A giant Pandanas fruit, when ripe you can eat the nuts inside!
I'm writing this in the slight chance that I might actually be able to publish it, as there is no internet on the island at the moment... my only connection to the outside world, my information source for recipes, skin conditions and soap making, my contact with family and friends... all unavailable... and it really takes life back a few decades more than what it already is like here...
I am still living in some kind of hope that a miracle will happen and it will reconnect, but it seems like Rotuma wont pay for an internet satellite because the running of it is too expensive, and clearly besides yours truly, there aren’t that many more keen surfers here. Fair enough I guess.
So after a little chat with the guy who manages the satellite and communications in Rotuma, I think he felt a bit sorry for me once he realized my desperation, and offered that I come use his office internet every now and then. So here I am, writing at home, hoping his internet is fast enough for me to upload this, so you, my dear reader, can be down with what we’re doing here.
The boys and I arrived in Rotuma a week after Carl did on the dodgy boat, and we’ve been here for 3 weeks now. It was really lovely coming back, and in a strange kinda way it felt like coming home... who woulda thunk I would feel this way one day???
We spent about a week unpacking and organizing our massive amount of stuff, Noah started school the first week we arrived, and that has been quite a challenge, for both of us...
Rotuman uniform. Barefoot.
After coming from the school system in Australia, where everything is very organized, you know exactly what’s going on, what the kids are doing, communication is very clear with both kids and parents, and Noah absolutely LOVING going to school, then coming here- in the middle of the term, the classroom is absolutely chaotic, with a composite class of year 1 and 2 (when Noah was only in Kindy back in Sydney) and a teacher who comes to school with a neck full of hickies and says she would rather be home sleeping. Her voice isn’t loud enough to override the noise of the kids running around the classroom ignoring her make, she piled up a heap of workbooks I have to go through with Noah to catch up on first and second term, and poor Noah has no idea what the heck is going on! (and neither do I...)For the first time he has been waking up in the morning and the first thing he says is that he doesn’t want to go to school, and he wants me to come with, and if I do go with (to take Saulei to preschool) then he stays with me at the preschool most of the time and doesn’t want to go to class. The teacher does nothing to try get him back in class, it’s all very relaxed and informal, which takes time to get used to.
I guess its a huge adjustment for him, and for us all, and we have to be patient and supportive. Not easy, but we will get through it.
Saulei isn’t too keen on going to preschool, and if he does go- it’s only if I come with him. I don’t mind going a couple of days a week, but it’s a very long day to be sitting around doing nothing. The transport to school (a VERY dodgy truck that wouldn’t be driven even in the middle of the bush in central Australia) leaves at 7:45 and returns at 4pm. Preschool goes till 12pm, so unless we walk home in the scorching heat, we have to wait 4 hours for transport.
It was great to see that the preschool is still running, for over a year now, still very unorganized and a bit more like a babysitting service than anything else, but the kids are getting a bit of stimulation and are learning their ABC and numbers. I managed to collect 2 boxes of toys and crafts from Saulei’s preschool in Sydney to bring to help the preschool here, which is desperately needed as they have zero resources for the kids education.
The main reason I don’t spend every day at preschool is because I have to cook for all the working men, and being the only woman in the house at the moment, (as Aggy, Carls Aunt who was here last year), is back in Nadi with her daughter and new baby. She will be coming over in the next couple of months hopefully, but until then, all the house running is on me... yay!!!
The best thing that has happened since we’re here is that my dearest friend Lizzy and her man David and daughter Delphi came and spent 2 weeks with us here.
With the beautiful Fotfiri- wrapping Chickens in Banana and coconut leaves to put in the Lovo
The Lovo being lit, and the poor little piggy about to be cooked!
