Work

This week I started work at the Lycee as the Assistant D'Anglais! The Lycee is the school that students go to in their final years - ages 16-18. I have really been thrown in the deep end!! On my second day - the teacher (who had previously told me not to prepare anything)introduced me to the class and then said that she was going to split the class into 2 and half the students would go with me in the first block and other half would go with me in the second block!! So there I was, with nothing prepared, for 10 students for the 1st hour and then the other 10 students for the second hour!! Luckily I can think on my feet!!

The school system here is very different to Australia (well, to Victoria - which is all I can compare it to!). The students attend the school for 3 years -the 1st year is called 'Seconde' the second year is called 'Premiere' and the third years are called 'Terminale'...which is all quite confusing!! The students typically stay in the same group for their whole 3 years and have a career focus, e.g. catering, economics, electronics etc. The school is divided into 2 - with a technical school and a general school. Last week they also opened another school which focuses on Agriculture. School starts at 7am and goes until 5pm, with a break between 12-2 for lunch (and for me a nana nap!) Most teachers have a day off, and all of the students have Wednesday afternoons off.

So far I have found the students level of English to be quite poor - so I have a big job ahead of me!! They have found it difficult to ask me questions like 'how old are you, where did you live, what do you like to do' etc. But it is also very early on in the year and perhaps they just need a refresher!! I wont hold my breathe! It has been amusing to watch their faces when they find out how old I am and whether I have any children!! Here, in Wallis, the women have children very young (most in their early 20s) - so for them to see a 31year old married woman without children it really is a novelty!!

The teachers I work with all seem very nice - some nicer than others which is the way it is everywhere I suppose!! Some ask me to be in their class and take individual students out for short periods to provide intensive work, others give me half their class and dont really care what I do with them!! It will take some time for me to get used to it I think...but it's also good that I have a varied caseload and can try different things! I think it is harder for the students to get used to having a teacher who doesnt speak the same language as they do!!

I work as the English Assistant for 12hrs a week - unfortunately my timetable is rubbish! I work everyday!! I am also continuing to do the tutoring (3hrs a week so far, with some others expressing an interest for more) and I will work at the College (which is a school for children ages 11-16) 4 hrs per month. So I cant complain about being bored anymore!! I just really need my own car!!!

Fast forward 5 months...

5 months have passed since I last wrote anything!! Oops. Although for the majority of this time I was back in Australia finishing up my contract with my work. Although it was sad saying goodbye to many people, I am excited at the new chapter we are beginning!

Sefo was supposed to come to Australia for Christmas and New Years, although an issue with his ancient passport (in that it is hand written and not electronic!) meant that he couldn't get a visa for Australia so he got stuck in Fiji! He ended up having Christmas with a family friend, while I had Christmas in Australia with my family! I stayed long enough for a big birthday party for my mum a few days after Christmas and then headed to Fiji to meet Sefo so we could see in the New Year together.

We spent an extra week in Suva and did a lot of shopping! We also went to the movies, where for about $4AUD a ticket you can see the latest films! After Suva we stayed at the Intercontinential Hotel which is absolutely amazing! It is in Natadola which is really the prettiest beach on the main island, and it is away from anything so dont go there expecting a lot to do other than relaxing! It would be fun to go with a group of friends though, so anyone interested let us know coz we will definately be going back!! The rooms are all advanced with electronic wonders, massive beds and bathrooms and a big bath for 2 on the balcony!! We had a seafood buffet one night which meant we could eat as much as we wanted of lobster, crayfish, mussels, prawns, oysters...yum!! And the breakfasts were as good, if not better, than the Sofitel!!

Sadly we had to say goodbye to Fiji (after a quicky 2 night stop in Nadi for massages!)...and flew back into Wallis.

We have spent some time renovating the little house (tiles, curtains, flywire) and it is now looking really great - still no ceiling but future renovation plans for extending and raising the roof have put that off. But we have hot water!!! Well, I have hot water - Sefo pretends that he doesnt need it, although I have noticed quite a few occassions where he is keen to jump in the shower when I have it on!

Another addition which has livened up the place (and hurried the need for the renovations!) is the arrival of Sefos brother S, his partner A and their (almost) 3 year old son Ay who is a real little character! They want him to learn English so I am only speaking English with him and have already introduced him to the Wiggles! He is lots of fun, and with a new addition due to arrive in March for them its only going to get louder here!!

I have solved my problem of potential boredom here and have a job teaching English at the secondary school which starts in March - although I might get some tutoring work and some work at another school in Feb. Im really looking forward to the challenge, although also quite nervous as the prospect of running a class with a group of teenagers who I wont understand! But I think it will make me learn the languages much faster! I already feel like my French is improving being back, and everyone at home is really helping me grasp more of the local language too.

Nofola!! Til next time...

Visitors and visiting!

