For Jamaicans, those who know a Jamaican and Dr. Stephanie

My friend Dr. Stephanie had said it may be difficult for Fijians to understand that even though I am American I was born and raised in Jamaica. So far the people I've told understand and get very excited.Apparently Fijians love all things Jamaican including but not limited to Jimmy Cliff, Bob MArley and Usain Bolt.My host brother even mentioned that he was watching the Fijian news and and they were covering the riots going on in JA over the controversy of the don being sent to US to stand trial for a range of charges.

" We likkle but we tallawer"

Life of A Black American/Jamaican in Fiji

Thoughts of my skin colour and how I would be accepted never really crossed my mind. I think I figured that Peace cOrps wouldn't place me in a place where In would be targeted adverseley because of my skin colour.Then another volunteer in my group brought this up to me.She had been slightly worried since she is Indian and there have been tensions in FIji between Fijian natives and the Indian population there. SInce then I thought that maybe Peace COrps may have a session where they will address those racial concerns.So far though I have just had conversations with a few seasoned volunteers and staff about the topic.From what I gather Fijians mostly think that all Americans are White Europeans. The few that do grasp that AMerica is multi-cultural base their views of Blacks from movies they watch. So inevitably it's based on movies they're going to be familiarized with the n-word.I have been told that Fijians may call me that innocently but they are open enough for me to tell them the true history of the word. So far the "worst" thing I've been called is Black American.I am interested to see though how it goes.
PS Apparently one of the host family's dogs for another volunteer is called n-word.

so where do you live now...Fiji!!!

I got into Fiji on the 20th .the flight was okay I slept for a while then watched movies on my own personal t.v. the airplane provides.when I actually landed in Fiji and looked all around me I was thinking man I live in Fiji now! So cool.Our first activity in Fiji was a sevusevu which is a traditional welcome ceremony. I am told that nothing can be done without having the traditional sevusevu.The sevusevu consists of the Peace Corps staff and the new Peace Corps volunteers meeting all together in a room. The new volunteers have someone offer a gift of a root crop to the staff which they accept and then afterward a special drink is offered to everyone to take part in.Then we had tea time and apparently Fiji has tea time like everyday twice a day. I can get used to having 5 meals a day instead of my usual two.
After tea we had our open water training which was wonderful because the water felt so good, the sun was shining at the right temperature and we got to relax.I've been doing a lot of relaxing here in Fiji.Since then we've been doing Language training and learning the policies and procedures of Peace Corps.My fellow volunteers (about 35 of us) are wonderful [people ,laid back and very supportive of one another. I feel like whatever we need we try to help each other out with.I know those qualities will come in handy as we get more immersed in Fiji life.
The one thing that takes me aback in all of this is how wonderful the weather is and the scenery, it makes me mellow out so much.For those who know my wild and crazy side will be surprised by how mellow I am down here.Everything is just so calming and soothing.

Read this if you are Jamaican:
On another note my uncle and I had said that since Jamaicans are practically all over the world that I should look out for any Jamaican people or things that you would associate as Jamaican.So far I have found out that Digicel is offered here. Courts has a few stores here and I just walked past a dread at the bus stop about 10 mins ago.So there will be pictures and i'm sure more Jamaican incidents to come.

Peace and Blessings