Thursday, June 17, 2004
Hello!
It's amazing how time flies. I haven't written a big e-mail in awhile, and I thought it was about time again.
We left for Nadi on Friday at 5pm. It was POURING! By the time we got to the bus station in Suva, we were soaked. Danny met us at the bus station, and we boarded right away. Luckily, I've learned to wrap everything I own in plastic bags, so my clothes for the weekend weren't soaked. The bus was crowded when we got on, and the bus people continued to squish us like sardines until the bus was filled to capacity. Luckily, some people got off rather quickly once the bus started off. The trip took about 5 hours when all was said and done. Definitely not the most comfortable 5 hours I've spent in my life. At one point, the bus was going up a really steep hill and just couldn't make it. At this point, the bus driver started yelling. About half of the bus, mostly guys, got out and started PUSHING the bus up the hill. Definitely a cultural experience. I can't imagine anything like that happening in the U.S. People would probably start to complain immediately and demand their money back.
We pulled up to Nadi airport around 10pm and met Danny's friend, Akuasita. We stayed at her house for the weekend. She was a very gracious host, and she cooked us some really good meals. That night, we slept on the floor. (This was a little disconcerting considering that the first thing I saw when I put my bags down was a dead cockroach in the living room, the same room where we slept.)
We got up very early the next day and were off to Beachcomber Island. The mood was hopeful as we pulled out of port. The sun was peaking through the clouds a bit. The boat ride to the island was hilarious. We sat on top of the boat deck (it was a rather large boat, a catamaran I think). Heidi and Melissa were absolutely soaked when the boat hit any kind of wave. They were good sports and laughed the whole way. The entire top of the boat was laughing with them, and some random guy even pulled out his video camera.
The island was very relaxing, but unfortunately, it rained almost the whole day. It was clear when I first got there, so I walked around the beach for awhile. After that, I hung out and read Pride and Prejudice again. Lunch was pretty good, and everyone stuffed themselves. Britt REALLY overate and felt nauseated afterward. Overall, everyone had a good time, but no one really thought it was worth the $74 FD it cost.
On the way back from the island, Heidi and I sat next to some members of the Royal Airforce Rugby team. It was really interesting. Leon, the guy I sat next to, is from Zimbabwe. We talked for awhile (he ended up giving his e-mail address, etc. to Heidi, go figure).
We got back to Akuasita's around 6pm, and I was asleep by 8. Dinner was very interesting. I actually tried and ate raw mussels (I didn't know they were raw until after I tried them.) They were burning, mouth on fire, hot. The first one I ate made me want to drink a gallon of water (unfortunately, I was about out of bottled water). I swallowed the other two I had taken as fast as possible and ate a few rolls to try to cover the taste. It is an experience I would rather not relive if ever given the opportunity.
Sunday was great. We got to go to church, and it was a good day. We went home on a really nice bus. It was only about a dollar more. Definitely worth it.
Time is really flying. I can't believe how fast everything is happening. Term 2 is almost over at school. (Just one more week.) Then we have a 2 week vacation. I'm going to Nanuya lai lai in the Yasawa Islands the first week (next to Turtle Island--$2000 a night with a 6 night minimum stay--I get the same view only MUCH cheaper). The second week, we're going to Taveuni and Savusavu. When we get back, there's only 4 more weeks of school.
While it still rains almost everyday, there has been some sunshine, which has helped a lot. I never realized how much the sun can affect my mood. I've definitely been happier since the sun has decided to make occasional appearances.
It's amazing how time flies. I haven't written a big e-mail in awhile, and I thought it was about time again.
We left for Nadi on Friday at 5pm. It was POURING! By the time we got to the bus station in Suva, we were soaked. Danny met us at the bus station, and we boarded right away. Luckily, I've learned to wrap everything I own in plastic bags, so my clothes for the weekend weren't soaked. The bus was crowded when we got on, and the bus people continued to squish us like sardines until the bus was filled to capacity. Luckily, some people got off rather quickly once the bus started off. The trip took about 5 hours when all was said and done. Definitely not the most comfortable 5 hours I've spent in my life. At one point, the bus was going up a really steep hill and just couldn't make it. At this point, the bus driver started yelling. About half of the bus, mostly guys, got out and started PUSHING the bus up the hill. Definitely a cultural experience. I can't imagine anything like that happening in the U.S. People would probably start to complain immediately and demand their money back.
We pulled up to Nadi airport around 10pm and met Danny's friend, Akuasita. We stayed at her house for the weekend. She was a very gracious host, and she cooked us some really good meals. That night, we slept on the floor. (This was a little disconcerting considering that the first thing I saw when I put my bags down was a dead cockroach in the living room, the same room where we slept.)
We got up very early the next day and were off to Beachcomber Island. The mood was hopeful as we pulled out of port. The sun was peaking through the clouds a bit. The boat ride to the island was hilarious. We sat on top of the boat deck (it was a rather large boat, a catamaran I think). Heidi and Melissa were absolutely soaked when the boat hit any kind of wave. They were good sports and laughed the whole way. The entire top of the boat was laughing with them, and some random guy even pulled out his video camera.
The island was very relaxing, but unfortunately, it rained almost the whole day. It was clear when I first got there, so I walked around the beach for awhile. After that, I hung out and read Pride and Prejudice again. Lunch was pretty good, and everyone stuffed themselves. Britt REALLY overate and felt nauseated afterward. Overall, everyone had a good time, but no one really thought it was worth the $74 FD it cost.
On the way back from the island, Heidi and I sat next to some members of the Royal Airforce Rugby team. It was really interesting. Leon, the guy I sat next to, is from Zimbabwe. We talked for awhile (he ended up giving his e-mail address, etc. to Heidi, go figure).
We got back to Akuasita's around 6pm, and I was asleep by 8. Dinner was very interesting. I actually tried and ate raw mussels (I didn't know they were raw until after I tried them.) They were burning, mouth on fire, hot. The first one I ate made me want to drink a gallon of water (unfortunately, I was about out of bottled water). I swallowed the other two I had taken as fast as possible and ate a few rolls to try to cover the taste. It is an experience I would rather not relive if ever given the opportunity.
Sunday was great. We got to go to church, and it was a good day. We went home on a really nice bus. It was only about a dollar more. Definitely worth it.
Time is really flying. I can't believe how fast everything is happening. Term 2 is almost over at school. (Just one more week.) Then we have a 2 week vacation. I'm going to Nanuya lai lai in the Yasawa Islands the first week (next to Turtle Island--$2000 a night with a 6 night minimum stay--I get the same view only MUCH cheaper). The second week, we're going to Taveuni and Savusavu. When we get back, there's only 4 more weeks of school.
While it still rains almost everyday, there has been some sunshine, which has helped a lot. I never realized how much the sun can affect my mood. I've definitely been happier since the sun has decided to make occasional appearances.