I'm a bit out of order with my posts, but I just wanted to say that our friends E&R came to Wallis to visit for the week before our wedding. Luckily the power and water stayed on so their stay wasn't too tough!
We took them out fishing/snorkeling one day, and another day, Sefos uncle took us in his boat to an island in the north. The little island was small, and others had the same idea so it was a bit crowded, so we went back to the mainland, but along the way we stopped at the Hole of Hell, which is a really deep blue hole surrounded by a shelf of coral - its the most beautiful snorkeling I have done here! R was very impressed, E did a great job having a look but her fear of fish meant she spent most of her time watching us have fun from the safety of the boat! It was amazing though - with photos to prove it!!
We were lucky to have the Wallis national day while they were here, which was celebrated with lots of traditional dancing.
We went out for dinner one night, and spent lots of time relaxing - afternoon naps every day! They said they enjoyed themselves which was the main thing!!

After the wedding, Sefos friend from Melbourne came and stayed for a few days. She is originally from Futuna so understands the local language. It was great having her here to translate! We went to Fioa - the beautiful island in the south for a day - the weather in the morning wasn't great, but then in the afternoon it improved a lot! On the way home we did some snorkeling and fishing and I had my first close encounter in the water with a shark! I was terrified and had a small panic attack! Sefo was great and protected us! Although the shark didn't even show any interest in us at all and was there and gone in seconds! I'm hoping next time I am braver and can stop and look at it in all its beauty (as I'm sure there will be a next time!).

On the Sunday, after saying goodbye to Sefos friend and his parents (who went to Noumea for a week) we went on an organised Island trip. This is the biggest tourism thing that Wallis does, and us (with some of Sefos relatives) and a lot of French people, took some traditional boats out to an island in the north. They provided breakfast and an amazing lunch - Umu (underground cooking) pork, chicken and fish, along with Bami, coleslaw and lots of other yummy things! They took a little boat ride for those who were interested to a small island next door which we could explore (and it was really beautiful!) and then after some beers, food and a nap we can back to the mainland. A really great day!

Wedding!

We got married! In a beautiful ceremony in a little chapel in the grounds of the Sofitel, Fiji. The service was simple and I am so happy that I didn't cry in it! I was so worried i would - but i think being made to wait about 30 minutes (because guests were late) made me annoyed and forced me to think about something else! - so thanks for being late!) But despite that, it was lovely (what I can remember of it!)Followed by drinks and canapes on the lawn outside the chapel and then the most romantic dinner on the beach! I love that our guests (and us!) all took off their socks and shoes and sat an the long table chatting, drinking and eating - until it was time to dance! And then we danced barefoot and drank the night away! It really was perfect and everything I hoped for! Sefo and I had the most amazing time!

The hotel upgraded us into the presidential suite - the best room in the house! I was lucky that they checked us in early so I could get ready with my beautiful sister (bridesmaid) and my niece (flowergirl) and with my mum! It was so relaxing getting ready, sipping Moet! The room was AMAZING! With a spa inside, and a big bath outside on the balcony, a massive lounge which was separate to the massive bedroom! 2 toilets! Our beautiful friends H&J who couldn't make it to Fiji had arranged to leave a bottle of Moet for us to find when we came back to the room.

We had a great week at the Sofitel with our friends and family who could make it, and then Sefo and I went to Pacific Harbour for a little honeymoon - it took a bit of getting used to going from the Presidential Suite to a normal hotel room! But the hotel we stayed at -The Pearl, was nice. There wasn't a lot to do there, and the weather was pretty windy (compared to Nadi), but we went to Suva and checked that out, and did some relaxing! It was great!

Now back in Wallis, I continue to try and keep busy - tutoring 2 kids a couple of days a week and enjoy spending time with my husband! I'm certainly not looking forward to going back to Melbourne next month, but it has to be done, and then that's the last time Sefo and I will be apart - I hope!!

Update

The water and power were put back on on Friday - thank goodness!! There is still talk about some of the people blockading and others striking, but hopefully it stays on for now - or at least until we go to Fiji and then they can do what they want!!
And having written that, Sefo has come home from work and told me there will be no water or electricity for the next few days...I hope its not true!

Our friends E and R arrive tomorrow and are staying for a week, then we will all go to Fiji together and begin the Festival of our Wedding! I cant wait! Relaxing, hot water, swimming pool, fresh food, cooked breakfast -and of course getting married!!

We have thought of a few things for E and R to do while they are here - but I'm sure a lot of relaxing is on the cards anyway! Hoepfully K and H will put on a Kareoke night on Sat night!!

I have been doing a little bit of tutoring work here - with a 12 year old boy which has been good. His family are keen for me to see him as much as possible before I leave, as am I as they are paying me quite a bit of money! Who wouldve thought tutoring would be so lucrative! Apprarently the boy is enjoying it so hopefully he will tell his friends and I can drum up some more business!

Other than that things are still are same here...countdown is on for our wedding!

The Joys of Island Life!

There is no power and no water in the whole of Wallis Island - except at Sefos neighbour/bosses house who has a generator, and a direct link to the satellite for Internet!! Which is why I can blog and tell you about it!

Yesterday, the King took over the power company, and he, and his cabinet, decided they didn't want to let the company from Noumea run it. There was a guy from Africa who used to work there, did some dodgy things and got fired, and now the King has elected him to run the company! Dodgy?! I think so! And so does the rest of Wallis!! The King apparently hasn't thought about the practicalities of it all as they don't have enough money to pay for the gasoline to run the power...hence, no power!! We don't know how long it will last - maybe it will be fixed tomorrow, or maybe a month! We are certainly going to be smelly! And glad that we have a trip to Fiji coming up in 2 weeks!!
But at least we have Internet access!! Hopefully they fix the problems soon as everyone is really angry!!

