Ann and I went into the village today, each with an agenda. Mine was to carve another bowl. The last one was such a success and so much fun, I couldn’t help myself. Ann’s was to do some more weaving with “her girls”.

After walking in, we split up. Ann stopped at Koro’s house for the weaving and I found Joe who was going to mentor me again. Joe was waiting under a big tree, so I sat down with him…to wait…for something. Not sure what, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Suddenly there was a big THUNK! and a coconut hit the ground. Looking up I was surprised to see a young boy about 20 feet in the crown of the tree knocking off coconuts. THUNK, THUNK, THUNK! Then he scampered down and the other boy scrambled up the next tree over. It took him about 10 seconds or less to go straight up – barefoot – the 20 or so feet into the crown of the tree and start knocking down coconuts. It was the mid-morning snack time. I heard Joe call something in Fijian to one of the men and thought I caught my name in there somewhere and sure enough after some sharp machete hacking one of the guys came over and handed me a lovely coconut with a nice one inch round hole in the top ready for drinking. Ahhh, it tasted good. And you know what? I wasn’t hungry for the rest of the day. In fact, I was surprised on getting back to Charisma at 1700 that I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast, but still wasn’t hungry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, carving my second bowl was a kick. I’m learning so much just watching how Joe wields the adze. Whack, whack, whack and then, “Your turn”. Tapitty, tap, tap from me then he says, “Change” and grabs the bowl back. It goes like that and after about four hours of carving we again have a lovely oval-shaped bowl that I’ll spend the next six or so hours sanding until it gleams. More fun that it sounds like.

Ann ended up at Mata’s house weaving baskets. Mata is the octopus lady (we have told her that’s our nickname for her and she laughs). She told Ann that she is going to take her octopus hunting. This I can’t wait to see!

Ann also mesmerized the children (as usual) as she brought in another Farkle game. She’s got them all playing it and they love it. Of course they like her more and follow her everywhere.

At the end of the day as we were getting ready to leave Mata’s house our friend Tai came by and told me to follow him to his plantation whereupon he dug up a half dozen cassava roots, cut a bunch of bananas and half dozen passion fruit. His neighbor Soku then came over and gave me a bunch of plantains. I think they all think that being here this long we must be running out of food. Even Mata asked Ann about our food supply and gave her a beautiful pumpkin that fit perfectly in the basket they wove. Well we are out of fresh food, so these gifts are much appreciated.

Sharing. Food, fun ,laughter, joy. It’s the Fijian way. We love it.