I had promised myself that I wouldn’t write anything on Fiji for a little while. I was afraid that my past posts were making me appear somewhat of a national pessimistic, an ungrateful citizen. I am not. (Granted; I’m the queen of contradictions but then it’s a Gemini entitlement!) But it’s just been such an exasperating last few days. Plans made are not working out, running out of stuff at the worst possible times and clumsiness. I’ve been…just so klutzy, saying the wrong things, ticking the wrong box, spitting chewed gum on other people’s leather couches Continue reading
Category Archives: A Fijian Life
Dear Politicians of Fiji, Do We Even Live in the Same Country?
Dear Politicians of Fiji,
In my almost 30 years of being a Fiji-Indian Indo-Fijian Fiji Islander Fijian, I will be voting in the national elections for the first time. So I hope you understand that how important this is for me. I assure you that I am taking my voter responsibility very seriously because it is my understanding that should my vote be counted and you are elected, it will be you who will be looking after me for the next 5 years. You see the next 5 years is quite imperative for me. As they say, it’s a woman’s ‘prime time’. And before casting my vote, Continue reading
Once Were Villages
Something our household hasn’t partaken in a long while is to visit extended relatives living far and further in the rural Viti. “Visiting Extended Relations” used to be a national pass-time in our recent past however thanks to the Vodafone and Digicel towers soaring high on our island hills; our mobile phones and Facebook, visiting family has now become a rather bootless sort of activity. Continue reading
A Disappointed Fijian
My god-father once told me that 90% of anything is ‘looking the part’ and its an advice I’ve never forgotten. Unfortunately as much as I try, I don’t really look like an English teacher. Well I don’t look caucasian. White. Hence it always puts students in the dilemma whether they are getting what they have paid for with a brown-looking teacher!
I have come to dread the question, ” Teacher, where are you from?” My answer is usually Fiji Islands (sorry The Fiji Islands), followed by making circles in the air indicating Australia, New Zealand and a middle circle indicting Fiji’s location. This seems to satisfy them for a few days till they come back and ask “sooo but what are you?” Continue reading
Shyamni 