Best wishes to my sister at the 2nd World Cup Rowing Regatta this weekend!

I would like to wish my sister Sonia Mills & her rowing partner Cate all the best for their races at the 2nd World Cup Rowing Regatta this weekend in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Some of the international teams competing this weekend have already qualified for the Olympics. While others teams, like my sister & her partner, will be in Lucerne this weekend to compete & check out other international teams before they go on to compete in the finals in Poland June 15 – 18. In Poland, Sonia & Cate, representing Australia's Olympic heavy-weight doubles team (skulling - 2x oars), aim to succeed in qualifying their boat for the Olympics. They must get their boat over the finish line - within a certain time frame - I think!? (Is this right Sonia - correct if I am wrong?)

To watch Sonia & Cate in the 2nd World Cup races this weekend - live June 1 - click on this website: http://web.wcsn.com/index.jsp

Wishing Sonia & Cate all the best! You go girls!!!

My home in Tanavua - Suva

Friends have been requesting to see photos of where I live in Fiji. Here they are!

A nice area kept safe & secure by security guards outside. Break-ins & theft is a problem here in Suva so we have full-time security guards outside & lots of mad barking dogs to keep the area safe.

However, break-ins still occur. I just found out 4x young men were caught climbing the fence of our place last christmas! Apparently, many break-ins occur by youths after they have been drinking Kava - the popular Fijian custom here. They use sugar cane knives to wedge open windows or doors.

So I have been told, by my hosts, to always keep the front porch lights on, keep all doors locked, be friendly with the neighbours & with the security guards so we may all watch out for each other.

Since my hosts are away this weekend, I have been asked to turn on the TV tmw night & turn the TV so it may face the window so the security guard may watch his beloved international rugby 7's - leave the TV on all night so he can follow all the matches - happening in Twickenham in London right now. Maybe I should give him a beer too?

Apprarently, Suva really rocks here when the 7's are on! Fijians are very proud of their rugby - including the women. My interpreter complained last week of no sleep because the neighbourhood in her area was roaring with cheers from Fijians early in the morning when they were watching the 7's! Lucky I have deaf ears. Hee!

My friend returns from Paradise!

Hi! My friend returns from paradise! We meet again in Suva for another Fiji bitters on the tap - by the harbour.

My friend has just spent 4-days boat hopping around some of Fiji's islands - off the west coast of Fiji. She showed me her photos & I can honestly say the blue sea, white sand, blue sky Fiji brochures we see in our countries - are in fact true!! Whoah!

When I arrived in Suva - I wasnt sure if the Fiji Paradise travel brochures I saw in Australia were true. But my friend's photos has proved it is indeed true! Paradise does exist here in abundance - on the small islands around Fiji! The islands look so gorgeous! Oh I am jealous because I have no time to travel around the islands as I must stay in school for 6-weeks here in Suva - to qualify as a school teacher.

Meanwhile, the weather here in Suva - is like London! It changes many times throughout the days & attracts the clouds & rain! All other parts of Fiji get the sun so my friend came back looking very tanned & was most surprised to hear it had rained during the week here in Suva. All she saw during the week was SUN, white sand & blue seas! Grrrr!

Oh well, nevermind - at least I do come from paradise in Australia - the sunny Sunshine Coast! Though it would be nice to experience a bit of Fijii paradise. If I am lucky, I might be able to find time to visit one small island for a day & night trip at the end of my 6-weeks here - just before I fly out of Fiji. Wish me luck! I don't think I'll be able to stage a sicky day at school either because the little islands on the west coast are not conveniently near to me ... oh!

Teaching Art & Drama

Today started off really well! I taught my first art class with music exploring the topic 'art & rhythm'.

I played fijian music via my laptop whilst everyone tapped with one hand on the table to the beat of the music. I then asked everyone to stand up to dance to the beat but they became stiff & rigid! Students were very self-conscious as they are mostly accustomed to sitting during their lessons. So I had them sitting again tapping away on their desks with one hand whilst they used the other hand to pretend they were drawing in the air - to the beat of the music. Then I had them drawing on their paper exploring all sorts of lines whilst tapping away on the desk with the other hand.

Later I showed them the visualiser on my laptop which shows music through art - they were truly fascinated! I don't think many of these students have had access to computers at all. This was such a fun lesson! I am really looking forward to doing more art work with these students through music - a great topic for the students & me as their student-teacher. The main teacher for this class (who was observing me) told me she was also learning lots from this lesson. I noticed she really got into the dancing & tapping to the music. Hee! But then the bell rang so we had to stop. Oh the lessons are so short - just 35minutes!!! With 40x students in each class I really have to move fast in my lessons.

