I feel like more than ever today embodied a typical day for me.
Sleep - badly - it's hot and I have lots on my mind - weekend getaways, work...mostly weekend getaways.
Wake up early for exercise with a Britt or a Bec. Feel good.
Come home. Get on Facebook. Enough said.
Go to work.
Go for extended coffee/lunch/second hand shopping trip!
People don't turn up for important work meeting. Feel annoyed. Stomp around office.
Come home early as I feel all is lost. Engage in post work activity - French, more exercise, cheap movie, chatting to people about how all is lost.
About to go to bed - colleague texts - come for a kava sesh at boss' house to discuss work.
Go to kava sesh, bring wine. Have HIGHLY productive work meeting. Make jokes with colleagues about engagement with local culture.
Return to Facebook. Talk to former volunteer, who incidentally used to live in my house.
Still can't sleep, but that is also OK because I have excused myself from tomorrow's early morning exercise and assured colleague of late start.
Tuesday 27 November 2012
Monday 26 November 2012
When a blue starfish hugs a rock
I just love underwater romance! I was lucky enough to sneak away over the weekend to the Tubakula Bungalows near Sigatoka on the Coral Coast. Yes, when you live in Fiji, that is just what you do!
My plan was to work on the office policy manual, the reality was much more whimsical. The water was a perfect temperature for lazing and swimming around with fish and blue starfish. There was quite a lot happening in not much water! Including this:
In more serious news, the 16 Days of Activism Campaign started yesterday which focuses on raising awareness of violence against women and children and will culminate on Human Rights Day on 10 December with a march in Suva.
This week also sees us celebrate another World AIDS Day. It was our hope at MEN Fiji we would be able to support the launch of a recent research study, but unfortunately timing got the better of us. A local organisation that works with People Living with HIV will be hosting a Red Tie Fashion Evening - this raises important fashion questions regarding red, ties and evenings. I have begun preparations by purchasing ridiculously high shoes, which make me super tall, so that at least now I am only the shortest person in my office by 5 cms instead of 20 cms. Now all I need is the red and the tie part.
This is all part of a new initiative FJN+ are working on to celebrate the Arts and PLHIV and to help develop microfinance-like programs.
I have started doing my geek thing again, where I admire the heck out of women doing really incredible things. I met two such women on my recent trip to Nadi for a workshop on peer education - Vani Dulaki who is Executive Director of FJN+ and Matelita Seva who is Executive Director of Reproductive Health and Family Planning Fiji. They are doing really important work and being quite creative and open about their approach! And they are both fabulous women!
I did say I was doing my geek thing.
My plan was to work on the office policy manual, the reality was much more whimsical. The water was a perfect temperature for lazing and swimming around with fish and blue starfish. There was quite a lot happening in not much water! Including this:
In more serious news, the 16 Days of Activism Campaign started yesterday which focuses on raising awareness of violence against women and children and will culminate on Human Rights Day on 10 December with a march in Suva.
This week also sees us celebrate another World AIDS Day. It was our hope at MEN Fiji we would be able to support the launch of a recent research study, but unfortunately timing got the better of us. A local organisation that works with People Living with HIV will be hosting a Red Tie Fashion Evening - this raises important fashion questions regarding red, ties and evenings. I have begun preparations by purchasing ridiculously high shoes, which make me super tall, so that at least now I am only the shortest person in my office by 5 cms instead of 20 cms. Now all I need is the red and the tie part.
This is all part of a new initiative FJN+ are working on to celebrate the Arts and PLHIV and to help develop microfinance-like programs.
I have started doing my geek thing again, where I admire the heck out of women doing really incredible things. I met two such women on my recent trip to Nadi for a workshop on peer education - Vani Dulaki who is Executive Director of FJN+ and Matelita Seva who is Executive Director of Reproductive Health and Family Planning Fiji. They are doing really important work and being quite creative and open about their approach! And they are both fabulous women!
I did say I was doing my geek thing.
Wednesday 21 November 2012
urgg a gurg
Low pressure systems are horrible!! It may well be that a cyclone is coming, though I do believe on this occasion, we have dodged that bullet. However the accompanying heat is stifling. And it has kind of arrived out of no where.
Cyclone season is upon us!
I thought working from home would help.
I was wrong.
And now, I come to believe firmly in the power of the air conditioner. I just can't access one.
