Newsletter, December 31, 2006
From Tribewanted
Very merry news from Vorovoro:
Contents |
Dreams come true tribe couple get hitched on the beach
'Within hours of arriving on Vorovoro on boxing day Chris had asked Toni to marry him. So it's official, we have had our first proposal on Vorovoro. Congratulations to you both, maybe you might come back for your honeymoon.
Christmas, Fiji style
With only a matter of a few days until the tribes first Christmas on Vorovoro preparations have begun for festivities in the sun, oh and the odd rain shower! There will be no turkey this year for tribe members on the island, instead a traditional Fijian meal will be prepared in an under ground over called a lovo.
Tui Mail and his family have kindly invited the tribe to celebrate Christmas Day with them, which as far as we can gather consists of food, food and more food, no changes there then! The main difference will be that a nice glass of red wine will be replaced by a bowl(s) of kava!
Carols & Presents
Riah proved why she was Chief at Christmas. Riah joined Tui Mali and family to give a rendition of 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful. It was a great moment to hear the carol being sung at the same time, both in English and Fijian.
'Secret Santa' involved the tribe and the family members. So one by one we were all given time to receive and open our presents - which was a mixed bunch of chocolate, cigarettes, sulu's, hand fans, toy planes and umbrellas (!) Well what else can you buy in Labasa with a $3 dollar budget?!
The family then surprised us with gifts of wooden necklaces & wrist bracelets for us all - and i am sure these will now become one of our most prized possessions we leave the island with.
Tribe take 'Santa's grotto' to Mali villages
In her time as Chief, Riah wanted to go and spread the Christmas cheer to the villages of Mali. With one tribe member 'becoming santa' (Stu Wild -3 times, and Dan once), the sleigh boat (complete with tinsel) would set off to visit the children and families of Nakawaga, LiguaLevu, Vesi, and Matai Labasa.
Once there the tribe would occupy one of the communal buildings, and transform it into Santa's Grotto, complete with tree, tinsel, festive images, and carol singing Chief Riah! With Lucy providing crowd control, the children would then make there way toward the tree, where they would be given a decoration to hang on the tree. Then they would go to meet santa (complete with padded belly, cotton wool beard, and xmas sulu!) to receive a handful of sweets! After a few minutes, the tree was nicely decorated, santa was knackered, and the sweets had all gone!
It was certainly a different Christmas day to all our previous ones, but this is one Christmas day that we will all remember for a very long time.'
Communication malfunctions
You may have all noticed that recently there has not been much news getting through from Vorovoro. Don't fear the island is still there, but Labasa as been dealing us a rough hand when it comes to the internet! First a power cut due to a massive thunder-storm, then the whole town closed without telling us, how rude!
Mali worker and tribe friend passes away
This week we heard the sad news that one of our Mali brothers passed away. Peni from Vesi had spent time on Vorovoro helping with construction projects, but the tribe's main contact with him was at the school where he worked as the caretaker. He was a much loved man who will be greatly missed in the Mali community. Dan and the tribe went to the funeral as representatives of Tribewanted to pass on the tribes condolences to the family.
