I have now completed my first week of teaching classes and embarking excitedly upon my second week. My 29 students are divided into 2 groups who attend twice weekly. As these delightful people are all currently working with young children in Kindergartens, they come to class later in the day.
Group One attends on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4.00-7.00pm
Group Two attends on Fridays from 4.00pm- 7.00pm and Saturday morning 9.00am until 12noon. Having visited and assesed them in their workplaces during my first 2 weeks here in Fiji, welcoming them into class was such a pleasure. We are certainly having an enjoyable time together !
Simon has now purchased a second Bula shirt and will play golf shortly. The entry to the golf scene has been slower than he would have liked. We have embraced Skype as a superb tool of communication, enjoying frequent chats with family and friends.
I have found where to buy camomile tea here now, so feel more at home !

After 12 days later in Fiji

Time has passed quickly as I have been so busy. Work has been most interesting, meeting lots of great people and admiring their improvisation skills and their ingenuity to provide a high quality program for young children with very few resources. As always, it is the people who make a difference to a children's service. The APTC staff have been wonderful and I am very lucky to be among some great colleagues as I was in Box Hill.
Kerryn has returned to Australia now, a little earlier than planned as her son shattered his wrist and needed an operation. She was a legend in inducting me to the position.
I have been driving the Hyundai Touscon (4 wheel drive ) and finding my own way around Fiji. Quite difficult at times as many roads are not signposted. The local people are most helpful when I become lost ! Yesterday I remebered a short cut during a traffic jam ( they are still doing lots of roadworks to repair flood damage)
When all this round of student visits are completed tomorrow, I begin teaching classes next week. I have a total of 29 students in 2 groups.
Simon arrived last Monday morning and has been discovering new parts of Nadi each day. He is settling into the lifestyle very well, buying a colourful Bula shirt today!
I indulged in a $20 Pacific back massage which was delightful
Some of the food prices are steep ! $2.00 for one tomato, although prices are decreasing slightly as supplies are being replenished since the floods in mid January.
Chocolate is $9.00 for a Cadbury's 200gm block ! and I cannot find any cammomile teabags ! some other of herb ones ! but no camomile ! should have brought more across ! Dam.....

I am now here in Fiji !

Bula !
It has been an eventful journey, but I have finally arrived in Fiji. My 10.30am plane flight from Melbourne was the last one before the baggage handlers walked off the job. When landing in Sydney, I was told that my connecting Air Pacific flight to Fiji had left 2 hours ago, as they decided to leave EARLY ! Qantas (who owns Air Pacific) were helpful, booking me on another domestic flight, this time to Brisbane to catch the plane to Nadi Fiji. This part was fine and I finally landed in Fiji at 9.00pm. Waiting..... waiting......waiting at the luggage carousel.... no shiny silver "spiffy" spinner suitcase was in sight! My luggage had not followed me as promised... it had gone to Auckland !
It finally was delivered to me the next evening !
Sunday was a sightseeing day with Kerryn and other APTC staff... steamy waether, especially in the mud bath up in the Fijian mountains... in the pouring rain. It is SO green here... something I have not seen in Australia for a long time... rain or green grass.
When I figure out the computer and downlading.. I will add some spectacular photos
Today, my first day at work went very well... I feel very welcome here. Tomorrow we make an assessment visit to two students. Kerryn is passing on lots of information to me.... my brain is in overload...but it is so good to be here at last !