Other than that, everything has been pretty much the same! I have got a little bit of work tutoring English - I'm currently working with a 12 year old boy a few hours a week - good to get a bit of pocket money! I have made a new friend, P, who is an English teacher at the Junior School - she is lovely and I have been helping her with her lesson plans and also playing with her 1 year old daughter, in Enlish, as she wants her exposed to as much as possible. It's fun, and its great to have something productive to do!!

I'm looking forward to my mates E and R coming to visit Wallis in a week (for a week, then we head to Fiji together!)...I hope the power is back on for them!! it certainly will be an experience for them either way!!

I made Beef Bourgingon (or however it is spelt!) the other day - and man, it was awesome! I think its a contender for my signature dish!!

Tonight, we get to eat all the food that is defrosting in the freezer!!
Bon Apetite!!

Week 3 and 4

Wow- time is flying! I cant believe I have been away from Australia for over a month now. And I thought I would be writing in this blog everyday but now I'm trying to catch up for a few weeks!!

Things are good - it's now the windy season though which means (well, it means its windy of course!) but also that the water is choppy which reduces the opportunity we have to go out in the boat! We have been snorkeling twice (fishing for Sefo, snorkeling for me!) but hopefully there will be more opportunities on the weekends! It's so beautiful underwater! We went last week and I saw the biggest Angel fish I have ever seen - the size of large dinner plates!! That's how I measure all fish - how they will look on my dinner plate!!

We have done a bit of Karaoke lately! On Saturday night in Wallis there was a big concert with famous singers from Tahiti and Futuna and Wallis - all raising money to rebuild Futuna (after the cyclone earlier this year - it was pretty much flattened). We didn't go to the concert, but we went to K's house and he cooked a big BBQ and had some friends over and the karaoke set up. His brother in law, C, sets it all up, but on Sat night he didn't do it properly so had to come back. He is a music guy that works for the TV station, and his wife works on the tv - a news presenter and she was presenting at the concert (it was televised). So C, his wife and all the famous singers rock up at K's house to set up the karaoke! And then they all started singing! It's very hard to go up and sing when there are famous singers there!! They didn't stay for very long though - and then we had the microphones to ourselves! The songs are all so old - although the most recent was Whats Up by 4 non blondes -which, I must say I rocked! I even put on their weird voices!! There were a few french people there (including the director of aircalin, and her very drunk husband!!) so at least I got to practice french as well!!

Monday night was the start of summer in France, and they have a Festival of Music to celebrate. So here, they also have festivals of music! We went to Sefos ex-colleagues place, G, to have a BBQ and to do some more karaoke! We had to go to another place down the hill for the karaoke -which we did at about 10pm. It wasn't at good as Ks, mainly because they couldn't get it working for a while, and G, who was in charge of choosing the songs chose hard ones to sing, which were also slow and boring! We had Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, slow ABBA ones - but then some Lady Gaga thrown in! Weird! Everyone just sat around though not really talking. Although I did meet F, who was in Townsville for a while and spoke good English. It was nice talking with her and she gave me some good ideas for things i can do next year if we stay in Wallis for another year. Definitely worth thinking about!

Other than that I am still helping S with cooking. Last Wednesday night we got to cook for 8 priests and bishops who were in Wallis for a special celebration! S cooked a big Paella and we had Berries and Cream for dessert. Lots of wine, rum punch and whiskey! The priests all pretty much study in Fiji so most of them spoke English - and the bishop is one of the nicest, friendliest men I have met! There was a priest from Tonga who I spoke to a bit - he had spent some time in melb when he was younger with the RAAF. He was a massive man though - we had to give him a special chair to sit in as he didn't fit in the ordinary garden ones - I think he gets lots of gifts of food in Tonga!! It was a lovely dinner and a big success at cooking and serving such important people in this community.

S and I keep cooking lunches - although she doesn't want to sell as much. People were given credit for the lunches and no one really pays up! She is waiting to people to pay what they owe before she starts selling again - this week is pay week for the government staff so hopefully they do pay coz i enjoy it! And I think she makes pretty good money out of it. So lately we have just been cooking for 2 or 3 people who she knows will pay and then eating the rest for lunch! We have had some pretty fancy lunches - very different to the food we eat at Sefos place!! Here its plain rice, fried or boiled fish/chicken/steak, and the native veges like tapioca, yam, taro. When I get to cook it becomes more interesting - and we mainly have marinated chicken/steak on the BBQ. It was fathers day on Sunday here and Sefo and I cooked a lovely BBQ for his dad - couscous salad (with goats cheese - yum!) green salad and steak, pork chops and sausages on the BBQ. I hope his dad liked it!!

Anyway, that's about all I can think of to update at the moment - I really should do it more often because often, Sefo will say or do something and I think I must remember to put it in this blog - but then by the time I get around to writing here I've forgotten!!