Davie, Lizzy and Delphi's Mamasa (Welcoming ceremony)
Davie and Delphi enjoying a Soursop Ice block
It was such a blessing and we had an amazing time together. I always feel so humbled when our friends make the journey over here to be with us and experience our life here, and I think it was a huge eye opener for them too. David and Carl went spear fishing and surfing together, and Lizzy and I just did loads of what we do best- had our girly time, long talks, kids, food, bike rides, swims... she absolutely loved the whole island life, the culture, the weaving women and old people, the kids, the slow pace, and they got a real good taste of what life is about here.
Davie feeling proud of his catch!
It was Carls life or the Shark's, who kept chasing him for the fish he had already caught. It made a few good curries!
Carl, together with David and the other merry men, carved a traditional outrigger canoe out of a Ylang-ylang tree, and within a week and a half it was in the water- ready to go (when usually it would take about 3 months to do here, but Carl had the privilege of power tools, which made it easier and quicker.) it looks amazing, I have yet to go for a ride, but Carl took the boys out on it this afternoon and it was really cute watching them paddle away from the houses back deck. I’ve attached a few photos of the process of making it up until the launch...
The Ylang-Ylang tree Carl cut down for the Canoe
The first cut to shape the Canoe
Chopping out the insides with his special axe
All carved out
The Paddle carved from Dilo tree wood
Carl and Michael Jackson discussing Taro psychology
Launching the Canoe. We had to Carry it about 100m down a rocky hill to get it in the water! I helped carry! really! I did!!!!
Gorgeous ha??? I meant the Canoe...
Father and son... A bit of a dream come true for Carl...
I located, with the help of the local ladies, an old lady who makes and sells Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), and went over to her house to learn her wisdom. With my Iphone notes App, I wrote the process word by word as she told me how to prepare it with the “tools” and “appliances” she has available here – a bucket, old Coca-Cola bottles, tissues for straining, water and the sun. A process that takes a couple of days, but produces the most amazing Virgin coconut oil I have ever tried. In return I massaged her stiff neck, and when she realized that I was the Jew from Israel, she was so excited to have my holy hands to heal her...
I wanted to learn how to make VCO for my new Soap making career I have embarked on, and have already made my first batch out of her VCO, and am looking forward to making lots more!
As for our house, the work hasn’t yet started on that. Been busy doing other stuff, preparations, building and planting veggie gardens, building a chicken coup so we can finally collect the eggs of the 15 or so hens pecking around here, and having fun with our guests. Work on the house will begin this coming week.
On one of my bike rides with Lizzy, we came across a lady from Itumuta (the village we DIDNT build our house in) who grows and sells veggies, and I have struck a deal with her where she comes and delivers veggies to our house every Friday! You can imagine how excited I am about that, as the limited veg and variety is always a big challenge for me and the kids. Home delivery! How lucky am I???
So we’re back to loads of Pawpaws and bananas (green and ripe), loads of fish cooked in every possible way (ideas and recipes please!!!!!!!!), Taro, Cassava, Taro, Cassava, the odd tasteless Yam, and rice... Oranges, Soursop, Vee fruit Jam, Fresh Tamarind Chutney, Taro leaves, and coconuts, coconuts and more coconuts... Luckily I brought a big stock of things to make life a bit more interesting – loads of Nori for sushi, and other seaweeds, Tahini, Tomato paste, commercial quantities of herbs and spices, Olive oil (!!!), and a 2.5kg bucket of Vegiemite!
I guess having years of practice now makes it easier in that I know what to expect and can come well prepared, but still- I dream of the Last Supper we had at Cafe Roma, an amazing Italian joint in Kings Cross, with all of my favourite things in the world in one big feast, and I just wanna cry...
Snap out! Wake up! And count my blessings!!! I am living an amazing life in an amazing place and doing what most people I know could only dream of...
So on that note, hope you’re all well and happy, sending loads of love from our end, with the hope that I will be able to somehow connect with the outside world a bit more...
xxxx
Afternoon chilling
Saulei and Delphi's outdoor shower Blissing with Lizzy
Underwater Bliss
Noah's First tooth he pulled out! (it is actually his second coz he had one of his top front teeth pulled out by the dentist the day before we left OZ.) I think he is in Love with his Tooth Fairy... x
