transitioning to the other civilisation

Last night I slept in a soft bed

The windows were open and aircon off 

The noises of the night insects and the coolness of Fiji air a pleasant change

Woke this morning to birds in the coconut trees outside chattering away

After breakfast I took my light weight trousers and short sleeve shirt down to iron

Twas nice to take the time to iron the wrinkles out and put some creases in, letting my mind wander as I did

Transitioning from Tuvalu to Auckland

Dalek and sunsets

Every evening in Tuvalu the sun sets over the lagoon.  Taking the time to pause and watch it, or glance up at it while reading a book or talking to people, is a nice way to transition from day to evening.

Every now and then the clouds form shapes that are recognisable, and then they change again and the shape is gone.

14th May 2015

Today is the day.  The day I depart Tuvalu and head back home for a couple of weeks. I have been wanting to do this post for a few days now but the internet connection and speed hasn't been up to doing it.

A couple of weeks ago my departure date was confirmed. I was looking forward to going home and being with family and friends, but I wasn't quite expecting the effect that having a confirmed date would have.  I found that as I talked to others about my departure, I started to become more and more aware of things that I was missing, which I wasn't as fully aware of before.

As I have all the clothes I need in Tuvalu already (in fact i am taking some home that I don't need) I started to let people know that if they wanted something brought back and I had space and it was easy, I could bring things back for them. Important things like plunger coffee and chocolate and kids movies were the requests that started to come in.  

These conversations triggered my own thinking about what I miss, and while on Skype with my son last Monday the following list came to be....

some of the small things I am looking forward to when I am home:

• hearing birds (the mainly sea birds in Tuvalu don't seem to break into song the same as at home)
• going to the supermarket and having lots of choice and lights and people, 
• hearing dogs bark and sirens,
• planes flying overhead every day and not meaning it is Tuesday or Thursday
• brushing my teeth using the tap not the boiled water, 
• not boiling the jug in the morning and then pouring it into the re-cycled water bottle at lunch time after it's cooled
• not having flickering lights because the ceiling fan is underneath the light bulb
• not having to turn the air con on in the middle of the night to take the edge off the temperature so I can go back to sleep
• reliable internet that works when I want it and is faster than I can type
• being easily able to talk to those I love and friends
• being cold
• cooking bacon so it is nice and crispy.......

Last night a group of us went to the Filamona for the Wednesday buffet.  It was on because we worked out who could come and, as there were more than 10 people, there would be a buffet that night. It wasn't a going away thing or any big fuss, but it was really nice to mark my last night for three weeks amongst the people that I have come to count as friends on the island. What made it even better was that the Kiwis outnumbered the Aussies for a change.  

And then finally the day was here. Departure day. A day of  last conversations that needed to be had, and saying "see you in 3 weeks". The plane was late and then delayed in departing, but I found that it didn't matter.  It would come when it did and leave when it did. I didn't get wound up or anxious by it, particularly the late arrival, which tells me that I am adapting to the Tuvalu approach of 'it will happen when and if it does'.

I made it to Suva and after an hour or so layover, flew into Nadi in the dark and checked in.  As we were waiting for the flight out to depart Funafuti, I felt myself getting more and more weary. Not tired, just weary. The weariness has continued through right up until now as I write this post after my first hot water shower in 5 weeks.  

I didn't realise until tonight, how emotional it is....

To be leaving the place I have been for the last 5 weeks, the place which now has a familiar pattern to it and where I am someone who is 'there' not just visiting for a week.  

To be going back to the place that feels right and safe and familiar; where those I care about and love and who care and love me are, where my friends are; where I can experience again all the little things that I took for granted and didn't notice, but whose absence from Tuvalu speaks loudly to me.

To be going back home.  Home.  Home 

Growing vegies in the warmth of Tuvalu

One of the things I miss from New Zealand are fresh veggies, and although my vegie garden has been a bit basic in its crop and neglected over the summer, I particularly miss the pleasure of growing my own.  There is something about the process of planting a seed and seeing the first shoot then leaves form and watching it develop (sometimes over many months).  It's therapeutic for me.

When I was looking at renting a place for my stay here, one of the things I noticed was that hardly any places have gardens.  I was very pleasantly surprised when, on my return in April, I discovered that raised beds and vegetable seedling had appeared at the hotel.  One of the staff had developed them and tended them every day.  He had 'made' the soil out of old coconut tree trunks and pig manure, and imported the seeds.

The thing that surprised me most was the speed of their growth.  As you can see from the photos below, you could almost stand there and see them physically growing.  The first photo was taken on the 11th April and the last on the 10th May, the day after the first were harvested and served in the Hotel restaurant.

I wonder if sustaining a temperature range of 26-32 deg 24/7 would result in the same growth rate.....

Open

It is surprisingly easy just by taking the time to do so....

To stop, pause and notice

To see be aware of how I go about the 'normal' daily things here, which I tend to do without even thinking about back at home

To adapt to actual necessities

To wake up early and go for a run in the morning

To finish a cup of tea after breakfast and not rush into the day

To talk to others who I don't know, and discover or learn as a result of a simple conversation

To be open to new experiences