Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Apologies for late blog about my 1st week as January Chief. That week brought a big storm with rainy days with no sunshine. We had to take our wind turbine down because of the high wind. There also were rumours about hurricane or cyclone will hit Vorovoro. So we had to save our energy as much as possible. But start from the beginning of 1st week as Chief and give you an update on week 1 in 2009.

My role as Chief started on Monday morning with attending to Team Fiji meeting. It was also first meeting in New Year after 2 weeks Christmas break and we all were full of energy and enthusiastic (and still are) and could wait to get on with work. Everyone was in good mood and ready to carry on with projects which haven’t been finalised last year and start new improvements around the island. But most import of all was to continue to work on water fall project (water storage) and try to finish the damm before the big rain hits Fiji.

And another part of being Chief is to move into Chief’s Bure. Wow! After sleeping in tent for the last 6 weeks it was big change to me. Not just standing in the middle of the room and don’t have to “duck”, THE bed! It is huge and I really forgot how it feels to sleep in the middle. But one thing I was concerned about staying in the Chief’s Bure, were huge spiders. Well I told myself, they belong to the island, are harmless and eat mosquitoes, which is big relief in the rainy weather like that. So I live with them under one roof and it works pretty well.

But still I didn’t feel like Chief and I think when the official handover has been done and the handover of salu salu, you starting to feel Chief. And also everyone around you says “Chief” or “Marama”.

Tuesday afternoon was sevusevu and the official Chief’s handover. I had on my finest, costumed made sulu chamba and was prepared for long grog session night with a lot of songs and stories. With Tui Mali being on holiday in Australia Sevusevu and Chief’s handover has been done by Poasa. I was quite nervous and exited at the same time.
After the Sevusevu and Chief’s handover we performed Meke. It is always a lot of fun when we perform Meke and Fijians love it. Specially when Va came with big mug of flour and put it on our faces. (I still prefer Baby Powder it smells nicer than flour ;)

In that night and Wednesday morning weather changed dramatically. Heave rain and strong wind. During morning meeting with discussed what preparation needed to be done. First of all we needed to make sure that the sleeping accommodations are storm proofed. With Team Fiji help we started on new vale. The rain covers been nailed, roof been secured additional, Family bure the side door nailed with the wood plate and window covered with plastic cover (which is clear plastic so daylight still comes in) The Grand Bure – on one side (where Tui Mali’s entrance is) clear plastic cover has been put up. Actually Grand Bure was our assembly point during the storm. But still few people on the island needed to b evacuated from their homes. Their new home for the next 4 days was Grand Bure.

For the next 3 days tribe was spending time in Grand Bure playing games, listened to music, reading books, chatting. These days were so different to “normal” days on Vorovoro that everyone was in “tropical” depression (that week we also run out of sugar….). Me as Chief I felt sorry for people who came to Vorovoro only for a week and actually didn’t get the chance to experience real Vorovoro. (Please come back soon!)

On Sunday Jim came with great idea to make a movie about the weather on Vorovoro. The movie is online and it gives you idea what we been through and still no end when weather will be become normal.

One thing I have to say that during that “difficult” time neither Tribe nor me or any one from Staff felt unsafe or in danger. BIG Thank you Team Fiji for their help and support these days. Specially Jone (our boat captain) who been on our side 24 hours a day. He spent the entire time with us, looked after us at night, didn’t matter what time it was, Jone was there for us. It wasn’t easy for him (we all knew that) because his family and home is in Nakawaga, few minutes boat ride from Vorovoro (or in low tide just short walk)

VINAKA VAKA LEVU Team Fiji

And you know what is really amazing about Fiji and this place? That Fijians it doesn’t matter what weather, if it is a big storm, flood, financial crises etc, Fijians keep smiling, laughing, have fun and throw everyone into sea. That is what makes this place so special – Fijians cultural and way of live, which we all can learn from and take back home and share with our families and friends. All that matters is your family, health and happiness.