Slow Through Village

Everything happens for a reason, and once we can accept this and align our lives with the synchronicity and harmony of the universe doors are opened for us and life just seems to work out perfectly. During my amazing week with Evolution Seminars I became good friends with the family that works in the resort we were staying at. It was my first experience with the nature of Fijian hospitality and love.  They were also the ones to answer my many questions about the Fijian culture and how the villages in Fiji are organized. 

So each village can vary in size from small villages (50-100 people) to much larger villages (400+). Each village is also organized in a very tribal fashion with the leader who has final say on all matters being the Chief. This position is passed down through generations always staying within the family of the Chieftan clan. The Chief also rules until death or until he is no longer physically able. Obviously this is a very respected and highly admired individual who also has the authority to grant pieces of farmland to the men who are of age to start farming as he technically owns all of the land. Next in the hierarchy is the spokesman, this is a position that is filled by a male village member and elected by the villagers and who typically serves for about three years. The spokesman is the villager who talks directly to the Chief and conveys his words and plans to the villagers. The Chief wont talk directly to the villagers as it always goes through the spokesman. Every evening he announces all the tasks that need to be completed the next day in the village whether it be repairs, construction, farm work or another job. The next day the men will meet in the morning to start on the project. Life in Fiji is very simple with a be happy don't worry mentality. People in the village are all very happy with what may be poor materialistic wealth but they are rich in tradition and love, they always have their basic needs of food and shelter met as you always have the whole village to help you and your family. 

Buca Bay- Always Nice 

At the end of my week in Savusavu I was invited by the family to accompany their son George, who I became great friends with, to the mothers village of Buca Bay about 3 hours north of Savusavu. Her father also just happened to be the Chief of the the village and invited me to stay at his house for the week! Buca Bay actually pronounced “Butha Bay” is a village of about 350 people with each family being primarily self sufficient through farming and each house having 24hr electricity from hydro-power. The religions in this village are most commonly Catholic and Methodist with your own families religion dictating what you will be born into. I can honestly say that I don't think I have experienced a culture that emulates the virtues of love, kindness and generosity as much the Fijians do. Each and every person is genuinely kind and welcoming and expects nothing in return except that same kind love. It is a truly remarkable culture and country. After arriving to the village on the bus, which are never monotonous here as you are always driving along coastline, with the green mountains and coconut trees on one side and crystal clear water on another, it was time to meet the chief. Of course I had to look presentable so I put on my Sulu (fijian garb resembling a skirt) and button up shirt. I had my offering to the Chief which of course was Kava, a root plant that is grounded up and mixed with water which is consumed out of a coconut shells every night by Fijians. It also serves as Fiji’s major cash crop. Kava sessions which usually are accompanied by some type of music can extend into the early morning hours which are usually follow by a day of extreme relaxation something westerners confuse with laziness. After meeting the Chief and his family he graciously accepted my offering and welcomed me into his village grating me permission to stay with him as long as I want for nothing in return. He even went on to invite the rest of my family to his village and stay at his home. He said each house in the village was now opened to me and each person in the village was now my neighbor and family member. There is no shortage of love here in Fiji which is something the whole world could learn to incorporate into our daily lives and routines. 

Daily life in the village is very simple, for the men you tend to your farm which usually consists of growing Taro a starchy root vegetable similar to potato as well as Kava. For many men this is their one daily responsibility other than helping with any communal village jobs. While the women stay home to take care of the children and prepare the meals. In the afternoon usually after lunch their is a designated nap time as it can be very hot. After nap time the whole village, men women and children gather for two hours to play either rugby or volleyball. Only the men will play rugby but volleyball is open for all the villagers to play. I personally found this to be absolutely awesome. This was a designated time during the day that the whole village came together to laugh, smile and play without becoming overly competitive and angry. Even during the mens rugby game each player (who were awesomely talented) played their hardest an gave it their all but never got caught up in scores, teams or winning or loosing. It was all about going out giving it your all and having a great time. After playing everyone cleans up and then has dinner with their family. Also because Fiji has such as large Indian population you can see the cultural infusion in there foods with a lot of spicy curries, dal and roti. The evenings are then spent with the children doing their homework or often you see families watching American movies. It is then that the men and sometimes women congregate at a villagers house to partake in a night of Kava which will usually continue until there is no more, a night filled with music, jokes, laughter and heavy sleep as Kava has sedative and anesthetic properties!  

Chief Ratu with nephew

It was an amazing week with a true insight into a completely different culture. I was humbled and in awe of their simplicity while amazed at their genuine happiness and joy that they each exude There is no need for us to complicate life as it can be as simple as we allow it to be. What is important is the love that we each have for ourselves which allows us to both give  and receive love from others. This then plays into our family life of which are the most important people in our life. We must constantly learn to express to them how much they mean to us while expressing gratitude to them for being themselves. There should be no material possessions or material wealth that should be able to come in-between the love of a family. It is such as simple concept and these ideas are what bring us happiness in life, but yet why do we find it so hard to find happiness in what seems like such a busy, hectic and draining western way of life?

   

Villagers House