Our friends in Fiji

Isabella and Everett have made many friends on Denarau.  Paulini is at the restaurant every morning but Mondays- her day off.  The Fijian work week is six days per week.  We invited Paulini to spend her day off with us- she swam and played with kids all day! I don't know who had more fun- Paulini, the kids... or me!?!? 

Isabella has done a lot of artwork in Fiji.  Her latest media of choice is watercolor.  Every piece that she has produced, she has signed and given as gifts to the Fijian people that she has met here.

 Venezaria and Mariama (please forgive my spelling) with Isabella.  Isabella gave Venezaria a picture, and she took it home and hung it up, and told her own daughter about Isabella.  We got to meet Mariama who is 7 years old and is in Class 2.  We went to see Venezaria play in the Golden Oldies National Netball Tournament at Denerau Golf and Racquet Club.  More of the team members are pictured below with Everett.

We did not last long at the tournament... it was VERY hot!  We had to go in to the pro shop to cool down!

Photo taken by TEP

Photo taken by TEP

First Tennis Lesson

Isabella and Everett had the first tennis lesson on October 25th at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club  Their tennis instructor, Rupenny is amazing and the kids love him!  After they have their turn hitting balls with Rupenny, they get to pick a coconut tree as a prize.  Rupenny counts in Fijian so the kids can practice their numbers.

Diwali October 25, 2011

A beautiful Diwali sunset at Moo Moo Restaurant at the Westin.  The Diwali Holiday, the Hindu "Festival of Lights" is a national holiday in Fiji and is celebrated by the Indo-Fijians.  We were invited to Angelina's house in Lautoka to partake in some of the festivities...which include a lot of eating!  Angelina lives with her mother and father in a house that they built (I mean physically built- her mother was the "foreman" on the project).  She had prepared all types of Indian sweets, as well as soup and some Indian dishes.  Angelina had made certain that none of the foods contained nuts or mangoes for Isabella and Everett- the kids were treated like royalty.  Their house did not have aircon (air conditioning) so I had warned Tom that I would have to give the signal when I was about to pass out- we were all wearing our festive Diwali attire.

After A L L of the eating... everyone has there house decorated with lights (as we do during Christmas holiday) and sets off fireworks.  Not the kind of fireworks that we are able to buy for the Forth of July, but Disneyland Fireworks!  So of course, Tom went crazy.  We had bags and bags of all kinds of dangerous firing and exploding paraphernalia.  They were big and loud and out of control.  Everett and Tom were in heaven!  We set up our firework show on the beach.  Fortunately, there were no fires (like there was the one year that Tom had his firework demonstration at Nonnie and Poppi's on the golf course...) but Tom did manage to allow one firework to tip over and shoot up the beach right in front of the kids and myself toward another couple.  After that explosion, Isabella and I were ready to go- Everett, on the other hand, was ready to start lighting twigs and branches on fire.  Great...

Isabella and Everett were very excited to pick out their Diwali wear.  Everett got hot and had to take of the shirt (it is only made in long sleeve), but still wore the fancy vest.  Isabella stayed in full costume all afternoon and evening- including her Fancy Bindi.