[password] shipnavire1
[status]
position 07 06.182n 171 22.427e
We are not in Fiji! I recently started catching the blog up and posted two from Fiji, resulting in a few people thinking we were in there for the recent hurricane. We are over 1400 miles away, well out of the hurricane zone.
Big change of plans. We are almost certainly staying here for a year. There are many skills shortages here and counselling is one of them. David got snapped up to work with youth suicide prevention counsellors. There is more work here than he could do in several years.
I've potentially got some work at the University of South Pacific which may lead to paid work.
We are really enjoying life here. It's very hot but we have acclimatised nicely. The social life is excellent. We have a group of people to play music with and the "Bilge Water Band" has had a little concert already. David is revelling in it.
I have found fellow foodies and have had two great shared meals using local ingredients, a pumpkin night, and a coconut one.
Yesterday we organised an outing to explore the atoll with 17 other people.
It's very easy to meet people here but we have only met one other kiwi. Free yoga classes, good shops, laundromat. There is a drought though so we are very frugal with water.
Today I went the local yacht club committee meeting and will put my name forward as events director.
Another advantage of staying longer is that Fiji will be well into recovery when we go back there next year. We've heard some pretty dire stories from there.
Cheers Janet[END]