By the way, I have a photo here of a boy with a collage (artwork) he made in his previous art classes. I thought the collage was so great - I had to take a photo & share it with you all.

As for drama - my shakespeare (Julius Ceasar) classes are going really well! I am now getting students from other grades are coming up to me to ask for drama too. They dont do any drama in this school so it is something new & exciting for them. I'm really glad to be able to offer it.

But I must say, I am so exhausted & tired at the end of each day ... it really is a challenge working in a new school in a different country with 40x students in each class, with different accents, limited resources & just a blackboard etc. And when I get home there's still so much planning to do for the next day! Oh I dont know how school teachers manage! My mother was a teacher - now I understand why she found teaching a challenge & tiring at times. Teacher's definately need their school holidays to recover!!!!

Lastly, I finally got access to a printer today to print off my lessons & student worksheets etc. Oh I felt like a girl in a lolly shop though I sometimes felt like a girl stealing lollies from a lolly jar! Hee! It was a real treat to be able to use a printer & photocopier. Not many of the teachers use the printer or copiers due to limited knowledge about computers or tight school budget for printing & copying. Fortunately, I've been given permission to use the printer & copier - in moderation. Phew! This is better than nothing as I couldnt stand to just use the blackboard each day! Bye!

My weekend in Suva

Hi everyone! A lovely weekend was had with my friend. We successfully found our way into the city on the bus.

We met one of my deaf students in town - as you can see in the photos - the young girl standing next to the coconuts. She took us for a tour through the town & rested in the park with us & her hearing friend - the park security guard. We were amazed at how deaf friendly this park security guard was - he didn't know sign language but was ever so comfortable with using gesture, eye contact etc. to communicate with the girl & wanted to make conversation with us all. Fijian people seem to be so accomodating of deaf people here & seem rather deaf aware. Perhaps because there is so much diversity here. My friend & I were truly amazed! In fact my friend thought the security guard & the deaf girl would make a great couple one day. Hee! There really are some great models of good practice here.

Later we went to the very crowded markets. I went to take a photo of my friend but suddenly I see a Fijian woman standing beside my friend posing for the photo also. It was rather funny!

Then we went to go shopping but discovered all the shops close here at 10.30am on Saturday & close all day Sunday as Sunday is a day of rest here. So not much to do here in Suva so we found a cafe to rest & chat.

My friend has now left for a few days to go island hopping, soak up the sun in paradise - whilst I stay on here to work. Lucky girl! We shall meet up again next weekend for a walk in the rainforest & hopefully see some Fijian dancing including the famous 'meke' dance by Fijian men.

Oh yes - great news! My visa is now sorted - I am now legally allowed to stay for 6-weeks. Phew! One Fijian woman at immigration standing in queue behind me at the immigration office was complaining about 'Fijian time' - everything so slow & laid back. She has been away overseas & forgot how slow it takes to get things done here. Actually I didnt mind the wait at the immigration office & didnt think it was all that bad. Perhaps I have adjusted well to 'Fijian time'.

Bye! Have a great week.

My friend from London arrives in Suva!

My dear friend from London has arrived safely in Suva! It is wonderful to have some familiar company out here in Fiji. Here are some photos of us (& other people) relaxing at the Holiday Inn by the harbour having a Fiji Lager and later eating out at the popular curry house which was delicious but rather hot & spicy I must say! Nevertheless we'll be back as we found the tall & very fit looking Fijian security man we were told to look out for. He kindly found us a taxi so we may get home safe & sound! Heh!

Another day at Gospel High

Bula! Erm ... that's about all I know so far in Fijian language. Sorry! I will try to learn some Fijian language next week & will share with you all on this blog. Being deaf I dont have much of an ear for new spoken languages ... But I am picking up the Fijian Sign Language quite well - I love it!

Anyway, it's been another great couple of great days at the school. But we are exhausted at the end of each day as there is so much to take in - new school ways, new culture, different curriculum, different accents, different sign language etc ... Absolutely exhausted by the time I get home.

Last couple of days, I have begun to introduce drama to a group of students. (By the way each class has about 40x students or more!!!) I've also begun exploring some poetry using the 5 senses. And today some printmaking on fabric - a Fijian print used on wedding dresses here. Next week, I'll be taking over quite a few classes teaching my very own poetry, drama and art classes. Wish me luck!

The photos I have attached today are some photos of deaf students, hearing students, my excellent Aussie sign language interpreter and my Indo-Fijian Teacher Mentor who is just wonderful.

