Peace Corps Princess

When I first thought about joining the Peace Corps in 2006, my parents reminded me that I am a Princess & would have a tough time adjusting to a developing country.  I never actually thought that I was much of a Princess until I started my career & developed the nick-name.  At first I thought it was a bad thing, but later I just embraced it and tried to be the best princess I could be.

In costume for a fundraiser 

At a certain point, I was ready for a new challenge - Peace Corps. During the application process I tried to mentally prepare for what I would be walking into, but its almost impossible.  Some of my PCV friends even remember me showing up in LA wearing heels (SO cute strappy black ones that I ended up leaving at the hotel) and thought "where does she think she's going, this is Peace Corps".  For the Record - there is no rule against dressing cute as a volunteer, although dirt, rocky roads do make it a little difficult.

I loved those shoes - and forgot about those pants!

Now that I've been in country for 17months, I'd like to take this time to reflect on the things I've learned and how Fiji Greta is different from American Greta.

Things I've learned:

1. How to cook.                                               
2. How to stop a taxi using my eyebrows only      
3. How to get a local's attention (kissy noise) 
4. How to walk/sit in a sari without it falling down                              
5. How to kill mice, ants, cockroaches            
6. How to speak just enough Hindi                
7. How to teach aerobics while telling stories   
8. How to make the best of every situation, even a 7hr bus ride           
9. How to be prepared for a natural disaster, LOTS of water     
10. Its ok to wear the same 2 shirts over a vacation
11. Wear long sleeves and pants at night, or get eaten alive by mosquitoes   

Here are some comparing and contrasting of America vs. Fiji Greta

America:         

Refused to stay in certain hotels, because they looked like a place where rapes happen.

Fiji:
Will sleep anywhere, and I've recently even slept in a tent. A place is considered luxury if they have HOT water.  But I do bring my sleep sack to avoid bugs/juices.

America:
Would go shopping at least twice a week (I worked a block from the mall). I loved purses, shoes, accessories, Joe's Jeans, The Limited, Express, Banana........this list goes on and on
Fiji:
Won't even consider spending more than $10 on clothing. Its too hot to spend time looking for something cute to wear, and besides - where would I wear it anyway? (Luckily I brought WAY too many clothes with me)

America:
We had a mouse in the house, one morning I saw that we had caught it - I wouldn't go down stairs until its remains were disposed of.
Fiji:
I love setting sticky traps when I suspect there's a mouse in the house.  I have a few strategic places I put them.  Its exciting to check them to see how many I caught - record 2 at once!  *note- I do not enjoy disposing of them - its awful.

America:
I got my eyebrows done & massages monthly.  I would've done it weekly, but that's just excessive.
Fiji:
Not much has changed - I still really enjoy pampering myself.  I get my eyebrows threaded every 5-6 weeks, my friend does a really good job (Thank goodness for the Indians!). Or sometimes other PCVs help out.  And I have found a lady to who gives great massages, so every time I got to Savusavu, I make a trip to see her!

America:
Drove a Volvo convertible
Fiji:
Ride in taxi's, buses and mini buses - sometimes I'd really like a car.

First bus ride in Fiji

America:
Would only drink pineapple & malibu - and would rather be the DD than the drinker
Fiji:
Will drink pretty much anything under $10 - and non of us are allowed to drive, so we all win.

America:
LOVED spending time with my nephews.  I loved playing tennis and going to the movies, or just hanging out downtown together.
Fiji:
The only interaction I have with children is when I leave for work & they are outside on the school compound or when they swarm the streets after school. But I do love Vili who comes to aerobics with her grandmother.

America:
Got eaten alive by mosquitoes in the summer time.
Fiji:
Gets eaten alive my mosquitoes all the time.

America:
Would attend aerobics classes a few days a week
Fiji:
Teach aerobics classes a few days a week

America:
Would get up at 5am to go to the gym to run
Fiji:
If I'm awake before 9am its early, therefore no early morning runs.  I would love to run at 11pm, but I don't think the safety & security officer would like that.


America:
Would much rather stop and pick up food than cook it
Fiji:
I can cook WAY better than anything you can get at the restaurants around here

Pumpkin Risotto 

chili cheese

pancake

America:
Would always consider what other people want to do when making plans, and go along with their decision despite my hesitation
Fiji:
Tell people what I am going to do, then ask them what they are going to do - if its the same, awesome, if not, that's cool too.  Making myself happy

America:
Got in trouble for wearing flip flops to work
Fiji:

Shoes aren't even necessary - but I do get in trouble for wearing flip flops to night clubs

Diwali

This past Wednesday we celebrated Diwali in Fiji. I received so many Diwali invitations, it was ridiculous.  It got to the point that if someone didn't live close to the places we were going, I had to turn them down.  I had 7 places planned, but only made it to 5 of them. I got mendi (henna) done for the celebration - it is so beautiful, but I'm glad it goes away.  I was taught that you should always bring sweets with you when you visit an Indian household, so I made 2 batches of no-bake cookies to deliver to the houses. Everyone LOVED them & I'm hoping they add those to their Diwali sweet list for next year.