Alternatively, when is Mapple going to invent the full waterproof iPad that allows you the flexibility to work underwater and go online AND writes policy manuals for you.
Urgh.
Meanwhile, where are all the I'm so sweaty I am a walking swimming pool jokes? OK, that isn't really funny, but you know what I mean. I wake up and I am drenched. There is a pool of humour in that! PUN!
Now I will stop, because the heat is affecting me. And I need to write the policy manual for work, seeings as my computer won't do it for me!!
Cyclone season is upon us!
I thought working from home would help.
I was wrong.
And now, I come to believe firmly in the power of the air conditioner. I just can't access one.
Alternatively, when is Mapple going to invent the full waterproof iPad that allows you the flexibility to work underwater and go online AND writes policy manuals for you.
Urgh.
Meanwhile, where are all the I'm so sweaty I am a walking swimming pool jokes? OK, that isn't really funny, but you know what I mean. I wake up and I am drenched. There is a pool of humour in that! PUN!
Now I will stop, because the heat is affecting me. And I need to write the policy manual for work, seeings as my computer won't do it for me!!
Monday 19 November 2012
I live in Fiji. I know this because...
On the weekend, I went away for the day and managed to tarzan swing into a fresh water rockpool, see a manta ray jump up out of the water, see many many dolphins, who also did a bit of jumping, snorkelled amongst gorgeous coral and brightly coloured fish and see a whale spouting water! (OK, last part was not me, but the skipper on our boat, but close enough!)
I have invested in an underwater camera - best decision ever! Trialed with some underwater dolphin shots - which kind of worked, but the lens got all foggy! Garah! Will have to work on my plunging camera into water shots more!
I feel like this may be one of those posts that is best described in pictures:
I have invested in an underwater camera - best decision ever! Trialed with some underwater dolphin shots - which kind of worked, but the lens got all foggy! Garah! Will have to work on my plunging camera into water shots more!
I feel like this may be one of those posts that is best described in pictures:
Sulu jamba and just general sulu madness
How neglectful of me to have failed to introduced the hottest fashion item around town.
The sulu.
When you think Fijian fashion, you might think of many things, but most paths will lead you back to this most useful and appropriate item of clothing that keeps you warm in what passes for winter, and, well, sticks to the back of your legs when you hit the sultry summer period.
It is basically a skirt, everyone wears them, they are breezy, light, and fit everyone.
The sulu also comes in a variety of forms. Your basic sulu is a FJ$5 number, which can be purchased from the local flea market. It will come in a variety of colours, including, but not exclusive to red, orange, bright yellow, green, purple, blue, light blue, aqua and pink. Sometimes it will sport a bula flower design. It will usually spout such propaganda as:
"Happy Mother's Day"
"Go Fiji Go!"
"Jesus will guide the way"
"Warwick Beach Resort - Sigatoka"
For example:
They should always be carried with you for emergency village visits, where girls should have covered knees and dress attire, and for those occasions when you have to sit on the floor and also cover your knees. I learnt this the hard way at a workshop soon after my arrival in Fiji!
The sulu also comes in professional/formal format. This is referred to as a sulu jamba, which is a top and sulu combination of combined and matching bula fabrics.
Gentlemen will generally wear a male sulu, with shirt. If you are in the military marching band, you will get a fancy ridgy bottom male sulu.
It's comfortable, it's professional and it's colourful. As you can see below, myself and my colleagues each rocked sulu style at a workshop last week.
So, next time you are lost for something to wear to a party or to that really important business meeting, think of the sulu!
The sulu.
When you think Fijian fashion, you might think of many things, but most paths will lead you back to this most useful and appropriate item of clothing that keeps you warm in what passes for winter, and, well, sticks to the back of your legs when you hit the sultry summer period.
It is basically a skirt, everyone wears them, they are breezy, light, and fit everyone.
The sulu also comes in a variety of forms. Your basic sulu is a FJ$5 number, which can be purchased from the local flea market. It will come in a variety of colours, including, but not exclusive to red, orange, bright yellow, green, purple, blue, light blue, aqua and pink. Sometimes it will sport a bula flower design. It will usually spout such propaganda as:
"Happy Mother's Day"
"Go Fiji Go!"
"Jesus will guide the way"
"Warwick Beach Resort - Sigatoka"
For example:
They should always be carried with you for emergency village visits, where girls should have covered knees and dress attire, and for those occasions when you have to sit on the floor and also cover your knees. I learnt this the hard way at a workshop soon after my arrival in Fiji!
