Talanoa: Back to the Beginning

Today, I want to tell you a story. In Fiji story telling (Talanoa) is an important part of the culture. It is how information is passed from one generation to the next. What does it take to integrate into a community so different from what you have ever known?

Let's go back to the beginning...

Our first two months in Fiji we took part in our pre-service training (PST). In Fiji this includes living with a host family and spending Monday through Friday 8-5 with other volunteers learning about the work we are to do in Fiji (youth development), language development, and being taught about the vibrant, friendly Fijian culture. To learn more about my experiences in PST please Click Here. Many volunteers will say that PST was one of the most challenging things they have done in their service, but I have a different opinion of PST. I think we were blessed with low expectations and unconditional love...

Our host families were warned that we would be kind of boring from time to time. They were paid a fair sum to look after us. They were trained on what people from the United States are like-that we value privacy (something unknown in the Fijian culture). Our host families were instructed that we would be making many mistakes but these would be unintentional not meaning any sign of disrespect, and to please help us understand the "tabu" (not allowed-rules) of the village. A handbook written for volunteers titled A Few Minor Adjustments says it well, "...people know you're on a learning curve and will forgive you and make allowances for you." Needless to say, the host village held very low expectations for us. They were virtually told we were going to break all the rules. If we said something in Fijian they nearly bounced off the walls. If we scraped a coconut they had a smile a mile long. If we taught classes to their youth they were so ever grateful and made us tea. When we left the village they through an all night party for us.


So what happened next? What happened when we left the comfort and unconditional environment of our host villages and moved out on our own?

Please stay tuned for the next chapter. You can get posts sent to you by email simply by entering your email in the box in the upper right corner of this page. If you asked any questions in my last post please find my answers in The Question Box.

Above: One of the besties..my mentor-Laite-from my host village

Above: That time my host mom asked me to try a dress on (for the entire extended family waiting in the living area) and it got stuck...

Above: Going away buffet from host village

Above: Host mom teaching me how to scrape that coconut!