Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Bula Sia,

I hardly know where to start. Everytime I start thinking about Vorovoro again I feel so overwhelmed with joy yet feel so sad that I’m not there now and all the amazing fijians and tribies that are still there.

The minute I got into Labasa I could feel the Vorovoro magic working on me- I felt the draw of the island calling me in like a siren’s song I was almost screaming out “just get me there already!”. Even things I would have thought so previously simple like shopping for a sulu or buying grog turned out to be such an amazing time for me. I’m glad I got there before Hot Kulcha closed down (It’s supposed to be relocating and re-opening soon, but with Fiji time in the mix who knows?), because hanging out there and just CHILLING was helping me adjust to Fiji time, helping my racing heart relax and start to enjoy my time.

It wasn’t long before it started up again though when we were ready to head off to Vorovoro, my home for the next couple of weeks.

I’m sure many tribies that have been to the island agree with me when I say that first trip through the mangroves to Vorovoro is amazing. What is moreso amazing is when the mangroves open away like curtains revealing Vorovoro dead ahead- that first glimpse of the island brought a smile to my face that stuck there the whole time and, I’m not going to lie, a little tear in the corner of my eye. It’s been a long three years but I finally made it to the island!

The minute I stepped my first wobbly step off the boat I felt so immensely welcome and part of the Vorovoro family straight away. I put a lot of this down to Lisa and her amazing time as chief (and her permanent time as a friend to me now!) and the other amazing staff like Jim and Amy!

Like all new tribe members I was whisked around the island on a quick tour and then straight into a culture class to learn the monkey meke. I’m not gunna lie, I LOVE the monkey meke and I took to it like a duck to water (I still dream about it a lot, actually!). My team fiji (new team fiji, though all but Johnny have left) whirled me through it with a bounty of smiles, laughs and many an oi lei! to mix it all up.

The big clincher came when they said happily to me “We’re performing this in two days time at the Bazaar. You’ll be fine yeah? Feeling the Fijian spirit I said boldly “of course! Sega na lega!”

That first night I was given my fijian name, Kele. A bit reluctantly I went to my first grog session in the Team Fiji hut, but the minute I walked on in and said “Bogi!” I knew I was in for a treat. The minute I drank my first bilo I was captured by the grog mat magic… that first night I stumbled out listening to the laughing and singing, falling asleep to those beautiful fijian songs… those moments will stay with me forever.

Of course, the next day at the bazaar we were fabulous and even dressed up (and a bit down for the guys). The fijians loved the fact that we were showing our appreciation of fijian culture, not just being a tourist by performing the meke. I was extra special and even got given a sulu, necklace, a lollipop and powder in my hair for my spesh performance. That special fijian kiss by one of the ladies of the village resonates with me even now- to know that they truly appreciated and enjoyed our performance makes me beam a smile all the way back to Ligalevu!

There are so many highlights of my time on Vorovoro and in all honesty I could spend the rest of my life recounting the tales. However I am a little bit tiddly on the Bounty Rum I bought for myself to remember my time in Fiji, so I shall condense it to some bullet points (I will write another blog later if people want me to, I promose)

Some of my highlights are:

Meeting and chatting with Tui Mali. He is one of the wisest, kindest and honest men you will ever meet. I was so touched every time he asked me for a story, and will forever remember him saying “Oh Kele, the island will be so quiet without you! We shall have to bring many more people for the island to be noisy and happy again!”

Hanging out with the chickens! Chuck’s chickens are the coolest chicks ever! Being hand-raised rhode-island reds they are great egg layers and ever so curious! Don’t be surprised if they peck your feet!

Meeting so many fantastic people from across the world including now ex-Tui Lisa (I’m not going to lie, I miss hanging with you so much!), Charlotte, Cat, Jenny Boo, Fiona, Becky and Mark, the lovely and awesome Marie AKA Senitoa (love your work, I am DEFINITELY coming to see you in Boston!), Sitiveni and the other amazing tribies

The night Lisa and Jenny simply said to me “Klintis, what are you talking about? You ARE extending! (more on that in another blog if you want!)

Campfire stories in which I perhaps revealed a bit too much about myself!

The Lovo and fundraiser!

Town trips with Jenny for ice-cream!

my Vorovoro tattoo (I’m not going to lie, I’m definitely GOING TO HAVE TO write another blog about that story!

Team Fiji and Team Kana being so loving and welcoming to me. You are my family in Fiji now and can’t wait to come back and hang out again!

my last meal in town with Pupu Epeli and the wonderful stories

The emotional goodbye to New Team Fiji (I will remember you guys always and am SO glad you came and said goodbye to me in Labasa! Thanks so much Pisa for the Bula shirt, I will bring it back with me next time!

reef trip after reef trip. I will never get tired of that reef ever :)

Lisa, Amy and Jim for giving me inspiration on the island

The Cahill family and their wonderful antics and stories.

Honestly, if I could work on Vorovoro that would be a dream come true for me! Having lived and worked overseas for 3 years of my life I welcome the challenge of working again, this time helping out an eco project I strongly believe in.

Look out Vorovoro, the next time I come back it’s going to be even better.

Much love to all the tribies past present and future,

Moce and Tadra Vaka Vinaka!

Clinton/Kele