Viseisei....here we come.

      Hi everyone.  Joe and I were sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers on November 1, 2012. We used the same oath as the President!!!!  It was very emotional and a lovely event in Suva.  The Ambassador to the US, Minister of Health, host families etc. were there.

   We spent two months in the home of Wasaki and Ateca in the village of Lodoni on the east side of Fiji.  They have a large family, many grandchildren, and lots of roosters!  They are a beautiful family and we will never forget them. They shared their home with us, took care of us and taught us so much.    Living in a third world developing country is Hard.  Communication, transportation, sanitation are all developing.  We travel mostly by bus/mini bus or walk.  I wash clothes with a bucket and toilet plunger...works well!  Our diet was mostly fish, dalo, rice.  It was all cooked on an open fire.  We learned to husk and scrape coconuts.  We learned to drink kava, take cold showers, weave mats, make brooms, dance meke and laugh a lot!

   Our group consists of 25 people, 5 over the age of 50, 6 men.   We love them all.  They are all bright, adventurous, remarkable people.  They divided us into 5 groups of 5 and we stayed in 5 separate villages.  We had 3 hours of language in the morning and 3 hours of cultural/safety training in the afternoon.  Joe and I both scored Intermediate/intermediate on our oral language exam....so slowly but surely our brains are still working!

   One in 7 people of Fiji will develop diabetes.  They have limited supplies, insulin, glucometers etc.  Amputations are common.  Heart disease is also high and increasing.  Diet is high in sugar, root crops (dalo, cassava), salt.  We had a Health Fair in our village before leaving.  Joe did blood pressures, I worked with a community nurse doing blood sugars, another did head lice/scabies, teeth brushing and reproductive health.  Any education is appreciated and needed.  

   Joe and I walk everyday and many people started walking with us.  Everyone knew Joe and would call out to him wherever he went....Vuniwai Joe (Dr.Joe).

   Men are mostly farmers/fishermen.  Women cook, cut firewood, wash clothes, clean,and take care of everyone.  Sundays are a day of church, big Sunday dinner, rest and watching rugby, drinking kava.  I will spare you my bathroom stories!!!!!

   We have been in our new site now for about a week.  Joe and I are both working at the Veiseisei  Sai Health Clinic with an Indo Figian doctor couple.  We live in a flat in their home on the Health compound.  The village is across the street.  Joe will be working with non-communicable diseases and I am going to be working with reproductive health.  We like our new "home" and will be happy there.  The people we work with are wonderful.

   I am in the United States now in Florida.  My sister was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer  to the bone and skull and has started chemotherapy.  I will be here for 3 weeks.  I hate being so far away while she has to deal with this.  Please keep her in your prayers.

   I have not used a credit card for over 2 months so I am off to see if it still works!!!!!

I will have better internet access now and will hopefully keep the blog going.  I have attached pictures to it.  Thanks again for all the emails and support.  We miss you all.  Kiss our children and grandchildren if you see them.      Lotsa Love.....Joe and FA