The Adventure Begins.... Saturday, May 2, 2009
I've been waiting for this phone call all day, it was nice to hear Scott on the other end saying how beautiful it is in Fiji, he has not seen anything like it. Last night the village had a welcoming party where they drink Kava-
Kava or yaqona is a central part of the Fijian culture. Yaqona is used in ceremonies of welcome, weddings, funerals and other important ceremonies such as the installation of a chief, though it is also drunk socially. An unpounded yaqona root is the most acceptable gift when you are visiting a Fijian village. If you do get the chance to participate in a yaqona ceremony (in most cases it's a high probability), the correct protocol is to clap once (a deep clap with hands clasped together), then take the cup (bilo) and drink the kava without stopping. Once you've finished and handed the cup back to the bearer, you then clap three times and say maca (pronounced matha).
Dinner was fresh tuna from the sea and fresh fruit off the trees, best food anywhere he says.
Today they have been swimming in the ocean, touring the village and now they have put on their best sulu (skirt) for church and a lot of singing :)
Unfortunately no one packed an adapter to upload pictures to the computer, so we wait until Ben gets there next week to see what Scott is talking about.
A background of Fiji, its people and its culture follow this link-
www.fiji.resortspacific.com/tourism/culture.cfm
Life is good-
Nancy
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