The people of Fulunga love to have their picture taken. Well most of them do. Much like my dear Aunt Geri, our host Tau would rather not be photographed; but the rest of the villagers love it. And they especially love it when you show them their photo on your digital camera screen. We always show the kids their pictures because they remember to ask. When I remember to show the adults their pictures I am always rewarded with a bigger smile and a hearty, “Vinaka!” Thank goodness for digital cameras.

Seta is "slightly" photogenic. Scroll to the bottom to see "Through the eyes..."

One of my favorite targets to photograph is an adorable two-year old named Seta. Seta’s dad teaches at the school and so Seta is often found wandering from classroom to classroom, kid to kid. Everyone loves him. If you meet Seta on the path you will always get a soft, “Bula”. Very gentle yet so grown up. This is a step up from last year when Seta cried at the sight of us kaipailangis. Not only does he greet you but he offers his tiny hand to shake.

Seta loves to smile for pictures. When you show him the photos he names the people he sees. “Seta!, Johnny!” He is very smart and catches on quickly. The other day at the choir competition we visitors were all invited to a neighboring house to wait while the women of the village prepared lunch. Seta came into the room and proceeded to walk from person to person (we were all seated around a large mat) shaking their hand and greeting them with his sweet “Bula”. When he got to Bob he smiled and said, “Bula Bob!” Looked and me and again personalized his greeting, “Bula Ann!” When he finished greeting everyone around the mat he came back to me, plopped down in my lap, looked around and said, “Kaipalangis!”

And Seta in church is a delight to watch. He is not like the other two-year olds who roam restlessly around looking for the perfect nap. Seta wanders in, assesses the situation and finds a comfy women’s lap to rest in. Last week he plopped down next to my friend Mata (Octopus Woman). After snuggling up close he noticed her carryall and her glasses. Seta reached in and borrowed her glasses. He puts them gently over his ears and proceeds to just chill and look around. This was the Sunday that I sat with the ladies and so I could see that the glasses Seta was wearing two pews ahead of me were covered with fingerprints. “Sega na lega” as they say here – no worries. He just continued to look around. Until I came into his view. At which point he took a double take knowing that the kaipalangis sit on the other side of the church. And then he pulled the glasses down on his nose so he could see over the top and said, “Bula Ann!” Melt, melt.

Today at church I sat with Bob and our friends Bob and Linda off of Bright Angel. When Seta looked around from a comfy lap he noticed our pew and the cute little waves that Linda was doing. Seta slipped off of the comfy lap and came across the aisle to greet both Bob and Linda, “Bula!” Sweetly and softly because we were in church. And then he saw my Bob…”Bula Bob!” And then he wiggled past Bob and promptly climbed into my lap. Where he sat happily for 15 minutes. During which he added my glasses to the pair he was already wearing. Bob said he looked like he was hallucinating as he stared around the church looking at the world with two sets of glasses on. The view through a two-year old’s eyes…very entertaining and heartwarming.

Seta and Ann in Church.