Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Hi Folks. I’ve been following the blogs and forums and would like to share my thoughts. I’ll try to be brief! But please bear with me as I give background to my points as they apply to TW. And please understand, this is not a story about Elizabeth Montgomery. This is a story about the successes of Tribewanted and what a powerful influence it has had on me.

Three years ago, I saw Ben Keene on The Today show in the U.S. (And yes, Ben is brilliant at PR. Thank God. I would have never heard of Tribewanted if he hadn’t been. I don’t do Internet very well!) As he described TW, I understood him to say the following: TW is an experiment to start an international, Internet community that has the privilege to live with the Mali tribe on their island, Vorovoro. We plan to build an eco-friendly, sustainable society and try to learn from the Malis, and they us, to show the world how some of the major issues facing us today can be solved.

Whether that’s what Ben said or not, that’s how I understood it. So I signed up immediately. (I’m #551.) Even when I was a kid, I was green, starting a “Pick up the Trash “ campaign in high school. (Hope we still have to bring trash to the brilliant 9 a.m. meetings!) When I worked in the U.S. Senate in 1982, I met with lobbyists from the Detroit auto manufactures to ask why they weren’t building cars with alternative fuels like ethanol and couldn’t they start now. Answer: We won’t build those cars until there are pumps for the fuel, and they won’t put pumps in until there are cars to fill. (Which comes first, chicken or egg seems to be a theme in my life!) I lived in Paris during 1973-74 energy crises when the French were paying about $2.50 American back then. I understand folks today in London are paying $9 US per gallon (I know you use pounds and litres but I had someone convert for me! Sorry!) Frankly, while I love my fellow Americans, I’m tired of so many not understanding that oil is a finite commodity and we need to rely on alternative fuels—yesterday. But that’s another conversation.

Now for my point. I am so grateful for all I have already learned from TW in the two years I’ve been to Vorovoro—June 2007 and May 2008. Last year, we used kerosene lamps (it was fun to see and help Sara Jane go around making sure they were all lit) and our own torches. And of course, the moonlight! To actually see the windmill and solar station this year and understand what I’ve always read about was quite a thrill – not to mention the little white lights in the dining area and the kitchen generated by those two sources of alternative “fuels.” No more kerosene lamps. That’s not only progress in a short time, that’s an example to the world. While the showers have never bothered me, especially because I thought we were supposed to be roughing it, and I loved bathing in the sea and waterfall, I have been fascinated by learning about how water systems work, irrigation, reed beds and how to recycle gray water for my use. (I truly admire the First Footers. I wasn’t that brave and Vinaka to them.) I also loved Kaz’s wonderful donation of solar “lamps” for lack of a better term. Had no idea I could buy those at Home Depot! Now the little solar torches light my sidewalk.

Since my first visit was during the dry season, I leaned how precious water is and how much we take it for granted. The sign at the children’s school says it all. :It is my responsibility to save water.” Because of TW, I now recycle my cat’s water, and all my flower vases’ water into a pitcher to water my outside flowers. I also have a bucket in my shower to capture the cold water whilst waiting for the hot water. Amy said her sister does this too!) During LA’s “rainy” season, I bought a 64 gallon trash can and captured rainwater. Now that the Gov. has declared a drought in CA, I feel a little smug being able to water my plants with my rainwater. Also saves on my water bill. Because of TW’s compost pile, I secured a compost bin, which my town of Burbank gives out for free, and have been learning how to make mulch for my roses and to retain water. Now I can use the smaller city rubbish bin and save $120 a year! My neighbor now recycles her dogs’ water for plants. Little by little we can make a difference. Another advantage of Vorovor are the fascinating conversations/debates, yes arguments, you will have. Chief Walu and I discussed if there is a WWIII, it will probably be over water, or lack thereof, not oil.

TW has showed me how to actually accomplish an eco-friendly lifestyle that I’ve “worried about” since I was 11 years old. That’s why I was determined to learn about chicken farming. It’s a no-brainer as far as I’m concerned for helping with the food sustainability part of the experiment. And you may be laughing at me and all my little eccentricities, but trust me, if the Big Earthquake, fires or terrorists hit LA, I’ll have my own water, chicken to produce a fresh egg every morning, along with my orange juice and fresh lettuce for lunch. You should be so lucky if I invite you over. (OK that’s a bit of my humor. Hopefully you all get that.) Even my “silly” little beer bottle to drinking glass experiment is a way to try and help solve the rubbish issue on the island by recycling and thereby suggest to the planet how to help solve it’s landfill problem. Think out of the box.

As for Team Fiji itself, most of us are respectful that we’re on their land and their coral reefs and we’re not the “Great White Hope.” Some of you may not know that Tui Mali turned down millions from Survivor TV Show for the brief use of his island because he had given his word three weeks earlier to Ben Keene’s three year project and because he loved the idea of an international community. It reminded me that money isn’t everything. Misunderstandings because of cultural differences? You bet. The lesson I learned from mine last year was that they share everything with each other. But we communicated our differences through our TW Chief and now are best of friends. Staff members and Tribies who bugged me? Yep. And I’m sure I bugged them even more!

Like many of you, I’ve traveled the world. I’ve stayed at the fancy resorts with the boats to rent, trips to the coral reefs any time you want, tours, the fabulous amenities, yummy food and thick towels, luscious sheets and comforters and staff to wait on you hand and foot.

That ain’t Vorovoro. And that’s not what most of us want when we come to Vorovoro. But if that’s what you want, do yourself a favor. Don’t come. Your expectations will not be met. It seems Vorvoro can’t handle negativity and will return it to you. And I mean this in all sincerity, go to Nadi and its island resorts because Fiji is indeed gorgeous.

But if you want the most unusual experience in your life, to see how man (and woman!) started their villages from scratch, then it’s for you. If you want a vacation where going back in time and learning basic survival skills meet the future’s solutions; where people of divergent cultures and races live together peaceably and learn from each other; where you’ll be alone at times or hanging out with other “family” members trying to figure what life is all about, then by all means, Welcome to the Experiment called Tribewanted.

Vinaka vaka levu for “listening.”

Ili