The work has begun!

So, the past 2 days, we have split up into 3 groups. Our main focus for these 2 days was to get into the different towns and do “community mapping” which is where we basically get to know the town inside and out. My group was assigned to Ba, which is the main town we live in. Our village is actually called, Namasou, but Ba is the main town. So, me, Brandi, Zac, and Mallory started out and first took a bus into town! We walked up and down every single street, and actually got quite a few potential partners to work with us! We were so excited!

We met with the Red Cross, the ministry of health, the civic town center, eye clinics, doctors clinics, schools, hospitals, etc. It was really exciting! So, at the end of the first day, we came home to plan in our individual groups and then we shared with everyone what we found out!

Yesterday, we did the same thing, except we stayed on “this side of the bridge.” So, we spent about 3 hours walking up and down hills and roads and trying to map the community. One cool experience we had was with the prison. We talked with 2 men who had been running it for 21 years, and were SO nice. They seemed like really great leaders who wanted their prisoners to learn and grow from their mistakes. He got my contact information and said that when the main guy in charge comes back he will call us to have a meeting! It was a really sweet thing and I'm so excited to work with them. We went into town yesterday as well, and the best part about it was lunch! We actually found a pizza place! It was called Ba's Pizza Palace! Oh my goodness, it was seriously the best thing that's ever happened to me. Obviously the pizza isn't the same here as it is in America, but I didn't even care. It tasted heavenly!

When we were walking up one of the streets, a man from church came out, dressed in a police uniform and came out to talk to us. He was so excited to see us and is probably one of the funniest people I have ever met. He took us up and down the streets to try and find us good deals on souveniers and stuff, but he was crackin me up. He took us to get ice cream as well. (Yeah, the ice cream is kind of gross here, but hey, at least we got some!) Anyway, he knows EVERYONE in Ba and he would always introduce us as his American friends from his church! It was a great day! It was also a very hot day. Even the Fijian man I was talking to at the bus stop said, “it is very hot day today, yeah?” (By the way, Sam, everyone here says “eh” after their sentences...like CANADA!)

I'm so excited that we have been able to jump right in and get so many contacts for our projects! Today through Friday will be spent going into the villages and evaluating how last years projects went! I can't wait!