I've been very busy the past few days! I went to my first volunteer
social last Thursday - they do one everyone week. We went out for pizza -
it wasn't very good unfortunately. School is still pretty slow since
there are still only 8 girls showing up, but the 10 of us volunteers are
making the most of it and doing our best! I feel like I've finally, for the most part at least, acclimatized to the culture and what-not. I don't think I'll ever get use to the food, but at least I'm not starving!
On Friday a whole bunch of us (volunteers from the school and the
various medical centers) decided to go to Beachcomber Island. We took a
mini bus up to Nadi and stayed at a place called Smuggler's Cove Friday
night. A bunch of people went out, but few of us (including myself)
stayed in since we knew it would be loud and crazy the next night.
Saturday morning we got on a boat and took the 45 minute trip to
Beachcomber Island. It was gorgeous! Lay in the sun a lot - too much in
fact. I got burnt! So did most of the other volunteers. Don't look at me
that way mom! I wore 45 and I re-applied it multiple times. So word to
the wise - when you think you've had enough time in the sun this half of
the map, you probably have! I would have gone diving, but it was hella expensive and it's a good thing too because after they had their swim pool lesson the actually dive was cancelled! I wanted to go snorkeling, but the wind picked up significantly and it churned everything up. The evening events were awesome, it was totally nuts! There was hula
dancing and a limbo contest. But everything was too expensive - drinks,
extra food (besides the meals included), clothing, etc....waayy too
much! I bought a bottle of aloe for my burn and it was nearly $40
Canadian! It rained for a while too - a bunch of us went in the water
with our clothes on. Actually, I wasn't going to, but I got thrown in,
so I didn't really have a choice...ha ha, that's what vacation is all
about I guess! All in all it was a blast. Didn't exactly sleep well
since people were loud all night and they lights were kept on. Oh well, I slept well when I got home - yes even with my burn!
Took the boat back Sunday afternoon and got back on the mini bus to
Suva...not a lot of fun being on an uncomfortable mini bus for 4 hours
(both ways). Everyone says you get use to it though, guess I will have too if more weekends like this are going to happen!
This week has been uneventful so far. Tonight I am going to try Zumba
dancing with the other volunteers - they say it's great. I don't really
remember what it's like but I do remember it from my Latin History
class. Tomorrow I think we are going to a place called Forest Park after
class - swimming in waterfalls, and walking through a forest...I think.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) is also the last day of summer class! So those of
us at summer school we get a 5 day weekend, since Monday is only for the
teachers. So, we are definitely going away somewhere this weekend - got
to take advantage of those long weekends, they won't happen again after
this one. We haven't decided where we are going yet, but we are going
to discuss it today. In a way we are a bit disappointed - we spent a lot of money to be volunteers here, not to be spending extra money to go away just to do something.
I hear it's been snowing back home! Wow! I think I'm torn between being
jealous and thinking, "Ha ha!" It's been hot, hot, hot here! Still rains
nearly everyday. Today and yesterday there have been thunderstorms. The
power even went off for a bit last night.
Well, I getter go meet everyone for dancing!