The sulu also comes in professional/formal format. This is referred to as a sulu jamba, which is a top and sulu combination of combined and matching bula fabrics.
Gentlemen will generally wear a male sulu, with shirt. If you are in the military marching band, you will get a fancy ridgy bottom male sulu.
It's comfortable, it's professional and it's colourful. As you can see below, myself and my colleagues each rocked sulu style at a workshop last week.
Tropical Cyclone Outlook - Tuesday 20 November
This is why I love living in the South Pacific. I welcome any suggestions on what should go in my emergency grab bag, should the cyclone come!
South Pacific - Tropical Disturbance TD02F west of Rotuma analysed near 11S 168E at 9AM this morning. Pressures are falling in the region and model output indicates this system will continue to intensify. Currently the low is moving slowly WSW however forecasts indicate this system will shortly start to move south then southeastwards passing well to the west of Fiji on Thursday morning.
Risk of this system becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 72 hours has been upgraded to MODERATE. Countries likely to be affected are Vanuatu and Fiji initially, and possibly southern Tonga later.
South Pacific - Tropical Disturbance TD02F west of Rotuma analysed near 11S 168E at 9AM this morning. Pressures are falling in the region and model output indicates this system will continue to intensify. Currently the low is moving slowly WSW however forecasts indicate this system will shortly start to move south then southeastwards passing well to the west of Fiji on Thursday morning.
Risk of this system becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 72 hours has been upgraded to MODERATE. Countries likely to be affected are Vanuatu and Fiji initially, and possibly southern Tonga later.
No other areas of interest in the region at this
time.
North Pacific - No suspect areas at this time.
Sunday 4 November 2012
Fiji Fashion Week
Cue bright lights, swequins, hairspray and mascara folks. Fiji Fashion Week was here and it was fierce!!
I attended the established designers fashion show - I know nothing about fashion, so I can only comment on the fact I know what I like and what I could wear. So there was a lot of bula represented, but there was also some really interesting and challenging designs.
The most interesting thing for me - so Fiji Fashion Week is in its fifth year and the woman that runs the show is clearly very entrepreneurial. Which I admire, but I can't help but thinking with all her sponsors showering her with cash and her making a big deal out of it, demonstrates there is a still some way to go before we hit full professionalisation in the fashion sector for Fiji.
Some other interesting perspectives to consider, that Fiji does not teach fashion as a subject, so for Fijians interested in fashion, they are not being taught the basic skills required to become competitive in the field. And also, we are based on an island with limited resources, sometimes sourcing fabrics can be challenging!
Fiji does have great potential as a manufacturing hub. The Fiji Fashion Council has been set up and is being headed up by an Australian manufacturer, who waxed lyrical about the manufacturing set up in Fiji and how it expects it will explode very quickly.
All of this made me a little uneasy. Should we be celebrating the strength of an industry that is successful because it underpays its workers and keeps them in shocking conditions. And what place does this kind of discussion have on an evening which is meant to celebrate creativity, young designers and style.
That was kind of lost in the end. So, I am not really sure how successful Fiji Fashion Week was in the end. I guess it all depends on perspective.
The most interesting thing for me - so Fiji Fashion Week is in its fifth year and the woman that runs the show is clearly very entrepreneurial. Which I admire, but I can't help but thinking with all her sponsors showering her with cash and her making a big deal out of it, demonstrates there is a still some way to go before we hit full professionalisation in the fashion sector for Fiji.
Some other interesting perspectives to consider, that Fiji does not teach fashion as a subject, so for Fijians interested in fashion, they are not being taught the basic skills required to become competitive in the field. And also, we are based on an island with limited resources, sometimes sourcing fabrics can be challenging!
Fiji does have great potential as a manufacturing hub. The Fiji Fashion Council has been set up and is being headed up by an Australian manufacturer, who waxed lyrical about the manufacturing set up in Fiji and how it expects it will explode very quickly.
All of this made me a little uneasy. Should we be celebrating the strength of an industry that is successful because it underpays its workers and keeps them in shocking conditions. And what place does this kind of discussion have on an evening which is meant to celebrate creativity, young designers and style.
That was kind of lost in the end. So, I am not really sure how successful Fiji Fashion Week was in the end. I guess it all depends on perspective.
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