                               

Two girls came into town for the celebration, the other PCV in town & her friend from home - so we had quite the group with us.  It took about an hour for the 3 girls at my house to get ready, my neighbor tied our sari's.  It was nuts trying to get a taxi, but we finally found one.

Our first stop was a friend of another PCV in town.  We visited with him and his family for a little while.  He has been wanting to talk to me for a long time because I live in the middle of America, so I must have different thoughts on things, haha.  He was so nice & we had a fun time laughing together!  They fed us some lunch/dinner and we left before their pooja began.

Most families will have some sort of prayer (pooja) around 6 or 7, just as the sun is going down.  We were going to go to another house, but she told us to wait until after the pooja was over, but we weren't able to get a taxi all the way out to her place, so we had to skip it.  Instead, we relaxed at another PCV house until it was time to visit our other friends.  It was so pretty to drive through town with all the lights up!

Pooja set up at my neighbor's house

We got back up to my house & had some group photo's done - unfortunately the lights messed them up a bit.

Next stop- my neighbor's house.  They had some great decorations - they dye rice with create paper & make designs, very beautiful.  Everyone sets off Fireworks - I didn't buy any this year because I don't like wasting money, but I enjoy watching when other people do!

There is a hillside neighborhood close to my house - every year they have a competition on who can have the best lights, so we headed up there to check them out.  I also have some friends who live around, so we wanted to visit them as well.

Walking up the hill - I love my sari!

I made a new friend at a prayer thing I went to last weekend & she invited me over for Diwali.  Her husband is the fire chief, he is a Christian & she is Hindu - they are raising their three children in both faiths, so he always likes to promote multiculturalism.  When we showed up, the news paper was there so they asked us to get a picture with them....and just as we were getting set up, this Korean guy (named Bruce Lee) shows up, so they got a very multicultural picture.  They are a really nice family & have invited me over for dinner whenever I'd like.

This picture was also in the paper

Fire Chief's son playing with fireworks

After looking at all of the lights we headed back towards my house.  I had one more stop to make - it was 11pm by this time.  Four of us made one last Diwali visit to my friend Dan's.  He lives with his sister and brother in law, and they are so nice! (I forgot to take pictures, or I was just too tired!) I had another round of dinner & was really wishing i could take off my sari.

I had a great Diwali & I will miss the wonderful people of Fiji next year!


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Computer Skillz

I was trying to think back to the first time I learned how to use Excel.  I can't remember, maybe high school - but it seems like I just played around and figured it out.  

Today I did a little Excel class for the Midwifery students.  They conducted a survey on Safe Motherhood & I designed an Excel database for them to enter information, so today I was teaching them how to extract the data. They do so much counting by hand here, I wanted to show them a faster & more efficient way.  

Trying out Excel

Used a projector so everyone could see how it works

After working with them, I realize how lucky I was to be introduced to computers at a young age. Many of the students do not have much computer knowledge, besides facebook.  It was difficult for me not to just take over & do it for them - but I made each of them learn by doing!

Showing one student how to use Excel

The Head of the Midwifery program trying out the functions on Excel - she did great!

I'm not sure if they understood, but if only 1 of the 10 use it when they go back to the hospital, I'll be happy.

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Friendly North Festival 2011

I will be the first to admit that I do not get excited about the Friendly North Festival. I guess I've never been a big fan of "fairs" - I have never been to the Indiana State Fair & only went to the county fair once to pick up a friend in high school.

coolest kid at the festival

This year at my school I was put on the committee to select a Queen candidate & then help her with all the prep for the week.  We selected a great girl, very smart and well spoken so I knew she would be good.  Our school also had a booth where they were planning on having a rummage-type sale.  I took this opportunity to donate some of the stuff at my house that I never use.  I'm not sure how much of it actually made it to the booth, or was bought up by the staff.

During this time I was also helping the midwifery school with their safe motherhood initiative.  Many women here do not seek prenatal care, so the goal of the school was to raise awareness on this issue.  We had a float with role plays of all the different Pillars of Safe Motherhood. It was really fun (but really hot) to be in the parade- so many people gathered around to watch, didn't know that many people lived here!

Our Queen did an excellent job discussing Safe Motherhood during all of her interviews.  She ended up being the Friendly North Queen!  Everyone was so excited.  The ladies I work with were up in the stands dancing around when she won.

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