My interpreter & I have been requested to do some training for Fijian Sign Language Interpreters - so that will be happening in a week or so. That should be fun. I can see they need some help but otherwise the deaf students are so smart so they must be doing something right.

I finally met my Aussie deaf friend's deaf Fijian boyfriend here at the school today ... I am looking forward to having him show me around Suva soon.

I finally got my timetable sorted today. Phew! That took some work!!! The concept of timetable seems somewhat abstract & vague here - perhaps due to Fijian time being so laid back! Furthermore, each class is only 35minutes here - lunch break just 30minutes which is apparently very generous here in Fiji as most schools only have about 20minutes for lunch. School classes here involve 10x lessons a day!!! Oh my too many classes & not much time to go into any depth. Indeed, my art classes will have to be short - not much time to set up & pack up paint materials etc. Gulp! (I thought you Aussie teachers & prac students might be interested to know this).

Enjoy the photos. I'm off to meet my friend from London today for a drink at a hotel & later eat a curry. As the political situation here is a bit tense - I've been warned not to walk anywhere in the evenings. I've been told to get the security guard at the curry place to wave a taxi down for me & my friend - to get back home safely. Lots of mugging & theft here so we have to be very cautious. So far so good & I'm feeling quite okay ... Just people here are getting a bit concerned because there has been a couple of death threats to the Australian High Commission here (not far from my house)! Oh well it makes life interesting eh!

Bye! Have a nice weekend everyone!

My day in school at Gospel High

Thank you everyone for all your emails! So nice to hear from you all so soon.

Anyway, it was a great day at school today.

I started off with an Agriculture class!!! Gulp! This was not right - I have no idea how to teach agriculture! Heh!

So managed to persuade the school principal to let me teach some Arts in the school. Fortunately, her response was really great! The principal & the staff are so enthusiastic to have me teaching drama & art to the students in the school. Yay! Much better suited to me than agriculture!

I also got to teach some deaf students today integrated in a mainstream classroom. They are so smart & sharp! Their interpreters have clearly been great help to them in the classroom. One deaf student said their teacher (my teacher mentor) loves deaf students - I noticed this too. It's just wonderful to see a teacher so enthusiastic about her deaf students in her mainstream classroom. (Sorry no photos of the deaf students yet - will do that soon)

A funny moment for me today was when I was tutoring the deaf students in the classroom on poetry. I told a deaf boy to get up & point the word out for me on the blackboard. He was so hesitant - didnt think he understood me. So I said 'go on - point to the word on the blackboard'. He looked around looking very unsure of himself & checked with his deaf mates to make sure he understood. Indeed he did understand me & finally a several minutes later (after much persuasion) he did it! Hmmm ... its obvious the students are not encouraged to move about in the room & must always sit in their chairs. I was so glad to be to introduce this new experience for him! Smile ...

As for sign language with the deaf students - we did alright. They have some different signs but some are similar to Auslan - Australian Sign Language. We had to do some swapping of signs for common understanding & generally I think they understood me well. I hope! I know how deaf people can fool people & pretend they understand ... Heh!

To finish of the day, I had to walk a leafy pathway to get to my bus-stop. Got on the bus for the first time ever & got lost! I ended up out of the city into the rural village area! Oh dear! Lucky the bus driver chased another bus - tooted his horn several times & overtook this other bus so I could change buses & return back home. Phew! I think all the passengers in the bus thought it was funny. Nevertheless, the bus ride was interesting as I got to see some rural villages which seems quite different to the city of Suva. I must return one day & venture a bit further with someone to see more of the village life.

So its a good start to my week at the school - I am getting rather excited about the 6-weeks ahead of me.

By the way, this evening I joined my hosts (a couple from NZ & America) at the French Cultural Centre for an alfresco (outdoor) French movie - lots of other expatriates, diplomats & prac students like myself went there also. Was so much fun! I always really enjoy my French films.

This Saturday I might be going on a 5-hr hiking trip with members of the hiking club. And the following weekend joining another group for snorkelling at an island on the east coast with members of the hiking club again. Can't wait!!!

And this Friday a dear & special deaf friend will be visiting me for 2-weeks - from London.

Goodnight!

Check out my Slide Show!

For more information about my 'Look at Me: Deaf Awareness' book or to buy now please visit my website: www.honeybee-creations.com

Bus ride from Nadi to Suva

Bula! Here are some pictures of the view from my window on the bus from Nadi (airport) to Suva (my base for the next 6-weeks) - a 4hr bus ride along the coral coast from west coast to south east coast. The land is so natural, untouched and lush green tropical jungles! See map picture. Cheers, Lisa