Text from February 13th

Yesterday I went on a village tour. I've already been to a coulple of villages, but at this one we were promised to get to visit the school, where the kids would dance and sing and perform for us. The people who went the day before were absolutely amazed by it, so I decided to go. It's $25 and it is pretty much the villages only income. I wore my sarong and a t-shirt, and we were greeted by the chief of the village and the older men. We drank some kava in a small ceremony, and was then told to walk around the women's market and by some souveniers. As I sart down to recive my kava, I saw this little boy in the corner of my eye. As our eyes met he gave me an amazing smile. I waved to him and he was thrilled. He poked his grandmother and told her who was waving at him. After the kava ceremony I walked over to him and his grandmother. "Moce! How are you?" "Moce! Where are you from, dear?" (They all say "bula" but their dialect is acctually "moce", which is pronounced "mothe") "I am from Sweden, Scandinavia. Far away from here". "Yes. You are far away." "I am Anna. And what is your name?" "Male" said the little boy. (He was soon turning four I was later told) "Cola Male!" "Cola Anna!" "So did you make this?" I asked his grandmother (Agnes) as I looked at all the seashell necklaced and coconut bracelets that she had in front of her. "Yes. Five dollars" "It's very nice. Do you mind if I take a walk around and have a look at all your friends handicraft before I buy anything?" "No. It's ok." "Ok. See you Male!" I had a walk and then it hit me how many kids where there. I asked our guide, the Gehcko Man, if the kids would dance for us later. He told me that they had no school today because all the teachers of the island where having a meeting. I was very dissapointed and told him this is why I came. He then talked to the chief and the mothers and I couls see the kids getting excited. We had brought balloons for the kids I told him. Ok, he said. The kids would sing to us and maybe we could all give a little donation to the school. Of course I said. I ad already asked at the resort if there was anything I could bring to the kids. I had some chocolate powder taht I already gave to the other village kids, while weaving my own jewellery. They had then told me that the kids liked lollies and that there was a place where we could donate money for the school. My Dutch friend Elmar had some balloons with him and I asked him if he wanted to bring it. Anyway. The kids sang and danced and I cried. It was so happy. I then went back to Male and his grandmother. I bought a shell necklace and put it on me. "Venandu" "Oh. You know our dialect, girl" "? "Yes, a little" "Clever girl." Male touched my hair and his grandmother told him of. You are'nt alowed to touch someones head oin Fijian culture. I said it was ok, because I was blond. He then sat in my lap and I asked if it would be ok if I took a picture? I promised to send it to them. She said ok. I then asked Ghecko Man for a piece of paper to write down the address but he did not have any. So I told Agnes I will send it to the resort and they will bring it to her. After this we went to the school building and around the village. It was very interesting of course, but I wanted to spend more time with the kids. As we walked back to the beach where our boat would pick us up, I spotted Male and his grandmother. "Bula Anna!" "Bula Male!!" That kid just loved me. I played with him and lits of other kids, who's names I couldn't possibly remember. In school, they are only allowed to speak English, but little Male kept speaking some Englich and some Fijian to me. Everyone laughed. This kid had the most amazing smile. Like all Fijians. I asked the womed what he was saying. They told me he said to honk the boat for him when we left. Of course. When our group left, there was about 20 kids on the beach all shouting and waving "Moce Anna!!!" "Anna! Anna! Moce!" We had a good session of about ten minutes of waving and saying goodbye to eachother, those kids and I.

I miss them already.